It was a very strong bond, and Elvis was the center of it all. Can you clarify what happened and how did you feel about this happening being real family? Elvis was very intelligent. However, some close friends and family of The Kings were nowhere to be seen. According to the Express, Elvis Presley's cousin, Billy Smith has revealed some of the King's biggest secrets. Dedicated Presley fans are well aware of the controversy that has surrounded Presley's death from day one. I'm in terrible pain.' A group of ostriches are caught in the act as they dance around in circles, competing amongst themselves. Elvis was still alive on June 18, 1990 without a doubt. Never wanting to disappoint his fans, nothing was too extreme for Presley. Unless it turns out Elvis is immortal. I spoke to him about how sorry I was and he invited me to coffee.'. Skip to primary navigation; . Memphis Mafia Kid has over 19,000 subscribers and racks up thousands of views with each clip. Billy: I saw Jerry at Richard's (Davis) funeral about two years ago. Nevertheless, even when up there sometimes for days on end, the star would want at least someone by his side. But The Colonel tried to get information out of us all. When he would get in one of those moods that he wasmelancholy and he would talk to Billy. The couple emphasised that all this was just their opinion and they didnt want to dissuade fans who like the Elvis movie from seeing it again and again. We heard stories about Morning Dove, but not that much talk about her. "It's just a simple word, you see, 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. Some, however, feel he slightly undermines the message of Kicks with a vigorous midsong demonstration of karate moves. 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. Do you recall any of this & were you lucky enough to see Elvis first play in a kind rock n roll band? 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.. Please tell us about it. THE DEATH ITSELF. 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. Can you tell us if this is true? That broke the ice, and after that, they talked for hours. What did you see of his personal quest at the time and his visits to the Self Realization Park? EIN: Whats your earliest memory of Elvis? Billy Smith Interview at MarlowesCheck out the full playlist please LIKE "THUMBS UP" and COMMENT on this video.Check us out on facebook at https://www.facebo. 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. He did a lot for me and my family in the early years and for my family in the later years. EIN: I believe that you brought Jerry Schilling into the group. And we were always close, even with the eight year age difference. Billy: With Elvis, all the movies were fun. We had to eat turnip greens for a month. The first time that I saw it I was nervous, I was gripping the chair going like, Oh God, whats going to happen? Elvis is treated for deep bruising, and a doctor decrees that he stay overnight for observation. I usually went to the hospital and stayed with him there. Dad (Billy Smith) addresses the rumors about Elvis being alive. In the . He was talking about how scattered the family was. 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: Uncle Tracy had a fever when he was a child, and it caused him to be slow. His cousin Billy Smith and his wife Jo have shared some memories. 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. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. 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"! That was our life. He was more upset and mad over the socks. Elvis releases a disco-style cover of Jackie Wilson's Baby, Workout, which rises to No. Billy continued: Even when he was in his bedroom he always had somebody there. Billy: Elvis did ask me to become foreman, and he talked about getting rid of several people. So, that makes him a wonderful source of information as well as stories about Elvis and the goings-on at Graceland and beyond. He talked about it many, many times, and we all looked forward to the day that happened. 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. Elvis Presley talking with newmen in Memphis, Tennessee after his discharge from the Army, 1960 / Everett Collection. 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. Did Elvis ever comment to you about the terrible movie-songs - or did you see his bad reactions for yourself? It was then that Billy Smith realized that there was something different and amazing about Elvis Presley. Each video honors The Kings legacy, discussing fond memories and a conspiracy or two. We lived in a big-white house that was on the property. It was a good meeting. "I know him and Linda [Thompson] were in there a lot. 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? It would be the most historic and brilliant well-kept secrets any celebrity has ever pulled. I don't know where it came from or if Elvis just made it up. And was late for work many times. Billy Smith was just a kid but he knew that he was witnessing greatness. Elvis Presley will: Who did Elvis leave his HUGE fortune to? 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. Billy was 8 years younger than Elvis and grew up with him in Tupelo. On August 16, 1977, something momentous happened in Memphis, Tennessee. And, the singer bought 'truckloads' of toys for her sons. He loved the power of the big voices. They were true family and were in Elvis company to the very final day. I remember him as a fun-loving guy and he hung around a lot with Elvis until Elvis went into the army. The insider swears that Elvis murmurs, "Return to sender. 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. His cousin, Billy Smith, has revealed the truth behind those ongoing rumors. Gene died a few years ago. 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. 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. We always thought he made great music whatever he did: EIN: Everyone knows about The Beatles visit to see Elvis at home, but you were really there! 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. We were all handpicked by Elvis, and he was very protective of us. 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. On the afternoon of August 16, 1977, a man bearing a striking resemblance to Elvis is said to have purchased a one-way ticket from Memphis International Airport to Buenos Aires. Elvis Presley's mother was Gladys Smith and her elder brother's son is Billy Smith. The interesting part will not be the cartoon itself, but the fact that the Elvis character is working undercover as a government spy. I think I need to see a Doctor." He said that he stood there gawking at Elvis Presley while he played and sang in Studio B. He raises his hands, and the rain stops on cue. We have spent days in his room reading and studying. What do you remember of that time and how different was it from life in Tupelo? Corral. Some Elvis Presley fans may find the animated series an insult to the King of Rock and Roll, while many others could find it very interesting. Elvis tried to see to it that we all worked in his movies. Im not really 81, says Barmer, who then compares himself to a Pokmon Go character. Got to a point where Id go to sleep, itd be early in the morning. blue eyes and lighter skin. "Elvis is alive theories are as varied as they are plentiful, and theyve been circulating since just after his death. She was always laughing & carrying on. 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.. There were a lot of rumors circulating at the time that Elvis was alive. 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. Billy: Elvis enjoyed the Nashville "Guitar Man" sessions with Jerry Reed. EIN: Did you always travel with Elvis to film the movies? 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. Smith, eight years younger than Elvis, grew up alongside the star in Graceland. Please share his story with us. 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. 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. Billy Smith, Elvis' first cousin is recovering from a heart attack. And, whenever we were able, we always went to see him, especially local. We all loved him and had a job to do. In Elvis and the Memphis Mafia it is suggested he was the one who took the "coffin" picture. From an outsiders view she often appears sad, as she has that particular look in the photos after Elvis became famous. January 1995: Elvis calls a news conference to announce his retirement from touring. Blasting News is working with the European Union in the fight against fake news. I missed a few due to sickness in my family. . Right: Billy Smith, The Colonel and Elvis all looking jovial in June 1967- about three months after the 'Clambake' incident. Was it talked about within the family or was it a surprise for you when your cousin was suddenly on the radio? EIN: What are your chief memories of the times working on the movies? After learning that his mother, Gladys, had died, she said she decided to call Elvis and express her sympathy. His stepmother made her comments as a week-long observance of the 10th anniversary of Presley's death got under way in Memphis. He hated how wide it was and the way it flared. Can you confirm the story? That seems very strange. "Elvis always . It is quite a stretch, but imagine if it were true. Danny later admitted that for his wife Teresa, he would return to Graceland one final time. EIN: Your relationship with Elvis is probably best symbolised by 'The Pledge'. The last surviving original Memphis Mafia member Billy Smith, Elvis' cousin, had some of the closest access to The King. Colonel tried to get rid of some of the guys but it didn't really have any effect on me. A few years later, while studying them with a magnifying glass, Joseph spotted a shadowy Elvis-like figure sitting in the doorway. Smith realized this as he stood slack-jawed watching the King lay down vocals. Billy Smith: I do remember him singing a lot for the family and different ones. Later on Elvis told someone and it hurt me a lot, and he knew it. 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. Elvis' version of Jennifer Holliday's And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going becomes an adult-contemporary chart-topper. 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. The Colonel, inspired, announces plans for a nationwide chain of Elvis Workout Centers. Billy with Elvis before leaving for Germany & the army in 1958. He had a thirst to learn new things. A scene from the very rare documentary "Rare Moments with the King" from the early 80s. Aunt Lavelle and Uncle Tracy looked like their Daddy . Billy Smith with his parents Travis & Lorraine Smith, and his brother Bobby on the right. An ill-advised follow-up single, a disco-style cover of an old Stevie Wonder song with the title changed to Work Out, Elvis, Work Out, fails to reach the top 100. But network execs foolishly state that Elvis was "outside the demographic of our target viewers and irrelevant to the rock audience we super-serve." Surprisingly, it works as effectively as the star's usual three nightly packets of Seconal, Placidyl, Demerol and several other medications, and he falls into a deep sleep, but he is unresponsive when a nurse tries to awaken him late in the day. Plans for Elvis to appear solo are scuttled when RCA threatens to withdraw support unlesss its new star, Rick Astley, is included. Hes left the realm of popular entertainers and joined the ranks of Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, and to some, Jesus. EIN: And what of Vernon? He would watch The Student Prince which was set in Heidelberg, over and over again. Our hearts will intertwine.". Billy was also one of the few who actually spent a lot of time with Elvis near the end of his life. 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 . Without Elvis, its not home. January 1986: Elvis is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's initial class with nine other seminal artists. But stranger things have happened. And that will probably be the last time that I would go back to it.. 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. Back in 1957, having shot to fame, The King moved his extended family into the Graceland mansion. And the people that they asked that were not close to him, they took up family and friends slots. EIN: Few fans know the story of your uncle, Tracy Smith. Billy: When the Beatles came, we were all excited about getting to meet them. Alternatively, fans can go to Graceland and learn volumes about Presley, his life, and his family. And, of course, Ive heard this over the years now and I decided this is time to get this all cleared up because this is just not right. Moreover, the quartet stated that there are two main reasons why they may never return to their home. She also mentioned names of others who weren't in attendance like major girlfriends of Elvis' after he divorced Priscilla Presley. Billy: Yes, I was with him on many of the recording sessions. But weeks after the Colonel's death, he announces a one-off concert in London as a gesture to all the foreign fans who had never seen him because Parker was afraid that if he went out of the USA, he'd never get back in. producing.no propelling, an unstoppable, fundamental and primordial shift in not only musical, but social, political and cultural history", "Elvis, the musician, is largely a relic belonging to the baby boomer generationElvis, the icon, is arguably one of the most potent symbols of popular culture", "It [rock & roll] was always about Elvis; not just because he was Elvis, but because he was the big star", "If they had let me on white radio stations back then, there never would have been an Elvis", "Elvis loved opera, and he especially liked Mario Lanza. To date, numerous reports say fans believe that Elvis Presley did not die in 1977, but was placed in witness protection. 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, and is supreme", "I wasn't just a fan, I was his brotherthere'll never be another like that soul brother", "There were rock 'n' roll records before Heartbreak Hotel, but this was the one that didn't just open the doorit literally blasted the door off its rusted, rotten, anachronistic hinges.
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