'He said, 'Dee, I'm sick. May 1 (UPI) -- A school principal in West Virginia received a scare Monday morning when he unlocked a dumpster outside of the building and came face to face with a bear. They roared with laughter. Thompson, a former beauty queen who dated Elvis from July 1972 to late 1976, spoke about her time with Presley at the event. It was either the death of Elvis Presley at the age of 42, as more than 80 percent of Americans believe, or the start of the most spectacular disappearing act in the history of mankind. We grew up around him and moved to Graceland as young teenagers. Elvis, and Billy were close Cousin's even in eight years apart in age. His stepmother made her comments as a week-long observance of the 10th anniversary of Presley's death got under way in Memphis. EIN: Your relationship with Elvis is probably best symbolised by 'The Pledge'. I'm always looking for another Vernon Presley.'. His cousin Billy Smith and his wife Jo have shared some memories. They said Graceland was always decorated for Christmas and food was everywhere during festivities. One of the most popular of these is that The King took another identity after swapping places with a doppelgnger who was terminally ill. Interestingly, Elvis cousin and Memphis Mafia member Billy Smith has revealed how The King once told him how he could swap places with a lookalike. She also travels with Elvis impersonator Elvis Wade and introduces him when he performs. He made it a good time. 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. That explanation was good enough for Joseph, but not everyone is satisfied. I usually went to the hospital and stayed with him there. 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. Its almost like, youre not good enough, youre not sophisticated enough, youre not their Hollywood type, you dont need to be there. Well, all those people had as much right as any of the rest of the family to be there. It is quite a stretch, but imagine if it were true. He liked his guys around him. Thats you, thats not somebody else., So he said, I could swap places with this person and nobody would ever know the difference., And I said, Again, I know the difference. When Presley was rushed to the hospital, Billy Smith and his wife were the first to know. Elvis made Graceland a home. How this got started was we actually talked one night of Elvis changing places. Theres also the question of why the most famous man on the planet would risk going into a public place in his hometown in order to book airfare for the purpose of faking his own death. Needless to say Elvis knew that cousin Billy Mann was the one who failed the test back in 1957). EIN: Elvis was a gorgeous looking man. 'He was so wonderful. There, he shares some of those stories with the public. We lived in a big-white house that was on the property. The less he had to think about that better he felt. he says, displaying a nasty-looking welt. He loved Elvis, and Elvis provided for him. EIN: I believe that you brought Jerry Schilling into the group. Elvis says, "If you've got a little faith, you can stop the rain.". I know that Elvis loved Colonel, but he also had resentment toward him for holding him back on certain things that he really wanted to do. Now it was a known fact among the guys that Elvis couldn't keep a secret, but if it was really important, he did. He did a lot for me and my family in the early years and for my family in the later years. . EIN: In the mid-sixties Elvis seemed to need a new avenue of exploration or interest. There is often talk of Elvis practising with Johnny Burnette and his brother around this time. And he loved big orchestras. Dedicated Presley fans are well aware of the controversy that has surrounded Presley's death from day one. He announces that the tour has been rescheduled for next March and adds that he's starting an intensive program to "get myself together physically, mentally and spiritually." Aug. 16, 2012: Elvis dies in his sleep at Graceland on the 25th anniversary of the first Harmonic Convergence and 35 years to the day after his near-death in Memphis. EIN: What about your brother Bobby, he died way too young as well? And was late for work many times. Billy Smith, is the son of Travis Smith who was the brother of Elvis' Mother, Gladys. In a new video, one asked: Why do you think it was so hard for Elvis to be alone?, Initially, Jo said: I dont know. After all, there are several books and documentaries out there that detail large portions of his life and exploits. He had the intelligence of a twelve year old but he was a kind man. It's raining, and Billy remarks that he's sick of it. Billy: Yes, I was with him on many of the recording sessions. The theory here is that Elvis used the incorrect spelling to signal fans that he was still alive. However, the upstairs where he died of a heart attack in 1977 was his private space and access was by invite only. It was that the premiere was in Memphis and we were not invited to the premiere when other people that were not close to Elvis [were]. But Elvis had all kinds of people working for him - black, white, Jews, Italians, Mexicans. Larry was his hair dresser. Is it true that your Aunt Gladys had the same temper? Billy: I was travelling with Elvis for almost every one of the movies. Billy's family also went with the Presleys when they first moved to Memphis. 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. Billy Smith was Elvis' first cousin, the son of Gladys Presley's oldest brother. Billy: Elvis did ask me to become foreman, and he talked about getting rid of several people. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. I will never forget that night and I know Elvis really liked them. He had a pretty good bump on the back of his head. Certainly, he'd require a young beautiful woman to share his bed and tend to his needs even if nothing sexual occurred. Back in 1957, having shot to fame, The King moved his extended family into the Graceland mansion. School principal unlocks dumpster, finds bear inside. However, he cant put his finger on what the X factor was, to this day. And I would hear him calling me.. When it was good, it was very good, and when it was bad, it was awful. Click to buy "Elvis and the Memphis Mafia", (the eagerly anticipated re-issue of "Elvis Aaron Presley: Revelations of the Memphis Mafia", Click to view the "Memphis Mafia" website, Click to read Marty Lacker's interview with EIN, Click to read Lamar Fike's interview with EIN, Click to read EIN's article 'Elvis was Not a Racist', "Elvis Presley is the supreme socio-cultural icon in the history of pop culture", " Elvis is the 'glue' which holds our society together.which subconciously gives our world meaning", "Eventually everybody has to die, except Elvis", "He is the "Big Bang", and the universe he detonated is still expanding, the pieces are still flying", "I think Elvis Presley will never be solved", "He was the most popular man that ever walked on this planet since Christ himself was here", "When I first heard Elvis' voice I just knew I wasn't going to work for anybodyhearing him for the first time was like busting out of jail", "When we were kids growing up in Liverpool, all we ever wanted was to be Elvis Presley", Elvis would be alive and all the impersonators would be dead", (EIN Note Billys full story about The Pledge is also featured in the book Elvis & the Memphis Mafia), Subscribe to EIN's FREE weekly newsletter, Selected back issues of EIN's FREE weekly newsletter, DVD: A Tribute To The King (Scotty Moore), Book: Elvis Aaron Presley: A Candle In The Wind, Elvis That's The Way It Is: 1970 vs. 2001, The man who bought Elvis (Robert Sillerman), Elvis on The Creative Edge - Part 2 - The CD, 'Elvis Seriously'- Why is Elvis' voice too often ignored, How & where to sell your Elvis collection, Elvis & other major artists miss out on Grammy Awards, Listen to the Elvis "strung out" in Vegas audio, View video of "All Shook Up" opening night on Broadway, Billy Smith, Marty Lacker & Lamar Fike have all recently been involved in the re-issue of the excellent book Elvis & The Memphis Mafia. Maybe Elvis figured his acting skills would help him avoid suspicion. The quartet kicks off the video with a plethora of jokes and laughter. He hated how wide it was and the way it flared. Is it going to be crazy? In my life, its been one disappointment after the other in terms of people portraying my father in various films or attempts tobless their heartsbut let me just tell you something. Elvis is paired with the likes of Aretha Franklin, Tony Bennett, Elvis Costello, Kelly Clarkson, daughter Lisa Marie Presley, Whitney Houston, Astley and Mariah Carey. 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. We have spent days in his room reading and studying. l, like most the guys, was in many of his movies as an extra. 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, Its not true: from UN call to decriminalize pedophilia to BlackRock behind Tucker Carlson's firing, SYFY ends 'The Magicians' with current season 5, Emperor Palpatine is a clone according to upcoming 'Rise of Skywalker' novelization. The man would now be in his 80s, and the oldest person on record only lived to 122. Now there were times that Elvis was alone for several days. March 1988: Concert attendance slips as audiences tire of Elvis' lengthy monologues about the benefits of healthy eating, mysticism and frequent gym workouts. In 1988, a woman named Louise Welling from nearby Vicksburg claimed she had seen Presley standing in line at the local Felpauschsupermarket. But, why bust his bubble. She was always close to her family, but Elvis was her heart. Since his wife had never been, he admitted that he would return one final time with her and their grandchildren. Kolb came forward with an original color version of the image proving that it was himnot Elvisin the shot, but thats hardly laid the matter to rest. EIN: Few fans know the story of your uncle, Tracy Smith. February 1983: A furor erupts when new video network MTV refuses to play Elvis' first video, shot to promote his new cover of Olivia Newton-John's Physical. In an interview with Larry King, Elviss good buddy Joe Esposito suggested it was another Presley associate, Al Strada, in the photo. We took our kids with us so it made it a lot better. Elvis Presley talking with newmen in Memphis, Tennessee after his discharge from the Army, 1960 / Everett Collection. Greeks.. . 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 was amazed at some of his findings, and he made sure that we all were aware of them. But he knew it from memory, and we went over it several times so I could memorize it. 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. His performance with Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Keith Richards and Paul Shaffer's band on Berry's Promised Land is a highlight, though Little Richard hogs the microphone and Berry tries to upstage Elvis with a prolonged duckwalk. But, we couldn't make a big deal about it in front of Elvis. 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. Copyright 2023 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The second major Elvis sighting came in the form of a photo snapped on December 31, 1977. Aside from his blood relatives, his Memphis Mafia gang of male friends had free rein of the estate and home. Skip to primary navigation; . Travis was reportedly Gladys' favorite brother. EIN: Did you always travel with Elvis to film the movies? Elvis was very intelligent. Got to a point where Id go to sleep, itd be early in the morning. And his hairline looked like a hairpiece or something was glued on. Smith was also troubled by the smoothness of Presleys typically calloused hands and the sweat on his brow. So many of the things she did and said as well as the places he went have become iconic. A similar case of mistaken identity led to some excitement a few years later, when sports agent Larry Kolb was captured looking uncannily Elvis-like alongside his client (and Elviss pal) Muhammad Ali and Jesse Jackson in a 1984 newspaper photo. Our lives are like night and day. Aunt Lavelle and Uncle Tracy looked like their Daddy . EIN: Elvis obviously had a quick temper. Asked in an interview to identify the man in the background, Ali reportedly said, Thats my friend Elvis., In the late 80s, the epicenter of the Elvis lives universe shifted to Kalamazoo, Michigan, a city Elvis played four months before his death. USA TODAY contributor Ken Barnes imagines how his career might have continued. Like I said we had to go to a whole new area. Do you recall any of this & were you lucky enough to see Elvis first play in a kind rock n roll band? Believers of this bizarre theory contend that a 55-year-old Presley turned up in the background of the scene where Catherine OHaras character is stuck at the Scranton airport while trying to get home to her son. Hes left the realm of popular entertainers and joined the ranks of Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, and to some, Jesus. Billy: We were at Rocca Place at that time. May 1 (UPI) -- Michigan State Police troopers doing a clean-up at the side of a highway said what initially appeared to be a gruesome discovery turned out to be a realistic-looking severed hand made of rubber. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express. Without him, its a home but its not the same. Fans continue to praise her dignity and discretion, while Elvis' cousin Billy Smith has paid tribute to their devoted relationship and how Linda "kept Elvis alive." So her latest post is. Tel: We use cookies and similar technologies to personalize contents and ads, to provide social media features and to analyze our traffic. For reference, the family refers to the fact that fans must pay in order to visit the singers grave. I realized I had done the impossible -- called up Elvis. [WILL]. She was in Germany where Elvis was stationed in the Army. The Kalamazoo hullabaloo spawned a rash of late-80s Elvis sightings, many of which involved the King doing un-regal things, like pumping gas or buying junk food. EIN: I know that you were in Nashville for the Guitar Man sessions with Jerry Reed. "Endorphins, that's where it's at," he says. Id get dressed, and Id go out to Graceland. And you place yours on mine. RELATED: Lisa Marie Presleys Late Son Benjamin Keough Officially Laid To Rest At Graceland With Elvis. While visiting Graceland with his family, a man named Mike Joseph took some random pictures of Presleys pool house. (1969) and cocks his head in a manner that conspiracy theorists swear is identical to Presleys onstage mannerisms. The critically panned album makes its debut at No. Bee Gees producer Albhy Galuten, who presided over the workout-themed releases, is let go, but new producer Barry Manilow is no improvement.
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