Charlie Hodge
Charles Franklin "Charlie" Hodge (born, December 14, 1934 in Decatur, Alabama; died March 3, 2006 in Knoxville, Tennessee) was a backup singer and guitarist,
Hodge was discovered by Presley while the former was performing with a band called The Foggy River Boys in Memphis, TN. Hodge had caught the singer's attention at the time partly because, at 5'3", the guitarist had to stand on an empty Coke crate. After meeting up again when both men were in the U.S. Army, the two became friends, and the guitarist subsequently became part of Elvis' entourage, "The Memphis Mafia".
Charlie Hodge was born in Decatur, Alabama, in 1934 and, as a child, he played the ukulele and developed comedy routines. He loved singing gospel music and when he was 20 he became the lead singer for the Foggy River Boys. Hodge was five foot three and, as they were taller than him, he would carry a crate on stage and stand on it to perform. This endeared him to audiences and the group became a regular feature on Red Foley's Ozark Jubilee, a television show and a touring attraction. For a time, Hodge dated one of Foley's daughters and as another daughter, Shirley, married Pat Boone, he became friendly with Presley's musical rival. He first met Presley at an Ozark Jubilee concert in Memphis in 1956 and Presley was impressed with his high vocals.
Hodge is said to have been hanging out with Elvis when the latter met his first wife, Priscilla. Hodge would later be part of Elvis' backing band when Presley returned to live performances after his '68 Comeback Special. In addition to playing rhythm guitar and contributing background vocals, Hodge would also hand Elvis his water and scarves onstage.
When Elvis Presley was on stage in Las Vegas, he would introduce Charlie Hodge as "the little guy who sings harmony with me and gives me my water and my scarves". Hodge was one of the so-called Memphis Mafia, a gang of friends, wholly devoted to Presley, who carried out his every wish.
During his tenure with Elvis, Hodge was a resident at Elvis' estate, Graceland. He was at Graceland when Presley died in 1977.
Hodge's post-Elvis life and career were subsequently dedicated to the deceased music legend, as he would make a career out of performing at Elvis tribute shows performing the longest with Elvis Impersonator Lou Vuto. Charlie also wrote an autobiography/memoir, Elvis 'N Me, in 1988.
Hodge died of cancer at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Centre in Knoxville, Tennessee in 2006.
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