His former wife weeps when she talks about the deaths of her stepson and his father. He visits President Bush at the White House, presenting Bush with a set of Elvis-logo dumbbells and offering his help in stamping out the nation's crack problem. Elvis enjoyed the Self Realization Park. Each video honors The Kings legacy, discussing fond memories and a conspiracy or two. The series is co-created by Priscilla Presley. Is it true that your Aunt Gladys had the same temper? EIN: Perhaps Elvis' most famous abode before becoming famous was the Lauderdale Courts apartment. 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Photo right - Actor Jack Elam, a regular bad guy actor in westerns of the 1950s and 1960s including Gunfight at the O.K. During the video, Elviss cousin also claimed he would sense the presence of Elvis spirit. EIN: Whats your earliest memory of Elvis? Recently, Smith appeared on his son Danny Smiths YouTube channel known as the Memphis Mafia Kid. The medical examiners official cause of death was hypertensive heart disease associated with atherosclerotic heart disease. Elvis weighed at least 250 pounds in his final days, and one Baptist Memorial Hospital staffer told Rolling Stone, he had the arteries of an 80-year-old man. So a massive heart attack isnt exactly far-fetched. I can use a little rest," he says. And you place yours on mine. He felt comfortable with me and trusted me. I just think its unacceptable for his fans or any of his family or friends to have to pay to go and pay their respects at his graveside, Jo said. The couple emphasised that all this was just their opinion and they didnt want to dissuade fans who like the Elvis movie from seeing it again and again. When he lived at Graceland from 1957 until his death, Presley had an open-door policy with his Memphis Mafia. The video has been viewed more than 2 million times on YouTubefar more than the one where a clever Elvis fan debunks the whole thing by chatting with the actual Graceland employee, an affable gentleman named Bill Barmer. Even towards the end of his short 42 years when he became increasingly isolated, Billy would be spending hours upstairs with the singer in his bedroom, listening to him as he opened up on his more vulnerable side. But he knew it from memory, and we went over it several times so I could memorize it. . Billy Smith was Elvis' first cousin, the son of Gladys Presley's oldest brother. Another one of Elvis's cousins, Billy Smith, claimed the singer simply preferred the more common double-A spelling, as legal documents bearing Presley's signature attest. When he was sick, I usually stayed with him. On stage at the special screening, The Kings only child said: I do want to say that I feel so honoured to be a partof this. When Elvis bought Graceland Billy's family also moved in and his father Travis worked for Elvis as Chief guard. "My trainer told me about them it's like getting high from working out.". Believers of this bizarre theory contend that a 55-year-old Presley turned up in the background of the scene where Catherine OHaras character is stuck at the Scranton airport while trying to get home to her son. Elvis always took great pride in his hair. Surprisingly, it works as effectively as the star's usual three nightly packets of Seconal, Placidyl, Demerol and several other medications, and he falls into a deep sleep, but he is unresponsive when a nurse tries to awaken him late in the day. 'I could. It was 1958 and Elvis was on leave from the US Army. Now naturally Elvis wasnt going to change his looks, so the guy had to look like him. I had so much respect for him. Gene worked for Elvis for a number of years and was one of the original Memphis Mafia members, along with Red West & Junior. Billy and Elvis' other associates are alarmed and decide, despite Elvis' protests, that with a tour days away, a trip to the hospital would be prudent. EIN: There are tales of Joe Esposito being paid by both Elvis and Colonel Parker and that The Col used him to spy on Elvis. Kolb came forward with an original color version of the image proving that it was himnot Elvisin the shot, but thats hardly laid the matter to rest. . May 29, 2020 A relative of Elvis Presley claims to have had an eerie experience that he suspects may have been a visit from the ghost of the legendary musician. Elvis always looked at the person, not what race he or she was. May 1 (UPI) -- Michigan State Police troopers doing a clean-up at the side of a highway said what initially appeared to be a gruesome discovery turned out to be a realistic-looking severed hand made of rubber. But Elvis loved movieshe starred in 31and Christmas, so it almost makes sense that he would risk blowing his cover by appearing in the 1990 holiday comedy Home Alone. He would watch The Student Prince which was set in Heidelberg, over and over again. Please share his story with us. That was the very first I knew how upset Elvis was. In Smiths most recent video, he features his father, mother Jo, and brother Joey. That's the reason I've never remarried. He liked his guys around him. Additionally, many of them are more than willing to share a little Elvis knowledge with the public. June 1988: NBC and Elvis Enterprises announce a TV special for late November, 20 years after Elvis' '68 Comeback Special. During the racquetball game, he accidentally smacks himself on the shin with his racquet. 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". Elvis was still alive on June 18, 1990 without a doubt. Billy Smith was just a kid but he knew that he was witnessing greatness. Potato Head toy in 12.11 seconds while blindfolded. Hes portrayed in a couple of scenes of the biopic, but he and his wife Jo, who lived at the Memphis mansion with the singer, claimed they werent invited to the premiere, nor consulted on the movie. What was his relationship like with Elvis? Billy was 8 years younger than Elvis and grew up with him in Tupelo. November 2002: Clive Davis becomes president of RCA and hits on a plan to revive Elvis' sluggish recording career. Elvis fans come from worldwide, they come here, and they have to, if I was a fan, I would, Smith said in reference to touring his cousins home. As for Presleys autopsy report: Its a private family document unlikely to ever see the light of day. He said in the clip that he felt him when he stayed upstairs in the house. May 1 (UPI) -- A dog brought into a West Virginia animal shelter was found to have been missing for 6 years from a Virginia home 470 miles away. EIN: In the mid-sixties Elvis seemed to need a new avenue of exploration or interest. . But, he has a sharp memory. And the records get worse: The last straw is a cover of Culture Club's Karma Chameleon. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express. Elvis releases a disco-style cover of Jackie Wilson's Baby, Workout, which rises to No. Please tell us about it. Travis was the brother of Gladys Presley, Elvis's mother, making Billy and Elvis first cousins. From an outsiders view she often appears sad, as she has that particular look in the photos after Elvis became famous. Billy: One thing Uncle Vernon was good at was numbers, especially if dollar signs were in front of them! He had his expressions and he even had a bad eye like Elam. She was in Germany where Elvis was stationed in the Army. A pink elephant goes for an afternoon swim with its mother and herd, and despite its unique color, the herd passionately cares for it. Billy Smith is not only Elvis first cousin but a former member of the singers inner Mafia circle. However, the best sources for information about Elvis Presley are the people who knew him while he was alive. When we die, if youre cremated the hole is gonna be the same size for everybody, so take it.. ", "For a dead man, Elvis Presley is awfully noisy. Aug. 16, 2012: Elvis dies in his sleep at Graceland on the 25th anniversary of the first Harmonic Convergence and 35 years to the day after his near-death in Memphis. At the very least they have some stories to tell about the legendary rocker. Elvis Presley always loved to have his close friends around him. A lot of Elvis family was not invited to the premiere and I dont knowwho did the invitations Ive got a pretty good idea but I just thought that was really tacky. I fell in head first. Hes left the realm of popular entertainers and joined the ranks of Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, and to some, Jesus. Potato Head blindfolded. Jo said how people often point out the star spending days in his bedroom, but she dispelled one rumour surrounding this. I was actually stupid enough to believe that having the same birthday as him actually meant something", "No-one, but no-one, is his equal, or ever will be. Our hearts will intertwine.". Billy and his wife Jo are still alive and have a YouTube channel called "Elvis Fans Matter" where they talk about Elvis and give some pretty interesting insight into the life of The King. It was like my song it was telling me, 'Your time hasn't come yet, baby.'" Smith recalls that the legendary entertainer had some major issues with how his nose looked. And, whenever we were able, we always went to see him, especially local. 'I could hardly understand him because he was crying,' she said. January 1980: The tour over, Elvis spends most of his time in the gym. Now there were times that Elvis was alone for several days. The wives also continued to go back and forth after Priscilla was gone. I was always close to Elvis even as a young child. Additionally, some of Elvis family and friends would live on the property, including his cousin Billy Smith and his family. I mean you were portrayed in the movie, but that parts not what aggravated. 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"! But stranger things have happened. Elvis' version of Jennifer Holliday's And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going becomes an adult-contemporary chart-topper. In fact, there are many new Elvis Presley projects in the works in 2020. From the time they were kids till the end. [2] When Smith was five in November of 1948, his family moved along with the Presley family from Tupelo, Mississippi to Memphis . Elvis is treated for deep bruising, and a doctor decrees that he stay overnight for observation. I don't agree with some of the tales he tells, but Larry was there for a while. READ MORE: Priscilla Presley returns to red carpet after Lisa Maries death. EIN: Elvis was a gorgeous looking man. He hated how wide it was and the way it flared. But toxicologists found more than 10 drugs in Presleys system, fueling speculation that polypharmacy played a role in his death. Is it going to be crazy? In my life, its been one disappointment after the other in terms of people portraying my father in various films or attempts tobless their heartsbut let me just tell you something. Certainly, he'd require a young beautiful woman to share his bed and tend to his needs even if nothing sexual occurred. What did you see of his personal quest at the time and his visits to the Self Realization Park? Dark skin, dark eyes, and high cheeks. When asked to check his ego at the door, Elvis pauses, nods his head and says, "Yep, it's still there!" He always had a love for music even at very young age. She was always close to her family, but Elvis was her heart. We traveled with him, lived with him.. Gene died a few years ago. Maybe it's because I was where he was before it all happened, and that was the link. Billy: Yes. And that will probably be the last time that I would go back to it.. Fans reckon you can hear King at Graceland LISTEN, Brian May on Queens influences: The Beatles 'built our bible', Rolling Stones: Brian Jones would call Bob Dylan EVERY day, Elvis Presley had 'HUGE heart, Graceland like living at Disneyland', Elvis Presley's bodyguard on TERRIFYING motorbike ride with The King. Its not Elvis. Adding to his wifes statement, Billy Smith said, Graceland didnt make Elvis. Once married he & his wife Jo lived behind the main Graceland house except for a few years when Billy worked on the railroad. She said that before Elvis's death, she had a strong feeling a tragedy was looming. Tel: We use cookies and similar technologies to personalize contents and ads, to provide social media features and to analyze our traffic. Thompson, a former beauty queen who dated Elvis from July 1972 to late 1976, spoke about her time with Presley at the event. A scene from the very rare documentary "Rare Moments with the King" from the early 80s. He made it a good time. He was amazed at some of his findings, and he made sure that we all were aware of them. Traditionally, you cant have a funeral without a death, and what killed the King is another major source of controversy. February 1983: A furor erupts when new video network MTV refuses to play Elvis' first video, shot to promote his new cover of Olivia Newton-John's Physical. However, some close friends and family of The Kings were nowhere to be seen. Interestingly, Elvis' cousin and Memphis Mafia member Billy Smith has revealed how The King once told him how he could swap places with a lookalike. Wellings daughter later spied him scarfing Whoppers at Burger King. Elvis made the rules and decisions when it came to me, and most of the other guys. I was little, and I was trying to get some bananas out that the man from the fruit stand had thrown away. That was our life. Copyright 2023 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. Billy was 8 years younger than Elvis and grew up with him in Tupelo. From this day forward, our minds, our souls, His account, Memphis Mafia Kid contains a multitude of videos posted by the family of Elvis Presley. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. ", "If you're an Elvis fan, no explanation is necessary; If you're not an Elvis fan, no explanation is possible. There, he shares some of those stories with the public. So have issues concerning official paperwork. Elam always looked like he was about to do something really painful to you. Elviss death certificate will remain under wraps until 2027, 50 years after his passing. While this may seem like further proof of a cover-up, its actually a matter of Tennessee law. Over the years, there have been many rumors that have circulated about Presley, one in particular that he also had webbed toes. There were a lot of rumors circulating at the time that Elvis was alive. The spooky incident occurred last month at the home of Billy Smith, who is the second cousin of Graceland's iconic inhabitant. I dont care if I never go to Graceland again, Jo said. Billy Stanley, her son by a previous marriage, called her and said Elvis was offering $5,000 if she would telephone him, she said. 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. Do you remember Elvis singing to you or the family before he became famous? 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. On the story, he said: It was supposed to be that Elvis swapped places with this guy who had cancer and was dying and Elvis hid him out in the attic until it was time for him to die. She adored him. This story came out, like I said it was supposed to be kind of a joke, but the English paper picked it up and they wrote it as a factual story. Geldof moves on to the next star on his list. "I know him and Linda [Thompson] were in there a lot. See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive. He had a pretty good bump on the back of his head. He had a thirst to learn new things. Billy, had a heart attack on January 27th and he had 4 stints put in. Back in 1957, having shot to fame, The King moved his extended family into the Graceland mansion. March 1978: Elvis sets out on his longest tour ever, dazzling critics and fans with his newly toned physique and renewed energy. But what if, by some amazing stroke of fortune, he had lived? Billy: Yes, I was with him on many of the recording sessions. . May 1 (UPI) -- A Kentucky couple had more than 109,000 extra reasons to celebrate on their 44th wedding anniversary when they won a jackpot from an Instant Play lottery game. And he cant bring him back.. We grew up around him and moved to Graceland as young teenagers. When Elvis bought Graceland Billy's family also moved in and his father . Some closer than others, but still we stood up for each other no matter what. And a much-heralded return to rock in the form of the Rolling Stones' Start Me Up is equally unsuccessful. In the end, a leather-clad Elvis, looking impressively buff at 53, revisits his classic hits of the late '60s and '70s, including In the Ghetto, Burning Love and Suspicious Minds. His stepmother made her comments as a week-long observance of the 10th anniversary of Presley's death got under way in Memphis. Joe could tolerate Colonel better than some of the others. On a final note, Jo added that the family will always cherish their memories with the beloved singer. Steinman's original song for Elvis, Total Eclipse of the Dashboard Light, fails to hit the top 100. I will never forget that night and I know Elvis really liked them. He lived in a separate home with his family on the grounds of Graceland. Is it true that your father also went to the penitentiary but that Elvis grand-father bailed Travis out & left Vernon in jail? They engage in minor conversation before getting into sharing their memories of Elvis. We also share some information about the way you use our site with our partners who deal with web analytics, advertising and social media content: our partners may combine it with other information that you have provided them or that they have collected from the use of their services. But, we couldn't make a big deal about it in front of Elvis. This seems more than a coincidence as back in 1957 he was also involved in an incident involving $1000 bills. Its not his home. In addition to Elvis absence, the family suggested their disdain for the way Graceland controls access to Elvis grave. Billy: Aunt Gladys was a good person. These same fans also believe that Presley is also still alive in 2020 and will one day return to the public eye announcing that he had faked his death, revealing himself to his fans once again. And I can truthfully say, hes gone. Billy Smith Interview at MarlowesCheck out the full playlist please LIKE "THUMBS UP" and COMMENT on this video.Check us out on facebook at https://www.facebo. When she and Vernon returned from their honeymoon, Elvis had redecorated their quarters -- even putting pictures on the walls for her three boys. "Elvis is alive theories are as varied as they are plentiful, and theyve been circulating since just after his death. Joe Esposito on Geraldo; GIFTS FROM JESSE TO ME AND MY HUSBAND. However, the distance didnt change what he was seeing. So, he watched from a distance. we were family. Billy Smith was just a kid but he knew that he was witnessing greatness. We were in the den when Elvis came out and said to us, "I fell and hit my head. Moreover, the quartet stated that there are two main reasons why they may never return to their home. See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive. In Elvis and the Memphis Mafia it is suggested he was the one who took the "coffin" picture. "I turn 60 this month. Elvis Presley left behind more than a massive collection of hits. But Elvis had all kinds of people working for him - black, white, Jews, Italians, Mexicans. In a new video, one asked: Why do you think it was so hard for Elvis to be alone?, Initially, Jo said: I dont know. Smith realized this as he stood slack-jawed watching the King lay down vocals. Maybe Elvis figured his acting skills would help him avoid suspicion. Also in attendance was Memphis Mafia member Jerry Schilling, who appears at lots of Elvis events with Priscilla. Can you remember how the city move affected Elvis? In the summer of 2016, video of a Graceland groundskeeper purported to be Elvis got the internet all shook up. Since his wife had never been, he admitted that he would return one final time with her and their grandchildren. The Memphis Mafia member and his wife Jo joined Elvis and his girlfriend Ginger Alden for racquetball around 3:30 a.m. the night before Elvis died. 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. As detailed in the documentary Elvis Presley: The Last 24 Hours, Elvis' final day on earth included a nighttime trip to the dentist in search of prescription drugs, a 4 a.m. game of racquetball with his cousin Billy Smith, and an impromptu piano performance of classics including "Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain." He was last seen alive going into . It was then that Billy Smith realized that there was something different and amazing about Elvis Presley. It still hurts that hes gone. Presleys cousin Gene Smith thought the body looked a little strange. To find out in detail which cookies we use on the site, read our. EIN: When you first arrived in Memphis you lived in the same house as The Presleys in Washington Street. Memphis Mafia Kid has over 19,000 subscribers and racks up thousands of views with each clip. She said Elvis told her he was not surprised and the marriage had his blessing. Elvis Presley: Why the Kings Cousins, Who Lived With Him, No Longer Visit Graceland. He was showing me a picture of himself and he said, Does this look like me?, And I said, Yeah, and he said, Well its not. Without him, its a home but its not the same. Did you ever see the bad side of this? His performance with Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Keith Richards and Paul Shaffer's band on Berry's Promised Land is a highlight, though Little Richard hogs the microphone and Berry tries to upstage Elvis with a prolonged duckwalk. Footage of the service shows pallbearers struggling to lift a 900-pound copper coffin. 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? The last surviving original Memphis Mafia member Billy Smith, Elvis cousin, had some of the closest access to The King. The insider swears that Elvis murmurs, "Return to sender. I never meant for this story to mislead anybody or hurt anybody in any kind of way.. In the . Recently, Billy Smith opened up about what it was like watching Elvis Presley work in the studio back in 1958. 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. EIN: Did you always travel with Elvis to film the movies? ELVIS PRESLEY's spirit presence is claimed to have been sensed in Graceland's upstairs office by his cousin Billy Smith, who shared in a new interview that he knew it was time to move away having . So many of the things she did and said as well as the places he went have become iconic. May 1 (UPI) -- Firefighters in Pennsylvania came to the rescue of a deer spotted stranded in a Montgomery County canal. Although Elvis Presley was beloved by many, he surrounded himself with a small inner circle known as the Memphis Mafia. The general confusion surrounding these and other jargony cause-of-death explanations has undoubtedly helped to foster conspiracy theories. The quartet kicks off the video with a plethora of jokes and laughter. He did a lot for me and my family in the early years and for my family in the later years. "Ain't no problem," Elvis says, "I'll take care of it." Interview by Piers Beagley - 2006. (by Alfred Wertheimer). "Elvis always . I always loved Elvis very much and would do just about anything to please him and be with him. Now it was a known fact among the guys that Elvis couldn't keep a secret, but if it was really important, he did. Billy Smith was interviewed by Piers Beagley for EIN, January 2006. I saw it twice. 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. Before Elvis Presley passed away on August 16, 1977, he spent his last night and early morning with his cousin Billy Smith.. Billy is arguably one of the last people ever to have a conversation with Elvis. USA TODAY contributor Ken Barnes imagines how his career might have continued. Two respected Elvis aides, Marty Lacker and Elvis's cousin Billy Smith, say that although the body found slumped in the bathroom of Elvis's Graceland mansion on August 16, 1977 was certified dead, the real Elvis was hundreds of miles away. Billy's son, Danny, runs the Youtube channel Memphis Mafia Kid, where the family post . To get inside you need no key. The Kalamazoo hullabaloo spawned a rash of late-80s Elvis sightings, many of which involved the King doing un-regal things, like pumping gas or buying junk food. 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. Here, in Part One, Billy talks about his family, the Memphis Mafia, the Movie Years, meeting The Beatles and much much more. Can you clarify what happened and how did you feel about this happening being real family? Ill remember him and cherish him and love him and all the memories and things of his we have, but I will never ever pay. As always lately, Elvis can't get to sleep, so the doctor prescribes sleep medication. Afterwards we both cried like crazy and I'll remember it as long as I live. Attentive fans were further spooked when they saw the Kings headstone. EIN: Is it true that in 1977 Elvis asked you to become Chief foreman and that he considered getting rid of The Colonel once again and even Joe Esposito? And Elvis trusted him. "Elvis Presley is the greatest cultural force in the 20th century. Elvis is alive theories cant go on forever. Supposedly some of his characteristics were due to Cherokee Indian being in your side of the family. In an interview accompanying The Beatles Anthology DVD, George Harrison likens a brief 1972 encounter with Elvis at Madison Square Garden to meeting Vishnu or Krishna or something. His hair was black, his skin was tan, and his aura left the Beatle feeling like a snooty little nobody. Harrison may have been hinting at something Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper said rather deftly with their 1987 single Elvis Is Everywhere. Alive or dead, Presley is one pop culture deity well never stop worshipping. The plot of the series will feature the animated likeness of Elvis, who goes undercover as a government spy. He had to get in the studio and cut a few singles while he was home.
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