billy smith, elvis alive

billy smith, elvis alive

But toxicologists found more than 10 drugs in Presleys system, fueling speculation that polypharmacy played a role in his death. Billy: One thing Uncle Vernon was good at was numbers, especially if dollar signs were in front of them! 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. Express. He made it a good time. When it was good, it was very good, and when it was bad, it was awful. November 2002: Clive Davis becomes president of RCA and hits on a plan to revive Elvis' sluggish recording career. And, he had unbelievable strength. His stepmother made her comments as a week-long observance of the 10th anniversary of Presley's death got under way in Memphis. We were told that she was a beautiful woman. 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. Ill remember him and cherish him and love him and all the memories and things of his we have, but I will never ever pay. I dont care if I never go to Graceland again, Jo said. Elvis Presley's mother was Gladys Smith and her elder brother's son is Billy Smith. 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. When we die, if youre cremated the hole is gonna be the same size for everybody, so take it.. The theory here is that Elvis used the incorrect spelling to signal fans that he was still alive. This seems more than a coincidence as back in 1957 he was also involved in an incident involving $1000 bills. The man would now be in his 80s, and the oldest person on record only lived to 122. Our hearts will intertwine.". The spooky incident occurred last month at the home of Billy Smith, who is the second cousin of Graceland's iconic inhabitant. To get inside you need no key. School principal unlocks dumpster, finds bear inside. A great deal of Elvis is alive intrigue centers on August 18, 1977, the day of Presley's funeral. Billy: Well it's true that my father, Travis, went to the penitentiary with Vernon, but Vernon got out of prison a few months before my father because of good behavior. Elvis always looked at the person, not what race he or she 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. When he would get in one of those moods that he wasmelancholy and he would talk to Billy. Billy Stanley, her son by a previous marriage, called her and said Elvis was offering $5,000 if she would telephone him, she said. Can you confirm the story? Potato Head blindfolded. EIN: When you first arrived in Memphis you lived in the same house as The Presleys in Washington Street. Thirty-six years ago Friday, owing to pressures we can hardly imagine and self-indulgences we can imagine only too well, Elvis Presley died. He always seemed to want me around him and was very protective of me. I missed a few due to sickness in my family. Very early on I remember once when Elvis pulled me out of a garbage can! They roared with laughter. The Beatles were excited about meeting him, but when they first got there they were a little quiet and were just kind of feeling him out. Elvis made Graceland a home. September 1982: The commercial instincts of the Elvis camp seem increasingly erratic. He left behind an undying legacy. July 1985: The Colonel had been persuaded, reluctantly, to see the benefits of Elvis' singing on We Are the World, but when Bob Geldof approaches him about Elvis performing at Live Aid, the enigmatic manager tells him, "Sure thing. Junior looked like the actor Jack Elam. Footage of the service shows pallbearers struggling to lift a 900-pound copper coffin. But Elvis loved movieshe starred in 31and Christmas, so it almost makes sense that he would risk blowing his cover by appearing in the 1990 holiday comedy Home Alone. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express. Even towards the end of his short 42 years when he became increasingly isolated, Billy would be spending hours upstairs with the singer in his bedroom, listening to him as he opened up on his more vulnerable side. Speaking on his son Danny Smiths YouTube channel, Memphis Mafia Kid, Billy said: This question, Is Elvis still alive? Well, let me say this. And was late for work many times. I didnt know what to expect. . Billy Smith was just a kid but he knew that he was witnessing greatness. But network execs foolishly state that Elvis was "outside the demographic of our target viewers and irrelevant to the rock audience we super-serve." Today, Smith and his family remain haunted by the day of Elvis death. Elvis' grandfather got my father out of jail and left Vernon there when it first happened. Billy and Elvis' other associates are alarmed and decide, despite Elvis' protests, that with a tour days away, a trip to the hospital would be prudent. Billy: Larry Geller was okay. It won't be the last. Elvis death: The King's pilot I thought Vernon Presley had died, Elvis Presley bodyguard says King'different'person in private, Elvis Presley ALIVE? I realized I had done the impossible -- called up Elvis. Elvis' version of Jennifer Holliday's And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going becomes an adult-contemporary chart-topper. January 1986: Elvis is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's initial class with nine other seminal artists. Fans reckon you can hear King at Graceland LISTEN, Brian May on Queens influences: The Beatles 'built our bible', Rolling Stones: Brian Jones would call Bob Dylan EVERY day, Elvis Presley had 'HUGE heart, Graceland like living at Disneyland', Elvis Presley's bodyguard on TERRIFYING motorbike ride with The King. 'He was so wonderful. 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. I really wasnt expecting this. Small alligator found at Pennsylvania wastewater treatment plant. Billy's family also went with the Presleys when they first moved to Memphis. Its not his home. In addition to Elvis absence, the family suggested their disdain for the way Graceland controls access to Elvis grave. MTV could have dodged the controversy by explaining that the spectacle of a bare-chested Elvis in a series of multihued headbands and sweatpants was faintly ludicrous, or even that Physical was a lousy record. 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. I actually remember her as an outgoing and fun loving person. He said that he stood there gawking at Elvis Presley while he played and sang in Studio B. 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. There were a lot of lonely days and nights until Jo started to travel with us. He lived in a separate home with his family on the grounds of Graceland. When Billy was old enough he started working with the Memphis Mafia team. However, the distance didnt change what he was seeing. May 1 (UPI) -- Firefighters in Pennsylvania came to the rescue of a deer spotted stranded in a Montgomery County canal. He liked real dramatic things", (Marty Lacker in 'Elvis and the Memphis Mafia'), "If life was fair, Elvis would be alive and all the impersonators would be dead". Elvis Presley will: Who did Elvis leave his HUGE fortune to? EIN: Is it true that in 1977 Elvis asked you to become Chief foreman and that he considered getting rid of The Colonel once again and even Joe Esposito? Billy: Yes, I was with him on many of the recording sessions. These were consistent with the notion that hed faked his own death to escape the public eye (or the mafia, as one theory holds) and return to his humble roots. For we who know, know it well, Home of the Daily and Sunday Express. It was then that Billy Smith realized that there was something different and amazing about Elvis Presley. He had a thirst to learn new things. 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. Did Elvis understand? Smith recalls that the legendary entertainer had some major issues with how his nose looked. As I said, everyone had a job to do. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. 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. And the people that they asked that were not close to him, they took up family and friends slots. 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 . 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. "Boy, that hurts!" Aunt Gladys looked after him as long as she lived, and after her death, he lived with us, and then with some of his sisters. 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. Unfortunately, it never came to pass. 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. It was 1958 and Elvis was on leave from the US Army. He said he would see me on his next tour. Billy: Yes, Elvis was a handsome man. We traveled with him, lived with him.. I was always close to Elvis even as a young child. (1969) and cocks his head in a manner that conspiracy theorists swear is identical to Presleys onstage mannerisms. I had so much respect for him. Elvis Presley: Why the Kings Cousins, Who Lived With Him, No Longer Visit Graceland. It is Elvis' last live performance. The family sits and discusses Elvis last night, Graceland, and why theyre not satisfied with how some things are currently run. Id get dressed, and Id go out to Graceland. 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. She also travels with Elvis impersonator Elvis Wade and introduces him when he performs. 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. Elvis was very intelligent. Gene died a few years ago. We were in the den when Elvis came out and said to us, "I fell and hit my head. I never meant for this story to mislead anybody or hurt anybody in any kind of way.. To find out in detail which cookies we use on the site, read our. This article has been curated and verified by, This area provides transparent information about Blasting News, our editorial processes and how we strive for creating trustworthy news. he says, displaying a nasty-looking welt. June 1988: NBC and Elvis Enterprises announce a TV special for late November, 20 years after Elvis' '68 Comeback Special. 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. When asked to check his ego at the door, Elvis pauses, nods his head and says, "Yep, it's still there!" He did a lot for me and my family in the early years and for my family in the later years. Guide spots rare pink pachyderm in South Africa. What did you see of his personal quest at the time and his visits to the Self Realization Park? Tuesday, 2nd May 2023See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive. 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. He is surrounded by his inner circle, one of whom anonymously reports Elvis' last words. He didnt just go up in his room and not do anything His room up there with his office and all that was big, so. Billy Smith was Elvis' first cousin, the son of Gladys Presley's oldest brother. Its not Elvis. Adding to his wifes statement, Billy Smith said, Graceland didnt make Elvis. Gene worked for Elvis for a number of years and was one of the original Memphis Mafia members, along with Red West & Junior. Memphis Mafia Kid has over 19,000 subscribers and racks up thousands of views with each clip. (EIN Note Billys full story about The Pledge is also featured in the book Elvis & the Memphis Mafia) RCA suggests working with Jim Steinman of Meat Loaf and Bonnie Tyler fame. Billy: Elvis was southern, and so he joked sometimes. I fell in head first. We took our kids with us so it made it a lot better. He is surrounded by his . 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. Elvis enjoyed the Self Realization Park. Bee Gees producer Albhy Galuten, who presided over the workout-themed releases, is let go, but new producer Barry Manilow is no improvement. He also tried to distance you all from Elvis by making Joe Esposito head foreman. Do you recall any of this & were you lucky enough to see Elvis first play in a kind rock n roll band? . He felt comfortable with me and trusted me. He only worked a couple of places before Elvis became famous, unlike Aunt Gladys who had worked at several places before Elvis became famous. ELVIS PRESLEY's spirit presence is claimed to have been sensed in Graceland's upstairs office by his cousin Billy Smith, who shared in a new interview that he knew it was time to move away having . Presleys cousin Gene Smith thought the body looked a little strange. After a while, Smith decided to give the superstar some space. Please tell us about it. We were like brothers. He always told me that he loved me. It hurts. After all, there are several books and documentaries out there that detail large portions of his life and exploits. EIN: Perhaps Elvis' most famous abode before becoming famous was the Lauderdale Courts apartment. Jo said how people often point out the star spending days in his bedroom, but she dispelled one rumour surrounding this. He said in the clip that he felt him when he stayed upstairs in the house. 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. Elvis releases a disco-style cover of Jackie Wilson's Baby, Workout, which rises to No. For reference, the family refers to the fact that fans must pay in order to visit the singers grave. Elvis and Aunt Gladys had a very quick temper, and I have seen the bad side of both when they were mad or upset. May 1 (UPI) -- Crews at a Pennsylvania wastewater plant received a surprise when they discovered a small alligator at the facility. 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. As far as I know, that didn't happen. The first time that I saw it I was nervous, I was gripping the chair going like, Oh God, whats going to happen? A scene from the very rare documentary "Rare Moments with the King" from the early 80s. EIN: What about your brother Bobby, he died way too young as well? Billy with Elvis before leaving for Germany & the army in 1958. 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. Back in 1957, having shot to fame, The King moved his extended family into the Graceland mansion. Copyright 2023 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Billy Smith: I do remember him singing a lot for the family and different ones. Do you still see him or have any contact? However, some close friends and family of The Kings were nowhere to be seen. On the story, he said: It was supposed to be that Elvis swapped places with this guy who had cancer and was dying and Elvis hid him out in the attic until it was time for him to die. 'It was a very strange telephone conversation. Billy Smith, is the son of Travis Smith who was the brother of Elvis' Mother, Gladys. Can you remember how the city move affected Elvis? Blasting News is working with the European Union in the fight against fake news. Later on Elvis told someone and it hurt me a lot, and he knew it. When he lived at Graceland from 1957 until his death, Presley had an open-door policy with his Memphis Mafia. EIN: Do you remember when Elvis started complaining about the quality of his movies going downhill? May 1 (UPI) -- A German man was awarded an unusual world record when he assembled a Mr. He liked his guys around him. I remember them cutting pasteboard to put in their shoes to cover the holes. 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. Dedicated Presley fans are well aware of the controversy that has surrounded Presley's death from day one. 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. Elvis Presley gave a lot of thought and time into obtaining what he considered his perfect look throughout his short-lived life. Some closer than others, but still we stood up for each other no matter what. Late August 1977: "I dreamed I died," Elvis will tell reporters later, "and I was headed toward a pure white light, but something sent me back. Billy: Junior Smith was Gene's older brother and his real name was Carroll. He was sullen and disturbed because of what had happened to him when he was in the army in Korea. From the time they were kids till the end. 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. I will never forget that night and I know Elvis really liked them. Severed hand at side of Michigan highway was a rubber fake. Interview by Piers Beagley - 2006. I saw it twice. 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. He'll do it for a million dollars in cash." Currently, Smith runs the Memphis Mafia Kid YouTube channel. When Presley was rushed to the hospital, Billy Smith and his wife were the first to know. Since his wife had never been, he admitted that he would return one final time with her and their grandchildren. It was a good meeting. Some did better than others, but still we each had a purpose. Commenting on Billy being portrayed in the biopic, Jo said: It didnt upset you. Billy: Yes, Billy Mann was the one who took the picture in the coffin. [WILL]. Billy: Elvis loved to read. October 1991: Although Elvis is back on top, his eccentricities are increasing. She also mentioned names of others who weren't in attendance like major girlfriends of Elvis' after he divorced Priscilla Presley. 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. 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. We had to eat turnip greens for a month. 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. Countless fans from around the globe have spent hours digging into the deep lore of the Kings life. People said that he uses cosmetic surgery to improve his appearance and look his best. Billy: When the Beatles came, we were all excited about getting to meet them. To date, numerous reports say fans believe that Elvis Presley did not die in 1977, but was placed in witness protection. Joe Esposito on Geraldo; GIFTS FROM JESSE TO ME AND MY HUSBAND. Is it true that your father also went to the penitentiary but that Elvis grand-father bailed Travis out & left Vernon in jail? On the other hand, by clicking only on accept strictly necessary cookies, you will receive non-targeted advertising whose number and repetition will not be limited. Recently, Smith appeared on his son Danny Smith's YouTube channel known as the Memphis Mafia Kid. Smith went on to recall how Presley decided to have his nose trimmed down. So, that makes him a wonderful source of information as well as stories about Elvis and the goings-on at Graceland and beyond. 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 critically panned album makes its debut at No. But he knew it from memory, and we went over it several times so I could memorize it. Billy: He was never fond of working. I don't know where it came from or if Elvis just made it up. Sometimes Tracy would stay down there at the gate with Daddy and pretend he was a gate guard. I talked to Elvis about hiring Jerry. October 2007: The Songbook series having run its course, Davis taps another of his favorite gimmicks: the duets album. With that, what critics like to call the "Fit Elvis era" is over. Elam always looked like he was about to do something really painful to you. Photo above - Junior Smith in New York with Elvis & his date. Billy: I was always close to Elvis, but I was his family. He tells variations of this story, often using a line like "the ego flies on Tuesday, baby," in most of his subsequent live appearances. In a three-part review of the Elvis movie on their YouTube channel Elvis Fans Matter, the couple did praise Butlers performance but felt the film which isnowavailable to rent or buy on streaming betrayed the music icon on a number of levels. And I can truthfully say, hes gone. January 1995: Elvis calls a news conference to announce his retirement from touring. November 1977: In an exclusive interview with People, Elvis confesses that he became a little too dependent on "the pills" but says he's now drug-free and feeling better than ever. That broke the ice, and after that, they talked for hours. Elvis and Gene even worked together at Precision Tool. Missing dog found 6 years later, 470 miles from home. "My trainer told me about them it's like getting high from working out.". I usually went to the hospital and stayed with him there. But, he never criticized other religions either. 'It was love at first sight,' she said in an interview. After all, Smith is the Kings cousin. EIN: And what of Vernon? 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. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. In fact, there are many new Elvis Presley projects in the works in 2020. November 1980: Plagued by cost overruns and whispers of illegal kickbacks, the Elvis Workout project is shut down before any of the centers actually open. That's the reason I've never remarried. Elvis' private late night chat about Lisa Marie with his cousin, Oscars 2023 odds Elvis star Austin Butler gaining on Brendan Fraser, Real reason Elvis found it so hard being alone unveiled by close relative and confidant, Elvis with his Memphis Mafia Billy Smith is on the far left, Elvis death: Last person to see Kings body before casket was closed, Priscilla Presley returns to red carpet after Lisa Maries death, Elvis movie deleted scene from 4 hour version released by Baz Luhrmann, Elvis sang hit song to Priscilla as they left divorce court together, Elvis Presley tops Michael Jackson and Frank Sinatra in epic record, Elvis' granddaughter shares how King influenced her as 70s rock star, Elvis 'was never the same' after big change claimed The Beatles.

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