Billy: One thing Uncle Vernon was good at was numbers, especially if dollar signs were in front of them! Elvis Presleys Cousin Remembers Shocking Sight From the King in the Recording Studio, more than willing to share a little Elvis knowledge with the public, they have some stories to tell about the legendary rocker, Billy Smith opened up about what it was like. How did it come about? EIN: Do you remember any build up to Elvis recording his first record or practising with Scotty Moore & Bill Black? 'I called and said, 'Elvis, what in the world is wrong?' Billy: He did practice, but it was at the studio. Both Elvis and his cousin were born in Tupelo, Mississippi before their families later moved to Memphis, Tennessee. 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. What was that night like for you and why didnt you run a tape recording of it?! It was 1958 and Elvis was on leave from the US Army. I was always close to Elvis even as a young child. By accepting "all cookies", including profiling cookies, in addition to supporting our free offer, you will receive advertisements in line with your interests. Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Animal control officers in New Jersey said seven sheep found running loose after an apparent slaughterhouse escape will have a new permanent home at a sanctuary. There were often rumors of Elvis undergoing cosmetic surgery like facelifts and dying his hair. For Vernon the book was proof of his long-held distrust and dislike not just of those three but of the whole of the Memphis Mafia "[11] Even George Klein, who chastised and shunned other members of the group for writing books about Elvis, ended up writing a book as well. He would watch The Student Prince which was set in Heidelberg, over and over again. I lived on Circle G ranch at that time, when we were not in Los Angeles. When it was good, it was very good, and when it was bad, it was awful. They were true family and were in Elvis company to the very final day. 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. Copyright 2023 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Additionally, many of them are more than willing to share a little Elvis knowledge with the public. Billy is in the far left of this photo. Kalendar Calendario Calendrier.1, Al View Calendar 2022: Landscape view, USA United States of America Noncontiguous State Nature. During his lifetime, Elvis underwent several procedures having moles removed, and his teeth capped. "[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. "[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. The interesting part will not be the cartoon itself, but the fact that the Elvis character is working undercover as a government spy. 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. EIN: Did you always travel with Elvis to film the movies? 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. Occasionally, Travis would give fans a ride and even let them inside the gates of Graceland. Eight years younger, Billy Smith is the star's cousin on his mother's side. producing.no propelling, an unstoppable, fundamental and primordial shift in not only musical, but social, political and cultural history", "Elvis, the musician, is largely a relic belonging to the baby boomer generationElvis, the icon, is arguably one of the most potent symbols of popular culture", "It [rock & roll] was always about Elvis; not just because he was Elvis, but because he was the big star", "If they had let me on white radio stations back then, there never would have been an Elvis", "Elvis loved opera, and he especially liked Mario Lanza. See Photos. [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. Larry was his hair dresser. For that they were often shouted at, abused and belittled by the King when he felt like it. Bobby and l were always within a mile or two of Elvis. A crocodile fights an elephant only to realize it may have bitten off more than it can chew. During a recent question and answer session, Smith and his wife Jo opened up about their estranged relationship with the Presley family. After all, Smith is the Kings cousin. [16] These threats were kept out of the press for fear of triggering even more.[17]. After a while, Smith decided to give the superstar some space. Elvis swore that he would never touch another one after that, and I don't guess he ever did. A close friend of Presley's, Jo Smith, talks about the King's past relationships. But The Colonel tried to get information out of us all. And was late for work many times. According to one account,[6] a crowd of people in front of the Riviera Hotel watched as two big black limousines arrived. What did you see of his personal quest at the time and his visits to the Self Realization Park? Greeks.. . After Elvis died, Smith and his wife Jo moved to Mississippi to be closer to her family. [citation needed], Elvis Presley reportedly spent days and nights with his friends and employees from the Memphis Mafia. [2] At that time Judy Spreckels seems to have been the only woman. He was there with the rest of the Memphis Mafia when Presley was at his peak. He never betrayed me again. After all, Smith is the King's cousin. 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. ", "If you're an Elvis fan, no explanation is necessary; If you're not an Elvis fan, no explanation is possible. Billy Smith. Tel: We use cookies and similar technologies to personalize contents and ads, to provide social media features and to analyze our traffic. He took rat poison. But if so, he would not have been surprised to hear if Presley had them surgically separated. Elvis and Aunt Gladys had a very quick temper, and I have seen the bad side of both when they were mad or upset. Smith realized this as he stood slack-jawed watching the King lay down vocals. blue eyes and lighter skin. Log in or sign up for Facebook to connect with friends, family and people you know. Billy: Elvis was southern, and so he joked sometimes. . Sounds like that urban legend has yet to be confirmed or denied! Billy Smith was born to Travis and Lorraine Smith on April 6, 1943. Jerry was always nice to me and my family and to my Mother and Daddy, and I will always remember him for that. Billy Smith is one of those great sources of Elvis Presley information. But he knew it from memory, and we went over it several times so I could memorize it. 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. Dedicated Presley fans are well aware of the controversy that has surrounded Presley's death from day one. Incredible as it sounds that after more than four decades since his passing that details surrounding Elvis Presley are still one of the most sought after and popular topics. Express. . After all, there are several books and documentaries out there that detail large portions of his life and exploits. Moreover, it fulfills our commitment to. The annual Elvis Presley Tupelo Festival went ahead as planned this year after taking last year off due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Gene worked for Elvis for a number of years and was one of the original Memphis Mafia members, along with Red West & Junior. Did you ever see the bad side of this? 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. Billy Smith with his parents Travis & Lorraine Smith, and his brother Bobby on the right. It then gets swung around by the elephant until it lets go. Junior looked like the actor Jack Elam. Were they fun or boring as a bystander? He hated how wide it was and the way it flared. In the early days no wives were allowed to go, but then, when Priscilla started to go back and forth, so did the wives. He was my hero. (which was first published on July 12, 1977), he worried that his reputation would be adversely affected. ", "History has him as this good old country boy, Elvis is about as country as Bono! She was in Germany where Elvis was stationed in the Army. Billy: Yes, Elvis was a handsome man. Elvis never changed his belief in God or Jesus Christ. (EIN Note Billys full story about The Pledge is also featured in the book Elvis & the Memphis Mafia) Since the late 1970s, some former members of the Memphis Mafia have written books on Elvis. Elvis always took great pride in his hair. Billy was 8 years younger than Elvis and grew up with him in Tupelo. That's the same white house that Elvis and I tore down with the bulldozer to make more room to ride the horses. About Elvis Presley, Smith said, When Elvis was on stage, somehow he had a way of bringing you into his world. That was also true when he performed in the studio. A lightning bolt flashed across the sky in front of them, and Elvis took inspiration from it. Billy also tackles the rumor that Elvis had webbed toes. 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. Maybe it's because I was where he was before it all happened, and that was the link. Elvis Aaron Presley : Revelations from the Memphis Mafia, The Blue Correspondence, Everton Season 1889 - 1890, The Blue Correspondence, Everton Season 1888-89. But, we couldn't make a big deal about it in front of Elvis. He had a pretty good bump on the back of his head. While Elvis uncle would drive around Graceland in a three-wheeled golf cart, which had to be charged up every six hours. It is quite a stretch, but imagine if it were true. Elvis enjoyed the Self Realization Park. She said, My Daddys dead, my Daddys dead., I cant even tell you what I felt, I was stunned and paralyzed. 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. 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. The festival takes place in Tupelo, Mississippi where both Elvis and Billy were born. Billy: I saw Jerry at Richard's (Davis) funeral about two years ago. Countless fans from around the globe have spent hours digging into the deep lore of the Kings life. Unfortunately, it never came to pass. At the time I knew he was pissed at Colonel about something, but he never said what it was. we were all three there talking for hours about everything in the world! We havent been in contact with any of them, Jo adds. He had a heart attack and 4 stints put in. So down to earth. Billy Smith said that he knew there was something special about Elvis Presley the first time he watched the King work in the studio. We had so many memorable times on the set!! From this day forward, our minds, our souls, What Elvis serious about changing things? However, he had a couple of people teach him how to write his name so he could sign, Travis Smith. Nobody checked on him.. They were a big family and Elvis lived in a "milieu of a protective brotherhood. See Photos. 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. 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. Billy: Yes, l remember when he was discouraged about the quality of his movies. Once married he & his wife Jo lived behind the main Graceland house except for a few years when Billy worked on the railroad. Over the years, there have been many rumors that have circulated about Presley, one in particular that he also had webbed toes. Elvis preferred men around him who were loyal, trustworthy and deferential. 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? 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. They were not allowed to take the trailer that Elvis had purchased for them that they had lived in on the Graceland property. No, hes not, Thompson continued. 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.. [4], In high school, Smith was a wide receiver on the football team. Smith went on to recall how Presley decided to have his nose trimmed down. Elvis was more understanding, and he wanted someone with him too. Billy Smith. Their requests to speak directly to Elvis about their employment termination and the nominal severance pay were not granted. This is [Elvis at home] with his cousin, Billy Smith (left), who's still alive, and Bobby Smith (right), who committed suicide. ", (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. Today, Tomorrow, and Forever. That was the very first I knew how upset Elvis was. Three bison escape Maine farm, two recaptured. We will keep you updated with the news you shouldnt miss. He loved the power of the big voices. 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. Sonc Coloring Book: 100+ Sonc Coloring Pages for Boys, Girls, Kids, Ages 4-8, Ages 8-12, Adults to Relax and Have Fun, Great Gift Idea for Sonc Fans! More info. [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.. In fact, Billy and his wife Jo lived on the grounds of Graceland behind the main house for years. EIN: What can you tell us of your Aunt Gladys? Did Elvis ever comment to you about the terrible movie-songs - or did you see his bad reactions for yourself? Billy: Gene was Elvis' first cousin. 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. Billy: The pledge came about because we had an incident as kids and were never to talk about it. However, the best sources for information about Elvis Presley are the people who knew him while he was alive. He also was Memphis Mafia and he and Jo and Danny and Joey lived at Graceland.. Gene died a few years ago. "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. Episode 77. [19] Each Christmas all Presley employees received bonus checks. Is it true that your Aunt Gladys had the same temper? Supposedly some of his characteristics were due to Cherokee Indian being in your side of the family. They speculated that Elvis has done facelifts and also dyed his hair to look younger and more charming. 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. 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". At the very least they have some stories to tell about the legendary rocker. But, he has a sharp memory. Elvis tried to see to it that we all worked in his movies. Following his August 16, 1977 death, Thompson received a heartbreaking call from Presleys daughter. There were a lot of lonely days and nights until Jo started to travel with us. Billy: My father Travis was the first Gate Guard that Elvis had. And you who don't can never tell. So many of the things she did and said as well as the places he went have become iconic. Billy and Jo say they dont know exactly why theyve lost contact with the Presleys. Travis was illiterate and when fans at Gracelands gates asked him for his autograph he would put them off since he couldnt read or write. 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. 'I could hardly understand him because he was crying,' she said. Want to Read. He seems to remember his importance more than some of the other guys remember it. Professional handlers and celebrity security experts had not yet evolved. Marty Lacker states, "Everyone had assigned responsibilities and they were far from leeches, hangers on or whatever else they were called. Find your friends on Facebook. . Elvis cared a lot about Daddy, he did. While his wife Jo added: He had a lot of respect for him.. Billy: Aunt Gladys was a good person. When they were all dressed up, they divided themselves into Blue and Red teams, and started hurling fireworks at the other team; Elvis was left with a big scar on his neck from one firework, and one of his friends nearly lost an eye."[24]. He decided to prove to me that it would never happen again, and that's how the pledge came about. I talked to Elvis about hiring Jerry. I dont know why, Billy says in the video. 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. What do you remember of that time and how different was it from life in Tupelo? Red West, Sonny West, and Elvis himself felt betrayed, and all parties were reportedly upset over the firings. Billy: Uncle Tracy had a fever when he was a child, and it caused him to be slow. [25] Elvis had "even offered the publishers money not to go ahead with it. EIN: Elvis was a gorgeous looking man. He was there with the rest of the Memphis Mafia when Presley was at his peak. Elvis Presley left behind more than a massive collection of hits. Red West was one of Presley's earliest friends from their school days, his first bodyguard which he would remain until the last year of Presley's life, and in 1954 had acted as a driver for Elvis, Scotty Moore, and Bill Black when they first toured the American South performing as the "Blue Moon Boys." 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