"[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. Another game was called the 'Whip' game. Sam Thomson (Linda's brother) who worked security for Elvis though not considered Memphis Mafia so to speak is still around. I'm always looking for another Vernon Presley.'. 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. "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. Release Calendar Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie Spotlight. EIN: When you first arrived in Memphis you lived in the same house as The Presleys in Washington Street. One family member of Elvis Presley has revealed just how much work and how far the King of Rock and Roll went to make sure he looked his best. He also had not only one but two facelifts in his lifetime, one in 1957 and the other in 1975. Gene worked for Elvis for a number of years and was one of the original Memphis Mafia members, along with Red West & Junior. Other than Billy Smith himself I cannot determine a source for this story but I can take an educated guess. Billy shared: Elvis had a lot of confidence in him, so kept him on. 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. However, many of the people who were close to him are still here. Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Dictionary.com is adding 313 new terms and 130 new definitions to keep up with the ever-changing modern lexicon. Joe Esposito served as Elvis' chief road manager and personal aide for 17 years. 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. 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. Elvis swore that he would never touch another one after that, and I don't guess he ever did. Sonny West was responsible for security at Presley concerts. When Elvis bought Graceland Billys family also moved in and his father Travis worked for Elvis as Chief guard. Marty Lacker and Elvis' cousin, Billy Smith, were probably the closest true friends of Elvis according to some in the group. And you place yours on mine. When Elvis bought Graceland Billy's family also moved in and his father Travis worked for Elvis as Chief guard. However, the best sources for information about Elvis Presley are the people who knew him while he was alive. Billy: Aunt Gladys was a good person. Billy Smith was Elvis' first cousin, the son of Gladys Presley's oldest brother. Can you clarify what happened and how did you feel about this happening being real family? [8] Elvis' wife Priscilla helped with the creation of this logo on a flight through stormy conditions. But, he has a sharp memory. Joe Esposito handled money and cross referenced the extensive travel arrangements. These two interviews were done years apart. Junior looked like the actor Jack Elam. or. Very early on I remember once when Elvis pulled me out of a garbage can! Posts: 1808. When The King became famous in 1956, the family had moved to Audubon Drive where they asked Travis to be a guard out front. 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. Sometimes Tracy would stay down there at the gate with Daddy and pretend he was a gate guard. He only worked a couple of places before Elvis became famous, unlike Aunt Gladys who had worked at several places before Elvis became famous. He's in a lot of those Alfred Wertheimer photos from Elvis trip to New York. We could talk about anything, and we did! More Viewers Questions! "Elvis always tried to improve his looks." Billy also mentions that Elvis also had caps on his teeth and facial blemishes removed. He had to get in the studio and cut a few singles while he was home. Billy: With Elvis, all the movies were fun. Please share his story with us. She was always close to her family, but Elvis was her heart. Ukrainian drone crashes 60 miles from Moscow, prompting Putin military order, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot loses re-election bid, concedes defeat, Couples consider third and fourth partners in 'Seeking Brother Husband' coming soon to TLC, Musician Ben Kweller announces death of 16-year-old son. Billy Smith with his parents Travis & Lorraine Smith, and his brother Bobby on the right. However, he was just a boy at the time. The first expos book, Elvis: What Happened?, appeared in 1977 shortly before Elvis's death. Then, when the King would take a break, Billy would go get him water. That's the same white house that Elvis and I tore down with the bulldozer to make more room to ride the horses. Billy Smith was an administrative aid to Elvis Presley, as well as Elvis' first cousin and part of the Memphis Mafia. Billy Smith. Elvis Cousin Billy Smith and his . Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. Can you confirm the story? [3], After Elvis became famous, Smith's father Travis worked for him as Chief Guard, and the family moved into Graceland. 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. [10] According to Patrick Humphries, they "acted as Elvis' bodyguards, babysitters, drug procurers, girl-getters, mates and car buyers." Elvis uncle, who got on well with people, would crowd control the fans and made sure they kept off the neighbours lawns. The Memphis Mafia was the nickname given by the media to a group of Elvis Presley's friends, associates, employees and cousins whose main functions were to accompany, protect, and serve Presley from the beginning of his career in 1954 until his death in 1977. We were all handpicked by Elvis, and he was very protective of us. We talked about religion so much. So, he watched from a distance. EIN: And what of Vernon? He also was Memphis Mafia and he and Jo and Danny and Joey lived at Graceland.. What do you remember of that time and how different was it from life in Tupelo? See Photos. Needless to say Elvis knew that cousin Billy Mann was the one who failed the test back in 1957). Copyright 2023 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Later on Elvis told someone and it hurt me a lot, and he knew it. I was always close to Elvis even as a young child. All the guys in our group were extremely close. 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. He also tried to distance you all from Elvis by making Joe Esposito head foreman. book. 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. Rickeap. EIN: What about Gene Smith, he seemed to come & go within the group? By accepting "all cookies", including profiling cookies, in addition to supporting our free offer, you will receive advertisements in line with your interests. . She also travels with Elvis impersonator Elvis Wade and introduces him when he performs. Contents 1 Biography 2 With Elvis 3 Later life 4 References Biography [ edit] Elvis' grandfather got my father out of jail and left Vernon there when it first happened. Actually no, we dont. Billy: Yes, I was with him on many of the recording sessions. Check us out on facebook at. 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. The festival takes place in Tupelo, Mississippi where both Elvis and Billy were born. This article "Billy Smith (Memphis Mafia)" is from Wikipedia. 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