In the Band — Backstage at “Huckabee”
Me with the Elvis impersonators
What an absolute treat and honor to play on the ‘Huckabee’ show, with one of the greatest musicians alive today. Mr. James Burton is the former lead guitarist for Elvis Presley!
Today, Jan 8., is Elvis’s birthday. He’s been gone 31 years now. So last week’s show was a tribute to “The King”. On the show was James Burton, Rick Stanley (Elvis’s Stepbrother), as well as a couple of Elvis impersonators.
If you caught the show, “The Little Rockers” were honored to be able to play three tunes with the Hall of Famer: “Mystery Train”, “That’s Alright Mama” and “Love Me Tender”. Playing keyboards in back of Mr. Burton was an incredible learning experience. His solos alone are mesmerizing. But his graciousness in helping us to learn the chord progressions and last minute changes, taught us all more than a thing or two about what it takes to be a pro in the music business.
But while Governor Huckabee was handling the show in front of the cameras, between tunes some of us in the band (me and Bob Higgins, Guitar) got a rare treat to sit in the greenroom with Mr. Burton and Mr. Stanley. For about fifteen or twenty minutes we listened to James and Rick reminisce and swap stories about Elvis, and what it was like to be a part of “the King’s” inner circle.
Mike with Rick Stanley
James Burton was gracious enough to answer my questions about Pricilla, Elvis’ wife. He said she and Elvis were actually great friends, that that was their relationship from the beginning. He said she was 15 and he was 20 when they met overseas while Elvis served in the military. “But Elvis loved the girls”, he added, meaning the thousands who wanted to be close to him, and the several who were able to get beyond the floodlights. And that’s why the marriage eventually ended.
Rick Stanley said his older stepbrother was like a second dad to him… one that showered him with gifts and on occasion kept him out all night going to movies and restaurants. But for Rick, Elvis is the one that helped him find his faith. Rick talked to his step-brother only eight hours before he died, telling him about a woman who was praying for Rick because she felt he needed Jesus in his life. Rick said Elvis told him, ‘You know, she’s right.’ That’s the conversation that always sticks in his mind. Rick wrote about that and about his life with Elvis in a book called “The Touch of Two Kings: Growing Up at Graceland: a True Story” (Redemptive Arts Publishing 1986, 2008).
Me with Rick Stanley
Both James and Rick talked about how little the public knew about Elvis’s love of Gospel music. They said many times after the second shows in Vegas the King would love to retire to his suite with his entourage, and sing songs of the Old Rugged Cross. He’d sing the kind of ageless tunes that through the years gave comfort and strength to troubled souls… songs like “Amazing Grace”, “Turn Your Eyes to Jesus” and “Peace in the Valley”.
James Burton is one of the finest guitar pickers around, in both country and rock. And even though he’s played and recorded with some of the biggest names in music like Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and John Denver, he will go down in history as the man the King would look at on stage and say, “Play it James.”
Don’t miss ‘Huckabee’ this Saturday at 8p et, as Ann Coulter and Jerry Springer join Mike for an all new, explosive episode!
Lauren Green serves as a religion correspondent for FOX News Channel. Prior to this, Green served as a news anchor for FOX & Friends where she provided daily news updates. Outside of her career at FNC, Green is well known as a concert pianist, with a degree in piano performance from The University of Minnesota. 
Great show! The Little Rockers are awesome. Huckabee is a great addition to the FOX lineup.
Elvis was the Greatest Entertainer of All-Time. James Burton was the Greatest Guitar Player of All-Time.
That makes them a pretty formidable team. They can never be replaced.
Great to see Lauren Green again… miss her on Fox and Friends in the AM.
I saw this show and enjoyed it so much! It must be so much fun to play with the band! I hope the segment continues because every time I watch the show I end up in a good mood. It is so good spirited and you can just tell that everyone is having fun. Ending with the Little Rockers is always a treat for we viewers.
Thanks for sharing the story about James Burton and Rick Stanley. I too am an Elvis fan so I really enjoyed the the performance and the stories about Elvis.
I too like the Huckabee show. The format is completely different from other news/information shows. the Little Rockers have steadily improve since I saw them on the debut show. I am very envious of the exposure the Little Rockers get to some of the music greats like James Burton, Yes, etc.
Lauren is an incredibly classy lady. I miss her on F&F in the morning but am gald to see her show up from time to time as a religion correspondant.
So glad to read your positive comments regarding HUCKABEE show and I think you are a lovely talent to have in his band. Mike is the only person right now I respect and trust regarding politics and our government. I am very proud he has his own program and hope Fox News will use him more as a commentator on other programs. He has the experience, knowledge and communication skills that people like plus he is authentic and honest!! God bless you Lauren and your important job covering religious stories. You do a great job !
I enjoy Mike’s program and the band. Is it poosible to purchase a DVD or CD of the Rudolph song they performed during Christmas?
This program has made my Saturday viewing as close to a “must see” as my busy life can handle. I admire Lauren, and as someone else said, I miss her on the morning “Laugh at the news–Foxy Friends” show.
Wouldn’t it be nice if we had a president with Mr” Huck’s” sense of humor.
The Huckabee show is the best to come around in a long time. I do enjoy the music…Was so….glad to hear Huckbee tell Ann Coulter off. She was speachless and he really stood up for the truth about himself… Good going Huck. He did it in such a nice way, but the truth came out….Also enjoyed Jerry Springer….I never really knew much about him and it was good to know him alittle better.
Who are the other members in the band, besides Lauren? The show is a must for me on Saterdaynite….
This show is so refreshing from other shows that have nothing but filth in them. I especially enjoy seeing Lauren Greene. She is so talented and pretty inside and out. It seems all the other stations now are just bashing Sarah Palin’s children and that is so sad that our country has stooped to that. It seems Obama attracts the most vile of people on the other stations. There is no excuse for that. I will support The Huckabee Show because of its cleanliness. Thanks for your contribution Lauren.
Awesome show! Great interviews that seem to give you a lift. Very positive show. Watching the “Little Rockers” is something I always look forward to. I hope Fox continues the show for many years.
I love the “Huckabee” show and especially the Elvis show.
But, Rick Stanley made a mistake in his backstage discussion with Lauren. When they met, Priscilla was 14(not 15) and Elvis was 24.(not 20)
FNC :
Bring Lauren back to morning news. She is greatly missed.
I enjoyed the show this week with James Burton. Your article did not mention James played guitar with Ricky Nelson. I was a huge fan of Ricky Nelson. It was not until I became an adult I came to enjoy Elvis. Listening to him sing so effortlessly is amazing. His religous music is really special.
Thanks for playing in the band with the Governor.
The show with James Burton is one that I really loved. I once played in a band that played a
lot of Elvis songs. The man was one of a kind and I am glad I lived in the same era as Elvis.
No one will ever take his place and music will never be the same again.
Bob Ennis
Enjoy the show whenever I am able to watch. As a bass player the ‘Little Rockers’ interest me too. Nice to see some of the backstage people get some ‘Face Time’. Would enjoy them much more if your sound engineers would ‘mike them up and balance it for over the air. The studio mikes just don’t do them justice. Keep up the good work and keep fighting the good fight Mike.