Elvis spoke up and said, "If you guys aren't going to say anything, I'm going to bed." EIN: Few fans know the story of your uncle, Tracy Smith. 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. What Elvis serious about changing things? Message in a bottle travels more than 185 miles in Australia. Billy was 8 years younger than Elvis and grew up with him in Tupelo. Travis was the brother of Gladys Presley, Elvis's mother, making Billy and Elvis first cousins. But, he has a sharp memory. (EIN Note Billys full story about The Pledge is also featured in the book Elvis & the Memphis Mafia) For more of these throwback videos, check out our YouTube Channel! Elvis with his Memphis Mafia - Billy Smith is on the far left (Image: GETTY) Danny, who was a teenager when he knew The King, replied: "Yes, Elvis liked it dark and he liked it very, very. Nevertheless, Elvis' cousin and Memphis Mafia member Billy Smith has shared an insight into the star's lavish bedroom. Billy: I saw Jerry at Richard's (Davis) funeral about two years ago. They drove bumper cars in Las Vegas Valley, rode horses in California and hung out at Graceland. 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. Did you know of this when you were young and were there any family stories of Morning Dove White your gt-gt-gt-gt Grandmother? EIN: In the mid-sixties Elvis seemed to need a new avenue of exploration or interest. Right: Billy Smith, The Colonel and Elvis all looking jovial in June 1967- about three months after the 'Clambake' incident. See Photos. And, the singer bought 'truckloads' of toys for her sons. Stephanie-Billy Smith. He left behind an undying legacy. A fan asked if they stay in contact with the Presley family, and if not, why. Smith spent most of that year with Elvis, even when Elvis had begun pushing others away. 'I could. Billy: Elvis enjoyed the Nashville "Guitar Man" sessions with Jerry Reed. [3], After Elvis became famous, Smith's father Travis worked for him as Chief Guard, and the family moved into Graceland. Eight years younger than The King, Billy grew up with his own family in a home in. [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. His former wife weeps when she talks about the deaths of her stepson and his father. Unfortunately, it never came to pass. Elvis made the rules and decisions when it came to me, and most of the other guys. From this day forward, our minds, our souls, Jerry was always nice to me and my family and to my Mother and Daddy, and I will always remember him for that. We all loved him and had a job to do. Billy Smith was interviewed by Piers Beagley for EIN, January 2006. 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"! "Elvis's idea of an exciting game was that it should be as dangerous as possible", such as the game that involved fireworks. He hated how wide it was and the way it flared. 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. ", "For a dead man, Elvis Presley is awfully noisy. However, the best sources for information about Elvis Presley are the people who knew him while he was alive. Some did better than others, but still we each had a purpose. We lived in a big-white house that was on the property. He was there with the rest of the Memphis Mafia when Presley was at his peak. He always looked after me, and I always wanted to be with him. Sounds like that urban legend has yet to be confirmed or denied! 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. There were often rumors of Elvis undergoing cosmetic surgery like facelifts and dying his hair. Billy: I don't remember anything about him practicing with Johnny Burnett or his brother. 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 won four Stanley Cups with the New York Islanders and was the first goalie to be credited with a goal in the NHL. It then gets swung around by the elephant until it lets go. He took rat poison. We were in the den when Elvis came out and said to us, "I fell and hit my head. Lamar Fike handled Elvis' stage lighting. 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. Seen on safari: Crocodile swings from elephant's tail. Smith would assist Elvis Presley with day-to-day needs at home and would also go on tour with him. A close friend of Presley's, Jo Smith, talks about the King's past relationships. [9], Rolling Stone journalist William Otterburn-Hall describes the men as close around the star "like a football scrum after a loose ball". And, whenever we were able, we always went to see him, especially local. "[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. He said it would teach him a lesson. 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. This so-called Bodyguard book came from the West cousins and Dave Hebler, fired by Presley's father. After all, Smith is the King's cousin. July 4, 1956. "[12] Marty went on to say, "Most of us were not there for the money, we were there because we all cared about Elvis and each other like brothers. READ MORE:Elvis anniversary: Girlfriend Linda's beautiful new message. Some members of this inner circle became close friends who served as replacements for the normal everyday friendships Presley's fame would not allow. Reading seemed to have been a major preoccupation of his. Occasionally, Travis would give fans a ride and even let them inside the gates of Graceland. I was always close to Elvis even as a young child. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. 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. . In 2017 Smith was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in history. EIN regularly gets asked questions relating to Billy Smith & his life with Elvis, so we sincerely thank him for taking time out of his busy life for this long interview. Joe could tolerate Colonel better than some of the others. He was talking about how scattered the family was. This entourage included first cousins and several of Presley's friends from his boyhood in a poor Memphis housing project plus junior and senior high school friends and early employees from Memphis such as Alan Fortas, nephew of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Abe Fortas. When it was good, it was very good, and when it was bad, it was awful. Joe Esposito handled money and cross referenced the extensive travel arrangements. When Elvis bought Graceland Billy's family also moved in and his father Travis worked for Elvis as Chief guard. Billy Smith, Elvis's first cousin, confirms that the boy in the photo is indeed his relative. Billy's family also went with the Presleys when they first moved to Memphis. Billy Smith talks about some of the movies he was in with Elvis. (which was first published on July 12, 1977), he worried that his reputation would be adversely affected. Go to the lounges, see Fats Domino, Della Reese, Jackie Wilson, the Four Aces, the Dominoes all the old acts. I had so much respect for him. Top. we were all three there talking for hours about everything in the world! Photo above - Junior Smith in New York with Elvis & his date. Billy: I don't know about Joe being paid by Colonel. Sometimes Tracy would stay down there at the gate with Daddy and pretend he was a gate guard. I dont know why, Billy says in the video. See Photos. But, we couldn't make a big deal about it in front of Elvis. 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. Supposedly some of his characteristics were due to Cherokee Indian being in your side of the family. Billys family also went with the Presleys when they first moved to Memphis. Billy: My father Travis was the first Gate Guard that Elvis had. Actually no, we dont. Elvis and the Memphis Mafia. Billy: One thing Uncle Vernon was good at was numbers, especially if dollar signs were in front of them! But, he has a sharp memory. For that they were often shouted at, abused and belittled by the King when he felt like it. Smith recalls that the legendary entertainer had some major issues with how his nose looked. It comprises live recordings from shows given by Presley in Las Vegas through every decade of his career. Maybe it's because I was where he was before it all happened, and that was the link. Now it was a known fact among the guys that Elvis couldn't keep a secret, but if it was really important, he did. Is he still alive? [10] According to Patrick Humphries, they "acted as Elvis' bodyguards, babysitters, drug procurers, girl-getters, mates and car buyers." Billy Smith was an administrative aid to Elvis Presley, as well as Elvis' first cousin and part of the Memphis Mafia. He did lookout for Elvis' interest and his own. What was his relationship like with Elvis? He deserved to have peace of mind. He said it gave him a peace within, and, if it did, well, that was good. Elvis always looked at the person, not what race he or she was. It was a very strong bond, and Elvis was the center of it all. Feb. 28 (UPI) -- A Michigan woman said a Powerball ticket found forgotten in the pocket of her husband's coat turned out to be a $1 million winner. Professional handlers and celebrity security experts had not yet evolved. He was more upset and mad over the socks. See Photos. Marty Lacker states, "Everyone had assigned responsibilities and they were far from leeches, hangers on or whatever else they were called. I think I need to see a Doctor." Billy: Yes, Billy Mann was the one who took the picture in the coffin. Click here for Part Two: Billy talks about Elvis' Girls, Elvis' Final Years, his relationship with EPE, 'Elvis By The Presleys' and more. Billy: Elvis was southern, and so he joked sometimes. He also had not only one but two facelifts in his lifetime, one in 1957 and the other in 1975. I don't know where it came from or if Elvis just made it up. Aunt Lavelle and Uncle Tracy looked like their Daddy . I'm always looking for another Vernon Presley.'. Billy was 8 years younger than Elvis and grew up with him in Tupelo. He craved the attention of someone who adored him without the threat of sexual pressure, much as a mother would." I always loved Elvis very much and would do just about anything to please him and be with him. Elvis Aaron Presley : Revelations from the Memphis Mafia, The Blue Correspondence, Everton Season 1889 - 1890, The Blue Correspondence, Everton Season 1888-89. By accepting "all cookies", including profiling cookies, in addition to supporting our free offer, you will receive advertisements in line with your interests. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. 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. 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. . TV Shows. He trusted us. He loved Elvis, and Elvis provided for him. That happened a lot of times, and we thought nothing of it. Elvis was on military maneuvers when she came to the hotel where his father and grandfather were staying, but Vernon and Dee hit it off 'from day one,' she said. Billy shared: Elvis had a lot of confidence in him, so kept him on. Some use of "" in your query was not closed by a matching "". Want to listen to your favourite artists and the latest songs? After being in Elvis' employment for two decades, both Red and Sonny were only paid a few weeks' severance pay. 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. Over the years, there have been many rumors that have circulated about Presley, one in particular that he also had webbed toes. But his movies made money, and Colonel didn't want to change the format. Travis' son Billy Smith, Elvis' cousin who was a Memphis Mafia member, shared the story of his father in the latest YouTube episode of Memphis Mafia Kid. Smith was part of The King's Memphis Mafia entourage for decades. Billy Smith is known for Elvis (1979), Elvis: Tortured Soul (2022) and Elvis: The Final Hours (2018). Elvis had a hard time hiding it if something was bothering him. [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". Elvis never changed his belief in God or Jesus Christ. We were told that she was a beautiful woman. I actually remember her as an outgoing and fun loving person. Billy: I was always close to Elvis, but I was his family. What was that night like for you and why didnt you run a tape recording of it?! 15 distinct works. Elvis' grandfather got my father out of jail and left Vernon there when it first happened. Billy Smith. 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. [citation needed], Elvis Presley reportedly spent days and nights with his friends and employees from the Memphis Mafia. This article "Billy Smith (Memphis Mafia)" is from Wikipedia. Elam always looked like he was about to do something really painful to you. He wanted to know why I didn't come to Graceland (Elvis's Memphis home) anymore. [9] When Elvis died, Smith was a pallbearer at Elvis' funeral, along with Joe Esposito, Charlie Hodge, Lamar Fike and George C. Nor I him. She was generous like Elvis, but she also had a quick temper. To hear more about Billy Smiths time growing up with Elvis Presley back in the day, take a look at the interview video below! 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