Charlie first met Elvis on a transport ship from the New York to Germany, September 1958, although they appeared together on a Red
Foley show in 1956. They stayed friends until Elvis' death in August
1977. Charlie was the guy who played guitar,sang back up,gave elvis scarves and handed him water, during the shows in the 1970's. Also, Charlie had a big influence on the song lists of the seventies shows. He used to suggest song titles to Elvis.
He got the attention of a music legend. Mr. Hodge said that the first time Elvis Presley saw him, he was standing and singing on the crate while performing with The Foggy River Boys in Memphis. The memory always gave Elvis a chuckle, Mr. Hodge said in a 2005 interview with the Web site Elvis Australia, said he used the crate because he was only 5 feet 3 inches tall and the other band members "towered over him." After meeting backstage at that performance, Mr. Hodge didn't see Elvis again until both were in the Army, where they became friends.After Elvis' death, Mr. Hodge performed at shows dedicated to Elvis, including a March 2005 appearance at Decatur's Princess Theatre Center for the Performing Arts. He also wrote "Elvis 'N Me," which Castle Books published in 1988. Elvis' bodyguard, Sonny West, said in a DAILY interview that after Elvis' death, he and Mr. Hodge went 27 years without seeing each other. Then they met in Decatur at West's
Elvis hired Mr. Hodge in 1960 as a member of his "Memphis Mafia." Mr. Hodge was the only professional musician and entertainer in that group. Mr. Hodge became a background vocalist and rhythm guitarist for Elvis, known as the man who gave Elvis his water and scarves. He worked with Elvis for 17 years. Not bad for a boy who started out plucking a ukulele on his front porch in Decatur and did comedy routines in school. Mr. Hodge was with Elvis when he first met his future wife, Priscilla, and was at Graceland when The King died in 1977.
Elvis' loyal sidekick, Charlie Hodge died at age 71. Charlie lost his battle with lung cancer Friday March 3rd. Charlie was diagnosed with lung cancer in December 2005 and despite this, he continued to perform at Memories Theatres for the love of his fans. He had a couple of treatments of radiation therapy in between December and January.
on Sunday the 8th of January 2012 Elvis Presley would of celebrated his 77th birthday, hundreds of fans came from
around the world to make the annual pilgrimage
to his home
Graceland's,
It was early in January 1973, Elvis was due to be in Hawaii.and on the 14Th, just past
midnight,Elvis was to appear at the Honolulu International Centre, in a concert that would
be beamed live by satellite all around the world
We are having our Annual Elvis Presley Continentals Charity Festival and Car Show. Held at the Ramada Orlando Celebration Resort, 6375 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, Kissimmee Fl. 34747