TCB Band | David Briggs | (Keyboards)

David Briggs was born in Alabama, the famous music of the Muscle Shoal area and birth place of W.C. Handy, Father Of The Blues, in 1943. David, in his younger years learned to play keyboards and played his first recording session at the age of fourteen. His first break as a session player was for James Joiner and it was through his connection with Joiner's Tune Records, who formed the foundations for the Muscle Shoal Music Industry, he made contact with Jerry Carrigan (drummer), Norbert Putnam (bassist) and Terry Thompson (guitarist). Together they formed The Muscle Shoals rhythm section at Rick Hall's Fame Studio, participating in hits released by Tommy Roe, The Tams and others. Tommy Roe took the band on tour with him and before they knew it, they were opening shows for The Beatles. During 1962, David was signed up as an artist and songwriter for Decca Record Company, finally moving to Nashville and finding himself in constant demand as one of Nashville's most versatile session keyboard players.

In 1966, David was called into the recording studios to stand in for Floyd Cramer, who was three hours late for one of the recording sessions. The sessions involved work on the How Great Though Art album. Floyd Cramer's loss was David's gain as he also got to play piano on Love Letters. Elvis liked David and was impressed with his style and versatility. He was asked to stay on and play organ on the rest of the sessions after Floyd returned to play piano. David continued to record with Elvis until his final recording sessions in 1976. He played electric piano on the very first part of the 1975 Vegas engagement and later joined Elvis and the rest of his band again replacing Shane Keister, for all of the 1976 dates and into February 1977.

He was replaced by Bobby Ogdin in March 1977. It was also during the late 60's David and Norburt Putnam opened Quadrafonic Studios, working with some of the biggest names in pop music. They closed the studio in 1976 and David opened House of David. His first caller was Joe Cocker.

David, from that first break at the age of fourteen, has developed in to a much respected and in demand songwriter, producer, musical director, sessions player and keyboardist. As well as sessions work, he has made hundreds of TV commercials and as musical director he is credited with This Country's Rockin', the majority of the CMA Awards, The Hall Of Fame Special and a two and a half hour tribute show to Minnie Pearl. In 1999, he was inducted into The Alabama Music Hall Of Fame. In all, David has worked for and recorded with hundreds of artists including Elvis Presley, Loretta Lyn, Bob Segar, Hank Williams Jnr, Joe Cocker, Linda Ronstadt, Sammy Davies Jnr, Marty Robbins, Neil Young, Roy Orbison, James Brown and many more.

Interview with David Briggs
The TCB Band