I received word this morning that legendary guitarist and singer Charlie Hodge passed away yesterday after a long battle with lung cancer. It is quite understandable if your reaction to the previous sentence is "Who is Charlie Hodge?" Hodge is a name you might not know, but you've probably heard his work. Hodge was a session musician for the one and only Elvis Presley, but more than that, he was one of Presley's only true friends. Presley met Hodge during his Army days, and after both men served their tour of duty, Hodge was an occasional part of Presley's studio band. When Presley made his triumphant comeback in 1968 and 1969, Hodge became a permanant fixture in his band, performing as a guitarist and a backing vocalist, and he worked with him in both the studio and the concert arena until Presley's passing in 1977. Since Presley's passing, Hodge continued to work in the music business, especially in the Gospel circuit. Hodge was 71 years old.
A touching memorial page can be found here.
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