How Elvis’ Guitarist Turned Keith Richard’s Into a Music-Obsessed Kid

It is likely that if you ask anyone born in the baby boomer generation they will say one of their biggest musical influences is Elvis Presley. Musicians or not, Elvis sunk his velvety voice in the ears and souls of everyone in that generation and the ones following. Evidently, he also had a profound impact on the musicians who grew up during the height of his career. After all, he is considered “The King,” so all of his subjects would follow his lead in some way. Albeit, Rolling Stones guitarist, Keith Richards had his eyes not set only on Elvis, but also his guitarist, Scotty Moore.

Richards of course is not the sole artist who acquired a deep-seated inspiration from Elvis, but he might be one of the few who acquired it from his guitarist. His affinity for the man has a religious tone, and might even strike one as a bit hair-raising. Well, Richards, of course in a good way, can be a bit hair-raising himself. But that’s what it takes to become one of the greatest musicians of all time—A profoundly devout affinity for music and the people who make it. With that in mind, the Elvis and Moore song that garnered Richard’s fandom was “Heartbreak Hotel.”

Keith Richard’s Obsession with “Heartbreak Hotel” & Scotty Moore

As stated previously, Richards’ love for Moore goes beyond just regular fandom. Instead, it seems Moore ignited the unborn musical spark within Richards. Richards recalls the first time hearing Moore and the song, as he once stated, “I remember being 13 or something and listening to the radio under the bedsheets when I was supposed dot be asleep.” He added to the memory by saying, “I remember actually daring to get out from under the blanket and walk around the room trying to get it back without waking up the parents,” per Guitar World.

Richards’ desperate need to hear the song is all thanks to Scotty Moore and the innovative way he played. Richards also divulged to Rolling Stone, “Scotty Moore was my hero. There’s a little jazz in his playing, some great country licks, and a grounding in the blues as well. It’s never been duplicated. I can’t copy it.”

Given this impossible duplication Richards’ speaks of, it seems he became compulsively obsessed with trying to do it himself. Although, what came from this was not a replication of Moore’s style. Rather, it was Richard’s infamous style of lead and rhythm guitar that was birthed out of this fondness and affinity for Moore.

Richards Remember Moore

Richard has Moore to thank for making him a music-obsessed kid who made it big. If it wasn’t for Moore and “Heartbreak Hotel,” who knows who Keith Richards would have become? Richards acknowledged this fact, as at Moore’s funeral he stated, “There will never be another Scotty Moore” and that playing with him was “The crème de la crème.”

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