Perhaps my most memorable moment with Savannah is a time we performed the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Naples, Florida. After the particular set in which we performed the well constructed medley of Elvis Presley's hits, a well dressed individual with a lovely younger wife, was smoking a classic cuban cigar, and invited me to his table to have a talk. I remember him asking the waitress to deliver the drink of my choice as he began to compliment my performance. With a certain respect and a sense of authority he told me his name and wrote it on a club napkin along with his home phone number saying, "once you return to Naples again, call me and perhaps I can help you with something if you are in need." Then he set a new cigar on the napkin as a gift to me. My break was over, and after thoroughly enjoying my conversation, the compliments, and hospitality, I had to return to the stage to perform my final set. Once the set was finished I had noticed that this interesting individual had left the building. Soon thereafter, I looked at the napkin to read his name and noticed the number. The name was Ron Tutt, the number was (i cannot reveal) xxx-xxx-xxxx. I pondered, who is Ron Tutt?
Two weeks had passed before I recalled that at that table, he mentioned he used to play drums for the "King". Naturally, I thought he was talking about our Lord. Instantly, I ran a search for some reason, and it was then I became amazed to discover that he was Elvis Presley's Frontline Drummer - "The King of Rock and Roll". At my mothers house today, she slipped on Neil Diamonds CD of his best hits, and she pointed out who did most of the live drum tracks for that particular recording. ----Ron Tutt. What mostly amazed me was that I remembered virtually all of Neil Diamond's hits but, today 09.24.06, I read his lyrics never realizing he was after my own heart, by preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ through most all his songs. - Tab My best of friends just wrote, (more on this warrior for God soon....) 10.02.06 Tab, So you met Ronnie, huh? I met him in 1980 when he and Mike Deasy & Jerry Sheff came to play at Warehouse Ministries in Sac. (This incidently is the first church I, (Tab) attended after my salvation). They had all just got saved a year or two earlier. They played under the name "Sanctified Boogie Band". All 3 of them played for Elvis & all had studio careers at one time. Jerry Sheff's son Jason has been singing lead & playing bass with Chicago for about 10 years now. Ronnie's been with Neil Diamond for quite a while now. Neil's bass player, Reiney Press, has lived here in Nashville for many years. I'd love to catch up some more with you. Give me a call . I sure do love and miss you dear friend! Michael Gregory  |
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