Ronald Ellis Tutt (March 12, 1938 – October 16, 2021)^[1] was an American drummer who was the principal drummer for Elvis Presley, the Carpenters, Roy Orbison, Neil Diamond, and Jerry Garcia.^[2] He was also a session drummer who recorded with some of the most prominent musicians of his day.

Tutt was born in Dallas, the only child of Frank Mac Tutt, and Gipsy Fay Clark Tutt. He was involved with music and the performing arts for most of his childhood;^[2] he also played the guitar, violin and trumpet.^[3]

At age 16, Tutt played his first paying gig, with a Western Swing band which included guitarists Tommy Morrell and Leon Rhodes; they would become the staff band for The Northside Jamboree with Scotty Moore and Bill Black, Saturday night live radio broadcasts which aired from the Northside Coliseum in Fort Worth.^[4] Moore and Black would soon become members of Elvis Presley's first back-up band.

In 1956, after graduating from North Dallas High School, Tutt attended the University of North Texas at Denton where he studied music. In 1959, he left school to pursue his career.^[5]

Tutt played for the TCB Band ("Taking Care of Business") the Elvis Presley touring and recording band, which he auditioned for in 1969. He flew in with his drum kit, which he set up in the recording studio, though while he was waiting to be called, another drummer walked in and began playing his kit. Tutt thought that he had lost the chance to even audition, as Gene Pello was incredibly experienced and seemed to be winning Elvis Presley over. However, Presley's manager, Colonel Tom Parker, did not want to waste any money having paid to fly Tutt and his drums over, and so Elvis was persuaded to give Tutt a turn. Elvis hired him that day saying, "You know Ronnie, those other drummers were good but they were doing their own thing. You were watching me all the time".^[3]

Tutt chose not to be sycophantic around Elvis, and remained forthright in his dealings with the star. Elvis respected him for this and they developed a good friendship, with Elvis once buying him an engraved solid gold Swiss watch.^[3]

Tutt played on Billy Joel's second and third albums: 1973's breakthrough, Piano Man^[6] (all tracks but "Captain Jack") and 1974's Streetlife Serenade.^[7]

Around early 1974, Tutt began recording and touring with the Jerry Garcia Band, and also Jerry Garcia's and Merl Saunders' brief Legion of Mary.^[8][9] Starting with Garcia's studio album Compliments (1974), Tutt played drums for the Jerry Garcia Band for four years before moving on. During this time, Tutt also played drums on Garcia's studio albums Reflections^[10] (1976) and Cats Under the Stars (1978).^[11] In 1982, Tutt returned to the studio with Garcia to help record Run for the Roses.^[12]

• Ron Tutt Interview at NAMM Oral History Collection (2011)
• Ron Tutt discography at Discogs
• Ron Tutt at IMDb