Felton Jarvis


Charles Felton Jarvis was an American record producer and singer.

Career

As an RCA Victor record producer, Jarvis was responsible for most recordings of Elvis Presley in the years 1966–1977. He also released his own singles in the late 1950s and early 1960s. However, he was more successful as a record producer. He produced the first six albums by John Hartford, and the artists Tommy Roe, Michael Nesmith, Fats Domino, Jimmy Dean, Fess Parker, Charlie Pride, Carl Perkins, Skeeter Davis, Willie Nelson, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Maria Dallas, and Jerry Reed.

Last project: Guitar Man

In mid-December 1980, Jarvis finished an Elvis Presley project for RCA Records called Guitar Man. It contained ten previously recorded songs that matched Presley's original vocals with new overdubbed instrumental tracks. On December 16, 1980, Jarvis and Jerry Flowers, an employee of RCA Records discussed questions for a radio interview to be held the following week on the occasion of the album's release. Their conversation was captured on cassette tape and includes thoughts on the Guitar Man project and Jarvis's career.
The formal radio interview never took place because Jarvis suffered a stroke on December 19, 1980. He was admitted to a Nashville hospital and died there on January 3, 1981, at the age of 46.

Discography

Singles