CityView Magazine

22 August 2022 Milton Smith missed the opportunity to go on tour and perform onstage with Elvis and his band, playing at his funeral instead. FEATURE Elvis' piano man – almost Just days before Elvis Presley's death in 1977, Fayetteville pianist Milton Smith was preparing to join his concert entourage. Instead, he played The King's cherished hymns for his funeral at Graceland estate. BY MICHAEL FUTCH PHOTOGRAPHY BY MELISSA SUE GERRITS I t was without a doubt the best gig a gospel pianist could dream of: On the road with Elvis Presley. But Milton Smith never got to the first stop on that concert tour. Aer years of declining health and personal struggles had taken their toll, Elvis had le the building. e legendary showman, whose grinding hips and mischievous smile only magnified his instinctive musical style, died a day before the tour was to begin. Instead of performing on a concert stage, Smith played for e King — at his funeral. Smith, a longtime music instructor for Cumberland County Schools, missed the opportunity of a lifetiwme to go on tour and play onstage with Elvis and his band. Aug. 16 will mark 45 years since Elvis died in 1977. In many ways, he had become a bloated caricature of himself and the butt of comedians' jokes. Yet he retained his sexy, deep voice that fans couldn't help falling in love with, turning mediocre material into pure gold. Milton Smith played some of Elvis' favorite hymns Milton Smith will play at CityView's Summer in the City event on Aug. 27 at SkyView on Hay. Get your tickets. Smith says there's no doubt that Elvis would have loved the music he played at the funeral. Elvis loved the sound of gospel, which influenced nearly everything he did.

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