The. 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. Some closer than others, but still we stood up for each other no matter what. [10] According to Patrick Humphries, they "acted as Elvis' bodyguards, babysitters, drug procurers, girl-getters, mates and car buyers." So down to earth. 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. For that they were often shouted at, abused and belittled by the King when he felt like it. [1], Other articles of the topic Elvis Presley:Elvis PresleySome use of "" in your query was not closed by a matching "".Some use of "" in your query was not closed by a matching "". During a recent question and answer session, Smith and his wife Jo opened up about their estranged relationship with the Presley family. He wanted stronger roles. Afterwards we both cried like crazy and I'll remember it as long as I live. [8] Elvis' wife Priscilla helped with the creation of this logo on a flight through stormy conditions. 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. Etrnals 2022 Calendar: OFFICIAL Calendar 2022, TV series & movie films calendar 2022-2023. EIN: I know that you were in Nashville for the Guitar Man sessions with Jerry Reed. Once married he & his wife Jo lived behind the main Graceland house except for a few years when Billy worked on the railroad. He also was Memphis Mafia and he and Jo and Danny and Joey lived at Graceland.. She also opened up about the devastating phone call relaying his death to her. Several in our group were close to Elvis at one time or the other. Over the years, the number of members grew and changed, but for the most part there was a core group who spent much time with Presley. Before I write one more word, I want it clearly understood that after the interview in the British I guess they dont like us, I dont know, youd have to ask them. 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"). "[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. Billy was 8 years younger than Elvis and grew up with him in Tupelo. Billy: One thing Uncle Vernon was good at was numbers, especially if dollar signs were in front of them! She said, My Daddys dead, my Daddys dead., I cant even tell you what I felt, I was stunned and paralyzed. Billy: Well it's true that my father, Travis, went to the penitentiary with Vernon, but Vernon got out of prison a few months before my father because of good behavior. Can you clarify once & for all whether you saw Elvis being obviously racist in anyway? 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. Billy Smith was an administrative aid to Elvis Presley, as well as Elvis' first cousin and part of the Memphis Mafia. You can hear in his tone, in his measured responses, that he adored Elvis. Dark skin, dark eyes, and high cheeks. Joe could tolerate Colonel better than some of the others. "[21] Even the girls he dated lamented, "Whenever you were with Elvis for the most part you were with his entourage. 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. So, he watched from a distance. Never wanting to disappoint his fans, nothing was too extreme for Presley. "[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. What did you see of his personal quest at the time and his visits to the Self Realization Park? 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. EIN: As most people know, Elvis father Vernon went to jail for forging a cheque. Larry was his hair dresser. (which was first published on July 12, 1977), he worried that his reputation would be adversely affected. Billy Smith was interviewed by Piers Beagley for EIN, January 2006. Then, when the King would take a break, Billy would go get him water. Presley's rapid financial deterioration was partly a result of his divorce from Priscilla, which was finalized on October 9, 1973, as well as Colonel Tom Parker's exorbitant percentage of Presley's earnings. Blasting SA, IDI CHE-247.845.224, Via Carlo Frasca, 3 - 6900 Lugano (Switzerland) Following his August 16, 1977 death, Thompson received a heartbreaking call from Presleys daughter. Is it true that your Aunt Gladys had the same temper? Reading seemed to have been a major preoccupation of his. 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. And, in the early days, they lived with him. Sometimes Tracy would stay down there at the gate with Daddy and pretend he was a gate guard. EIN: Perhaps Elvis' most famous abode before becoming famous was the Lauderdale Courts apartment. When she and Vernon returned from their honeymoon, Elvis had redecorated their quarters -- even putting pictures on the walls for her three boys. 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.. According to the Express, Elvis Presley's cousin, Billy Smith has revealed some of the King's biggest secrets. In their new home city they shared a house, with the Presleys downstairs and the Smiths upstairs. Elvis and Gene even worked together at Precision Tool. He was Junior's brother. From this day forward, our minds, our souls, "Elvis always tried to improve his looks." Billy also mentions that Elvis also had caps on his teeth and facial blemishes removed. They stated they hoped their book would "shock" Elvis into seeking medical care away from the physicians who were complicit in prescribing Elvis large amounts of prescription medications and fully resting and becoming "clean" off of these prescribed drugs. However, many of the people who were close to him are still here. [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. [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". Billy: Yes, my older brother Bobby died in 1968. Billy and Jo say they dont know exactly why theyve lost contact with the Presleys. [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. Related articles Queen and Adam Lambert cover Elvis, Led Zeppelin: WATCH . Both Elvis and his cousin were born in Tupelo, Mississippi before their families later moved to Memphis, Tennessee. 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. Smith was part of The King's Memphis Mafia entourage for decades. Billy Smith tells all on rumors about Elvis Presley Elvis Presley / Keystone/Stringer 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. News coming in as follows: Please keep Billy Smith, Jo's husband, Danny and Joey's Dad in your thoughts and prayers! This page was last edited on 16 March 2015, at 17:35. Billy's family also went with the Presleys when they first moved to Memphis. (by Alfred Wertheimer). Even though the famous couple broke up 8 months before Elvis Presley passed, Thompson stayed close to his nine-year-old daughter, Lisa Marie. She describes herself as having been like a sister to Elvis, a companion, confidante and keeper of secrets in the exciting days of his early career. It was a good meeting. He said how his father worked for the Precision Tool Company in Memphis and bought a 1951 Chevrolet, which he let Elvis take his driving test in. TV Shows. 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. For both his security needs and touring support, Presley hired people chosen from among those he could trust and depend on to manage his public appearances. Billy Smith was born to Travis and Lorraine Smith on April 6, 1943. Smith would assist Elvis Presley with day-to-day needs at home and would also go on tour with him. Other than Billy Smith himself I cannot determine a source for this story but I can take an educated guess. 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. Some members of this inner circle became close friends who served as replacements for the normal everyday friendships Presley's fame would not allow. 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]. Since the late 1970s, some former members of the Memphis Mafia have written books on Elvis. They were not allowed to take the trailer that Elvis had purchased for them that they had lived in on the Graceland property. He hated how wide it was and the way it flared. A lightning bolt flashed across the sky in front of them, and Elvis took inspiration from it. "Elvis was surrounded by the first wave of what would become known as the Memphis Mafia." Dictionary.com adds 'hellscape,' 'woke' and 311 other new terms. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. After learning that his mother, Gladys, had died, she said she decided to call Elvis and express her sympathy. Elvis always took great pride in his hair. So did Junior! He also had not only one but two facelifts in his lifetime, one in 1957 and the other in 1975. The annual Elvis Presley Tupelo Festival went ahead as planned this year after taking last year off due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 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. As the years went on, Smith then lived with his wife, Jo, on the same grounds. 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 saw me as he passed and pulled me out! [5], Around 1960, the media dubbed these people the "Memphis Mafia". EIN: After Elvis fall & concussion before Clambake, The Colonel demanded that Elvis burn all his spiritual books. and a newspaper reporter picked up the story. Elvis cared a lot about Daddy, he did. While his wife Jo added: He had a lot of respect for him.. So, that makes him a wonderful source of information as well as stories about Elvis and the goings-on at Graceland and beyond. I fell in head first. It would be the most historic and brilliant well-kept secrets any celebrity has ever pulled. Rickeap. He felt comfortable with me and trusted me. Moreover, when approached by Vanity Fair, several Elvis experts attested to its seeming. People said that he uses cosmetic surgery to improve his appearance and look his best. She was always close to her family, but Elvis was her heart. 'I could. Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Authorities in Maine said one bison remained on the loose Tuesday after three of the animals were seen running loose on a road Monday. Kalendar Calendario Calendrier.1, Al View Calendar 2022: Landscape view, USA United States of America Noncontiguous State Nature. A fan asked if they stay in contact with the Presley family, and if not, why. Billy Smith is one of those great sources of Elvis Presley information. ", (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. Sign Up. Billy: Uncle Tracy had a fever when he was a child, and it caused him to be slow. See Photos. In 2017 Smith was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in history. He was the only member of the Memphis Mafia to last from beginning to end of the group. Billy: I don't remember anything about him practicing with Johnny Burnett or his brother. [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". To date, numerous reports say fans believe that Elvis Presley did not die in 1977, but was placed in witness protection. That was the very first I knew how upset Elvis was. Billy Smith was just a kid but he knew that he was witnessing greatness. He relates that they were a "friendly bunch" who, when Elvis began to sing just for fun during his interview, followed "suit, singing, clowning, all on their feet". All our wives were there. Elvis was more understanding, and he wanted someone with him too. But The Colonel tried to get information out of us all. I had so much respect for him. Powerball ticket forgotten in coat pocket turns out to be $1 million winner. 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.". He always told me that he loved me. Smith realized this as he stood slack-jawed watching the King lay down vocals. Billy: Elvis loved to read. we were all three there talking for hours about everything in the world! New Elvis projects will include Hound dog treats for dogs and a Netflix original series in 2021. Billy Smith was Elvis first cousin, the son of Gladys Presleys oldest brother. 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? Go to a different show every night, then pick up a bunch of women afterwards, go party the next night. Billy: He was never fond of working. EIN: Billy, you had a particularly special relationship with Elvis and were closer to him than any of the other members of the Memphis Mafia. The son of Gladys' brother Travis, he grew up alongside Elvis and later lived behind Graceland and then became a. [1], Smith has given numerous interviews for a range of media that have covered Elvis. 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. We were in the den when Elvis came out and said to us, "I fell and hit my head. ", "If you're an Elvis fan, no explanation is necessary; If you're not an Elvis fan, no explanation is possible. See Photos. After his death, there were still family members living on the Tennessee mansion. 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. He said it would teach him a lesson. . But stranger things have happened. However, he cant put his finger on what the X factor was, to this day. "[23], When they rented the Rainbow Rollerdrome in Memphis, Elvis and the "Memphis Mafia" usually played "a game called 'War', of which Elvis was the proud inventor. EIN: It seems to me that Vernon being employed as Elvis financial manager was a terrible mistake. EIN: Theres a lot of rubbish printed about Elvis being racist, some coming from that faked quote that was printed in a newspaper in the fifties. Billy was Elvis' cousin and the closest guy to him! Elvis and the Memphis Mafia was originally a monumental 4,000 page oral biography, written after numerous individual and group interviews between Alanna Nash and Memphis Mafia stalwarts, Billy Smith, Marty Lacker and Lamar Fike. Billy Smith grew up with The King and knew him before he was famous. And, whenever we were able, we always went to see him, especially local. Did Elvis comment or realise that he was back making great music again, or didnt his feelings turn around until the American Studios sessions? I'm always looking for another Vernon Presley.'. Go to the lounges, see Fats Domino, Della Reese, Jackie Wilson, the Four Aces, the Dominoes all the old acts. I was little, and I was trying to get some bananas out that the man from the fruit stand had thrown away. 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. 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 made it a good time. Professional handlers and celebrity security experts had not yet evolved. "[12] "They all had jobs to do so that Elvis could do his and as far as being there for the money, that's laughable because there really wasn't much in that area to be there for. This first referred to their image, as they usually cruised the city in black mohair suits and dark sunglasses. 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 with Elvis before leaving for Germany & the army in 1958. Click here for Part Two: Billy talks about Elvis' Girls, Elvis' Final Years, his relationship with EPE, 'Elvis By The Presleys' and more. But he knew it from memory, and we went over it several times so I could memorize it. We promised each other. Billy was 8 years younger than Elvis and grew up with him in Tupelo. Menu. I was always close to Elvis even as a young child. Bobby and l were always within a mile or two of Elvis. 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. Billy: Elvis was southern, and so he joked sometimes. Elvis Presley gave a lot of thought and time into obtaining what he considered his perfect look throughout his short-lived life. 15 distinct works. Alanna Nash, Billy Smith, Marty Lacker. we were family. He had a thirst to learn new things. 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