Guitarist Scotty Moore has died aged 84 in Nashville on Tuesday after several months of poor health.
He is credited with helping Elvis shape his music career and produce his top hits, as well as inspiring generations of guitarists.
Moore was the last survivor of Elvis's original band which included Presley, bassist Bill Black and producer Sam Phillips.
Keith Richards from The Rolling Stones was one of those inspired by Moore. He once said: "When I heard Heartbreak Hotel, I knew what I wanted to do in life.
"It was as plain as day. All I wanted to do in the world was to be able to play and sound like that. Everyone else wanted to be Elvis, I wanted to be Scotty."
Not many guitarists in R&R were as original & as inventive as Scotty Moore RIP https://t.co/ORkO1UO6or
— Billy Idol (@BillyIdol) June 29, 2016
RIP Scotty Moore, Elvis Presley's Hall of Fame guitarist: https://t.co/56IVdhKY0d pic.twitter.com/fwfoVLVI5D
— billboard (@billboard) June 29, 2016