Smith, eight years younger than Elvis, grew up alongside the star in Graceland. Here, in Part One, Billy talks about his family, the Memphis Mafia, the Movie Years, meeting The Beatles and much much more. Those guys were always around". . Both Elvis and his cousin were born in Tupelo, Mississippi before their families later moved to Memphis, Tennessee. All our wives were there. He never betrayed me again. Billy is in the far left of this photo. Billy Smith is one of those great sources of Elvis Presley information. Did Elvis ever comment to you about the terrible movie-songs - or did you see his bad reactions for yourself? This article "Billy Smith (Memphis Mafia)" is from Wikipedia. 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.. What did you see of his personal quest at the time and his visits to the Self Realization Park? Elvis and Aunt Gladys had a very quick temper, and I have seen the bad side of both when they were mad or upset. No, hes not, Thompson continued. She also opened up about the devastating phone call relaying his death to her. Elvis spoke up and said, "If you guys aren't going to say anything, I'm going to bed." EIN: After Elvis got back from the army and you married your wife Jo, how did you balance your months in Hollywood with your relationship back home? 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. we were family. 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. 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. 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Go to the lounges, see Fats Domino, Della Reese, Jackie Wilson, the Four Aces, the Dominoes all the old acts. "[20] Gerald Marzorati says that Elvis "couldn't go anywhere else without a phalanx of boyhood friends. "Elvis always tried to improve his looks." Billy also mentions that Elvis also had caps on his teeth and facial blemishes removed. A lightning bolt flashed across the sky in front of them, and Elvis took inspiration from it. But those photos of her later on make her look sad because she was sick, as well as being sad about Elvis going to the army. Sometimes he would have a bad dream and come looking for me to talk to, and he would actually fall asleep in our bed with us. That's the same white house that Elvis and I tore down with the bulldozer to make more room to ride the horses. [10] According to Patrick Humphries, they "acted as Elvis' bodyguards, babysitters, drug procurers, girl-getters, mates and car buyers." 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 trusted us. When it was good, it was very good, and when it was bad, it was awful. Can you clarify once & for all whether you saw Elvis being obviously racist in anyway? Joe could tolerate Colonel better than some of the others. See Photos. We havent been in contact with any of them, Jo adds. See Photos. Billy: With Elvis, all the movies were fun. [6][7], At one point, Elvis wanted to speak to President Jimmy Carter about getting George Klein out of some legal trouble. 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. Billy Smith address of the rumors of facelifts There were a lot of rumors circulating at the time that Elvis was alive. According to one account,[6] a crowd of people in front of the Riviera Hotel watched as two big black limousines arrived. He had gotten a quick acetate cut, which . The author also mentions other functions of the guys: "various members of the Memphis Mafia had played vital roles in keeping Elvis' numerous dirty secrets out of the public eye. But he knew it from memory, and we went over it several times so I could memorize it. "The Memphis Mafia" was with Elvis almost twenty-four hours a day, at least one or two of them. Additionally, many of them are more than willing to share a little Elvis knowledge with the public. Billy: We were at Rocca Place at that time. EIN: And what of Vernon? According to the Express, Elvis Presley's cousin, Billy Smith has revealed some of the King's biggest secrets. 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. Billy shared: Elvis had a lot of confidence in him, so kept him on. Tapir briefly escapes enclosure at Florida zoo. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. You can unsubscribe at any time. 'He was so wonderful. During his lifetime, Elvis underwent several procedures having moles removed, and his teeth capped. In the early days no wives were allowed to go, but then, when Priscilla started to go back and forth, so did the wives. Over the years, there have been many rumors that have circulated about Presley, one in particular that he also had webbed toes. For example, he would rent an entire movie theater to watch a film. There were often rumors of Elvis undergoing cosmetic surgery like facelifts and dying his hair. She was in Germany where Elvis was stationed in the Army. Eight years younger, Billy Smith is the star's cousin on his mother's side. And, the singer bought 'truckloads' of toys for her sons. Billy: I don't know about Joe being paid by Colonel. Billy Smith was an administrative aid to Elvis Presley, as well as Elvis' first cousin and part of the Memphis Mafia. However, if any of them made a run for the mansion, hed get pretty hacked off according to his son. During the June 9 to June 13 event, Presleys cousin Billy Smith and The Kings former girlfriend Linda Thompson were in attendance. I will never forget that night and I know Elvis really liked them. 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. Red West, Sonny West, and Elvis himself felt betrayed, and all parties were reportedly upset over the firings. 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 talks about some of the movies he was in with Elvis. I guess they dont like us, I dont know, youd have to ask them. Welcome back. It's no secret that Elvis Presleyhad many relationships throughout the years. (EIN Note Billys full story about The Pledge is also featured in the book Elvis & the Memphis Mafia) She was generous like Elvis, but she also had a quick temper. 'It was love at first sight,' she said in an interview. [14] For Joe Esposito, "it was a party like you wouldn't believe. Then, when the King would take a break, Billy would go get him water. Now it was a known fact among the guys that Elvis couldn't keep a secret, but if it was really important, he did. [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. Check us out on facebook at. As far as I know, that didn't happen. 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. So when he fell and got concussion, I stayed with him day and night. I remember him as a fun-loving guy and he hung around a lot with Elvis until Elvis went into the army. Some did better than others, but still we each had a purpose. [1] Contents 1 Playing career The first expos book, Elvis: What Happened?, appeared in 1977 shortly before Elvis's death. 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. Billy: Well for one thing, we had inside plumbing! But Elvis had all kinds of people working for him - black, white, Jews, Italians, Mexicans. When Elvis bought Graceland Billys family also moved in and his father Travis worked for Elvis as Chief guard. He was the only member of the Memphis Mafia to last from beginning to end of the group. I talked to Elvis about hiring Jerry. I was actually stupid enough to believe that having the same birthday as him actually meant something", "No-one, but no-one, is his equal, or ever will be. Our hearts will intertwine.". In 2017 Smith was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in history. Elvis always liked to be the "Main Event." A crocodile fights an elephant only to realize it may have bitten off more than it can chew. Countless fans from around the globe have spent hours digging into the deep lore of the Kings life. [8] Elvis' wife Priscilla helped with the creation of this logo on a flight through stormy conditions. 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! That was in 1960. I said, What? To find out in detail which cookies we use on the site, read our. He always had a love for music even at very young age. 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. Refresh and try again. And, in the early days, they lived with him. Marty Lacker, another aide, also served as Elvis' chief personal aide for several years. Moreover, when approached by Vanity Fair, several Elvis experts attested to its seeming. EIN: What about your brother Bobby, he died way too young as well? 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. "[15], When Presley emerged as a major celebrity in 1956, he was constantly besieged by adoring fans and the press, making a normal lifestyle impossible. [10] Besides Ginger Alden, Smith and his wife Jo had been the last people to see Elvis alive. I spoke to him about how sorry I was and he invited me to coffee.'. Elvis enjoyed the Self Realization Park. Presley said another telephone call years earlier, in 1958, led to her becoming part of the Presley family. EIN: Did you ever visit the studios for Elvis recording sessions? How did it come about? Billy with Elvis before leaving for Germany & the army in 1958. "It's just a simple word, you see, [16] These threats were kept out of the press for fear of triggering even more.[17]. Billy: My father Travis was the first Gate Guard that Elvis had. EIN: I know that you were in Nashville for the Guitar Man sessions with Jerry Reed. Say anything, I 'm going to say anything, I stayed with him day and night Hes smothered the... Was stationed in the early days, they lived with him rumors circulating at the time that Elvis many! From around the globe have spent hours digging into the deep lore of Kings... He would rent an entire movie theater to watch a film this logo on a flight through conditions. House that Elvis and his teeth capped Marzorati says that Elvis was stationed in the far of... Better than others, but still we each had a lot of confidence in him, so kept on! 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