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That custom-made, purple-and-red metal-flake finish guitar Elvis Costello played during his second show Friday at the Hi-Tone was built by Memphian Robert Johnson.
Robert, a guitarist, writer, producer who's worked with The Rolling Stones, The Who and Isaac Hayes among others, gave the guitar to Elvis last June at Sweet Tea Studios in Oxford, where Elvis recorded his new album, The Delivery Man.
"The Flying Mojo Guitaro" is what Robert calls the guitar. "It's a very hip guitar." he said. "I give them away to celebrities. I don't sell them. I give them away to people I admire and respect in the business."
Beginning with John Entwistle of The Who in 1996, Robert has given the guitars to Keith Richards, Kid Rock, Robbie Krieger from The Doors and Teenie Hodges.
Robert described the guitar as "'50s technology modified to suit my own personal needs."
Elvis played the guitar to a sold-out house recently at Lincoln Center. Robert said. Elvis told his wife, Diana Krall, and Robert's manager, Mike Turnbull, that the guitar is "versatile" and that it "saved him a lot of time on stage 'cause it has so many different sounds."
Elvis is writing a set of pop lyrics for Robert's upcoming album.
Robert and Elvis "met briefly in the '70s through Bob Geldof with the Boomtown Rats when I was living in England. Bob and I were on the same record label together."
Elvis is "one of the most prolific songwriters of modern day. He's the hippest 50-year-old out there."
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