What Elvis serious about changing things? After Elvis died, Smith and his wife Jo moved to Mississippi to be closer to her family. by. Billy: The pledge came about because we had an incident as kids and were never to talk about it. After all, Smith is the King's cousin. Elvis Presley died Aug. 16, 1977. Billy: One thing Uncle Vernon was good at was numbers, especially if dollar signs were in front of them! About Elvis Presley, Smith said, When Elvis was on stage, somehow he had a way of bringing you into his world. That was also true when he performed in the studio. Related articles Elvis. Supposedly some of his characteristics were due to Cherokee Indian being in your side of the family. Elvis had a hard time hiding it if something was bothering him. Menu. Answer (1 of 12): It depends whether or not you count his cousin Billy Smith. EIN: It seems to me that Vernon being employed as Elvis financial manager was a terrible mistake. Sometimes they would hang out with Sammy Davis, Jr., or check out Bobby Darin at the Cloister. He liked his guys around him. When Elvis bought Graceland Billy's family also moved in and his father Travis worked for Elvis as Chief guard. He also had not only one but two facelifts in his lifetime, one in 1957 and the other in 1975. [22] According to Presley's cousin Billy Smith, Elvis got into bed with Smith and his wife Jo "many times at Graceland when we would spend the night there in Lisa's room, or on tour in the hotel, and at the trailer on the property at Graceland. Priscilla sketched out the design on note paper; positioning the letters and lightning bolt in various ways before they found what they liked. This first referred to their image, as they usually cruised the city in black mohair suits and dark sunglasses. Billy: I don't know about Joe being paid by Colonel. Billy Stanley, her son by a previous marriage, called her and said Elvis was offering $5,000 if she would telephone him, she said. A fan asked if they stay in contact with the Presley family, and if not, why. Billy was Elvis' cousin and the closest guy to him! However, he was just a boy at the time. EIN: Once Elvis bought Graceland you also moved in with your family? Billy also tackles the rumor that Elvis had webbed toes. Can you confirm the story? Dee and Vernon Presley remained friends after their divorce, she said, and might have gotten back together someday if he had not died in 1979. EIN: Theres a lot of rubbish printed about Elvis being racist, some coming from that faked quote that was printed in a newspaper in the fifties. Elvis' father Vernon increasingly distrusted and disliked many members of the Memphis Mafia as Elvis' financial condition deteriorated in 1972. 'It was a very strange telephone conversation. At the same time, much of the lore of Presleys life has become family history. Marty Lacker and Elvis' cousin, Billy Smith, were probably the closest true friends of Elvis according to some in the group. When asked about the stories, Smith revealed he was not too sure about that one. See Photos. There were a lot of lonely days and nights until Jo started to travel with us. blue eyes and lighter skin. Afterwards we both cried like crazy and I'll remember it as long as I live. However, he cant put his finger on what the X factor was, to this day. He never betrayed me again. I will never forget that night and I know Elvis really liked them. I remember once Elvis took us shopping and brought us a complete wardrobe shortly after we moved to Graceland. He made it a good time. Billy with Elvis before leaving for Germany & the army in 1958. [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". "[3], Among "the first to live, travel and play with Elvis" were cousins Red West and Sonny West,[4] as well as Billy Smith (who was with Elvis from the start to the end and the only original member still with Elvis after 1976), Charlie Hodge, Mevlana Hezri, and Joe Esposito. What do you remember of that time and how different was it from life in Tupelo? They roared with laughter. Elvis never changed his belief in God or Jesus Christ. Red and Sonny West were Elvis' bodyguards (although Red West also had a talent for writing songs, including some recorded by Elvis such as "If Everyday Was Like Christmas" and then "Separate Ways"). Smith went on to recall how Presley decided to have his nose trimmed down. Can you tell us if this is true? Log In. I dont know why, Billy says in the video. . But, he has a sharp memory. Jerry still lives in the house in LA that Elvis bought him in 1974 and is still involved in Elvis projects. We lived in a big-white house that was on the property. Release Calendar Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie Spotlight. "There wasn't a crowd then, just a few guys," and she emphasizes that she "had nothing to do with being a yes man for him and obviously he trusted me. 'I called and said, 'Elvis, what in the world is wrong?' Billy Smith. Tel: We use cookies and similar technologies to personalize contents and ads, to provide social media features and to analyze our traffic. Here, in Part One, Billy talks about his family, the Memphis Mafia, the Movie Years, meeting The Beatles and much much more. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. She adored him. He had gotten a quick acetate cut, which . Elvis swore that he would never touch another one after that, and I don't guess he ever did. Other than Billy Smith himself I cannot determine a source for this story but I can take an educated guess. Billy: Well for one thing, we had inside plumbing! He had a pretty good bump on the back of his head. All our wives were there. NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Two weeks before his death, a sobbing Elvis Presley told his stepmother, 'I'm in terrible pain' -- a cry for help Dee Presley says will haunt her until she dies. At the same time, much of the lore of Presley's life has become family history. I don't agree with some of the tales he tells, but Larry was there for a while. For we who know, know it well, Billy Smith said that he knew there was something special about Elvis Presley the first time he watched the King work in the studio. So down to earth. He seems to remember his importance more than some of the other guys remember it. [1] Contents 1 Playing career It was then that Billy Smith realized that there was something different and amazing about Elvis Presley. Being both family, and also a member of the Memphis Mafia, Billy Smith was probably the closest friend that Elvis ever had. What was that night like for you and why didnt you run a tape recording of it?! Presley's cousin is eight years younger but spent 34 years of his life in the company of the famous singer before he passed away in 1977. According to one account,[6] a crowd of people in front of the Riviera Hotel watched as two big black limousines arrived. EIN: Your relationship with Elvis is probably best symbolised by 'The Pledge'. However, he was just a boy at the time. And, he had unbelievable strength. Presleys cousin is eight years younger but spent 34 years of his life in the company of the famous singer before he passed away in 1977. The couple answered fans questions recently on their YouTube channel Memphis Mafia Kid. He would wear a shirt with an E and a P emblazoned on each side of his chest as a uniform, accompanied by a cap and dark blue trousers. This so-called Bodyguard book came from the West cousins and Dave Hebler, fired by Presley's father. I know that Elvis loved Colonel, but he also had resentment toward him for holding him back on certain things that he really wanted to do. It has been speculated that Elvis Presley was forced to fake his death in order to protect himself and his family after allegedly outing some pretty powerful mafia members. That happened a lot of times, and we thought nothing of it. In these cases Presley paid salaries, but most lived off fringe benefits such as gifts, cars, houses and bonuses. "Some of the Memphis Mafia would buy up to $15,000 worth of fireworks in today's money, including skyrockets, baby giants, firecrackers, and chasers, which moved rapidly and unpredictably until they exploded. Elvis and Aunt Gladys had a very quick temper, and I have seen the bad side of both when they were mad or upset. Elvis made the rules and decisions when it came to me, and most of the other guys. Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Authorities in Maine said one bison remained on the loose Tuesday after three of the animals were seen running loose on a road Monday. Elvis death: Is Gracelands upstairs preserved just as King left it? Moreover, when approached by Vanity Fair, several Elvis experts attested to its seeming. EIN: Elvis obviously had a quick temper. His former wife weeps when she talks about the deaths of her stepson and his father. 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." Billy's family also went with the Presleys when they first moved to Memphis. Among "the first to live, travel and play with Elvis" were cousins Red West and Sonny West, [4] as well as Billy Smith (who was with Elvis from the start to the end and the only original member still with Elvis after 1976), Charlie Hodge, Mevlana Hezri, and Joe Esposito. Feb. 28 (UPI) -- A swimmer visiting a beach in New South Wales, Australia, found a mussel-covered message in a bottle that turned out to have traveled more than 185 miles. Junior was at my house in my bed when he died. [citation needed], When Parker informed Elvis that the Wests were writing a "tell-all book" about Elvis, which included the disclosure of Elvis' addiction to prescribed pain medications, he was furious as well as "hurt". Feb. 28 (UPI) -- The World's Ugliest Dog Contest, held annually in California, announced applications are now available for owners of aesthetically-challenged canines seeking to prove the unsightliness of their pooches. It then gets swung around by the elephant until it lets go. Travis was illiterate and when fans at Gracelands gates asked him for his autograph he would put them off since he couldnt read or write. Billy Smith was interviewed by Piers Beagley for EIN, January 2006. And, in the early days, they lived with him. Was he really as lazy as often portrayed - and can you comment on your quote (in the book Elvis & the Memphis Mafia) that "Vernon always wanted more of everything, except responsibility"! EIN: And what of Vernon? 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. Click on the topic that interests you to follow it. Elvis cared a lot about Daddy, he did. While his wife Jo added: He had a lot of respect for him.. Copyright Elvis Information Network 2006. He always seemed to want me around him and was very protective of me. Charlie Hodge harmonized with Elvis, played background acoustic guitar, and gave him scarves and beverages during concerts, as well as being responsible for inspecting each stage layout before the concert. July 4, 1956. They were not allowed to take the trailer that Elvis had purchased for them that they had lived in on the Graceland property. [9], Rolling Stone journalist William Otterburn-Hall describes the men as close around the star "like a football scrum after a loose ball". He hated how wide it was and the way it flared. Elvis enjoyed the Self Realization Park. Presley faced repeated threats of physical violence from outraged moral extremists and death threats from fanatics, as would later happen when he performed in Las Vegas. Billy: Larry Geller was okay. 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.. [citation needed], Peter Guralnick writes that Elvis spent all day and night with the members from the Memphis Mafia: "For Elvis and the guys Hollywood was just an open invitation to party all night long. He had the intelligence of a twelve year old but he was a kind man. But, we couldn't make a big deal about it in front of Elvis. They were a big family and Elvis lived in a "milieu of a protective brotherhood. Can you clarify what happened and how did you feel about this happening being real family? Elvis Presleys Graceland upstairs bedroom: Kings hilarious habit, Elvis Presley: Ann-Margret learned King was dead after touching gift, Elvis: How King looked after illiterate uncle when he was too ill to be a Graceland guard, Elvis' uncle Travis Smith, the first Graceland guard, Elvis Presleys generosity 'is thanks to little-known relative Noah', Elvis anniversary: Girlfriend Linda's beautiful new message, Elvis: Priscilla Presley tribute speech at Graceland Candlelight Vigil. He was, and is supreme", "I wasn't just a fan, I was his brotherthere'll never be another like that soul brother", "There were rock 'n' roll records before Heartbreak Hotel, but this was the one that didn't just open the doorit literally blasted the door off its rusted, rotten, anachronistic hinges. This article "Billy Smith (Memphis Mafia)" is from Wikipedia. Billy Smith was an administrative aid to Elvis Presley, as well as Elvis' first cousin and part of the Memphis Mafia. "[20] Gerald Marzorati says that Elvis "couldn't go anywhere else without a phalanx of boyhood friends. Rickeap. It is quite a stretch, but imagine if it were true. They stated they hoped their book would "shock" Elvis into seeking medical care away from the physicians who were complicit in prescribing Elvis large amounts of prescription medications and fully resting and becoming "clean" off of these prescribed drugs. Some Elvis Presley fans may find the animated series an insult to the King of Rock and Roll, while many others could find it very interesting. Been thanked: 730 times. When Smith became old enough he worked for Elvis as well as a member of the Memphis Mafia, eventually living at Graceland separately from his family. [5], Smith was one of Elvis' closest friends and confidantes, and the two would talk for hours up in Elvis' bedroom at Graceland, even acting out Monty Python scenes. The interesting part will not be the cartoon itself, but the fact that the Elvis character is working undercover as a government spy. He wanted stronger roles. Smith, eight years younger than Elvis, grew up alongside the star in Graceland. I remember him as a fun-loving guy and he hung around a lot with Elvis until Elvis went into the army. "[12], The Memphis Mafia had specific jobs. Since the emphasis was on large and potentially lethal fireworks, everyone had to wear air force jump-suits plus gloves, helmets, and goggles. Elvis Presley's cousin Billy Smith reveals singer's most intimate secrets on his cosmetic surgeries, Elvis Presley's cousin reveals singer's most intimate secrets on the singer's surgeries, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck enjoy during family dinner in Malibu, 'Shameless' season 11 spoilers: countdown to saying goodbye to the Gallaghers has begun, Elvis Presley affection once turned down by Mary Tyler Moore, SYFY ends 'The Magicians' with current season 5, Emperor Palpatine is a clone according to upcoming 'Rise of Skywalker' novelization. I know now he was trying to tell me something -- it was a most touching goodbye.'. 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. Never wanting to disappoint his fans, nothing was too extreme for Presley. I realized I had done the impossible -- called up Elvis. And, whenever we were able, we always went to see him, especially local. [5], Around 1960, the media dubbed these people the "Memphis Mafia". ", "Absolute id crashed into absolute superegoas the uptightset man in America shook hands with just about the loosest. See Photos. And he loved big orchestras. Want to Read. He did a lot for me and my family in the early years and for my family in the later years. The author also mentions other functions of the guys: "various members of the Memphis Mafia had played vital roles in keeping Elvis' numerous dirty secrets out of the public eye. He was sullen and disturbed because of what had happened to him when he was in the army in Korea. Sign up for a free 30 day trial at the link to listen to unlimited music on Amazon Music! "[11] noted Buzz Cason. Elvis came up with the phrase after hearing the 1973 hit song Taking Care of Business by the Canadian rock band, Bachman, Turner, Overdrive, also known as BTO. Gene died a few years ago. EIN: Whats your earliest memory of Elvis? Has thanked: 296 times. 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