One of Elvis' most beloved back-up singers, Millie Kirkham, passed away on Sunday in Nashville. Millie, 91, suffered a stroke last week.
Millie is best known for coming up with, and performing, the famous "woo-ooh-ooh" part in "Blue Christmas." Elvis didn't want to record the song and told Millie and her fellow singers to sing something so silly that RCA would never release it. Of course, the song was released - and it's now a holiday classic.
Millie sang back-up for Elvis both in the studio and on the stage. She sang back-up on Elvis' hit tunes like "(You're the) Devil In Disguise" and versions of "C.C. Rider" and "Polk Salad Annie." She sang with the Jordanaires, and also sang back-up on other classic songs like Bobby Vinton's "Blue Velvet" and George Jones' "He Stopped Loving Her Today." She also sang for Patsy Cline, Porter Wagoner, Charley Pride, Loretta Lynn and Bob Dylan.
Millie shares her memories of Elvis in the video below.