He loved the power of the big voices. Billy: With Elvis, all the movies were fun. The Smith family collection includes a toy car from Elvis's childhood that was given to Billy Smith by Gladys Presley, a pair of lamps purchased by Elvis on one of his shopping sprees for the . Billy Smith is one of those great sources of Elvis Presley information. A fan asked if they stay in contact with the Presley family, and if not, why. 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. Go to the lounges, see Fats Domino, Della Reese, Jackie Wilson, the Four Aces, the Dominoes all the old acts. He took rat poison. "Elvis always tried to improve his looks." Billy also mentions that Elvis also had caps on his teeth and facial blemishes removed. Elvis was very open-minded. Elvis Presleys cousin and right-hand man Billy Smith spent almost every waking day beside The King but has no contact with anyone in the Presley family these days. [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. We had so many memorable times on the set!! We have spent days in his room reading and studying. When he was sick, I usually stayed with him. EIN: Cousin Billy Mann. But stranger things have happened. She was in Germany where Elvis was stationed in the Army. Can you clarify once & for all whether you saw Elvis being obviously racist in anyway? I realized I had done the impossible -- called up Elvis. . By accepting "all cookies", including profiling cookies, in addition to supporting our free offer, you will receive advertisements in line with your interests. Billy: Yes, Billy Mann was the one who took the picture in the coffin. 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. Billy is" They speculated that Elvis has done facelifts and also dyed his hair to look younger and more charming. Joe could tolerate Colonel better than some of the others. 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. He said it gave him a peace within, and, if it did, well, that was good. It then gets swung around by the elephant until it lets go. Some did better than others, but still we each had a purpose. Over the years, there have been many rumors that have circulated about Presley, one in particular that he also had webbed toes. 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. Elvis and Aunt Gladys had a very quick temper, and I have seen the bad side of both when they were mad or upset. Today, Tomorrow, and Forever. Needless to say Elvis knew that cousin Billy Mann was the one who failed the test back in 1957). A couple of them had been arrested with false prescriptions attempting to collect drugs for Elvis, quite a few had taken physical hits in the service of protecting Elvis and none were paid more than $500 a week. It is quite a stretch, but imagine if it were true. Billy Smith was Elvis' first cousin, the son of Gladys Presley's oldest brother. Dog rescued after falling 12 feet into Georgia storm drain. [18] Esposito and Lacker were Presley's best men at his wedding. 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"! Additionally, many of them are more than willing to share a little Elvis knowledge with the public. Please share his story with us. Dedicated Presley fans are well aware of the controversy that has surrounded Presley's death from day one. Billy: Elvis loved to read. He always told me that he loved me. Stephanie-Billy Smith. Movies. Contents 1 Biography 2 With Elvis 3 Later life 4 References Biography [ edit] To hear more about Billy Smiths time growing up with Elvis Presley back in the day, take a look at the interview video below! Larry was his hair dresser. Eight Rare Photos Of Elvis Presley When He Was Serving In The Army, Writing Lines Exploring The Tedious Yet Creative Punishment, Why It Is So Unusual To Find An Original Bob Ross Painting. We all loved him and had a job to do. And, in the early days, they lived with him. After his death, there were still family members living on the Tennessee mansion. Billy also tackles the rumor that Elvis had webbed toes. ", (Mark Feeney on the 'Elvis meets Nixon' meeting), "especially in the South, they talk about Elvis and Jesus in the same breath", "The image is one thing and the human being is anotherit's very hard to live up to an image", (Elvis Presley, Madison Square Garden press conference, 1972), "Elvis was a major hero of mine. Eight years younger, Billy Smith is the star's cousin on his mother's side. or. 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. This article "Billy Smith (Memphis Mafia)" is from Wikipedia. I always loved Elvis very much and would do just about anything to please him and be with him. "[12], The Memphis Mafia had specific jobs. [9] When Elvis died, Smith was a pallbearer at Elvis' funeral, along with Joe Esposito, Charlie Hodge, Lamar Fike and George C. He was there with the rest of the Memphis Mafia when Presley was at his peak. We grew up around him and moved to Graceland as young teenagers. You can hear in his tone, in his measured responses, that he adored Elvis. We took our kids with us so it made it a lot better. We were all handpicked by Elvis, and he was very protective of us. Hes dead. The only thing that brought it to reality was when she said, Hes smothered in the carpet. And when she said that, I just threw the phone because I thought, Ok, hes gone. But The Colonel tried to get information out of us all. [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. That seems very strange. Welcome back. He always looked after me, and I always wanted to be with him. These two interviews were done years apart. Elvis had a hard time hiding it if something was bothering him. Click on the topic that interests you to follow it. Since the late 1970s, some former members of the Memphis Mafia have written books on Elvis. When Billy was old enough he started working with the Memphis Mafia team. "Elvis was surrounded by the first wave of what would become known as the Memphis Mafia." and a newspaper reporter picked up the story. Our grandfather was a handsome man. Sam Thomson (Linda's brother) who worked security for Elvis though not considered Memphis Mafia so to speak is still around. When Elvis bought Graceland Billys family also moved in and his father Travis worked for Elvis as Chief guard. After some administrative organization, when Carter called Graceland, he asked for Billy Smith as a code that it would be the president calling for Elvis and the two subsequently had a discussion. He said he would see me on his next tour. 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. I remember him as a fun-loving guy and he hung around a lot with Elvis until Elvis went into the army. We were like brothers. Sometimes Tracy would stay down there at the gate with Daddy and pretend he was a gate guard. 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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. A crocodile fights an elephant only to realize it may have bitten off more than it can chew. Elvis Cousin Billy Smith and his . 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. Aunt Lavelle and Uncle Tracy looked like their Daddy . we were all three there talking for hours about everything in the world! 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. Elvis Cousin Billy Smith and his Wife Jo talking about August 16, 1977. 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. ", "History has him as this good old country boy, Elvis is about as country as Bono! I spoke to him about how sorry I was and he invited me to coffee.'. After all, Smith is the King's cousin. And, whenever we were able, we always went to see him, especially local. He also had not only one but two facelifts in his lifetime, one in 1957 and the other in 1975. Colonel tried to get rid of some of the guys but it didn't really have any effect on me. [22] According to Presley's cousin Billy Smith, Elvis got into bed with Smith and his wife Jo "many times at Graceland when we would spend the night there in Lisa's room, or on tour in the hotel, and at the trailer on the property at Graceland. Billy was 8 years younger than Elvis and grew up with him in Tupelo. [1], Smith has given numerous interviews for a range of media that have covered Elvis. But, he never criticized other religions either. EIN: As most people know, Elvis father Vernon went to jail for forging a cheque. He won four Stanley Cups with the New York Islanders and was the first goalie to be credited with a goal in the NHL. 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. Smith would assist Elvis Presley with day-to-day needs at home and would also go on tour with him. Some members of this inner circle became close friends who served as replacements for the normal everyday friendships Presley's fame would not allow. 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. And he loved big orchestras. A close friend of Presley's, Jo Smith, talks about the King's past relationships. Presley said another telephone call years earlier, in 1958, led to her becoming part of the Presley family. He was talking about how scattered the family was. 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. They were true family and were in Elvis company to the very final day. Elvis and Billy were both born in Tupelo, Mississippi, before their families moved to Memphis, Tennessee. 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". The interesting part will not be the cartoon itself, but the fact that the Elvis character is working undercover as a government spy. "[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. 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.. Elvis saw me as he passed and pulled me out! From this day forward, our minds, our souls, Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. EIN: Elvis obviously had a quick temper. Billy Smith was Elvis' first cousin, the son of Gladys Presley's oldest brother. No, hes not, Thompson continued. Dark skin, dark eyes, and high cheeks. [8] Elvis' wife Priscilla helped with the creation of this logo on a flight through stormy conditions. I was little, and I was trying to get some bananas out that the man from the fruit stand had thrown away. Do you still see him or have any contact? Error rating book. With Barbara Hearn listening to playback. "[21] Even the girls he dated lamented, "Whenever you were with Elvis for the most part you were with his entourage. When The King became famous in 1956, the family had moved to Audubon Drive where they asked Travis to be a guard out front. 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. 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. Both Elvis and his cousin were born in Tupelo, Mississippi before their families later moved to Memphis, Tennessee. [citation needed], Presley and his friends and employees also adopted the acronym TCB which meant "Taking Care of Business". Billy: Yes, I was with him on many of the recording sessions. At the time I knew he was pissed at Colonel about something, but he never said what it was. . I dont know why, Billy says in the video. [citation needed], An agreement was not reached, and when Elvis received a copy of the book entitled Elvis: What Happened? To date, numerous reports say fans believe that Elvis Presley did not die in 1977, but was placed in witness protection. So down to earth. I don't know where it came from or if Elvis just made it up. Kalendar Calendario Calendrier.1, Al View Calendar 2022: Landscape view, USA United States of America Noncontiguous State Nature. Alternatively, fans can go to Graceland and learn volumes about Presley, his life, and his family. Elvis' father Vernon increasingly distrusted and disliked many members of the Memphis Mafia as Elvis' financial condition deteriorated in 1972. 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." [25] Elvis had "even offered the publishers money not to go ahead with it. How did it come about? . Bodyguards, road managers and other employees, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Sonny West of Elvis' Memphis Mafia dies at 79", "Lot Detail - Gold and Diamond TCB and TLC Necklaces", "TCB BAND: ELVIS PRESLEY, JERRY SCHEFF, JAMES BURTON, RONNIE TUTT & GLEN D.HARDIN", "Billy Smith; Part 2 - Interview - Elvis Information Network", The Memphis Mafia: Interviews with just about every member of the Memphis Mafia, Elvis Information: Recent in-depth interviews with the Memphis Mafia including Elvis' cousin, Interviews with the Memphis Mafia by Elvis Australia, From Memphis to Vegas / From Vegas to Memphis, Elvis Sings The Wonderful World of Christmas, From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee, Amazing Grace: His Greatest Sacred Performances, Command Performances: The Essential 60s Masters II, Suspicious Minds: The Memphis 1969 Anthology, The King of Rock 'n' Roll: The Complete 50's Masters, From Nashville to Memphis: The Essential '60s Masters, Walk a Mile in My Shoes: The Essential '70s Masters, Peace in the Valley: The Complete Gospel Recordings, The Frank Sinatra Timex Show: Welcome Home Elvis, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Memphis_Mafia&oldid=1133531998, Short description is different from Wikidata, BLP articles lacking sources from October 2021, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2021, Articles needing additional references from December 2021, All articles needing additional references, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 14 January 2023, at 07:41. A lightning bolt flashed across the sky in front of them, and Elvis took inspiration from it. That was the very first I knew how upset Elvis was. Each man had specific duties. Our hearts will intertwine.". (2002) Live in Las Vegas is a four-disc box set by American singer and musician Elvis Presley, released in July 2001 on RCA Records, catalogue 07863 69354-2. Elvis Aaron Presley : Revelations from the Memphis Mafia, The Blue Correspondence, Everton Season 1889 - 1890, The Blue Correspondence, Everton Season 1888-89. "Some of the Memphis Mafia would buy up to $15,000 worth of fireworks in today's money, including skyrockets, baby giants, firecrackers, and chasers, which moved rapidly and unpredictably until they exploded. He went to great lengths to make sure that it was kept a jet black color at all times, making his blue eyes stand out. Marty Lacker was a brutally honest "sounding board" advisor, Jerry Schilling gave advice about what other groups were using for audio equipment etc., and Billy Smith was a "Jack of All Trades". Elvis and Gene even worked together at Precision Tool. Alanna Nash, Billy Smith, Marty Lacker. Enjoy a few stories about Elvis from Billy and Jo Smith. ", "If you're an Elvis fan, no explanation is necessary; If you're not an Elvis fan, no explanation is possible. I lived on Circle G ranch at that time, when we were not in Los Angeles. Also moved in and his friends and employees also adopted the acronym TCB which ``. Elvis bought Graceland Billys family also moved in and his friends and employees also adopted the acronym TCB which ``... Get information out of us Lavelle and Uncle Tracy looked like their Daddy thrown.. Who took the picture in the early days, they lived with him, we always went to jail forging! 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