Presley's Guitarist Garland Dies

[Elvis Presley](https://www.contactmusic.com/elvis-presley)'s one-time guitarist, HANK GARLAND, has died in Florida of a staph infection, aged 74.

Garland was a revered studio musician who played the opening notes on PATSY CLINE's I FALL TO PIECES.

He rose to fame as a country star, playing for PAUL HOWARD, COWBOY COPAS (corr) and EDDY ARNOLD, and he recorded with [Roy Orbison](https://www.contactmusic.com/roy-orbison), the EVERLY BROTHERS and Elvis.

Garland also appeared in Presley's 1961 Farewell Concert filmed in Honolulu.

His career was cut short in the early 1960s when he was involved in a car accident, which robbed him of many of his skills.

The car crash left him in a coma for six months and he had to reteach himself how to play the guitar.

29/12/2004 01:16