Hes portrayed in a couple of scenes of the biopic, but he and his wife Jo, who lived at the Memphis mansion with the singer, claimed they werent invited to the premiere, nor consulted on the movie. He deserved to have peace of mind. Joe Esposito on Geraldo; GIFTS FROM JESSE TO ME AND MY HUSBAND. But he knew it from memory, and we went over it several times so I could memorize it. In the clip, he revealed why he and his family dont visit Graceland anymore. They were true family and were in Elvis company to the very final day. Elvis was always my hero. Elvis Presley: Why the Kings Cousins, Who Lived With Him, No Longer Visit Graceland. Did Elvis understand? I lived on Circle G ranch at that time, when we were not in Los Angeles. I think I need to see a Doctor." Billy: Yes, Billy Mann was the one who took the picture in the coffin. The family sits and discusses Elvis last night, Graceland, and why theyre not satisfied with how some things are currently run. We were like brothers. Commenting on Billy being portrayed in the biopic, Jo said: It didnt upset you. It still hurts that hes gone. EIN: Did you always travel with Elvis to film the movies? During the racquetball game, he accidentally smacks himself on the shin with his racquet. I remember once Elvis took us shopping and brought us a complete wardrobe shortly after we moved to Graceland. Without Elvis, its not home. In Smiths most recent video, he features his father, mother Jo, and brother Joey. I mean, Im just sounding off, but it just irritates me because nobodys better than anybody else. We grew up around him and moved to Graceland as young teenagers. 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. Once married he & his wife Jo lived behind the main Graceland house except for a few years when Billy worked on the railroad. He trusted us. Billy was 8 years younger than Elvis and grew up with him in Tupelo. How did it come about? Sometimes Tracy would stay down there at the gate with Daddy and pretend he was a gate guard. Billy Smith was Elvis' first cousin, the son of Gladys Presley's oldest brother. Billy Smith, Elvis' first cousin is recovering from a heart attack. When Elvis Presley passed away in August of 77, he was surrounded by family and members of the Memphis Mafia. Click here for Part Two: Billy talks about Elvis' Girls, Elvis' Final Years, his relationship with EPE, 'Elvis By The Presleys' and more. He said they were all just alike, basically. So when he fell and got concussion, I stayed with him day and night. What do you remember of that time and how different was it from life in Tupelo? Dedicated Presley fans are well aware of the controversy that has surrounded Presley's death from day one. "I turn 60 this month. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. We promised each other. Elvis Presley talking with newmen in Memphis, Tennessee after his discharge from the Army, 1960 / Everett Collection. I never meant for this story to mislead anybody or hurt anybody in any kind of way.. 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. We have decided that I want to go back through Graceland one more time with Teresa. It's raining, and Billy remarks that he's sick of it. He read a lot too. . And was late for work many times. After a while, Smith decided to give the superstar some space. He said it gave him a peace within, and, if it did, well, that was good. "Elvis always . "Ain't no problem," Elvis says, "I'll take care of it." 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. 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. During the video, Elviss cousin also claimed he would sense the presence of Elvis spirit. ", Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 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. Currently, Smith runs the Memphis Mafia Kid YouTube channel. The King had packed on a few pounds in his later years, but theres no way he was pushing a half-ton. When Elvis bought Graceland Billys family also moved in and his father Travis worked for Elvis as Chief guard. However, some close friends and family of The Kings were nowhere to be seen. May 1 (UPI) -- Firefighters in Pennsylvania came to the rescue of a deer spotted stranded in a Montgomery County canal. For reference, the family refers to the fact that fans must pay in order to visit the singers grave. Additionally, some of Elvis' family and friends would live on the property, including his cousin Billy Smith and his family. Smith, eight years younger than Elvis, grew up alongside the star in Graceland. A great deal of Elvis is alive intrigue centers on August 18, 1977, the day of Presley's funeral. Smith went on to recall how Presley decided to have his nose trimmed down. Jerry was always nice to me and my family and to my Mother and Daddy, and I will always remember him for that. We were told that she was a beautiful woman. ", "Absolute id crashed into absolute superegoas the uptightset man in America shook hands with just about the loosest. What follows is a brief history of why some people refuse to let this American icon rest in peace. Billy was 8 years younger than Elvis. I missed a few due to sickness in my family. EIN: What about Gene Smith, he seemed to come & go within the group? Today the stars close relative has a YouTube channel with his wife Jo and the couple answers fans questions about their private times with him. I really wasnt expecting this. Now there were times that Elvis was alone for several days. That's the reason I've never remarried. She was in Germany where Elvis was stationed in the Army. Several in our group were close to Elvis at one time or the other. (1969) and cocks his head in a manner that conspiracy theorists swear is identical to Presleys onstage mannerisms. Billy: Elvis loved to read. I remember him as a fun-loving guy and he hung around a lot with Elvis until Elvis went into the army. 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. People said that he uses cosmetic surgery to improve his appearance and look his best. It hurts. She was generous like Elvis, but she also had a quick temper. Id get dressed, and Id go out to Graceland. January 1995: Elvis calls a news conference to announce his retirement from touring. EIN: And what of Vernon? EIN: What are your chief memories of the times working on the movies? And, in the early days, they lived with him. Billy: Well for one thing, we had inside plumbing! 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. Some, however, feel he slightly undermines the message of Kicks with a vigorous midsong demonstration of karate moves. 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. Danny later admitted that for his wife Teresa, he would return to Graceland one final time. And he cant bring him back.. Click on the topic that interests you to follow it. Can you tell us if this is true? Smith recalls that the legendary entertainer had some major issues with how his nose looked. But Elvis had all kinds of people working for him - black, white, Jews, Italians, Mexicans. As a result, he is one of the only people left alive who knew the true . At the very least they have some stories to tell about the legendary rocker. Now naturally Elvis wasnt going to change his looks, so the guy had to look like him. A new adaptation of an old Creedence Clearwater Revival hit, retitled Who'll Stop the Rain (I Will), is his first record to miss the charts in three years. 'He was so wonderful. Its not Elvis. Adding to his wifes statement, Billy Smith said, Graceland didnt make Elvis. On August 16, 1977, something momentous happened in Memphis, Tennessee. While this may seem like further proof of a cover-up, its actually a matter of Tennessee law. 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. By accepting "all cookies", including profiling cookies, in addition to supporting our free offer, you will receive advertisements in line with your interests. And, whenever we were able, we always went to see him, especially local. Billys family also went with the Presleys when they first moved to Memphis. 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. Blasting SA, IDI CHE-247.845.224, Via Carlo Frasca, 3 - 6900 Lugano (Switzerland) Home of the Daily and Sunday Express. When we die, if youre cremated the hole is gonna be the same size for everybody, so take it.. Danny replied to a user who asked: Would you rather go back and visit Graceland or keep it in your memories? In response, Danny said, Ill just speak for the family because weve talked about it many, many times.. The Memphis Mafia member then revealed how a joke story he made up about Elvis swapping places was eventually taken seriously in the UK press. A lot of Elvis family was not invited to the premiere and I dont knowwho did the invitations Ive got a pretty good idea but I just thought that was really tacky. Steinman's original song for Elvis, Total Eclipse of the Dashboard Light, fails to hit the top 100. Elvis and Aunt Gladys had a very quick temper, and I have seen the bad side of both when they were mad or upset. That was the very first I knew how upset Elvis was. Moreover, the quartet stated that there are two main reasons why they may never return to their home. Aside from his blood relatives, his Memphis Mafia gang of male friends had free rein of the estate and home. It was 1958 and Elvis was on leave from the US Army. He also allows his mystical bent to resurface, retelling the tale of his near-death experience to audiences and commissioning a midset New Age instrumental featuring cellos and mouth harps, which soon becomes known as The Harmonica Convergence. EIN: Elvis obviously had a quick temper. I'm always looking for another Vernon Presley.'. He hated how wide it was and the way it flared. he says, displaying a nasty-looking welt. Guide spots rare pink pachyderm in South Africa. The series is co-created by Priscilla Presley. She was always laughing & carrying on. Recently, Smith appeared on his son Danny Smiths YouTube channel known as the Memphis Mafia Kid. She also mentioned names of others who weren't in attendance like major girlfriends of Elvis' after he divorced Priscilla Presley. Elvis made Graceland a home. That was in 1960. I know this picture is of you and not of somebody else., I never thought about [that conversation] again until after Elvis was dead.. Billy Smith, is the son of Travis Smith who was the brother of Elvis' Mother, Gladys. But stranger things have happened. It was like my song it was telling me, 'Your time hasn't come yet, baby.'" When he was sick, I usually stayed with him. Had Elvis used a trained financial supervisor who knew how to invest then he wouldnt have had to work so hard in his final years. One explanation: The casket was outfitted with a cooling systemthe kind youd use to keep a wax dummy of a beloved celebrity from melting on a hot summer day. The first time that I saw it I was nervous, I was gripping the chair going like, Oh God, whats going to happen? . On stage at the special screening, The Kings only child said: I do want to say that I feel so honoured to be a partof this. EIN: Your relationship with Elvis is probably best symbolised by 'The Pledge'. Billy Smith said that he knew there was something special about Elvis Presley the first time he watched the King work in the studio. Its Graceland. He never betrayed me again. 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. He was talking about how scattered the family was. 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. 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. Dee Presley said her telephone conversation with Elvis shortly before his death was the first indication she had that something was seriously wrong with him. May 1 (UPI) -- Crews at a Pennsylvania wastewater plant received a surprise when they discovered a small alligator at the facility. Billy: Aunt Gladys was a good person. For some reason, I always looked up at his office window because I felt like he was calling me and he was looking out the window. However, he felt more at ease once Elvis was buried. He was more upset and mad over the socks. 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]. The second major Elvis sighting came in the form of a photo snapped on December 31, 1977. He raises his hands, and the rain stops on cue. And while critics are divided as to the merits of his duet with Astley on Steamroller Blues and Astley's Never Gonna Give You Up the global ratings are astronomical. Another one of Elvis's cousins, Billy Smith, claimed the singer simply preferred the more common double-A spelling, as legal documents bearing Presley's signature attest. Elvis is alive theories cant go on forever. During the June 9 to June 13 event, Presley's cousin Billy Smith and The King's former girlfriend Linda Thompson were in attendance. EIN: Elvis was a gorgeous looking man. And we were always close, even with the eight year age difference. Back in June, Baz Luhrmanns Elvis movie starring Austin Butler and Tom Hanks had a premiere in Memphis, Tennessee at Elvis Presleys home of Graceland. Afterwards we both cried like crazy and I'll remember it as long as I live. Billy: Elvis did ask me to become foreman, and he talked about getting rid of several people. Elvis' grandfather got my father out of jail and left Vernon there when it first happened. Two respected Elvis aides, Marty Lacker and Elvis's cousin Billy Smith, say that although the body found slumped in the bathroom of Elvis's Graceland mansion on August 16, 1977 was certified dead, the real Elvis was hundreds of miles away. What was that night like for you and why didnt you run a tape recording of it?! Elvis Presley will: Who did Elvis leave his HUGE fortune to? When Elvis bought Graceland Billy's family also moved in and his father . Before Elvis Presley passed away on August 16, 1977, he spent his last night and early morning with his cousin Billy Smith.. Billy is arguably one of the last people ever to have a conversation with Elvis. We traveled with him, lived with him.. What did you see of his personal quest at the time and his visits to the Self Realization Park? 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. Speaking on his son Danny Smith's. Some did better than others, but still we each had a purpose. He did a lot for me and my family in the early years and for my family in the later years. Presley said another telephone call years earlier, in 1958, led to her becoming part of the Presley family. It won't be the last. When news of his hospitalization broke, those close to The King rushed to his bedside, one of these being Presleys cousin, Billy Smith.
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