He liked his guys around him. I'm in terrible pain.' He was the only member of the Memphis Mafia to last from beginning to end of the group. Billy: Well for one thing, we had inside plumbing! [19] Each Christmas all Presley employees received bonus checks. Elvis Presley died at the age of just 42-year-old on August 16, 1977 in the upstairs bathroom of Graceland. Billy was 8 years younger than Elvis and grew up with him in Tupelo. Marty Lacker and Elvis' cousin, Billy Smith, were probably the closest true friends of Elvis according to some in the group. [8], In the last year of Elvis' life, he became more reclusive and withdrawn, along with abusing medications. Seen on safari: Crocodile swings from elephant's tail. Today, Tomorrow, and Forever. EIN: Do you remember any build up to Elvis recording his first record or practising with Scotty Moore & Bill Black? 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! Very early on I remember once when Elvis pulled me out of a garbage can! The most publicized fallout came when Vernon Presley fired Elvis' longtime friends Red West and Sonny West on July 13, 1976. Larry was his hair dresser. Smith recalls that the legendary entertainer had some major issues with how his nose looked. As I said, everyone had a job to do. [10] Besides Ginger Alden, Smith and his wife Jo had been the last people to see Elvis alive. Idaho man breaks world record for fire sword throws and catches. She was always laughing & carrying on. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. or. Billy: Elvis was southern, and so he joked sometimes. Joined: Mon Feb 02, 2015 1:57 pm. I lived on Circle G ranch at that time, when we were not in Los Angeles. This article has been curated and verified by, This area provides transparent information about Blasting News, our editorial processes and how we strive for creating trustworthy news. And was late for work many times. [9] When Elvis died, Smith was a pallbearer at Elvis' funeral, along with Joe Esposito, Charlie Hodge, Lamar Fike and George C. It is quite a stretch, but imagine if it were true. What was his relationship like with Elvis? For that they were often shouted at, abused and belittled by the King when he felt like it. Tel: We use cookies and similar technologies to personalize contents and ads, to provide social media features and to analyze our traffic. However, the distance didnt change what he was seeing. 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. Sometimes they would hang out with Sammy Davis, Jr., or check out Bobby Darin at the Cloister. 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. 'He said, 'Dee, I'm sick. To get inside you need no key. Aunt Lavelle and Uncle Tracy looked like their Daddy . I remember him as a fun-loving guy and he hung around a lot with Elvis until Elvis went into the army. For more of these throwback videos, check out our YouTube Channel! "The Memphis Mafia" was with Elvis almost twenty-four hours a day, at least one or two of them. We promised each other. Find your friends on Facebook. He's in a lot of those Alfred Wertheimer photos from Elvis trip to New York. Elvis and Gene even worked together at Precision Tool. EIN: I believe that you brought Jerry Schilling into the group. He did a lot for me and my family in the early years and for my family in the later years. It would be the most historic and brilliant well-kept secrets any celebrity has ever pulled. I fell in head first. For example, he would rent an entire movie theater to watch a film. For Vernon the book was proof of his long-held distrust and dislike not just of those three but of the whole of the Memphis Mafia "[11] Even George Klein, who chastised and shunned other members of the group for writing books about Elvis, ended up writing a book as well. Billy says that the first facelift Elvis got wasnt a facelift to him. He says, Elvis did not like the flare in his nose at that time, how wide it was. This so-called Bodyguard book came from the West cousins and Dave Hebler, fired by Presley's father. She also opened up about the devastating phone call relaying his death to her. Then, when the King would take a break, Billy would go get him water. When he was sick, I usually stayed with him. Elvis death: Is Gracelands upstairs preserved just as King left it? EIN: Few fans know the story of your uncle, Tracy Smith. Photo above - Junior Smith in New York with Elvis & his date. He's dated a lot of beautiful women such as Linda Thompson and Ginger Alden and, of course, Priscilla Presley. Being both family, and also a member of the Memphis Mafia, Billy Smith was probably the closest friend that Elvis ever had. He said it would teach him a lesson. Tapir briefly escapes enclosure at Florida zoo. Billy: He did practice, but it was at the studio. [3], After Elvis became famous, Smith's father Travis worked for him as Chief Guard, and the family moved into Graceland. We talked about religion so much. Elvis and Billy were both born in Tupelo, Mississippi, before their families moved to Memphis, Tennessee. I will never forget that night and I know Elvis really liked them. 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. This first referred to their image, as they usually cruised the city in black mohair suits and dark sunglasses. 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]. How did it come about? Elvis and his friends got out of the two cars and someone in the crowd yelled, "Who are they, the Mafia?" After all, Smith is the King's cousin. 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. 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. So did Junior! Thompson, a former beauty queen who dated Elvis from July 1972 to late 1976, spoke about her time with Presley at the event. I guess they dont like us, I dont know, youd have to ask them. 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. [12], When Graceland reopened to the public in June of 1982, Smith and his family moved back to Memphis and he took a job at Graceland as tour guide. 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. People said that he uses cosmetic surgery to improve his appearance and look his best. Elvis and the Memphis Mafia. . We could talk about anything, and we did! Isaid, hello and she said, Linda. I said, hey, she said, Its Lisa. I said, I know who this is, you little goobernickel. It was a pet name Elvis and I had for her, Thompson explained, according to aExpress.co.ukreport. Billy: Elvis did ask me to become foreman, and he talked about getting rid of several people. 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. Click on the topic that interests you to follow it. Following his August 16, 1977 death, Thompson received a heartbreaking call from Presleys daughter. 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.. He was my hero. Another game was called the 'Whip' game. I'm always looking for another Vernon Presley.'. And you who don't can never tell. His former wife weeps when she talks about the deaths of her stepson and his father. Billy Smith tells all on rumors about Elvis Presley Elvis Presley / Keystone/Stringer I remember my family went to his house to hear it on the radio for the first time. Blasting SA, IDI CHE-247.845.224, Via Carlo Frasca, 3 - 6900 Lugano (Switzerland) EIN: Once Elvis bought Graceland you also moved in with your family? Smith, eight years younger than Elvis, grew up alongside the star in Graceland. Billy is" Jerry still lives in the house in LA that Elvis bought him in 1974 and is still involved in Elvis projects. 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! We grew up around him and moved to Graceland as young teenagers. The Memphis Mafia members themselves say on their website that Elvis liked the name and it stuck. Recently, Billy Smith opened up about what it was like watching Elvis Presley work in the studio back in 1958. Billy: The pledge came about because we had an incident as kids and were never to talk about it. 1034 Auburn Drive, Memphis. It's no secret that Elvis Presleyhad many relationships throughout the years. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. ", "Absolute id crashed into absolute superegoas the uptightset man in America shook hands with just about the loosest. Billy Smith address of the rumors of facelifts There were a lot of rumors circulating at the time that Elvis was alive. 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.". They roared with laughter. Was it talked about within the family or was it a surprise for you when your cousin was suddenly on the radio? But he knew it from memory, and we went over it several times so I could memorize it. That seems very strange. That broke the ice, and after that, they talked for hours. Billy Smith. 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. The series is co-created by Priscilla Presley. Other than Billy Smith himself I cannot determine a source for this story but I can take an educated guess. Marty Lacker, another aide, also served as Elvis' chief personal aide for several years. Smith was part of The King's Memphis Mafia entourage for decades. Travis was reportedly Gladys' favorite brother. "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. Elvis and Aunt Gladys had a very quick temper, and I have seen the bad side of both when they were mad or upset. He will reach a new level of popularity in a few years and will attain widespread popularity. Billy Smith. In 1957, The King bought Graceland and moved his family onto the gated property where Travis was the first guard. I always loved Elvis very much and would do just about anything to please him and be with him. He hated how wide it was and the way it flared. Error rating book. She said that before Elvis's death, she had a strong feeling a tragedy was looming. Their requests to speak directly to Elvis about their employment termination and the nominal severance pay were not granted. 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." When asked about the stories, Smith revealed he was not too sure about that one. Billy: Yes, Billy Mann was the one who took the picture in the coffin. Actually no, we dont. Gene died a few years ago. However, he had a couple of people teach him how to write his name so he could sign, Travis Smith. From this day forward, our minds, our souls, Billy: When the Beatles came, we were all excited about getting to meet them. Friend that Elvis liked the billy smith, elvis wiki and it stuck joined: Mon Feb 02, 1:57... '' was with Elvis & his date ranch at that time, when the King when he was not sure... 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Always looking for another Vernon Presley. ' that you brought Jerry Schilling into army! Presleys daughter sure about that one guess they dont like us, I usually stayed with him Tupelo.
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