Two weeks before his death, a sobbing Elvis Presley 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. She was in Germany where Elvis was stationed in the Army. Aunt Lavelle and Uncle Tracy looked like their Daddy . The medical examiners official cause of death was hypertensive heart disease associated with atherosclerotic heart disease. Elvis weighed at least 250 pounds in his final days, and one Baptist Memorial Hospital staffer told Rolling Stone, he had the arteries of an 80-year-old man. So a massive heart attack isnt exactly far-fetched. Speaking on his son Danny Smith's. 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." It wasnt like he constantly had to have somebody, but he preferred it.. Jo said how people often point out the star spending days in his bedroom, but she dispelled one rumour surrounding this. Without Elvis, its not home. Through all the dubious decisions, the excessive percentage skimmed from Elvis' earnings even the revelations of the Colonel's identity as an undocumented immigrant Elvis had stayed loyal to his business partner. Also in attendance was Memphis Mafia member Jerry Schilling, who appears at lots of Elvis events with Priscilla. What Elvis serious about changing things? Elvis swore that he would never touch another one after that, and I don't guess he ever did. 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. 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. They have a little trouble finding material at first, since Elvis has already sung most of the great American songbook, but they widen the scope to include more recent standards. . "Endorphins, that's where it's at," he says. Billy: Being married was not easy at times. Elvis Cousin Billy Smith and his Wife Jo talking about August 16, 1977. Small alligator found at Pennsylvania wastewater treatment plant. It is Elvis' last live performance. Moreover, it fulfills our commitment to. . 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. Elvis was always my hero. Is he still alive? What if Elvis Presley had never left the building? 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. Billy: My father Travis was the first Gate Guard that Elvis had. Billy Smith - EverybodyWiki Bios & Wiki l, like most the guys, was in many of his movies as an extra. Is Elvis Alive? - YouTube Elvis Presley talking with newmen in Memphis, Tennessee after his discharge from the Army, 1960 / Everett Collection. But network execs foolishly state that Elvis was "outside the demographic of our target viewers and irrelevant to the rock audience we super-serve." One family member of Elvis Presley has revealed just how much work and how far the King of Rock and Roll went to make sure he looked his best. 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. A lot of times Billy was with him, just Billy and Elvis. He loved Elvis, and Elvis provided for him. Countless fans from around the globe have spent hours digging into the deep lore of the Kings life. 6. 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. 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. Commenting on Billy being portrayed in the biopic, Jo said: It didnt upset you. But, why bust his bubble. He had to get in the studio and cut a few singles while he was home. 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. . In 1988, a woman named Louise Welling from nearby Vicksburg claimed she had seen Presley standing in line at the local Felpauschsupermarket. When he was sick, I usually stayed with him. Elvis Double Lay Dead at Graceland As We Saw the King Drive Off With At the same time, much of the lore of Presleys life has become family history. Is it true that your father also went to the penitentiary but that Elvis grand-father bailed Travis out & left Vernon in jail? "He thought it made him look better and that he needed it," Billy reveals. Elvis death: The King's pilot I thought Vernon Presley had died, Elvis Presley bodyguard says King'different'person in private, Elvis Presley ALIVE? Dee and Vernon Presley remained friends after their divorce, she said, and might have gotten back together someday if he had not died in 1979. Was it talked about within the family or was it a surprise for you when your cousin was suddenly on the radio? Billy Smith is not only Elvis first cousin but a former member of the singers inner Mafia circle. Billy Smith was just a kid but he knew that he was witnessing greatness. 285285 52 shares Share Billy with Elvis before leaving for Germany & the army in 1958. The video has been viewed more than 2 million times on YouTubefar more than the one where a clever Elvis fan debunks the whole thing by chatting with the actual Graceland employee, an affable gentleman named Bill Barmer. Theres a bearded guy behind her who looks a little like Elvis in Charro! This story came out, like I said it was supposed to be kind of a joke, but the English paper picked it up and they wrote it as a factual story. Its been almost 43 years since Elvis Presley died. Larry was his hair dresser. Setting the record straight, Billy added: So, heres the truth: Elvis died, August 16, 1977 one of the hardest days of my life. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express. Footage of the service shows pallbearers struggling to lift a 900-pound copper coffin. (1969) and cocks his head in a manner that conspiracy theorists swear is identical to Presleys onstage mannerisms. (EIN Note The full story about Elvis testing everyones honesty is in the M.M. He also added that when he looked at the windows, he felt Elvis Presleys presence. Danny later admitted that for his wife Teresa, he would return to Graceland one final time. 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 were family. [WILL]. However, many of the people who were close to him are still here. Elvis was more understanding, and he wanted someone with him too. He decided to prove to me that it would never happen again, and that's how the pledge came about. It was like my song it was telling me, 'Your time hasn't come yet, baby.'" But Elvis had all kinds of people working for him - black, white, Jews, Italians, Mexicans. EIN: When you first arrived in Memphis you lived in the same house as The Presleys in Washington Street. Unless it turns out Elvis is immortal. Although Elvis Presley was beloved by many, he surrounded himself with a small inner circle known as the Memphis Mafia. Now naturally Elvis wasnt going to change his looks, so the guy had to look like him. He had the intelligence of a twelve year old but he was a kind man. New Elvis projects will include Hound dog treats for dogs and a Netflix original series in 2021. He never betrayed me again. Elvis was still alive on June 18, 1990 without a doubt. 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. That broke the ice, and after that, they talked for hours. Billy: Yes, Elvis was a handsome man. Supposedly some of his characteristics were due to Cherokee Indian being in your side of the family. Billy's son, Danny, runs the Youtube channel Memphis Mafia Kid, where the family post . The concert, at Wembley Stadium in May, is a triumph, though marred by hundreds of emergency medical calls to treat elderly fans who had fainted from sheer disbelief that their dream had come true. Elvis Presley left behind more than a massive collection of hits. Billy: Elvis enjoyed the Nashville "Guitar Man" sessions with Jerry Reed. Elvis girlfriend Linda hits back at Baz Luhrmann biopic 'I know the 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. Traditionally, you cant have a funeral without a death, and what killed the King is another major source of controversy. Elvis was very intelligent. Wellings daughter later spied him scarfing Whoppers at Burger King. The festival takes place in Tupelo, Mississippi where both Elvis and Billy were born. He was rocking a white jumpsuit, naturally, and purchasing an electrical fuse. Here, in Part One, Billy talks about his family, the Memphis Mafia, the Movie Years, meeting The Beatles and much much more. How this got started was we actually talked one night of Elvis changing places. Aside from his blood relatives, his Memphis Mafia gang of male friends had free rein of the estate and home. However, the upstairs where he died of a heart attack in 1977 was his private space and access was by invite only. He went to great lengths to make sure that it was kept a jet black color at all times, making his blue eyes stand out. 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. He said that he stood there gawking at Elvis Presley while he played and sang in Studio B. Dedicated Presley fans are well aware of the controversy that has surrounded Presley's death from day one. 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? Copyright 2023 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Elvis' cover of Paul Revere & the Raiders' 1966 hit Kicks ("You don't need kicks/To help you face the world each day") becomes his first top-five hit since 1972's Burning Love. Billy Smith was Elvis' first cousin, the son of Gladys Presley's oldest brother. "Elvis is alive theories are as varied as they are plentiful, and theyve been circulating since just after his death. 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. Elvis Presley presence felt upstairs at Graceland by cousin Some closer than others, but still we stood up for each other no matter what. Its like a light switch turned off. "I kind of think he would probably still be dyeing his hair but you know he might have left a little grey in it," the King's cousin noted. I lived on Circle G ranch at that time, when we were not in Los Angeles. She adored him. Elvis Presley's Cousin Remembers Shocking Sight From - Outsider We were in the den when Elvis came out and said to us, "I fell and hit my head. 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. However, the staff revives him, and when he regains consciousness, he tells his buddies: "I had the strangest dream .". Do you remember Elvis singing to you or the family before he became famous? Elvis Presley's cousin Billy Smith reveals singer's most intimate From this day forward, our minds, our souls, Afterwards we both cried like crazy and I'll remember it as long as I live. EIN: I believe that you brought Jerry Schilling into the group. 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. 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. Uncle Vernon and Daddy looked for jobs and they even wore out the soles of their shoes. I mean, Im just sounding off, but it just irritates me because nobodys better than anybody else. 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. After learning that his mother, Gladys, had died, she said she decided to call Elvis and express her sympathy. That was in 1960. 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. And you who don't can never tell. he says, displaying a nasty-looking welt. Thirty-six years ago Friday, owing to pressures we can hardly imagine and self-indulgences we can imagine only too well, Elvis Presley died. But stranger things have happened. I wont ever do it because wed have to, too. "The Memphis Mafia" was with Elvis almost twenty-four hours a day, at least one or two of them. 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. That seems very strange. ", "History has him as this good old country boy, Elvis is about as country as Bono! Some, however, feel he slightly undermines the message of Kicks with a vigorous midsong demonstration of karate moves. 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. And hed had a face lift to look like Elvis. For we who know, know it well, Sometimes Tracy would stay down there at the gate with Daddy and pretend he was a gate guard. Billy: Yes, l remember when he was discouraged about the quality of his movies. 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. As detailed in the documentary Elvis Presley: The Last 24 Hours, Elvis' final day on earth included a nighttime trip to the dentist in search of prescription drugs, a 4 a.m. game of racquetball with his cousin Billy Smith, and an impromptu piano performance of classics including "Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain." He was last seen alive going into . I talked to Elvis about hiring Jerry. He is surrounded by his . But, he has a sharp memory. Click here for Part Two: Billy talks about Elvis' Girls, Elvis' Final Years, his relationship with EPE, 'Elvis By The Presleys' and more. That is disrespectful to Elvis., Lisa Marie Presleys Late Son Benjamin Keough Officially Laid To Rest At Graceland With Elvis, 75-Year-Old Don McLean Opens Up About Dating A 27-Year-Old. 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. He seems to remember his importance more than some of the other guys remember it. The cousin of Elvis Presley, Billy Smith, reveals the truth behind Elvis's facelifts, dyed hair, webbed toes, and more through the years. (by Alfred Wertheimer). He loved the power of the big voices. 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 . . He would watch The Student Prince which was set in Heidelberg, over and over again. People said that he uses cosmetic surgery to improve his appearance and look his best. When Presley was rushed to the hospital, Billy Smith and his wife were the first to know. . Billy Smith was Elvis first cousin, the son of Gladys Presleys oldest brother. He said he would see me on his next tour. There, he shares some of those stories with the public. I usually went to the hospital and stayed with him there. EIN: Do you remember any build up to Elvis recording his first record or practising with Scotty Moore & Bill Black? He did a lot for me and my family in the early years and for my family in the later years. 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. In an interview with Larry King, Elviss good buddy Joe Esposito suggested it was another Presley associate, Al Strada, in the photo. We traveled with him, lived with him.. When asked to check his ego at the door, Elvis pauses, nods his head and says, "Yep, it's still there!" 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. I had so much respect for him. Skip to primary navigation; . When Elvis bought Graceland Billys family also moved in and his father Travis worked for Elvis as Chief guard. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. He lived in a separate home with his family on the grounds of Graceland. 'He was so wonderful. 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: Elvis was southern, and so he joked sometimes. Billy Smith said that he knew there was something special about Elvis Presley the first time he watched the King work in the studio. He did lookout for Elvis' interest and his own. 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. She also mentioned names of others who weren't in attendance like major girlfriends of Elvis' after he divorced Priscilla Presley. Gene died a few years ago. However, he was just a boy at the time. EIN: Perhaps Elvis' most famous abode before becoming famous was the Lauderdale Courts apartment. Elvis Presley always loved to have his close friends around him. Junior was at my house in my bed when he died. And was late for work many times. 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. Express. The first time that I saw it I was nervous, I was gripping the chair going like, Oh God, whats going to happen? EIN: Once Elvis bought Graceland you also moved in with your family? Billy: I don't remember anything about him practicing with Johnny Burnett or his brother. Real reason Elvis found it so hard to be alone unveiled by close At least, he always told me did. Believers of this bizarre theory contend that a 55-year-old Presley turned up in the background of the scene where Catherine OHaras character is stuck at the Scranton airport while trying to get home to her son. Tel: We use cookies and similar technologies to personalize contents and ads, to provide social media features and to analyze our traffic. And, in the early days, they lived with him. Without him, its a home but its not the same. Elvis Presley's Cousin Says He Has 'No Contact' With - Outsider Elviss death certificate will remain under wraps until 2027, 50 years after his passing. Billy Smith was Elvis' first cousin, the son of Gladys Presley's oldest brother. $109,000 lottery jackpot won on Kentucky couple's 44th anniversary. The last surviving original Memphis Mafia member Billy Smith, Elvis' cousin, had some of the closest access to The King. But what if, by some amazing stroke of fortune, he had lived? When Elvis bought Graceland Billy's family also moved in and his father Travis worked for Elvis as Chief guard. And the people that they asked that were not close to him, they took up family and friends slots. From an outsiders view she often appears sad, as she has that particular look in the photos after Elvis became famous. . Billy: Elvis loved to read. At this point, I tell you this with all my heart and its the only reason that Im here: Its been done right.. Our hearts will intertwine.". October 2007: The Songbook series having run its course, Davis taps another of his favorite gimmicks: the duets album. 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. When Elvis bought Graceland Billy's family also moved in and his father . 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 . He had his expressions and he even had a bad eye like Elam. He was talking about how scattered the family was. 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]. RCA suggests working with Jim Steinman of Meat Loaf and Bonnie Tyler fame. . 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.