Born in Decatur, Alabama, Hodge began his musical career at age 17 in a gospel quartet, The Path Finders, with Bill Gaither.
Hodge helped out director George Sidney in the filming of Viva Las Vegas suggesting a special effect on a production number; three years later, in the studio with Presley as he pored through demos for the picture Spinout, he transformed an ignominious film soundtrack tune into a “walking blues“ (“I'll Be Back“), which impressed the director so much the plot denouement was rewritten to accommodate the number.
He also played important roles in Presley's late 1960s show business comeback, first in a TV special, then in a documentary.
Hodge was often regarded as the sweetest, kindest and most genuine member of the Memphis Mafia, with Presley's best interests at heart.
Hodge stayed at Graceland for a year afterward, helping Presley's father Vernon with any affairs of the estate.
In 1979, Hodge made a cameo appearance in the TV film ELVIS starring Kurt Russell in which he played himself and served as a technical adviser for the project.
Upon Bridges leaving the Elvis World and becoming a producer in Nashville and Las Vegas, he was able to facilitate a meeting in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee with Dee Gallon, and her brother Michael J. Ferraro, co-owners at that time of the Memories Theater that yielded a potential wonderful opportunity for Hodge to perform live for the fans for many years to come.
Hodge traveled the world annually to speak at Elvis Presley events and to sometimes perform with longtime friend, singer and musician, Terry Mike Jeffery.
Countries Hodge visited included England, Ireland, Belgium, Holland, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Switzerland, Hungary, Australia, and Japan.
On March 12, 2007, Hodge was honored at the 2007 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in New York City.
The ceremony opened with "in memoriam" photos of personalities important in rock and roll who had died in 2006, which included Hodge.