Freddie Bell Dies at 76

 

Freddie Bell whose version of Hound Dog inspired a young Elvis Presley to cover the song, has died. He was 76. He died late Sunday in a Las Vegas hospital of complications from cancer, said his publicist Norm Johnson.

Bell was performing at the Sands casino-hotel on the Las Vegas Strip in 1956 when Elvis Presley played Las Vegas for the first time across the street at the New Frontier. Bell's upbeat covers, and perhaps his knee-wiggling dance moves, inspired Presley, Johnson said. 'He loved Freddie's version', Johnson said. 'He added new words and a better beat'.

 

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y48/elvis1959/elvis_new_frontier_hotel_april_1956.jpg

Scotty Moore and Elvis Presley Las Vegas 1956

Above photo from the book Flashback

 

Bell went to Las Vegas in 1953 from his hometown of Philadelphia and was considered one of the great lounge acts of the time, alongside the trio of Sam Butera, Louis Prima and Keely Smith, Johnson said.He was good friends with some of the most popular performers of the era. "They remained friends throughout Elvis' lifetime," Johnson said. 'Freddie was very, very close to Frank Sinatra. That was one of his compadres. Whenever they were in any town performing, Frank would show up, or Freddie would go to see him'. Bell also appeared in a number of films, including 1956's 'Rock Around the Clock', starring Bill Haley.

 

By: Elvis Australia - Feb 12, 2008

Source: Associated Press

RIP Freddie :(

 

 

I would have loved to have been there when they were all singing together, i bet it was fun :yahoo: