She and joe have remained close since the day they first met in 1974. Nicknames of elvis presleys memphis mafia elvis history blog. Elvis aaron presley is the first book to capture the king the man and the phenomenon in his full complexity. Top members of his entourage living and working at graceland were. Revelations from the memphis mafia by alanna nash online at alibris. The memphis mafia was the nickname given by rock n roll icon elvis presley to a group of friends, associates, employees and cousins whose main functions were to accompany, protect, and serve elvis from the beginning of his career in 1954 until his death in 1977. Lamar fike ap photo dallas ap lamar fike, a member of elvis presleys famed inner circle called the memphis mafia who had a long career in the music industry, has died. Fortunately, elvis left behind three decades of exceptional works in. She was the girlfriend of joe esposito, elvis s road manager, and, as a memphis mafia princess, she toured with elvis, joe, and the presley entourage in the early 1970s. Elvis and the memphis mafia by alanna nashbilly smithmarty. Sonny was cochief of security for elvis presley from 1960 to 1977. The group of friends around elvis became known as the memphis mafia.
As employees on his payroll, each of these men had specific duties at elvis home. Thankfully sam phillips, as sun records, put elvis on vinyl and elvis built a career that lasted three decades. He and elvis first met in high school and remained close in the years that followed. Rca 74321 18754 2,bertelsmann music group 74321 18754 2 format. The original memphis mafia and how they got their name youtube. Esposito, who was elviss road manager, his best man and a dedicated member of the memphis mafia, died nov. Robert red gene west was a friend of elvis presley and was a member of the memphis mafia. An 806 pages book by alanna nash with contributions from billy smith, marty lacker and lamar fike on elvis and his memphis mafia. For instance, they were employed to work for him as bodyguards or on tour logistics and scheduling. Jerry shilling still finds it hard to discuss all the time he spent with elvis. Robert gene red west, who was part of elvis entourage that made up the memphis mafia and later made a name for himself as an actor, died july 18. Joe esposito, who was elvis presleys righthand man, close friend and road manager for nearly two decades, died on wednesday at his home in calabasas, calif. Sonny west is another familiar face within the memphis mafia.
The worlds only officially recognized international version of elvis presley s memphis mafia. This is a tellallandcashin by three former members of elvis posse of homeboys which was known as the memphis mafia. In these cases elvis paid salaries, but most lived off fringe benefits s. Marty lacker to be honored by receiving a beale street blues note, the equivalent of a hollywood walk of fame star lacker started his. A friend of elvis s since high school, marty was employed by elvis from roughly 19601967. Elvis entourage was a crazy mix of family, friends, bodyguards, karate instructors, doctors, chefs, animals and yes men. Its also well known that cage is a huge elvis presley fan. They wrote about presleys years of prescription drug. Jul 19, 2017 robert red gene west was a friend of elvis presley and was a member of the memphis mafia. Remembering elvis presley with the memphis mafia lamar fike, elvis tour manager, so close to elvis he even tried to go into the army with him, but couldnt.
Where theres smoke, theres scientology cover feature. Some 200 fans waited at union station to welcome him home from his stint in the u. In the middle of 1977 a tellall paperback landed liked a bomb on american bookshelves revealing elvis presley to be an oversexed, gunloving, drug addict. Elvis and the memphis mafia elvis presley news magazine. Priscilla presley recalls the special gift that she received from elvis years ago according to usa today, the tennessee native spent his final moments at baptist hospital in memphis after suffering from an aortic aneurysm red wests friendship with the late king of rock and roll began in high school. Review gripping daily express the best elvis book written to date uncut synopsis. The memphis mafia tshirt by avackdesigns redbubble. Finally, the long awaited reissue of alanna nashs superb 1995 book, elvis aaron presley. As memphis mafia member lamar fike, who was in the group that accompanied elvis, recalled in the 1995 harpercollins book elvis aaron presley.
It consists of interviews with three of elviss closest friends and confidantes, a. I read the book what a bunch of dimwits the memphis mafia were. We do not want any profanities on this page or finger pointing or hate directed at members of the original memphis mafia. Memphis mafia princess by shirley dieu will be published by summer 2014. It also looked kind of weird and confusing, until you spent some time breaking it down and figuring out everything. This vivid oral biography of elvis presley is based on the recollections of three members of the memphis mafia, the entourage who accompanied elvis every day, from 1956 to his death in 1977. But tcb could be tough and elvis was nicknamed crazy for a reason. He later spent 20 years working for elvis as a bodyguard and driver. Now is the first time that this many of the original members of the memphis mafia have gotten together to relate to you, the public, what those many years with elvis presley. Elvis presley aboard the train that brought him home to memphis on march 7, 1960. Shirley dieu was a friend to elvis presley from august 1974 until his death in august 1977. Like the real mafia, there was always a code of silence within the group while elvis was alive. With a snappier new title, a new generation of fans and many older fans who have forgotten just how enthralling this book is, will have the opportunity to expand their knowledge of elvis many times over. It traverses shirleys time within elvis circle from 1974 to 1977.
One of the best elvis book releases of 2014 is shirley dieus wonderful memoir, memphis mafia princess living in the elvis world. Even after he married priscilla, elvis was constantly surrounded by a group of young men he named the memphis mafia. Once a man came up to elvis and said elvis i dont want a kiss from you, but would like an autograph. Living in the elvis world and millions of other books. Interview with the elvis presley memphis mafia members. For instance, they were employed to work for him as bodyguards or on. Sinatra had his rat pack, elvis had his memphis mafia. Lot detail 1965 elvis presley memphis mafia duties and. Valley girl, peggy sue got married, the rock,con air and national treasure to name a few. Posts about memphis mafia written by jeff schrembs. A feature writer for the new york times, she lives in louisville, kentucky. If not for marty lacker, elvis might never have gone to american studios in 1969 to record the landmark from elvis in memphis record. A longtime member of elvis presleys memphis mafia has.
Throughout all the years of his life, they protected elvis name and image. The author, alanna nash, obviously did a tremendous amount of work in terms of the amount of interviews with these gentlemen. The lucky gal was hairstylist patti parry who, at age 17, met elvis in beverly hills when he was driving down the street. Elvis and the memphis mafia by alanna nash goodreads. So much so, in 1990, he used presley as the inspiration for his character in david lynchs wild at heart. The original memphis mafia and how they got their name.
It is the story of life up close in elvis inner circle when shirley dieu was the long time girlfriend of joe esposito. Elvis a boy from tupelo ms documentary 40th anniversary extended version tsoe 2017 duration. Elvis and the memphis mafia by alanna nash quarto knows. Like many of the baby boomers, talk about an oxymoron because i feel anything other than babyish man age is a.
Alanna nash is also responsible for the best elvis book to date uncut magazine. Most members of elvis memphis mafia were about his own age. May 19, 2017 shirley dieu was a friend to elvis presley from august 1974 until his death in august 1977. In addition to fortass book, some of the following information comes from the 1995 volume, elvis aaron presley. Elvis presley was born 83 years ago today, january 8 1935, to gladys love smith presley and vernon elvis presley. The memphis mafiaelvis is an original project astral series that focuses on the obscure tales of elvis. The memphis mafia elvis is an original project astral series that focuses on the obscure tales of elvis. Feb 18, 2011 dallas lamar fike, a member of elvis presleys famed inner circle called the memphis mafia who had a long career in the music industry, has died. Aug 01, 2005 this book is the best, most honest and heartfelt book i have ever read on the irreplaceable elvis presley. About the author shirley dieu was a friend to elvis presley from august 1974 until his death in august 1977.
Sonny west sonny west 79 was a man who once had the pressure of the world on his shoulders with the job of protecting rock n roll legend elvis presley for sixteen years as a bodyguard. The unmaking of elvis presley, reputed elvis biographer peter guralnick says about elvis and the guys from the memphis mafia, every night they went to the shows, elvis and his guys, dressed identically in their dark glasses and dark mohair suits. Cage even recorded two of elvis classics love me and love. Buy the memphis mafia by avackdesigns as a tshirt, classic tshirt, triblend tshirt, lightweight hoodie, fitted scoop tshirt, fitted vneck tshirt, relaxed fit tshirt, sticker, iphone case, caseskin for samsung galaxy, throw pillo. See more ideas about elvis presley, memphis mafia and elvis presley photos. Jul 21, 2017 one of elvis presleys close confidantes has passed away. This book is an extremley detailed oral history by three members of the elvis memphis mafia, the bunch of cronies hangers onbuddies elvis always kept near him. Elvis presley had nicknames for members of his memphis mafia. I did some further research on elvis and the men from the memphis mafia. A monumental oral biography filled with raucous joy, aching loss and terrible poignancy, elvis aaron presley is the first book to capture the king the man and the phenomenon in his full complexity. Elvis and the memphis mafia by alanna nash, billy smith. He was blessed with talents and had the courage to pursue something that he loved and knew he was meant to do and that wassing.
Elvis and the memphis mafia books elvis presley news. Elvis presley is, was, and forever will be the greatest entertainer who ever lived. The memphis mafia organizational chart was an item for sale at the august 12, 2017 auction at graceland. He gave out autographs, posed for pictures, and kissed every girl. Several members filled practical roles in the singers life.
Nov 28, 2016 joe esposito, who was elvis presleys righthand man, close friend and road manager for nearly two decades, died on wednesday at his home in calabasas, calif. Sonny was introduced to elvis in 1958 by his cousin red west at a party elvis held at the memphis skating rink, rainbow rollerdome. Customers who bought this item also bought these digital items. Elvis presleys fiancee and last love finally tells her story. Memphis mafia international, gold coast, queensland. Shirley dieu lived with joe esposito for five years and traveled with him on all of elvis tours and vacations as well as graceland. The core group of original guys sonny west, red west, billy smith, marty lacker, and lamar fike was considered to be the closest to elvis and became.
The memphis mafia is the nickname given to the group of men who were with elvis presley everyday from 1956 until the day he died on august 16, 1977 there were eight original members. It is not her life story and consequently there is minimal back story to the broader shirley dieu biography. The memphis mafia throughout the early 1960s, elvis spent a lot of time with his fans at the gates of graceland. The rise of elvis presley elvis series book 1 peter guralnick. The list of nicolas cages run of classic movies is quite impressive.
See more ideas about memphis mafia, elvis presley and memphis. Elvis had some kind of pet name for almost anybody who spent some time around him, an outgrowth of the baby talk routine hed gotten into with his mother years before, explained elvis insider alan fortas in his 1992 book, elvis. Revelations from the memphis mafia, by billy smith, marty lacker, and lamar fike. These nicknames were assigned to dozens of people, some by elvis and others by members of his memphis mafia, which is itself a. And more as told by elvis presleys stepbrother i was 14 years old when led zeppelin came to memphis in 1969. Revelations from the memphis mafia by alanna nash with billy smith harper collins 1995 3419. Revelations from the memphis mafia by alanna nash with billy smith. Elvis and the memphis mafia elvis information network. Elvis presleys entourage the memphis mafia elvis entourage was a crazy mix of family, friends, bodyguards, karate instructors, doctors, chefs, animals and yes men. Through revealing interviews with three of elviss closest friends, who were also his protectors and. They wore rings marked tcb which stood for taking care of business. These were the men closest to elvis, the ones who knew him bestbilly smith, elvis first cousin. I was fascinated by it, and came away feeling quite sorry for the folks caught up in elvis world. The worlds only officially recognized international version of elvis presleys memphis mafia.
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