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.. 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. Maybe it's because I was where he was before it all happened, and that was the link. ", "History has him as this good old country boy, Elvis is about as country as Bono! Elvis always looked at the person, not what race he or she was. 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. (EIN Note Billys full story about The Pledge is also featured in the book Elvis & the Memphis Mafia) Express. Elvis was very intelligent. However, he had a couple of people teach him how to write his name so he could sign, Travis Smith. EIN: After Elvis fall & concussion before Clambake, The Colonel demanded that Elvis burn all his spiritual books. It then gets swung around by the elephant until it lets go. "Elvis was surrounded by the first wave of what would become known as the Memphis Mafia." Movies. What did you see of his personal quest at the time and his visits to the Self Realization Park? There, he shares some of those stories with the public. She worried a lot, and she was not in good health. I'm in terrible pain.' Following his August 16, 1977 death, Thompson received a heartbreaking call from Presleys daughter. 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. Billy Smith talks about some of the movies he was in with Elvis. He always looked after me, and I always wanted to be with him. What was his relationship like with Elvis? Smith said, I feel like so many of Elvis fans know exactly what Im talking about. If he had to try to nail it down, he said, I think he put his heart and soul into every song he recorded, good or bad.. Billy Smith was Elvis first cousin, the son of Gladys Presleys oldest brother. I remember them cutting pasteboard to put in their shoes to cover the holes. Contents 1 Biography 2 With Elvis 3 Later life 4 References Biography [ edit] He's dated a lot of beautiful women such as Linda Thompson and Ginger Alden and, of course, Priscilla Presley. Elvis tried to see to it that we all worked in his movies. 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"! "[20] Gerald Marzorati says that Elvis "couldn't go anywhere else without a phalanx of boyhood friends. The most publicized fallout came when Vernon Presley fired Elvis' longtime friends Red West and Sonny West on July 13, 1976. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical. She said Elvis told her he was not surprised and the marriage had his blessing. But, he has a sharp memory. Billy Smith was Elvis' first cousin, the son of Gladys Presley's oldest brother. He always told me that he loved me. When asked about the stories, Smith revealed he was not too sure about that one. In fact, there are many new Elvis Presley projects in the works in 2020. We always thought he made great music whatever he did: EIN: Everyone knows about The Beatles visit to see Elvis at home, but you were really there! The Memphis Mafia members themselves say on their website that Elvis liked the name and it stuck. Do you remember Elvis singing to you or the family before he became famous? There is often talk of Elvis practising with Johnny Burnette and his brother around this time. 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 had to get in the studio and cut a few singles while he was home. Several in our group were close to Elvis at one time or the other. He has a variety of sources of income, which has enabled him to rise to the top of the list of the most prominent celebrities in such a short period of time. 1034 Auburn Drive, Memphis. Moreover, it fulfills our commitment to. Billy with Elvis before leaving for Germany & the army in 1958. Both Elvis and his cousin were born in Tupelo, Mississippi before their families later moved to Memphis, Tennessee. Calendar planner 2022-2023. A close friend of Presley's, Jo Smith, talks about the King's past relationships. 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. With Barbara Hearn listening to playback. He never betrayed me again. Smith, eight years younger than Elvis, grew up alongside the star in Graceland. 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. Elvis' Cousin Billy Smith relates a story that Jesse was drunk at the scene and was 'coochy cooing' the stillborn twin until Vernon shouted at his Father exclaiming that the baby was dead ! I will never forget that night and I know Elvis really liked them. Billy also tackles the rumor that Elvis had webbed toes. It was 1958 and Elvis was on leave from the US Army. Unfortunately, it never came to pass. Over the years, the number of members grew and changed, but for the most part there was a core group who spent much time with Presley. Sonc Coloring Book: 100+ Sonc Coloring Pages for Boys, Girls, Kids, Ages 4-8, Ages 8-12, Adults to Relax and Have Fun, Great Gift Idea for Sonc Fans! Sometimes he would have a bad dream and come looking for me to talk to, and he would actually fall asleep in our bed with us. Occasionally, Travis would give fans a ride and even let them inside the gates of Graceland. The. But those photos of her later on make her look sad because she was sick, as well as being sad about Elvis going to the army. His stepmother made her comments as a week-long observance of the 10th anniversary of Presley's death got under way in Memphis. 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. The publication of the book bothered Elvis on a personal and professional level during the last two weeks of his life. He's in a lot of those Alfred Wertheimer photos from Elvis trip to New York. He loved Elvis, and Elvis provided for him. Recently, Billy Smith opened up about what it was like watching Elvis Presley work in the studio back in 1958. Error rating book. (We can only hope the publisher may one day see fit to release a second volume!) There were often rumors of Elvis undergoing cosmetic surgery like facelifts and dying his hair. Dark skin, dark eyes, and high cheeks. Aunt Gladys looked after him as long as she lived, and after her death, he lived with us, and then with some of his sisters. 4.25 avg rating 537 ratings published 1995 7 editions. [2] When Smith was five in November of 1948, his family moved along with the Presley family from Tupelo, Mississippi to Memphis, Tennessee. (which was first published on July 12, 1977), he worried that his reputation would be adversely affected. Billy: Elvis loved to read. 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. Gene worked for Elvis for a number of years and was one of the original Memphis Mafia members, along with Red West & Junior. I dont know how you can look any better, but he did., RELATED: Eight Rare Photos Of Elvis Presley When He Was Serving In The Army, Elvis also dyed his hair jet black often. You can hear in his tone, in his measured responses, that he adored Elvis. The interesting part will not be the cartoon itself, but the fact that the Elvis character is working undercover as a government spy. Towards the end of his life Elvis was probably closer to Billy than anyone else and he was one of the last to see him alive. I fell in head first. Actually no, we dont. And we were always close, even with the eight year age difference. Elvis always liked to be the "Main Event." He also had not only one but two facelifts in his lifetime, one in 1957 and the other in 1975. At the very least they have some stories to tell about the legendary rocker. Most of all, Elvis was concerned his daughter Lisa Marie, would be adversely affected by the contents of the book. [1] Contents 1 Playing career Elvis Presley died at the age of just 42-year-old on August 16, 1977 in the upstairs bathroom of Graceland. Billy lives in Mississippi & is still working as a machine specialist in a steel manufacturing company. l, like most the guys, was in many of his movies as an extra. 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. "Elvis always tried to improve his looks." Billy also mentions that Elvis also had caps on his teeth and facial blemishes removed. This article "Billy Smith (Memphis Mafia)" is from Wikipedia. EIN: Elvis obviously had a quick temper. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/elvis-presley-on-set-you-wont-ask-elvis-anything-too-deep-69906/. Some did better than others, but still we each had a purpose. Presley's rapid financial deterioration was partly a result of his divorce from Priscilla, which was finalized on October 9, 1973, as well as Colonel Tom Parker's exorbitant percentage of Presley's earnings. When it was good, it was very good, and when it was bad, it was awful. We lived in a big-white house that was on the property. 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. Smith spent most of that year with Elvis, even when Elvis had begun pushing others away. At the same time, much of the lore of Presley's life has become family history. He only worked a couple of places before Elvis became famous, unlike Aunt Gladys who had worked at several places before Elvis became famous. [19] Each Christmas all Presley employees received bonus checks. Along with his wife Jo, he and their two sons lived in a trailer in the back yard. Reading seemed to have been a major preoccupation of his. 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. No, hes not, Thompson continued. So he decided to have it trimmed down and thats what they didwhich made him lookgod! We were like brothers. Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Firefighters in Georgia came to the rescue of a dog who fell into a storm drain and ended up stranded about 12 feet underground. He loved the power of the big voices. Billy: The pledge came about because we had an incident as kids and were never to talk about it. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. However, the best sources for information about Elvis Presley are the people who knew him while he was alive. All our wives were there. Elvis Presley gave a lot of thought and time into obtaining what he considered his perfect look throughout his short-lived life. 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