By Thomas Semioli

He anchored two cats named Elvis, and what could arguably be considered among the greatest rock and roll ensembles of all time; Elvis Aaron Presley’s “Taking Care of Business Band.” From its fiery inception in 1969 until The King’s crash and burn in ‘77 – the core collective of guitarists James Burton and John Wilkinson, drummer Ron Tutt, keyboardist Larry Muhoberac, and bassist Jerry Scheff never failed to tear it up on stage (and in the studio) regardless of the condition of their bandleader. The TCB band could swing, rock, and groove through any musical genre Elvis threw at them.

Scheff broke into the studio biz after a stint in the Navy and helmed several hits and album tracks before, during, and following his work with Presley, including such artists as The Doors, Elvis Costello, Bob Dylan, Buckingham Nicks, Todd Rundgren, The Association, Neil Diamond, The Monkees, Sammy Davis Jr., Nancy Sinatra, Everly Brothers, Willy DeVille, Richard Thompson, John Denver, and Johnny Mathis, to cite a select few.

His tome Way Down: Playing Bass with Elvis, Dylan, the Doors, and More: The Autobiography of Jerry Scheff is essential reading for bassists and rock history buffs.

Jerry’s weapon of choice during his most active period was the Fender Precision with its signature warm tone and occasional growl or “bark.” Given that he backed many of pop music’s greatest singers and songwriters, Sheff’s melodic lines were often build around rudimentary triads and subtle rhythmic variations which served the compositions and recordings.

To my ears, Scheff’s best work can be heard throughout The Doors final slab with Jim Morrison L.A. Woman waxed in late 1970 and early ‘71. Jerry’s movement defines the title track, and his jazzy phrasing and note choices for “Love Her Madly” are the stuff of bass virtuosity.

This writer cited Jerry Scheff in Huffington Post: 11 Bass Players Who Belong in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (December 2017) https://bit.ly/2YRri08

Dig Jerry with The Association “Along Comes Mary” https://youtu.be/URUd5RUAz1I

Dig Jerry on upright with Elvis Costello “Eisenhower Blues” https://youtu.be/lBfobZSd-SE

Dig Jerry with Bob Dylan “Changing of the Guards” https://youtu.be/qZhMvLuoMaM

Dig Jerry in rehearsal with Elvis and TCB in 1970 https://youtu.be/cmv5AcDXyqc

Dig Jerry and Elvis Live in Hawaii in ‘73 https://youtu.be/id_JFzDQPek

Dig Jerry with Richard Thompson “Read about Love” https://youtu.be/XYiZY3qC8IQ

Dig Jerry with The Doors:

“L.A. Woman” https://youtu.be/vHXjcdNIN-Q

“Love Her Madly” https://youtu.be/5iqfXaGliq8

Akin to many of his generation, it all started for this Birmingham, England bred bassist with Bert Weedon’s Play In A Day – the “simple” instruction manual which “launched” a thousand or so careers….

Affectionately known as “Peggy” amongst his peers, he is a player who exemplifies virtuosity in the genre loosely dubbed “electric folk.”

Not to be confused with American folk-rock; Pegg and his peers derived their strongest influences from the Celtic cultures – though their yen for Yanks Bob Dylan and The Byrds is most obvious.  Peggy plies his craft on trad four and extended range with the utmost dexterity – rendering melodic counterpoint, improv, inventive solos, and supportive in-the-pocket playing as the situation warrants.

In addition to his tenure as the longest serving member of Fairport Convention, Peggy, who also plays mandolin and croons, has anchored seminal recordings by several artists of note, namely: Nick Drake (Bryter Layter, 1970), Sandy Denny (Like An Old Fashioned Waltz, 1974), Richard & Linda Thompson (Pour Down Like Silver, 1975; Shoot Out The Lights, 1982), Richard Thompson (Hand of Kindness, 1983), Linda Thompson (Fashionably Late, 2002), John Martyn (Solid Air, 1973; One World, 1977), and Steve Ashley  among many, many others.

During his fifteen-year stint in Jethro Tull, Peggy and drummer Doane Perry enabled Ian Anderson and Martin Barre to rekindle some of the old magic from their early years on stage and on such fine releases including Crest of a Knave (1987), Rock Island (1989), and Catfish Rising (1991).

An engaging, often outrageous performer, I witnessed Fairport Convention at the Bottom Line in New York City sometime in the 1980s wherein an enraged Dave Pegg, outfitted in extremely snug white shorts, nearly swallowed his microphone in the midst of a vitriolic rant directed at club owner Allan Pepper. For some reason FC never returned to the hallowed venue…

David Pegg Sound & Vision…

Nick Drake: “Bryter Layter” https://youtu.be/9DjWvjeZ6ww

Richard and Linda Thompson “Shoot Out the Lights” https://youtu.be/2ljITeqfSQw

Fairport Convention “Dirty Linen” https://youtu.be/MTWrtWl0zwQ

Sandy Denny “Solo” https://youtu.be/AVWCvBUFsso

Peggy working a Steinberger XL bass with Jethro Tull “Steel Monkey” https://youtu.be/G6-Jy133XLI

Jethro Tull “Hunting Girl” https://youtu.be/2Mti0IUAocY

Peggy with a vintage Fender Jazz with Jethro Tull “Broadsword” https://youtu.be/2TMnSBQxeAw