'He was so wonderful. His nose looked kinda puggy-looking, and his right sideburn was sticking straight outit looked about an inch, Smith said in the 1991 special The Elvis Files. He raises his hands, and the rain stops on cue. RCA suggests working with Jim Steinman of Meat Loaf and Bonnie Tyler fame. Billy: I don't remember anything about him practicing with Johnny Burnett or his brother. Billy's family also went with the Presleys when they first moved to Memphis. Curiously, director Chris Columbus went into Home Alone having just made Heartbreak Hotel, a 1988 flop about some kids who try to kidnap Elvis. We promised each other. Billy Smith said that he knew there was something special about Elvis Presley the first time he watched the King work in the studio. EIN: Did you ever visit the studios for Elvis recording sessions? Additionally, some of Elvis' family and friends would live on the property, including his cousin Billy Smith and his family. 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. At this point, I tell you this with all my heart and its the only reason that Im here: Its been done right.. Our grandfather was a handsome man. We were in the den when Elvis came out and said to us, "I fell and hit my head. Sound crazy? Presleys cousin Gene Smith thought the body looked a little strange. As for Presleys autopsy report: Its a private family document unlikely to ever see the light of day. Never wanting to disappoint his fans, nothing was too extreme for Presley. Did you know of this when you were young and were there any family stories of Morning Dove White your gt-gt-gt-gt Grandmother? There were a lot of lonely days and nights until Jo started to travel with us. 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. In recent years, Billy Smiths son, Danny, created his own YouTube channel. l, like most the guys, was in many of his movies as an extra. The general confusion surrounding these and other jargony cause-of-death explanations has undoubtedly helped to foster conspiracy theories. Elvis enjoyed the Self Realization Park. Aside from his blood relatives, his Memphis Mafia gang of male friends had free rein of the estate and home. Dee Presley was married to the famed singer's father, Vernon, from 1960 -- at the height of Elvis's stardom -- until 1974 when they were divorced. At the very least they have some stories to tell about the legendary rocker. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express. Billy was 8 years younger than Elvis. What Elvis serious about changing things? Its Graceland. But The Colonel tried to get information out of us all. Elvis, and Billy were close Cousin's even in eight years apart in age. EIN: As most people know, Elvis father Vernon went to jail for forging a cheque. But, we couldn't make a big deal about it in front of Elvis. She also travels with Elvis impersonator Elvis Wade and introduces him when he performs. Jo said, "Inside Graceland was like a wonderland, but it . . What do you remember of that time and how different was it from life in Tupelo? Billy: Elvis was southern, and so he joked sometimes. READ MORE:Lisa Marie's lifetime of 'disappointment' cured at Elvis premiere, Jo continued: Whats an invitation? I had so much respect for him. 'It was love at first sight,' she said in an interview. When Elvis bought Graceland Billy's family also moved in and his father . [2] When Smith was five in November of 1948, his family moved along with the Presley family from Tupelo, Mississippi to Memphis . Billy: With Elvis, all the movies were fun. And he cant bring him back.. 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. It hurts. But toxicologists found more than 10 drugs in Presleys system, fueling speculation that polypharmacy played a role in his death. Billy: I saw Jerry at Richard's (Davis) funeral about two years ago. Needless to say Elvis knew that cousin Billy Mann was the one who failed the test back in 1957). EIN: I know that you were in Nashville for the Guitar Man sessions with Jerry Reed. From the time they were kids till the end. He always told me that he loved me. Billy: Uncle Tracy had a fever when he was a child, and it caused him to be slow. 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. She also mentioned names of others who weren't in attendance like major girlfriends of Elvis' after he divorced Priscilla Presley. Danny later admitted that for his wife Teresa, he would return to Graceland one final time. EIN: Do you remember any build up to Elvis recording his first record or practising with Scotty Moore & Bill Black? In the . I dont care if I never go to Graceland again, Jo said. Tuesday, 2nd May 2023See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive. The wives also continued to go back and forth after Priscilla was gone. Additionally, some of Elvis family and friends would live on the property, including his cousin Billy Smith and his family. 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. Is Elvis Alive? - YouTube 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: Gene was Elvis' first cousin. In the early days no wives were allowed to go, but then, when Priscilla started to go back and forth, so did the wives. Is it true that your father also went to the penitentiary but that Elvis grand-father bailed Travis out & left Vernon in jail? Billy Smith was interviewed by Piers Beagley for EIN, January 2006. Billy: My father Travis was the first Gate Guard that Elvis had. Tel: We use cookies and similar technologies to personalize contents and ads, to provide social media features and to analyze our traffic. Round-the-clock demonstrations outside MTV's New York headquarters by Elvis fans, some attired only in multihued headbands and sweatpants, cause MTV to reconsider, and Physical leaps into the top 10. Nevertheless, even when up there sometimes for days on end, the star would want at least someone by his side. New Elvis projects will include Hound dog treats for dogs and a Netflix original series in 2021. 'I called and said, 'Elvis, what in the world is wrong?' But network execs foolishly state that Elvis was "outside the demographic of our target viewers and irrelevant to the rock audience we super-serve." Please share his story with us. Billy continued: Even when he was in his bedroom he always had somebody there. 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. I didnt know what to expect. Billy Smith and cousin Elvis Presley. However, the upstairs where he died of a heart attack in 1977 was his private space and access was by invite only. Theres also the question of why the most famous man on the planet would risk going into a public place in his hometown in order to book airfare for the purpose of faking his own death. That was our life. Unless it turns out Elvis is immortal. But what if, by some amazing stroke of fortune, he had lived? 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. Please keep Billy Smith in your thoughts and prayers. As a result, he is one of the only people left alive who knew the true . EIN: After Elvis got back from the army and you married your wife Jo, how did you balance your months in Hollywood with your relationship back home? Colonel tried to get rid of some of the guys but it didn't really have any effect on me. Thompson, a former beauty queen who dated Elvis from July 1972 to late 1976, spoke about her time with Presley at the event. I spoke to him about how sorry I was and he invited me to coffee.'. And maybe some of my grandchildren. "The Memphis Mafia" was with Elvis almost twenty-four hours a day, at least one or two of them. READ MORE: Priscilla Presley returns to red carpet after Lisa Maries death. 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. Junior was at my house in my bed when he died. (1969) and cocks his head in a manner that conspiracy theorists swear is identical to Presleys onstage mannerisms. 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. A lot of times Billy was with him, just Billy and Elvis. 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. Billy Smith - EverybodyWiki Bios & Wiki Elvis releases a disco-style cover of Jackie Wilson's Baby, Workout, which rises to No. Billy's father Travis Smith was the brother of Elvis' mother Gladys and became the main guard at Graceland. Maybe Elvis figured his acting skills would help him avoid suspicion. Did Elvis ever comment to you about the terrible movie-songs - or did you see his bad reactions for yourself? The festival takes place in Tupelo, Mississippi where both Elvis and Billy were born. 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. Elvis and Vernon knew how far to push. Billy Smith interview on the Day Elvis Presley Died January 2019 EIN: After Elvis fall & concussion before Clambake, The Colonel demanded that Elvis burn all his spiritual books. March 1988: Concert attendance slips as audiences tire of Elvis' lengthy monologues about the benefits of healthy eating, mysticism and frequent gym workouts. He made it a good time. As far as I know, that didn't happen. ", (Mark Feeney on the 'Elvis meets Nixon' meeting), "especially in the South, they talk about Elvis and Jesus in the same breath", "The image is one thing and the human being is anotherit's very hard to live up to an image", (Elvis Presley, Madison Square Garden press conference, 1972), "Elvis was a major hero of mine. Without Elvis, its not home. Billy was 8 years younger than Elvis and grew up with him in Tupelo. I remember him as a fun-loving guy and he hung around a lot with Elvis until Elvis went into the army. About Elvis Presley, Smith said, When Elvis was on stage, somehow he had a way of bringing you into his world. That was also true when he performed in the studio. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. The series is co-created by Priscilla Presley. He had his expressions and he even had a bad eye like Elam. So down to earth. Smith went on to recall how Presley decided to have his nose trimmed down. May 1 (UPI) -- A Kentucky couple had more than 109,000 extra reasons to celebrate on their 44th wedding anniversary when they won a jackpot from an Instant Play lottery game. Traditionally, you cant have a funeral without a death, and what killed the King is another major source of controversy. 'I could hardly understand him because he was crying,' she said. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express. People said that he uses cosmetic surgery to improve his appearance and look his best. Elvis Presley's Cousins Recall Spending The Holidays With Him He liked his guys around him. He announces that the tour has been rescheduled for next March and adds that he's starting an intensive program to "get myself together physically, mentally and spiritually." Billy: Larry Geller was okay. Elvis Double Lay Dead at Graceland As We Saw the King Drive Off With Its not his home. In addition to Elvis absence, the family suggested their disdain for the way Graceland controls access to Elvis grave. 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]. So many of the things she did and said as well as the places he went have become iconic. 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. Blasting SA, IDI CHE-247.845.224, Via Carlo Frasca, 3 - 6900 Lugano (Switzerland) He had a pretty good bump on the back of his head. Then during the touring we were together all the time. What did you see of his personal quest at the time and his visits to the Self Realization Park? October 1991: Although Elvis is back on top, his eccentricities are increasing. In the summer of 2016, video of a Graceland groundskeeper purported to be Elvis got the internet all shook up. Ghost of Elvis Visits His Cousin? | iHeartRadio | Coast to Coast AM EIN: What are your chief memories of the times working on the movies? Plans for Elvis to appear solo are scuttled when RCA threatens to withdraw support unlesss its new star, Rick Astley, is included. He loved the power of the big voices. Back in 1957, having shot to fame, The King moved his extended family into the Graceland mansion. EIN: What about Gene Smith, he seemed to come & go within the group? EIN: Elvis was a gorgeous looking man. Billy Smith said that he knew there was something special about Elvis Presley the first time he watched the King work in the studio. Sometimes Tracy would stay down there at the gate with Daddy and pretend he was a gate guard. 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. Two weeks before his death, a sobbing Elvis Presley That's the same white house that Elvis and I tore down with the bulldozer to make more room to ride the horses. Larry was his hair dresser. He said in the clip that he felt him when he stayed upstairs in the house. I lived on Circle G ranch at that time, when we were not in Los Angeles. He deserved to have peace of mind. Also in attendance was Memphis Mafia member Jerry Schilling, who appears at lots of Elvis events with Priscilla. That broke the ice, and after that, they talked for hours. Billy: When the Beatles came, we were all excited about getting to meet them. Right: Billy Smith, The Colonel and Elvis all looking jovial in June 1967- about three months after the 'Clambake' incident. Can you remember how the city move affected Elvis? 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. Dark skin, dark eyes, and high cheeks. Jerry was always nice to me and my family and to my Mother and Daddy, and I will always remember him for that. But, he has a sharp memory. Episode 11. We have decided that I want to go back through Graceland one more time with Teresa. 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. He never betrayed me again. Potato Head blindfolded. The critically panned album makes its debut at No. I could SWAP places with a doppelgnger The King's cousin speaksG, Elvis ALIVE? He left behind an undying legacy. Geldof moves on to the next star on his list. Elvis always looked at the person, not what race he or she was. 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. When Elvis bought Graceland Billys family also moved in and his father Travis worked for Elvis as Chief guard. Im sure theres some way they could sort that out.. Suspicious Minds: The Bizarre, 40-Year History of Elvis Presley How this got started was we actually talked one night of Elvis changing places. Elvis was still alive on June 18, 1990 without a doubt. Aunt Lavelle and Uncle Tracy looked like their Daddy . At nearly 800 pages the book is justifiably acclaimed as one of the. The less he had to think about that better he felt. Setting the record straight, Billy added: So, heres the truth: Elvis died, August 16, 1977 one of the hardest days of my life. Elvis Presley always loved to have his close friends around him. He trusted us. He had a thirst to learn new things. She said Elvis told her he was not surprised and the marriage had his blessing. 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. . I realized I had done the impossible -- called up Elvis. May 1 (UPI) -- Crews at a Pennsylvania wastewater plant received a surprise when they discovered a small alligator at the facility. Then, when the King would take a break, Billy would go get him water. And the records get worse: The last straw is a cover of Culture Club's Karma Chameleon. Billy, had a heart attack on January 27th and he had 4 stints put in. Elvis fans come from worldwide, they come here, and they have to, if I was a fan, I would, Smith said in reference to touring his cousins home. . March 1978: Elvis sets out on his longest tour ever, dazzling critics and fans with his newly toned physique and renewed energy. I don't know where it came from or if Elvis just made it up. (by Alfred Wertheimer). 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. I was always close to Elvis even as a young child. I missed a few due to sickness in my family. As a result, he is one of the only people left alive who knew the true man the star was. Dad (Billy Smith) addresses the rumors about Elvis being alive. Smith recalls that the legendary entertainer had some major issues with how his nose looked. EIN: Cousin Billy Mann. 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. What if Elvis Presley had never left the building? Elvis Presley faked his own death after paying a terminally ill lookalike to be buried in his place, The People can sensationally reveal. It's raining, and Billy remarks that he's sick of it. May 1 (UPI) -- Firefighters in Pennsylvania came to the rescue of a deer spotted stranded in a Montgomery County canal. Elvis Presley's Family Calls Graceland Disrespectful - DoYouRemember? It would be the most historic and brilliant well-kept secrets any celebrity has ever pulled. Asked in an interview to identify the man in the background, Ali reportedly said, Thats my friend Elvis., In the late 80s, the epicenter of the Elvis lives universe shifted to Kalamazoo, Michigan, a city Elvis played four months before his death. Billy Smith is not only Elvis first cousin but a former member of the singers inner Mafia circle. As I place my hand upon your heart, Here, in Part One, Billy talks about his family, the Memphis Mafia, the Movie Years, meeting The Beatles and much much more. That was the very first I knew how upset Elvis was. "Elvis is alive theories are as varied as they are plentiful, and theyve been circulating since just after his death. Billy Smith is the one person who knows Elvis Presley better than And you who don't can never tell. In 1988, a woman named Louise Welling from nearby Vicksburg claimed she had seen Presley standing in line at the local Felpauschsupermarket. 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. Is he still alive? Click here for Part Two: Billy talks about Elvis' Girls, Elvis' Final Years, his relationship with EPE, 'Elvis By The Presleys' and more. Greeks.. . His manager, Colonel Tom Parker, says, "We're happy to have the boy back with us," but seasoned Colonel-watchers detect a touch of regret at missed opportunities. And his hairline looked like a hairpiece or something was glued on. Smith was also troubled by the smoothness of Presleys typically calloused hands and the sweat on his brow. 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. I remember them cutting pasteboard to put in their shoes to cover the holes. She was generous like Elvis, but she also had a quick temper. blue eyes and lighter skin. 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. When news of his hospitalization broke, those close to The King rushed to his bedside, one of these being Presleys cousin, Billy Smith. Aug. 16, 1977: Around 5 a.m., Elvis gets the urge to play a little racquetball, part of the conditioning regimen he has been halfheartedly following to prepare for a tour scheduled to begin shortly. A great deal of Elvis is alive intrigue centers on August 18, 1977, the day of Presley's funeral. What was his relationship like with Elvis?
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