He had the intelligence of a twelve year old but he was a kind man. Elvis Presley gave a lot of thought and time into obtaining what he considered his perfect look throughout his short-lived life. Error rating book. EIN: Do you remember when Elvis started complaining about the quality of his movies going downhill? Travis was reportedly Gladys' favorite brother. Some use of "" in your query was not closed by a matching "". Rickeap. and a newspaper reporter picked up the story. The. Our grandfather was a handsome man. And, the singer bought 'truckloads' of toys for her sons. Can you remember how the city move affected Elvis? 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. Lamar Fike handled Elvis' stage lighting. Elvis had a hard time hiding it if something was bothering him. They drove bumper cars in Las Vegas Valley, rode horses in California and hung out at Graceland. She was in Germany where Elvis was stationed in the Army. Billy Smith (Billy Smith) "The Memphis Mafia" was with Elvis almost twenty-four hours a day, at least one or two of them. "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. Answer (1 of 12): It depends whether or not you count his cousin Billy Smith. Elvis swore that he would never touch another one after that, and I don't guess he ever did. I said, What? EIN: Did you ever visit the studios for Elvis recording sessions? Photo right - Actor Jack Elam, a regular bad guy actor in westerns of the 1950s and 1960s including Gunfight at the O.K. We grew up around him and moved to Graceland as young teenagers. She was always close to her family, but Elvis was her heart. But Elvis never confirmed them. He said it would teach him a lesson. He always seemed to want me around him and was very protective of me. [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". Joe Esposito handled money and cross referenced the extensive travel arrangements. Never wanting to disappoint his fans, nothing was too extreme for Presley. According to the Express, Elvis Presley's cousin, Billy Smith has revealed some of the King's biggest secrets. At least, he always told me did. Elvis Presley's Cousin Billy Smith talks about growing up with Elvis 2019 13,614 views Jan 7, 2019 please LIKE "THUMBS UP" and COMMENT on this video. Billy: I was travelling with Elvis for almost every one of the movies. Billy lives in Mississippi & is still working as a machine specialist in a steel manufacturing company. EIN: Did you always travel with Elvis to film the movies? During his lifetime, Elvis underwent several procedures having moles removed, and his teeth capped. All the guys in our group were extremely close. He had a thirst to learn new things. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. Answer (1 of 4): Jerry Schilling and his cousin Billy Smith. Billy: Yes. Elvis was more understanding, and he wanted someone with him too. More Viewers Questions! This page was last edited on 16 March 2015, at 17:35. He always looked after me, and I always wanted to be with him. . His stepmother made her comments as a week-long observance of the 10th anniversary of Presley's death got under way in Memphis. And, he had unbelievable strength. As one of Elvis' closest confidants and a blood relative, Smith has been described as a "wonderful asset to the Elvis Presley fans worldwide."[13]. People named Billy Smith. Lunar Moon Phases I January 2022 - December 2022 Calendrier12 Months | BONUS 4 Months 2023, Buffalo Thunder: The Athletic Tradition of West Texas A&m University, My Life as I Remember It: Growing Up in Alabama. 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. 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. See Photos. (by Alfred Wertheimer). Billy Smith was an administrative aid to Elvis Presley, as well as Elvis' first cousin and part of the Memphis Mafia. 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? Elviss cousin grew up with him in Tupelo, Mississippi and says that it could be true. Billy says that Elvis likely got them separated since people often take that route. Thats it. . Elvis cared a lot about Daddy, he did. While his wife Jo added: He had a lot of respect for him.. He's dated a lot of beautiful women such as Linda Thompson and Ginger Alden and, of course, Priscilla Presley. He was there with the rest of the Memphis Mafia when Presley was at his peak. Elvis tried to see to it that we all worked in his movies. Sonny West was responsible for security at Presley concerts. To him, Elvis was more than the superstar the world swooned over; he was his best friend. "For the first time in his life, he had a group of male friends to pal around with, and he relished being the leader of the pack. 'He said, 'Dee, I'm sick. He would watch The Student Prince which was set in Heidelberg, over and over again. Episode 77. Here, in Part One, Billy talks about his family, the Memphis Mafia, the Movie Years, meeting The Beatles and much much more. EIN: Elvis obviously had a quick temper. Bobby and l were always within a mile or two of Elvis. [16] These threats were kept out of the press for fear of triggering even more.[17]. Billy Smith was Elvis' first cousin, the son of Gladys Presley's oldest brother. Travis was the brother of Gladys Presley, Elvis's mother, making Billy and Elvis first cousins. That seems very strange. [citation needed], An agreement was not reached, and when Elvis received a copy of the book entitled Elvis: What Happened? EIN: When you first arrived in Memphis you lived in the same house as The Presleys in Washington Street. In the years leading up to his purchase of the ranch, Elvis' schedule was heavily focused on film; he starred in 21 feature films released between 1960 and 1967. Etrnals 2022 Calendar: OFFICIAL Calendar 2022, TV series & movie films calendar 2022-2023. Once married he & his wife Jo lived behind the main Graceland house except for a few years when Billy worked on the railroad. [9] When Elvis died, Smith was a pallbearer at Elvis' funeral, along with Joe Esposito, Charlie Hodge, Lamar Fike and George C. Jul 10, 2019 - 206 Likes, 7 Comments - elvis aaron presley (@forever.presley) on Instagram: "Elvis's first cousin, Billy Smith with his wife, Jo Smith. Go to a different show every night, then pick up a bunch of women afterwards, go party the next night. After all, there are several books and documentaries out there that detail large portions of his life and exploits. Billy's family also went with the Presleys when they first moved to Memphis. Our hearts will intertwine.". Thompson, a former beauty queen who dated Elvis from July 1972 to late 1976, spoke about her time with Presley at the event. It is quite a stretch, but imagine if it were true. . 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? l, like most the guys, was in many of his movies as an extra. Maybe it's because I was where he was before it all happened, and that was the link. For example, he would rent an entire movie theater to watch a film. 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. When asked about the stories, Smith revealed he was not too sure about that one. 'I could. 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. But Elvis had all kinds of people working for him - black, white, Jews, Italians, Mexicans. Billy: Yes, Billy Mann was the one who took the picture in the coffin. . He always had a love for music even at very young age. Both Elvis and his cousin were born in Tupelo, Mississippi before their families later moved to Memphis, Tennessee. He seems to remember his importance more than some of the other guys remember it. He lived with us in that house behind Graceland. "[1] The group began with Elvis' first cousins Junior and Gene Smith, who accompanied Elvis everywhere, along with Elvis' high school friend Red West, and rockabilly singer Cliff Gleaves. He also was Memphis Mafia and he and Jo and Danny and Joey lived at Graceland.. Elvis and Billy were both born in Tupelo, Mississippi, before their families moved to Memphis, Tennessee. by. [25] Elvis had "even offered the publishers money not to go ahead with it. Eight years younger than The King, Billy grew up with his own family in a home in. Since then, Dee Presley has worked as a sales clerk in a department store -- a job she described as 'the best therapy in the world -- and now does public relations in Nashville. He hated how wide it was and the way it flared. Elvis spoke up and said, "If you guys aren't going to say anything, I'm going to bed." 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"). Elvis and Gene were close to the same age and were close, especially in the early years. EIN: Once Elvis bought Graceland you also moved in with your family? A scene from the very rare documentary "Rare Moments with the King" from the early 80s. Only Billy and Jerry are still around from those in th. 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. To get inside you need no key. He thought it made him look better and that he needed it, Billy reveals. Can you tell us if this is true? 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. 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? That was a lot different and I remember that it took a while for everyone to get jobs, and one of my daddy's cousins stole all the money we had, and my daddy's new socks. That's the reason I've never remarried. He talked about it many, many times, and we all looked forward to the day that happened. But, why bust his bubble. 'It was a very strange telephone conversation. Elvis Presley died Aug. 16, 1977. Smith was part of The King's Memphis Mafia entourage for decades. Calendar planner 2022-2023. Unfortunately, it never came to pass. 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.. Elvis Presley died at the age of just 42-year-old on August 16, 1977 in the upstairs bathroom of Graceland. So, that makes him a wonderful source of information as well as stories about Elvis and the goings-on at Graceland and beyond. These original Memphis Mafia members at the time the phrase was coined were cousins Sonny West,[7] and Red West, as well as Billy Smith, and Charlie Hodge, among others. That's the same white house that Elvis and I tore down with the bulldozer to make more room to ride the horses. To hear more about Billy Smiths time growing up with Elvis Presley back in the day, take a look at the interview video below! Is he still alive? [GRACELAND UPSTAIRS]Elvis: How Lisa Marie's name was chosen and what a boy would be called[LISA MARIE], Jo shared: He actually was there [as a Graceland guard] until he became ill and couldnt work anymore and Elvis retired himhed had a stroke.. ", "If you're an Elvis fan, no explanation is necessary; If you're not an Elvis fan, no explanation is possible. She said, Yes he is, yes he is. EIN: After Elvis fall & concussion before Clambake, The Colonel demanded that Elvis burn all his spiritual books. Can you confirm the story? Please share his story with us. Billy: One thing Uncle Vernon was good at was numbers, especially if dollar signs were in front of them! He made it a good time. Smith recalls that the legendary entertainer had some major issues with how his nose looked. However, he was just a boy at the time. See Photos. All our wives were there. We'd stay there and never sleep, we were all taking pills just so we could keep up with each other. In fact, Billy and his wife Jo lived on the grounds of Graceland behind the main house for years. He was more upset and mad over the socks. Elvis and Vernon knew how far to push. 4.25 avg rating 537 ratings published 1995 7 editions. Nick Adams and his gang came by the suite all the time, not to mention the eccentric actor Billy Murphy, longtime friend of John Wayne and Robert Mitchum". 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. Billy's family also went with the Presleys when they first moved to Memphis. Smith is frequently cited as one of Elvis' longest and most devoted friends and family members. Jerry still lives in the house in LA that Elvis bought him in 1974 and is still involved in Elvis projects. At nearly 800 pages the book is justifiably acclaimed as one of the. With Barbara Hearn listening to playback. He loved the power of the big voices. Seven sheep escape from New Jersey slaughterhouse, find new sanctuary home. But The Colonel tried to get information out of us all. Professional handlers and celebrity security experts had not yet evolved. And Elvis trusted him. Billy Smith tells all on rumors about Elvis Presley Elvis Presley / Keystone/Stringer You can unsubscribe at any time. There were a lot of lonely days and nights until Jo started to travel with us. Stephanie-Billy Smith. Do you recall any of this & were you lucky enough to see Elvis first play in a kind rock n roll band? ", "Absolute id crashed into absolute superegoas the uptightset man in America shook hands with just about the loosest. Nevertheless, Elvis' cousin and Memphis Mafia member Billy Smith has shared an insight into the star's lavish bedroom. All the crew loved him, and they were always so nice to his boys (us). Seen on safari: Crocodile swings from elephant's tail. 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. There were often rumors of Elvis undergoing cosmetic surgery like facelifts and dying his hair. Another game was called the 'Whip' game. Thus family members and friends of his youth were very important to him. [3], After Elvis became famous, Smith's father Travis worked for him as Chief Guard, and the family moved into Graceland. And, in the early days, they lived with him. Uncle Vernon and Daddy looked for jobs and they even wore out the soles of their shoes. Most of all, Elvis was concerned his daughter Lisa Marie, would be adversely affected by the contents of the book. He left behind an undying legacy. See Photos. But his movies made money, and Colonel didn't want to change the format. Tel: We use cookies and similar technologies to personalize contents and ads, to provide social media features and to analyze our traffic. Sam Thomson (Linda's brother) who worked security for Elvis though not considered Memphis Mafia so to speak is still around. Related articles Queen and Adam Lambert cover Elvis, Led Zeppelin: WATCH . So he decided to have it trimmed down and thats what they didwhich made him lookgod! [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. EIN: What are your chief memories of the times working on the movies? We were told that she was a beautiful woman. EIN: I believe that you brought Jerry Schilling into the group. [citation needed], In numerous press conferences concerning Elvis: What Happened?, both of the West cousins stated they wrote the book in part to make Elvis realize that his dependence on prescription medications was (literally) killing him. By accepting "all cookies", including profiling cookies, in addition to supporting our free offer, you will receive advertisements in line with your interests. When Elvis bought Graceland Billys family also moved in and his father Travis worked for Elvis as Chief guard. Smith was part of The Kings Memphis Mafia entourage for decades. Eight years younger, Billy Smith is the star's cousin on his mother's side. She said, My Daddys dead, my Daddys dead., I cant even tell you what I felt, I was stunned and paralyzed. However, Presley's enormous wealth allowed him an ability to separate himself from the general public, especially in his home city of Memphis. Billy: Yes, l remember when he was discouraged about the quality of his movies. 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