Gordon Stoker | Jordanaires singer, 88

Gordon Stoker, 88, a member of the Jordanaires vocal group that backed up Elvis Presley, died Wednesday at his home in Brentwood, Tenn., after a lengthy illness, his son, Alan, told the Associated Press.

Mr. Stoker, who was born in Gleason, Tenn., got his start playing the piano on WSM radio and its signature show, The Grand Ole Opry.

He joined the Jordanaires as a piano player, but then became a tenor vocalist. The quartet originated in Missouri and went to Nashville, where it backed Red Foley on a segment of the Opry called "the Prince Albert Show." The group was already well known for its gospel singing when Presley recruited the musicians to perform on his recording of "Hound Dog" in 1956.

The group also performed with Patsy Cline, Jim Reeves, George Jones, and Tennessee Ernie Ford. - Associated Press