EIN: Whats your earliest memory of Elvis? "[15], When Presley emerged as a major celebrity in 1956, he was constantly besieged by adoring fans and the press, making a normal lifestyle impossible. The Kings uncle and mother were pretty tight from their early years and the Presley and Smith families moved from Tupelo, Mississippi to Memphis, Tennessee together. However, in reality, even if Elvis Presley did allegedly fake his own death in 1977, today, he would be a very old man, so the odds are that even so, he most likely would not be alive today. [13] Guralnick adds "The Colonel joked that they looked like a bunch of old men, but the Memphis Mafia had become almost as well known around town as Frank Sinatra's Rat Pack" and that Elvis and his guys were all "living on speed and tranqs". What did you see of his personal quest at the time and his visits to the Self Realization Park? . She worried a lot, and she was not in good health. So he decided to have it trimmed down and thats what they didwhich made him lookgod! . Dee Presley said her telephone conversation with Elvis shortly before his death was the first indication she had that something was seriously wrong with him. Click to buy "Elvis and the Memphis Mafia", (the eagerly anticipated re-issue of "Elvis Aaron Presley: Revelations of the Memphis Mafia", Click to view the "Memphis Mafia" website, Click to read Marty Lacker's interview with EIN, Click to read Lamar Fike's interview with EIN, Click to read EIN's article 'Elvis was Not a Racist', "Elvis Presley is the supreme socio-cultural icon in the history of pop culture", " Elvis is the 'glue' which holds our society together.which subconciously gives our world meaning", "Eventually everybody has to die, except Elvis", "He is the "Big Bang", and the universe he detonated is still expanding, the pieces are still flying", "I think Elvis Presley will never be solved", "He was the most popular man that ever walked on this planet since Christ himself was here", "When I first heard Elvis' voice I just knew I wasn't going to work for anybodyhearing him for the first time was like busting out of jail", "When we were kids growing up in Liverpool, all we ever wanted was to be Elvis Presley", Elvis would be alive and all the impersonators would be dead", (EIN Note Billys full story about The Pledge is also featured in the book Elvis & the Memphis Mafia), Subscribe to EIN's FREE weekly newsletter, Selected back issues of EIN's FREE weekly newsletter, DVD: A Tribute To The King (Scotty Moore), Book: Elvis Aaron Presley: A Candle In The Wind, Elvis That's The Way It Is: 1970 vs. 2001, The man who bought Elvis (Robert Sillerman), Elvis on The Creative Edge - Part 2 - The CD, 'Elvis Seriously'- Why is Elvis' voice too often ignored, How & where to sell your Elvis collection, Elvis & other major artists miss out on Grammy Awards, Listen to the Elvis "strung out" in Vegas audio, View video of "All Shook Up" opening night on Broadway, Billy Smith, Marty Lacker & Lamar Fike have all recently been involved in the re-issue of the excellent book Elvis & The Memphis Mafia. It was then that Billy Smith realized that there was something different and amazing about Elvis Presley. Billy was 8 years younger than Elvis and grew up with him in Tupelo. For both his security needs and touring support, Presley hired people chosen from among those he could trust and depend on to manage his public appearances. A couple of them had been arrested with false prescriptions attempting to collect drugs for Elvis, quite a few had taken physical hits in the service of protecting Elvis and none were paid more than $500 a week. He would watch The Student Prince which was set in Heidelberg, over and over again. However, many of the people who were close to him are still here. He also tried to distance you all from Elvis by making Joe Esposito head foreman. Had Elvis used a trained financial supervisor who knew how to invest then he wouldnt have had to work so hard in his final years. Known for his generosity (attributed by Presley himself to an impoverished childhood), he bought some of these employees homes as wedding gifts and frequently bought new Cadillac automobiles for employees, relatives and friends.[12]. Along with his wife Jo, he and their two sons lived in a trailer in the back yard. What do you remember of that time and how different was it from life in Tupelo? At the same time, much of the lore of Presley's life has become family history. Alternatively, fans can go to Graceland and learn volumes about Presley, his life, and his family. He was my hero. Being the King of Rock and Roll and also a movie star, its no secret that Elvis Presley wanted to keep himself looking his best. He talked about the record to his mother and daddy, and we knew he was going to make one, but when it came out it thrilled all of us. Stephanie-Billy Smith. That seems very strange. He was the only member of the Memphis Mafia to last from beginning to end of the group. Elvis always liked to be the "Main Event." Nobody checked on him.. All the crew loved him, and they were always so nice to his boys (us). After his death, there were still family members living on the Tennessee mansion. The reason being someone told him his eyes were so blue and all that, [so] if he had dark hair it would make his eyes stand out.. But stranger things have happened. This so-called Bodyguard book came from the West cousins and Dave Hebler, fired by Presley's father. This article "Billy Smith (Memphis Mafia)" is from Wikipedia. Seen on safari: Crocodile swings from elephant's tail. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. I'm in terrible pain.' Dee Presley was married to the famed singer's father, Vernon, from 1960 -- at the height of Elvis's stardom -- until 1974 when they were divorced. Unfortunately, it never came to pass. Among Memphis natives, he was most known for renting out the entire Memphis amusement park Libertyland in order to ride his favorite roller coaster the Zippin Pippin. [8], In the last year of Elvis' life, he became more reclusive and withdrawn, along with abusing medications. Red West was one of Presley's earliest friends from their school days, his first bodyguard which he would remain until the last year of Presley's life, and in 1954 had acted as a driver for Elvis, Scotty Moore, and Bill Black when they first toured the American South performing as the "Blue Moon Boys." 'I could hardly understand him because he was crying,' she said. But, why bust his bubble. Has thanked: 296 times. Blasting News is working with the European Union in the fight against fake news. Joe Esposito handled money and cross referenced the extensive travel arrangements. The King died in 1977. The most publicized fallout came when Vernon Presley fired Elvis' longtime friends Red West and Sonny West on July 13, 1976. This seems more than a coincidence as back in 1957 he was also involved in an incident involving $1000 bills. Incredible as it sounds that after more than four decades since his passing that details surrounding Elvis Presley are still one of the most sought after and popular topics. Billy: Well it's true that my father, Travis, went to the penitentiary with Vernon, but Vernon got out of prison a few months before my father because of good behavior. EIN: What can you tell us of your Aunt Gladys? [citation needed], In numerous press conferences concerning Elvis: What Happened?, both of the West cousins stated they wrote the book in part to make Elvis realize that his dependence on prescription medications was (literally) killing him. [citation needed], Presley and his friends and employees also adopted the acronym TCB which meant "Taking Care of Business". Smith claims that Elvis was always hardest on himself when it came to how he looked, adding that if Elvis thought it would make him better, he did it. However, if any of them made a run for the mansion, hed get pretty hacked off according to his son. Billy: I don't know about Joe being paid by Colonel. Billy Smith also claims that Elvis underwent two face life procedures, the first one being in 1957, and the second in 1975 just two years before his untimely death on August 16, 1977. Calendar planner 2022-2023. These original Memphis Mafia members at the time the phrase was coined were cousins Sonny West,[7] and Red West, as well as Billy Smith, and Charlie Hodge, among others. EIN: Elvis was a gorgeous looking man. Dog rescued after falling 12 feet into Georgia storm drain. "[12] "They all had jobs to do so that Elvis could do his and as far as being there for the money, that's laughable because there really wasn't much in that area to be there for. Being both family, and also a member of the Memphis Mafia, Billy Smith was probably the closest friend that Elvis ever had. Powerball ticket forgotten in coat pocket turns out to be $1 million winner. With Elvis' cousin Billy Smith also in the hospital room, the elder Presley lashed out at his already reeling son, blaming him for the heart attack and shouting, "I can thank you for this.". According to Alan Fortas, an all-Memphis football halfback who became a bodyguard and part of the Presley entourage, "Elvis needed someone to baby more than he needed a sex partner. [1] Contents 1 Playing career "[21] Even the girls he dated lamented, "Whenever you were with Elvis for the most part you were with his entourage. Jerry still lives in the house in LA that Elvis bought him in 1974 and is still involved in Elvis projects. ", "For a dead man, Elvis Presley is awfully noisy. Billy: One thing Uncle Vernon was good at was numbers, especially if dollar signs were in front of them! To get inside you need no key. He always had a love for music even at very young age. After all, Smith is the Kings cousin. I always loved Elvis very much and would do just about anything to please him and be with him. So many of the things she did and said as well as the places he went have become iconic. So when we moved into Graceland Vernon asked my daddy to be the head gate guard, just as hed been at Elvis house on Audubon Drive. The. She was always close to her family, but Elvis was her heart. However, the best sources for information about Elvis Presley are the people who knew him while he was alive. Billy Smith is one of those great sources of Elvis Presley information. we were all three there talking for hours about everything in the world! World's Ugliest Dog contest seeking unalluring canines for 2023 competition. When he was sick, I usually stayed with him. Billy: Elvis loved to read. Billy Smith was Elvis' first cousin, the son of Gladys Presley's oldest brother. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7T7QKcIrE8). She also travels with Elvis impersonator Elvis Wade and introduces him when he performs. Jerry was always nice to me and my family and to my Mother and Daddy, and I will always remember him for that. He went to great lengths to make sure that it was kept a jet black color at all times, making his blue eyes stand out. They've been married for years. We promised each other. For more of these throwback videos, check out our YouTube Channel! We had to eat turnip greens for a month. "It's just a simple word, you see, . https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/elvis-presley-on-set-you-wont-ask-elvis-anything-too-deep-69906/. Sometimes they would hang out with Sammy Davis, Jr., or check out Bobby Darin at the Cloister. She was in Germany where Elvis was stationed in the Army. He loved Elvis, and Elvis provided for him. There, he shares some of those stories with the public. In two separate interviews, Billy Smith and Marty Lacker each spoke of the faking of Elvis' death.once regarding Elvis' plan to do so and once recounting that it was actually done. 'He was so wonderful. After her last conversation with Elvis, Dee Presely said she had a premonition and she warned Elvis' father that something 'terrible' was going to happen to one of her boys or his son. That's the same white house that Elvis and I tore down with the bulldozer to make more room to ride the horses. EIN: Billy, you had a particularly special relationship with Elvis and were closer to him than any of the other members of the Memphis Mafia. Billy: Aunt Gladys was a good person. Right: Billy Smith, The Colonel and Elvis all looking jovial in June 1967- about three months after the 'Clambake' incident. Following his August 16, 1977 death, Thompson received a heartbreaking call from Presleys daughter. Can you tell us if this is true? Their requests to speak directly to Elvis about their employment termination and the nominal severance pay were not granted. He also had not only one but two facelifts in his lifetime, one in 1957 and the other in 1975. He hated how wide it was and the way it flared. EIN: After Elvis got back from the army and you married your wife Jo, how did you balance your months in Hollywood with your relationship back home? EIN: What about Gene Smith, he seemed to come & go within the group? He liked real dramatic things", (Marty Lacker in 'Elvis and the Memphis Mafia'), "If life was fair, Elvis would be alive and all the impersonators would be dead". He had his expressions and he even had a bad eye like Elam. Elvis was always my hero. New Elvis projects will include Hound dog treats for dogs and a Netflix original series in 2021. They wrote about Presley's years of prescription drug abuse which eventually led to his death. Billy: Gene was Elvis' first cousin. For that they were often shouted at, abused and belittled by the King when he felt like it. EIN: Once Elvis bought Graceland you also moved in with your family? A fan asked if they stay in contact with the Presley family, and if not, why. Elvis death: Is Gracelands upstairs preserved just as King left it? Nick Adams and his gang came by the suite all the time, not to mention the eccentric actor Billy Murphy, longtime friend of John Wayne and Robert Mitchum". I usually went to the hospital and stayed with him there. However, he cant put his finger on what the X factor was, to this day. Elvis always looked at the person, not what race he or she was. He had the intelligence of a twelve year old but he was a kind man. He was more upset and mad over the socks. But The Colonel tried to get information out of us all. Another was his father Vernons sister Aunt Delta, who was widowed and actually lived at the mansion until her death in 1993, over a decade after tours began. He made it a good time. Elvis and Vernon knew how far to push. Billy Smith. Billy is" When Elvis Presley shot to fame he needed security so ended up hiring his mother Gladys brother, Travis Smith, to be his first Graceland guard. We were told that she was a beautiful woman. EIN: As most people know, Elvis father Vernon went to jail for forging a cheque. More info. In fact, Billy and his wife Jo lived on the grounds of Graceland behind the main house for years. The Beatles came to Elvis' house at 525 Perugia Way in Bel Air, and we all sat around and talked, and they were extremely nice. And, the singer bought 'truckloads' of toys for her sons. [citation needed], Elvis' expenses were increasing at an alarming rate, and there were complaints and threats of lawsuits about the manner in which the Wests interacted with fans. Tapir briefly escapes enclosure at Florida zoo. See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive. Elvis and Parker discussed offering the Wests a monetary settlement in return for a written agreement the book would not be published, and their experiences with Elvis, on stage and off would remain confidential. Billy: Junior Smith was Gene's older brother and his real name was Carroll. In these cases Presley paid salaries, but most lived off fringe benefits such as gifts, cars, houses and bonuses. She describes herself as having been like a sister to Elvis, a companion, confidante and keeper of secrets in the exciting days of his early career. Log in or sign up for Facebook to connect with friends, family and people you know. EIN: And what of Vernon? Over the years, there have been many rumors that have circulated about Presley, one in particular that he also had webbed toes. He also had not only one but two facelifts in his lifetime, one in 1957 and the other in 1975. The Memphis Mafia was the nickname given by the media to a group of Elvis Presley's friends, associates, employees and cousins whose main functions were to accompany, protect, and serve Presley from the beginning of his career in 1954 until his death in 1977. Billys family also went with the Presleys when they first moved to Memphis. Later on Elvis told someone and it hurt me a lot, and he knew it. There were two teams, and the object of the game was to knock over as many members of the opposing team as possible by any means." We heard stories about Morning Dove, but not that much talk about her. He was amazed at some of his findings, and he made sure that we all were aware of them. He liked his guys around him. blue eyes and lighter skin. 15 distinct works. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. 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