For one night, he was Elvis's drummer

For one night, he was Elvis's drummer

Jazz musician got the call when Elvis was 22 and he was 20

Kate Webb, The Province

Published: Friday, August 31, 2007

Arni May had been riding high on the Ottawa jazz circuit for almost six years when he was offered the opportunity of a lifetime: Elvis Presley was coming to town, and wanted him as his drummer.
It was union laws that forced Presley's management to hire local musicians for the sold-out show, but once he entered the dressing room, May said Presley greeted him as a peer and a friend.
"I was nervous and excited," said May, who was 20 when he met the 22-year-old star and performed two 45-minute sets with him at Ottawa's former Auditorium on April 3, 1957.

Arni May holds a 50-year-old souvenir photo of himself and Elvis as he prepares to take the stage Friday during the Elvis 50th anniversary concert at the PNE.

Gerry Kahrmann - The Province

Now 70, May has been the proprietor of Rossini's jazz club in Kitsilano for 15 years, and will perform some of Elvis's greatest hits at the PNE concert tonight commemorating the 50th anniversary of Presley's first and only show in Vancouver.
"Over the last couple of months, with this anniversary coming up, it's just brought back some beautiful memories," May said. "I spent the day with him, and I'm telling you, he left an impression with me that I'll just never forget.
"He knew I liked jazz and Latin jazz, so he asked about me, and you don't expect those things, you know what I mean?
"[He was an] exceptionally earthy kid. I mean, at 22 years old you don't expect that. I would have expected him to be punky, but he wasn't at all. He was a first-class gentleman."
Leading a 16-piece big band on that legendary night, May pounded out Elvis hits, including "Blue Suede Shoes," "Heartbreak Hotel" and "Love Me Tender," even as the sound of screaming fans nearly obliterated the King's crooning.
When it was over, what he was left with were memories that would last a lifetime.
"I didn't want to cash the cheque, you know? I was going to try and keep it as a souvenir," May said. "But couldn't help it -- I had to -- I didn't have enough money to pay the guys [in my band]."
Because of May's special connection to the Elvis phenomenon, which continues to rock the world today, he has been invited to join broadcasting hall-of-famer Red Robinson, who also knew Elvis, on stage at the PNE's Elvis 50th anniversary concert tonight at 7:30 p.m. The concert includes performances by award-winning Elvis tribute artists Steven Elliott and Wally Tiemer, and an appearance by Joe Esposito, who was Elvis's best friend, confidant and bodyguard.
Admission to the show at the Rogers Amphitheatre is free with a ticket to the fair. Province readers who clipped our entry form to win a VIP trip for two to Graceland (the forms ran on Aug. 26, 28 and 30) must drop them off at the PNE Elvis Booth at the Rogers Amphitheatre between 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. today for a chance to win.

kwebb@png.canwest.com

© The Vancouver Province 2007