The Original Memphis Mafia members that have passed away. Sonny West , Marty Lacker, Lamar Fike, Joe Esposito, Red West , Charlie Hodge and Alan Fortas.
I toured Graceland yesterday. Took a big breath when I walked thru the front door. Stood at the opening for the Jungle Room and thought about Elvis hanging out and recording there. Sat in front of his grave for at least 30 minutes. Emotional. Thanks to Pricilla for opening the house for us to visit and long live the King of Rock & Roll.
Elvis forever. Graceland is very unique experience and gives you a closeness to Elvis. Thanks for video. Memphis Mafia were true friends and the books written that got some fired were written to stop Elvis from harming his body. They loved him!
Charlie Hodge said it best,A bright vibrant life walked across the stage and became a friend forever."A kind generous soul, who loved God." " And we are all just a little bit better for knowing him." WOW! Now that is a eulogy I would love to have said about me. I'm crying just reading that. Elvis touches everyone's life.
2 me Elvis & The Memphis Mafia will & should live on because he was truely a great singer he was a CHRISTAN & loved the Lord so much , he had a heart of gold I. ran be gave cars houses what ever away he never forgot where he came from & what it was lime to be poor. I love Elvis in death just as in life i thank God for UTUBE his friends loved him & I believe would have took a bullet for him. RIP Elvis & The Memphis Mafia his Daddy & Mama he loved so. much.Elvis Was A King I love the whole family & team. Gone way 2 soon love PAULA FRENCH.
I don't understand how after his death these men could tear him down, tell every detail about his private life and problems, then turn around and praise him almost in the same breath. Charlie Hodge was the only one of this bunch who spoke decently consistently about him. It was his life and his business. Had he wanted it shared he would have written a book himself. Speaks volumes to trusting people. Most of us would not share many unsavory details with the world. Why was all this ok when it came to this man? It was none of our business and because of all these people "speaking their truth" in their many books, interviews etc..He is labeled and ridiculed to this day. Everyone is shocked and appalled that he was human and had issues? Who cares? Greatest entertainer to ever walk on a stage.
If that's your takeaway on the guys, you just don't get it... I am a huge fan, and am grateful to have the interviews on tape, otherwise it would all be lost... None of it diminishes my admiration for Elvis... These guys had an incredibly tough job description at times... Don't be so quick to judge...
@@lonmcq7317 Don't tell me what I "don't get". It would have been lost? Most of the garbage should have been. Plenty of stories could have been told not "He needed diapers", He had a bad temper, this is all the drugs he did, these are all the women he was with. If they felt that strongly against the lifestyle they should have taken their moral asses out of the picture. They didn't complain when they were reaping the benefits and living the high life. We all have issues, grow old, lose our faculties etc..Hopefully people in our lives we trust will let it die with us.
Billy and Jo Smith answer question's about their life with Elvis. They still to this day, alway's live Elvis. I watch them on utube and they have 2 son's who help them with their answer's they know the truth about Elvis and love him dearly. You can tell the Smith family love's Elvis and keep's the storie's real. Thank you Smith family I enjoy listening to you. It's obvious how blessed they were to have been with Elvis from start to finish and they really still are because Elvis will alway's live on in their heart's. A really good family. They are down to earth and remind me of my family. Laughter, fun and memorie's they share will live on for many year's to come.
Forgot to say. Thank You for posting. Makes me want to cry tho. Its losing a huge part of History and a close family member or friend! A hole that will always be there. 😪😪😪
This was so very nice, Thanks! I will always love and miss Elvis! He was an awesome Human Being, and unequivocally the best entertainer that ever lived!!! ♥️♥️♥️
James Burton was Elvis lead guitarist is still alive.. He celebrated his 80th birthday in Memphis during Elvis week in August this year. He & Elvis had a close relationship. Elvis asked James to help get the band together to start his live concerts after his movie career ended. He was with Elvis from that time until Elvis death.. I think his pianist Larry is still alive and Jerry Schillings is too.
Beautifully done video......There will never be another like him but he lives on in spirit, with those who love him. As some have said, " I came for the music but I stayed for the man."
Lovely tribute to all of these guys who put a ring arouned Elvis grew up with him and had a fantastic time yes there were ups and downs but they lived ther lives to to full Rip and I bet they are up there having a great time
Yes i would have too , we are talking about a bunch of men Elvis trusted and felt comfortable with , and Jerry Shilling knew him in i think 56/57 , elvis would have included him in the group too , and Cuz billy smith too he loved Elvis you can see it
Jordanaires: Bass - Ray Walker Stamps: Tenor - Bill Baize Bass - Richard Sterban Bass - Larry Strickland TCB Band: Lead Guitar - James Burton Drums - Ronnie Tutt Piano - Glen D Hardin, Ronnie Milsap
Yes thanks Deb for this video but I agree where is Jerry? He still lives in the house Elvis bought for him bc he never had a home, Elvis wanted to be the one to give it to him!!! Elvis’s ❤️ heart was so big it should’ve exploded!!!! Jus because he was so caring about people!!🙏✝️🎼💛🧡💚💕🎹🎺🎻💟🪕🎧😇🎷💗💙🎼🧡❤️✝️
I do believe that Larry Geller is STILL ALIVE at 80 years old. He was with Elvis for many years. In 1964 Elvis had him move to Graceland to be his Spiritual teacher and even washed and styled his hair. ALSO, Jerry Schilling too and he still works on ElvisTV shows etc...
Here's Sonny's opinion on Larry. SJ - What was the consensus on Larry Geller, Elvis' so-called spiritual advisor?SW - Asshole.He's told so much crap over the years, it's amazing. He was around for a little while in the sixties, he left in '66 or so. Then he came back in the last few months. But the way he tells it, he was there for years. And that spiritual advisor label is crap. Elvis was always searching for spirituality, but he found most of it himself from a lot of different people and places.
It is so easy to love Jerry Schilling and Larry Geller after listening to them talk I can see why Elvis instinctively knew he had good friends in them. I believe that all three were very lucky to interconnect a different points and I feel this love from afar a kindred spirit never having net any of these people but somehow I feel close to them
Geller was a hairdresser. He was hired to do Elvis’ hair. Elvis gave him the money to purchase certain books, to bring to him from California. Elvis boight him a very nice house in Palm Springs, I believe. Good pay!!
@Eye. stupid Benny Spy who are the MM , wat is a MM?......... i'll tell you , a very close group of people very close t elvis and whom he considered family so jerry shilling & larry geller WERE part of the MM
Elvis was searching for God I hoped he found him. We are all lost and search for our faith but I don't really think that Elvis found his peace until the day he die, He is home. Now he is with his mafia friends once again and his Grandson and Daughter Lisa, All the people that was important to him his mom his dad his daughter his grandson his grandmother his twin brother and all the Mephis Mafia Members that gave Elvis friendship, They are all singing now with God. RiP To ALL of you and may God look kindly on you.
What about Richard Davies. He was a member of Memphis Mafia for a while. Dave Hebler wasn't mentioned either. He along with Sonny and Red West betrayed Elvis by writing the book Elvis What Happened. I think they retaliated for being fired. I always thought Charlie Hodge was Elvis"s best friend. I met him when he came to England in 1984. Lovely guy.
Thankyou so sad many have passed on, except Larry Geller, I think Joe Curshaw elvis'orchwstra conducted also passed away, sorry orchestra conductor 🙄, very sad miss elvis so much he certainly left his mark in this world, he was a very very special man😥😞a beautifully person, 🇬🇧🤗❤️👌
They all were good friends but there’s no mention of Jerry Schilling? Lamar , Charlie, Marty were closest to Elvis! They all were his friends from 50’s til he passed away and left us so young @ 42 yrs. old, he’s with his beloved mama snd he’s truly loved 🥰 once again!!! God Bless them all! I’m so glad Billy is STILL WITH US GOD BLESS YOU BILLY AND YOUR FAMILY
To me the real friends that are still alive and never said malicious things about Elvis , Were Larry Gallager, his hair dresser and spiritual advisor he also wrote books about Elvis . Also Jerry Schilling, And his piano player Glen Harding , ( still playing w ep) ). and the other good friends that have passed away are : the More recent George Klein, and before Charlie Hodge his best friend since the army days , Joe Esposito since the army days and his road manager too .m. And , still alive are : Jerry Schilling who Elvis met when Jerry was just 12 yrs old and Elvis needed an extra football player and asked him to play . Later Jerry was invited to join the Mafia .Jerry wrote wrote a book about Elvis and was probably the only one that Lisa Marie read and liked and gave her blessing for it was truly from a friend who grew up admiring Elvis . Charlie Hodge was always his confidente RIP AND HE ALWAYS HAD A ROOM IN any of ELVIS HOUSES 🏡 HE WAS LIKE HIS BROTHER !
Billy and Larry are still with us and I Thank our lucky stars there still here and sharing there stories.ooh how it saddens me to see everyone gone on.but my lord tells me there together again having a Ball. 🌈🌹👩🏼
So sad .thank u 4 posting this. Elvis the greatest entertainer of all. Never 4 gotten. It hurt him when red wrote the book. That should have never happen. May they all rest in peace. Jerry is alive still Billy Smith is Elvis cousin and Larry is alive I think so. Charlie was a great friend to Elvis. Til the end.
Thanks for sharing this ❤MY HUSBAND AND I 😢 cried the day Elvis passed away we had tickets to see him once but we couldn't make it we have aways wish we could have made it to see him!!I gave my friend the tickets and she said Elvis was so awesome !!
I spoke with Joe's first cousin last year (who is a semi-retired salesman) and he shared many memories of Joe during the Elvis years. My house is covered in EP art & collectibles. But, it took ME mentioning they both had the Esposito last name before he opened up.
I don't think Elvis really knew how much these guys cared for Elvis and how much Elvis cared for them 🤔 They all went through the good times and the hardships..... God bless all of the loved ones they all left behind, very sad 😔 😔😔💔
Joe Esposito was dodgy. He sued Elvis for a failed racquet ball venture and Elvis sacked him @ one point . only for him to turn up next day as if all was forgiven and all was! I seen much behind the scenes footage where hes front and centre, often manhandling Elvis and well.. very shifty. But Elvis was the kind of guy not to see the bad in people.
@@edlynward4359 please 🥺❣️🥺 Don't say that!! We don't know what's in a person's heart 🤣❤️😍. Besides, scientists are now saying that when the body 👅👁️ dies, the brain lives on for 10 more minutes. I believe it, and think 🤔 that's where we all have one last chance to accept Jesus. Just my opinion. God bless you, dear. 🌹 🍀 🌞 🌚
@@lilacflower9032 Just an absolute stupid thing to say. Mr. Klein was probably Elvis best Friend! New him from the 8th grade on and he was NOT a leech.
Hi from England A great look back at the Memphis Mafia - a great band of brothers who stuck together through thick and thin with Elvis But you look back and such different times and different people Are there MEN like that today that would have all those experiences 😙😙😙😙👍👍❤️❤️❤️👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻❤️❤️❤️💓💓💓
you forgot to add Jerry Shilling at the end of this video along with billy smith , i see you uploaded this video in 2019 and both are still alive as of 2020 jerry shilling & billy smith are the only 2 original of the Memphis mafia members left .
The music used in this video is just beautiful. I wonder the name &/or artist & where I could possibly find it. Would love to listen this it non-stop without interruptions.
That’s all well and good but that’s not our mission in life, our mission in life is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, he died for our sins and rose again the third day
They betrayed him in the worst way writing that book and trashed him for thirty years after that. Elvis is in heaven. They and Priscilla are all going to the other place.
They are up in there 80s God has taken care of them and they are very spiritual Elivs will let us know the right if he wants everyone to know where he is I have idea but I told years ago not to say where they had there cars fixed I was one of the lucky ones to sit in Elvis car the owner of the shop told me not to say anything it would cause people to flock his business so I didn't and now I hold this today he not there fixing his cars so Elvis I never met you nor been to Graceland ,I will very soon now I'm 25 years younger than you so serve God and eat right God will honor more of your life .Good him honor there father and mother that they live long on the Earth and you have God Bless you
That is so sad all them guys they stuck by Elvis I think Elvis love each and every one of them look at what all he's done for them and all they done for him,,, who knows they're all up there in heaven,,, singing playing around and having a good time with Elvis,, may they all rest in peace
I am sorry about the guys passing, hopefully all of them have been reunited with Elvis and others that have left us , Prayers for all the loved ones left behind, Dr Nick his long time friend n Doctor , it wasn’t fair what he went through “he was a kind n good person and a good friend to Elvis , he did the best he could do , the medical field today should be as caring ! RIP all you Guys 🙏🙏🕺🕺🌷🌷💙💙
In the early 2000s, Marty teamed up with AOL. He would hold live chat rooms. You could also e-mail him. I wrote him a few times and he did e-mail back. I tried to stump him by asking, "What was Humes High Schools colors and mascot?" and he didn't know. Sooo, maybe the whole thing was a fraud.
She had saved his life few times before. Lamar fike himself said they all contemplated if Linda was still with him, he'd still be here he wouldn't of died.sbe would've gone in there in time checking on him
Elvis was weary with his life 1974, and 75. I wanted to see his show before he collapsed, So I went to Vegas. He couldn't stand nor walk himself. He sat on the chair to sing. After 3 days, he cancelled the rest of the schedule and was hospitalized. Then Linda left , practically he was left to die.
@@1019q Is that right? How in the world ppl around him let him sit on chair n perform on stage esp. his dad? Even 73 in Aloha concert he showed he was on drug. Vegas n Col Parker worked him to death. Vegas contract deal was very crappy. 2 performance for 7 days unheard of.
No, not any worse than the rest of them. You should read the book you’re referring to because it doesn’t reveal any shocking information that hasn’t been revealed in any of the other books written by those close to Elvis. It’s all information we already know by now.
Лучшие уходят первыми ! Элвис всего себя отдавал родным, близким ,друзьям, любимой публике , работе ,музыке.Они все говорят,что его любили ? Наверно любили , но не уберегли, не спасли! Единственный , кто мне нравится , это Билли Смит , который предлагал помощь Элвису .
Everybody have to die someday....we all going to be out of here one day! You can't worry about death! It will come for us all! All the original are gone accept for Jerry' Schillings and Billy Smith... We are born to die! But yet in Christ live again!