Hows the actor going to be? Billy Smith with his parents Travis & Lorraine Smith, and his brother Bobby on the right. 'He was so wonderful. He made it a good time. So many of the things she did and said as well as the places he went have become iconic. Elvis'/Jesse's Hair, rings and . The series is co-created by Priscilla Presley. Billy: Yes, Billy Mann was the one who took the picture in the coffin. When Elvis bought Graceland Billy's family also moved in and his father Travis worked for Elvis as Chief guard. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. (EIN Note Billys full story about The Pledge is also featured in the book Elvis & the Memphis Mafia) [WILL]. He was Junior's brother. How this got started was we actually talked one night of Elvis changing places. He felt comfortable with me and trusted me. He lived in a separate home with his family on the grounds of Graceland. But, why bust his bubble. 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. 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. At least, he always told me did. Potato Head toy in 12.11 seconds while blindfolded. EIN: Few fans know the story of your uncle, Tracy Smith. Billy Smith is one of those great sources of Elvis Presley information. Billy with Elvis before leaving for Germany & the army in 1958. It won't be the last. She said that before Elvis's death, she had a strong feeling a tragedy was looming. . And maybe some of my grandchildren. She said Elvis told her he was not surprised and the marriage had his blessing. May 1 (UPI) -- A dog brought into a West Virginia animal shelter was found to have been missing for 6 years from a Virginia home 470 miles away. Billy's son, Danny, runs the Youtube channel Memphis Mafia Kid, where the family post . Not that we arent happy with our family, we are, Jo said. 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. All the crew loved him, and they were always so nice to his boys (us). Elvis purchased Graceland in March 1957, and he of course did not . We talked about religion so much. He was showing me a picture of himself and he said, Does this look like me?, And I said, Yeah, and he said, Well its not. He was amazed at some of his findings, and he made sure that we all were aware of them. These same fans also believe that Presley is also still alive in 2020 and will one day return to the public eye announcing that he had faked his death, revealing himself to his fans once again. EIN: Your relationship with Elvis is probably best symbolised by 'The Pledge'. See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive. Aunt Lavelle and Uncle Tracy looked like their Daddy . He had his expressions and he even had a bad eye like Elam. Copyright 2023 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. She also mentioned names of others who weren't in attendance like major girlfriends of Elvis' after he divorced Priscilla Presley. And we were always close, even with the eight year age difference. Did Elvis understand? Junior looked like the actor Jack Elam. Setting the record straight, Billy added: So, heres the truth: Elvis died, August 16, 1977 one of the hardest days of my life. He was my hero.. This guys had a facelift to look like me., READ MORE:Elvis Presley had 'HUGE heart, Graceland like living at Disneyland', Billy continued: I said Elvis, Now you can fool a lot of peoplebut no. On August 16, 1977, something momentous happened in Memphis, Tennessee. Footage of the service shows pallbearers struggling to lift a 900-pound copper coffin. Billy: I was travelling with Elvis for almost every one of the movies. 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. Sometimes Tracy would stay down there at the gate with Daddy and pretend he was a gate guard. May 1 (UPI) -- A German man was awarded an unusual world record when he assembled a Mr. DON'T MISSElvis movie erased major girlfriend: I saved his life many times[ELVIS MOVIE]Elvis agreed with Linda on reason that marrying Priscilla was mistake[LINDA THOMPSON]Elvis Week 2022: Graceland announce virtual tickets for global fans[ELVIS WEEK 2022]. However, the best sources for information about Elvis Presley are the people who knew him while he was alive. At the very least they have some stories to tell about the legendary rocker. On a final note, Jo added that the family will always cherish their memories with the beloved singer. Billy: One thing Uncle Vernon was good at was numbers, especially if dollar signs were in front of them! EIN: What can you tell us of your Aunt Gladys? He supposedly gave the name Jon Burrows, a pseudonym Elvis used when checking into hotels. "Endorphins, that's where it's at," he says. He's in a lot of those Alfred Wertheimer photos from Elvis trip to New York. Since his wife had never been, he admitted that he would return one final time with her and their grandchildren. With that, what critics like to call the "Fit Elvis era" is over. Billy Stanley, her son by a previous marriage, called her and said Elvis was offering $5,000 if she would telephone him, she said. Small alligator found at Pennsylvania wastewater treatment plant. 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. But if so, he would not have been surprised to hear if Presley had them surgically separated. This story came out, like I said it was supposed to be kind of a joke, but the English paper picked it up and they wrote it as a factual story. Commenting on Billy being portrayed in the biopic, Jo said: It didnt upset you. It hurts. What was that night like for you and why didnt you run a tape recording of it?! Currently, Smith runs the Memphis Mafia Kid YouTube channel. Its Graceland. Needless to say Elvis knew that cousin Billy Mann was the one who failed the test back in 1957). I mean, Im just sounding off, but it just irritates me because nobodys better than anybody else. Like I said we had to go to a whole new area. He visits President Bush at the White House, presenting Bush with a set of Elvis-logo dumbbells and offering his help in stamping out the nation's crack problem. 'He said, 'Dee, I'm sick. blue eyes and lighter skin. Was he really as lazy as often portrayed - and can you comment on your quote (in the book Elvis & the Memphis Mafia) that "Vernon always wanted more of everything, except responsibility"! I realized I had done the impossible -- called up Elvis. And you who don't can never tell. They have a little trouble finding material at first, since Elvis has already sung most of the great American songbook, but they widen the scope to include more recent standards. The inscription reads Elvis Aaron Presley, even though hed been given the middle name Aron, possibly in memory of his stillborn twin brother, Jesse Garon. He loved the power of the big voices. He had to get in the studio and cut a few singles while he was home. In fact, there are many new Elvis Presley projects in the works in 2020. All the guys in our group were extremely close. They grew up together in Tupelo, Mississippi, and the Smith family joined the Presley's on the move to Memphis in 1948. Billy Smith was Elvis first cousin, the son of Gladys Presleys oldest brother. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. In the early days no wives were allowed to go, but then, when Priscilla started to go back and forth, so did the wives. Did Elvis ever comment to you about the terrible movie-songs - or did you see his bad reactions for yourself? And, the singer bought 'truckloads' of toys for her sons. 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. Corral. The last surviving original Memphis Mafia member Billy Smith, Elvis' cousin, had some of the closest access to The King. This seems more than a coincidence as back in 1957 he was also involved in an incident involving $1000 bills. She was in Germany where Elvis was stationed in the Army. We all loved him and had a job to do. But, we couldn't make a big deal about it in front of Elvis. Back in 1957, having shot to fame, The King moved his extended family into the Graceland mansion. Tel: We use cookies and similar technologies to personalize contents and ads, to provide social media features and to analyze our traffic. I dont care if I never go to Graceland again, Jo said. Sophie Turner asks for privacy after accidentally posting video of daughter, Judge extends deadline for Georgia DA to respond to Donald Trump motion, NFL Draft: Seahawks, Patriots, Texans winners; Browns, Chargers underwhelm. He never betrayed me again. As a result, he is one of the only people left alive who knew the true . Sound crazy? Our hearts will intertwine.". She was generous like Elvis, but she also had a quick temper. "Elvis Presley is the greatest cultural force in the 20th century. As a result, he is one of the only people left alive who knew the true man the star was. Billy: Elvis was southern, and so he joked sometimes. Billy: Being married was not easy at times. He talked about the record to his mother and daddy, and we knew he was going to make one, but when it came out it thrilled all of us. Billy: The pledge came about because we had an incident as kids and were never to talk about it. Billy: Well for one thing, we had inside plumbing! Elvis enjoyed the Self Realization Park. Elvis saw me as he passed and pulled me out! I could SWAP places with a doppelgnger The King's cousin speaksG, Elvis ALIVE? He loved Elvis, and Elvis provided for him. Nevertheless, Lisa Marie Presley had a wonderful time at the Graceland premiere, praising the Elvis movie as finally getting her father right some 45 years after his untimely death at just 42 years old. Tuesday, 2nd May 2023See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive. He always looked after me, and I always wanted to be with him. EIN: Whats your earliest memory of Elvis? EIN: Perhaps Elvis' most famous abode before becoming famous was the Lauderdale Courts apartment. Billy Smith was Elvis' first cousin, the son of Gladys Presley's oldest brother. EIN: After Elvis fall & concussion before Clambake, The Colonel demanded that Elvis burn all his spiritual books. Several in our group were close to Elvis at one time or the other. Billy continued: Even when he was in his bedroom he always had somebody there. He also added that when he looked at the windows, he felt Elvis Presleys presence. "I kind of think he would probably still be dyeing his hair but you know he might have left a little grey in it," the King's cousin noted. EIN: Elvis obviously had a quick temper. Our lives are like night and day. 'I could hardly understand him because he was crying,' she said. He was more upset and mad over the socks. Elvis made the rules and decisions when it came to me, and most of the other guys. Smith, eight years younger than Elvis, grew up alongside the star in Graceland. Im not really 81, says Barmer, who then compares himself to a Pokmon Go character. That explanation was good enough for Joseph, but not everyone is satisfied. These include Linda Thompson and Ginger Alden the latter found his body who have shared their annoyance on social media at being erased from the biopic. . There, he shares some of those stories with the public. It was like my song it was telling me, 'Your time hasn't come yet, baby.'" Jo added: The thing they dont know is Elvis was not asleep for days and I know that for a fact because a lot of times we were up there with him. THE DEATH ITSELF. Please keep Billy Smith in your thoughts and prayers. See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive. I think I need to see a Doctor." When she and Vernon returned from their honeymoon, Elvis had redecorated their quarters -- even putting pictures on the walls for her three boys. Billy, is reportedly recovering well. That's the same white house that Elvis and I tore down with the bulldozer to make more room to ride the horses. Was it talked about within the family or was it a surprise for you when your cousin was suddenly on the radio? Please share his story with us. 6. . Its not Elvis. Adding to his wifes statement, Billy Smith said, Graceland didnt make Elvis. Moreover, the quartet stated that there are two main reasons why they may never return to their home. A cover of Air Supply's All Out of Love breaks into the top 30, but his take on Sheena Easton's Morning Train is a flop. 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. That is disrespectful to Elvis., Lisa Marie Presleys Late Son Benjamin Keough Officially Laid To Rest At Graceland With Elvis, 75-Year-Old Don McLean Opens Up About Dating A 27-Year-Old. However, some close friends and family of The Kings were nowhere to be seen. READ MORE:Lisa Marie's lifetime of 'disappointment' cured at Elvis premiere, Jo continued: Whats an invitation? He is surrounded by his inner circle, one of whom anonymously reports Elvis' last words. Copyright Elvis Information Network 2006. When he lived at Graceland from 1957 until his death, Presley had an open-door policy with his Memphis Mafia. READ MORE: Priscilla Presley returns to red carpet after Lisa Maries death. After a while, Smith decided to give the superstar some space. A great deal of Elvis is alive intrigue centers on August 18, 1977, the day of Presley's funeral. As for Presleys autopsy report: Its a private family document unlikely to ever see the light of day. 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. . I spoke to him about how sorry I was and he invited me to coffee.'. 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. Afterwards we both cried like crazy and I'll remember it as long as I live. 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. But, he never criticized other religions either. And Elvis trusted him. He calls his cousin and closest companion, Billy Smith, who awakens his wife, Jo, and they join Elvis and his girlfriend, Ginger Alden, and head for Graceland's court beneath a covered walkway. Elvis Presley faked his own death after paying a terminally ill lookalike to be buried in his place, The People can sensationally reveal. In an interview accompanying The Beatles Anthology DVD, George Harrison likens a brief 1972 encounter with Elvis at Madison Square Garden to meeting Vishnu or Krishna or something. His hair was black, his skin was tan, and his aura left the Beatle feeling like a snooty little nobody. Harrison may have been hinting at something Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper said rather deftly with their 1987 single Elvis Is Everywhere. Alive or dead, Presley is one pop culture deity well never stop worshipping. (by Alfred Wertheimer). They engage in minor conversation before getting into sharing their memories of Elvis. EIN: And what of Vernon? After all, Smith is the Kings cousin. Billy Smith was born to Travis and Lorraine Smith on April 6, 1943. It's raining, and Billy remarks that he's sick of it. Without Elvis, its not home. 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. Columbus and Home Alone star Macaulay Culkin laugh about the theory in the DVD commentary, but the identity of the extra remains unknown. 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. To date, numerous reports say fans believe that Elvis Presley did not die in 1977, but was placed in witness protection. Larry was his hair dresser. he says, displaying a nasty-looking welt. Also in attendance was Memphis Mafia member Jerry Schilling, who appears at lots of Elvis events with Priscilla. 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. Thompson, a former beauty queen who dated Elvis from July 1972 to late 1976, spoke about her time with Presley at the event. At this point, I tell you this with all my heart and its the only reason that Im here: Its been done right.. I never meant for this story to mislead anybody or hurt anybody in any kind of way.. He said it would teach him a lesson. I fell in head first. And, he had unbelievable strength. When asked to check his ego at the door, Elvis pauses, nods his head and says, "Yep, it's still there!" Once married he & his wife Jo lived behind the main Graceland house except for a few years when Billy worked on the railroad. January-May 1997: Colonel Parker dies of a stroke. That means we've got maybe another 40 years of stories about the King chilling in Argentina or sipping coffee at Tim Hortons or doing whatever you do as an elderly man whos been in hiding since the Carter Administration. So, that makes him a wonderful source of information as well as stories about Elvis and the goings-on at Graceland and beyond. Its not his home. In addition to Elvis absence, the family suggested their disdain for the way Graceland controls access to Elvis grave. Traditionally, you cant have a funeral without a death, and what killed the King is another major source of controversy. 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. Bee Gees producer Albhy Galuten, who presided over the workout-themed releases, is let go, but new producer Barry Manilow is no improvement. The theory here is that Elvis used the incorrect spelling to signal fans that he was still alive. Elvis' cousin Billy Smith, the last surviving original Memphis Mafia member, is portrayed in the biopic and he and his wife Jo - two of the last people to see the singer alive - feel the lack of . Billy admitted: And [for] many years Id always heard these fans saying, Is Elvis still alive?, So many sightings and all this. And I would hear him calling me.. We were in the den when Elvis came out and said to us, "I fell and hit my head. Episode 11. Later on Elvis told someone and it hurt me a lot, and he knew it. In the clip, he revealed why he and his family dont visit Graceland anymore. Very early on I remember once when Elvis pulled me out of a garbage can! A pink elephant goes for an afternoon swim with its mother and herd, and despite its unique color, the herd passionately cares for it. We could talk about anything, and we did! But, he has a sharp memory. Elvis was on military maneuvers when she came to the hotel where his father and grandfather were staying, but Vernon and Dee hit it off 'from day one,' she said. During the interview, Billy Smith noted something else he felt the famous rocker would have changed over the years, were he to have lived to the age of 86. Billy's family also went with the Presleys when they first moved to Memphis. Elvis Presley gave a lot of thought and time into obtaining what he considered his perfect look throughout his short-lived life. Over the years, there have been many rumors that have circulated about Presley, one in particular that he also had webbed toes. Can you tell us if this is true? There were a lot of lonely days and nights until Jo started to travel with us. Elvis and Gene even worked together at Precision Tool. She was always close to her family, but Elvis was her heart. And the people that they asked that were not close to him, they took up family and friends slots. I was little, and I was trying to get some bananas out that the man from the fruit stand had thrown away. He did lookout for Elvis' interest and his own. Through all the dubious decisions, the excessive percentage skimmed from Elvis' earnings even the revelations of the Colonel's identity as an undocumented immigrant Elvis had stayed loyal to his business partner. He was there with the rest of the Memphis Mafia when Presley was at his peak. . We had to eat turnip greens for a month. Elvis and Aunt Gladys had a very quick temper, and I have seen the bad side of both when they were mad or upset. RCA suggests working with Jim Steinman of Meat Loaf and Bonnie Tyler fame. EIN: What are your chief memories of the times working on the movies? 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. He lived with us in that house behind Graceland. (EIN Note The full story about Elvis testing everyones honesty is in the M.M. September 1982: The commercial instincts of the Elvis camp seem increasingly erratic. To get inside you need no key. Patrick Lacy, author of the book Elvis Decoded, claims to have debunked this popular and wholly unsubstantiated story by interviewing airport officials and determining that international flights werent available from Memphis in 1977. That was the very first I knew how upset Elvis was. Curiously, director Chris Columbus went into Home Alone having just made Heartbreak Hotel, a 1988 flop about some kids who try to kidnap Elvis. Did you ever see the bad side of this? Elvis, and Billy were close Cousin's even in eight years apart in age. Then, when the King would take a break, Billy would go get him water. He wanted to know why I didn't come to Graceland (Elvis's Memphis home) anymore. Recently, Smith appeared on his son Danny Smiths YouTube channel known as the Memphis Mafia Kid. In the . "I turn 60 this month. After her last conversation with Elvis, Dee Presely said she had a premonition and she warned Elvis' father that something 'terrible' was going to happen to one of her boys or his son. Elvis Presley: Why the Kings Cousins, Who Lived With Him, No Longer Visit Graceland. 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. What do you remember of that time and how different was it from life in Tupelo? So when he fell and got concussion, I stayed with him day and night. I don't know where it came from or if Elvis just made it up. Billy: Larry Geller was okay. Junior was at my house in my bed when he died. EIN: It seems to me that Vernon being employed as Elvis financial manager was a terrible mistake. ", "History has him as this good old country boy, Elvis is about as country as Bono!
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