| Ever wanted to ask a question about Elvis to someone who was there through the good times and the bad? Now is your chance! Love him or hate him, Marty Lacker is about as open as they come, so send your questions to us at eer-desk@ntlworld.com with the subject header as "ASK MARTY" and we will pass them on to him. As soon as we get a reply from Marty, both your question and the answer will be added here. Please note that Marty will answer your questions as and when he can...also, contrary to some beliefs, Marty, as part of the Memphis Mafia is doing this "ASK MARTY" page for us without charge in order to help us, help YOU get more than just the usual EPE approved answers to your questions about Elvis. |
David Hylton Asks Marty: [17.04.10]
Hey Marty thanks for asking all the fans questions.
I have a question, on the Elvis album Elvis Country, after every song they used the bit of the song "I was born 10,000 years ago so" who's idea was this?
How did it come about? And what was Elvis's opinion about this?
Marty Says:
Hi David,
Although Elvis like the song that line came from, I doubt that was his idea as unfortunately he really didn't get involved in what went on an album.
The time that album was released escapes me at the moment and if it was released after he died then I imagine it was Ernst Jorgenson but don't hold me to
that because in truth, I have no idea who did that.........Sorry I couldn't help you.
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Lee Asks Marty: [16.04.10]
Hi Marty. Thanks for your time.
I recently saw an interview clip of you, Lamar, Billy and the West boys and it was the first time I'd heard about Vernon getting abusive with Gladys. Would you
mind elaborating on that a bit...was it frequent? How did it impact Elvis?
Also you talked of how Elvis and Gladys had verbal arguments at the dinner table. Do you remember what types of things they would fight about and is it
something you can share with us? Thanks Marty.
Marty Says:
Hi Lee,
The story of abuse was told to us by Billy, as a family member he had first hand knowledge of it. Elvis found out and told his father if he laid another hand on
his mother he'd kill him.
Elvis and his mother used to argue about totally insignificant things, nothing in particular. They were both alike and Elvis got his temper from his mother.
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Candy Asks Marty: [16.04.10]
This topic site I visit has a guy saying that elvis was drugged against his will,,,given injections to control him,,,lots of to please the colonel and his pockets,,,and
that elvis was being 'held hostage' so to speak.
These events were supposed to have been witnessed as Elvis was dragged down hallways on tour in hotels and kept 'under control'..
If that were true,,,wouldn't some of you guys have heard about it,,even if you weren't still in his employ?
Do you think that could remotely be true? If it is, then several people should have been charged in his death/life.
Marty Says:
Oh Candy,
Why do you pay attention to these idiots and their nonsense?
Elvis' right hand forced the pills in his mouth without anyone else's help.
This guy is basically saying that Elvis was weak and stupid, tell him to kiss my ass. Elvis was strong willed and nobody made him do anything he didn't want to.
The Colonel was many things bad to Elvis but that was not one of them. If he had attempted to do that we would have, at the least, beat his old ass or much
worse than that.
Ask the guy who said that what he's smoking. Tell him he needs to lay off of that shit, it's poisoning his mind.
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Steve Vaughan Asks Marty: [14.04.10]
Hi Marty
I must thank you for taking time to answer fans questions. One thing Ive always been curious about was Elvis's favorite shows. Ive heard he was into star trek
and monty python but theres others im curious about. Hot shows at the time like all in the family, saturday night live, jeffersons...all those hot sitcoms, what did
he like? and was he more inclined to watch drama or comedy?
Was there a show he never wanted to miss? did he ever comment on saturday night live or any other shows? any info on his tv habits would be great.
Two more questions and ill leave you alone,lol... First, besides the obvious karate, do you have any idea what kind of work he did to get in shape for his 68
special, including his diet? His voice was unusually dry and a bit strained during that show and my guess is this may have been due to diet pills. The reason I
say that is that I used to take them too in my workout regimen and being a singer, I noticed how much they dry you out.
Finally, what routines did elvis go through for vocal care? from 1970 onwards his voice grew to staggering proportions. I had heard that maybe Charlie Hodge
gave him some vocal lessons for clarity.
ANY info you could give me on this would be INVALUABLE. I never see this info anywhere else.
Thank you soooo much for your time my friend!
Marty Says:
Hello Steve,
He used to watch the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson every night until Carson called him fat and forty. He also watched the Sunday morning black gospel
shows in Memphis. he also watched Hawaii 5 0. Saturday night live was not on when he was alive. I don't know where you heard he was star struck because he
wasn't. Many old-time stars visited him backstage in Vegas and they didn't seem to phase him.
Elvis kept in shape when he had to by playing racquetball and he also had an excercycle in his dressing room upstairs at Graceland. Much of his weight loss
before going on tour was from his extreme diet which was really not good for him because when he wasn't working he would binge on food and then go on a
crash diet just before he went on tour.
He really didn't have any voice regimen, he just had a great deal of natural talent and his voice strengthened as he aged. A number of thing Charlie claimed
were like the things George Klein claims--Bullshit! the only thing I heard Charlie say to him was to sing from his diaphragm,which Elvis already knew.
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Nachman Fahrner Jerusalem, Israel Asks Marty: [14.04.10]
Dear Mr. Lacker,
I listened to the interview you gave on EER, and read through the "Ask Marty" thread on the website. I want to thank you for giving of your time and answers. I
would like especially to thank you for your constant reminding us that Elvis was human, and not some sort of a G-d. To me this is an important lesson that
applies to life in general, not just to Elvis. I think feelings of being let down (in my own experience) result from me putting my own expectations onto someone
(or myself) and the consequent disappointment when the reality does not confirm the imagination.
I would also like to thank all the people who ask questions, because their questions bring all your insights onto the pages of this website.
Here are few questions of my own:
I was positively surprised to read that Elvis wanted the American studio band to perform with him. I think that would have been awesome! Did they ever get
together with Elvis (maybe for jams etc) after the recordings at the studio?
Could it be that Elvis never returned to American studios out of fear that he would no longer be able to duplicate his previous achievements there? Sometimes
people achieve something big in their lives only to shy away later from similar challenges...
Did Elvis ever have serious recording projects or ideas during his movie years? Did he try to maintain a music career separate from the movie/soundtrack
career?
It also seems that you guys had a lot of fun during the movie years; is there a specific point in time when Elvis got fed up with the movies?
Would you call Elvis a loyal person? Did he treat you as friends and equals (sometimes it seems to me he did, and sometimes it seems he didn't)?
Thank you for your time,
Marty Says:
Hi Nachman,
When people put someone on a pedestal and look at them as if they were G-d it's not fair to that person and it was not fair to Elvis. It amuses us when fans
badmouth us for writing or saying some of the things we have in books or interviews because they have built up in their minds so much about him that there's
no way he could live up to that. What we write and say is in no way intended to hurt or denigrate him but to give the world a historical and completely truthful
history of an important cultural icon. Elvis did much to change the world when he started and future generations should know about someone like that.
However, guess what, some of them forget, he went to the bathroom like the rest of us, he put his pants on the same way, he could be vulgar as hell and then
turn around and be as pious as you can be. He had human faults and frailties just like every human being that ever walked the face of the earth. This
nonsense that some have formed churches in his name since he died is blasphemous and he would hate it and tell them so. In other words Elvis was
contradictory just like all of us, depending on his mood. He was human. No person has ever been G-d or any closer to Him than the next person and it's time
the world understood that.
Yes, Elvis,Chips and I were in the control room at American when Elvis asked Chips if they would be his band in Vegas. That surprised me as did Chips'
answer when he said yes. But Colonel Parker killed that by offering Chips and the band very little money which would have meant a great financial loss for
them from what they made in the studio. Parker didn't like the idea that he lost control with that session since Elvis made the decision without telling him and
then ran the session with Chips without any input from him or his assistant Tom Diskin. Parker was a control freak much to the disadvantage to Elvis. He
wanted to make sure Elvis never worked with Chips again.
Elvis did not go back to American because of no other reason that Parker and Felton Jarvis told him a lie about Chips trying to steal 'In The Ghetto' and
unfortunately Elvis believed them no matter the truth of it that I told him after he told me that. Elvis hated a thief of any kind and he would cut someone loose
real quick if they stole from him. He had to trust people around him.
Elvis wanted to cut could songs during the movie years but unfortunately Parker and Hill & Range never sent him demos of good ones during those years. He
got fed up with the movies in the mid 60's because he saw they were basically all the same. he used to complain a lot about wearing a different uniform in
everyone,kissing a dog,(sometimes it was his co-star) ,having a fight with a guy and then singing to him in the next scene. They were nothing but musical
travelogues. They stilted his acting ability and development.
Elvis was basically a good friend but sometimes he got sideways with someone because of something they did or the mood he was in. He used to vent his
frustrations and anger on some of the guys at times but he had genuine brotherhood feelings for most of the original guys as opposed to the new and
younger guys that came later. Depending on his mood also, he would sometimes remind you he was also your boss. He could be cruel in his words to a couple
of guys at times but still love them. However, as much as I and others loved him like a brother, the way I think, if someone signs your check you should do what
they ask you to do unless they really get to ask too much that is not right.
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Bill Rauhuff Asks Marty: [09.04.10]
Hope you are well and enjoy answering the fan questions as we sure appreciate it. Another unusual question. What happened to Dee Stanley as she was a
piece of work. I remember seeing her on Geraldo talking down Elvis about sleeping with his Mom as a grown men and homosexuality. If there is a worse villian
in the Elvis story besides Priscilla and The Colonel it would have to be her. I have read that The Colonel and Vernon were arguing about selling souveniers at
his funeral and Vernon said absolutely no. This is supposedly in a book by Jerry Weintraub. Have you heard anything about that one? I wish you the best and
If you ever speak to Red, Sonny, Lamar and Billy Smith tell them hello as well. Any chance of you guys doing any Q&A sessions anytime soon?
Marty Says:
Hi Bill,
Dee Stanley is a piece of s##t and I have no use for the rest of her family either. Last I heard she lives in Nashville with some old guy and she and him were
behind the Billy Miller scam. She's not worth talking about except to say that Elvis hated her. In a disgusting way, she is worse than Priscilla. By the way, to
address what some think, Priscilla had no say so at that funeral. She was his ex-wife and no longer part of the family for that past 5 years.
As for Jerry Weintraub and what he says about The Colonel and Vernon, from what Lamar and Billy tell me, Jerry wasn't at the funeral. Jerry has always been
a nice guy and he of course has become a very successful movie producer.
However, in his true Carnival,"Get The Money And Run" style, Parker did have his carny hucksters outside Graceland selling pictures of Elvis and all kinds of
things.
He had no regard for Elvis' memory or his family. So much for Elvis being like a son to him......BULLSHIT!
And no, we have no future Q&A planned.
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Candy Asks Marty: [09.04.10]
Hello Dear Friend,
I have a question,,,isn't Al Strada dead? I had heard he is.
Marty, I heard sonny say that parker is a very maligned man.....I don't think so, but I would be interested to now what you think.
There are so many things that could have been done to save Elvis, but I guess like dave said,,it is hard to save someone from themselves.
Sometimes I have to confess, I am angered by Elvis taking his life for granted when he was given so much, and putting himself into such a "common' category.
He just threw everything away.
Would you mind commenting on the mounds of pills that were being delivered, without prescriptions to graceland and is it true that a lot of the pills were for the
entourage because vernon didn't want to pay for meds for them?
How much was really normal in Elvis' life,,,by that I mean, if he spent so much time locked away upstairs..HOW could he possibly have had so much control of
the pills......like actually receiving them,...picking them up...because obviously there had to be 'go-fers' to pick them up...
SO many enablers.....
I have also read all these things he was supposed to have done....with women,,etc...being mean, throwing fits...and I know you say you all shielded them from
the press...but he did a lot out in public,,,
If a lot of these "women" were actually involved with him,,WHY didn't they come forth and give interviews... WHY wasn't it "out there" more?
What did he do when he wasn't on tour? I know he couldn't go out in public like others, but seems like memphians would have let him alone...
Marty Says:
Hello Candy,
I have heard that Al died and also that he is still alive. I have no knowledge of what is true. I have not seen or talked with Al in over 30 years. I was never that
close to him.
As for the pills, they all had prescriptions, he had nothing from the streets. As to what pills they were and how many that has been discussed ad nauseum and
I'm not gonna get into that again. It was kept from the press because it was none of the press or public's business and we respected Elvis' wishes on that.
That's not to say that some of us didn't talk to him about it but it was his decision not to stop taking them. the enablers were the Doctor's who wrote the
prescriptions. Not so much Dr. Nick who tried to control it but the other doctors were more at fault.
Elvis was a human being, he was not G-d and had the same problems as we all did and he handled them just like many other humans do. He was far from
perfect and some fans expected and still do expect too much from him.
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Dale Asks Marty: [09.04.10]
Hope all is well with you. I read your book when it came out, so maybe this question was answered. Was the divorce from Priscilla the thing that Elvis never
recovered from or a combination of factors? I hope all of you guys are ok, because I have never understood the unkind remarks regarding the men helping
Elvis. Some of the most honest statements are for example: Sonny and Dave Hebler press conference and you, Lamar, Billy, and Red from All the King's Men.
Marty Says:
Hi Dale
The thing that effected Elvis about Priscilla and his divorce is that fact that she left him for another man and especially for someone like Mike Stone. He
couldn't understand it.
In '72 I went out to LA on music business and went up to the Monovale House. Elvis hear me on the intercom from the gate and when drove up and parked my
car he was waiting outside for me. After we hugged he said,"Marty Priscilla is leaving me." I said,"I'm sorry to hear that but you know why she's doing it, don't
you?" He asked why. I then said,"Because she wants you to change, she wants you to be the way she wants you to be. Are you willing to do that to keep her."
He answered,"Hell No, I'm not changing for her or anyone else." I then said,"Well then no matter how much it hurts, you're gonna have to live with it." He
looked at me and said,"You're right." We went into the house and said nothing more about it.
Fans, because they're uninformed and really didn't know him or any of us, build things in their minds that many times is not there. Was he sorry they broke
up, in a way yes because he didn't want his family to break up or at least his idea of a family and he really didn't want to be separated from Lisa Marie. I can
assure you had they remained married he still would have played around on her with other women until he got older and got it out of his system but this
nonsense that he died because he was pining away for her, is just that,nonsense. It didn't take him very long to hook up with another girl---Linda Thompson.
As for those fans who have badmouthed us, it's what I said above, they're uninformed about us and our relationship with Elvis and again, they just built shit up
in their minds not knowing us because they never spent any time with Elvis and us. As I've said before, if he didn't have us or a group around him that he
could be himself with and trust, he probably would have died much earlier.
It doesn't really bother us unless they get really nasty and then we give them a taste of their own medicine and then some. We, at least most of us original
guys,treat everyone with respect and that's all we ask in return. If it's not returned then we either ignore them or they get more than what they give. Some of
them think I'm rude and arrogant but I'm not. I'm just a tell it like it is person and if they get nasty, I don't hold back.
Thanks for the nice comments about the guys.
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Candy Asks Marty: [09.04.10]
The new reviews and opinions about this new book by Alanna Nash are just disturbing and Lamar is taking some heat.
Would you agree that Elvis dated many really young girls? If so...why didn't any of these girls' parents come forth and say something?
Also...she says Priscilla's parents encouraged her to date Elvis three to four times a week in germany.....The order in which the paper, the GLOBE states
things is out of order....I am wondering if Priscilla will speak up....she should this time..UNLESS these things have some validity.
What do you say? Are these things true?
I agree that some things should have been kept private, but also with much talent that is given , much is expected...as Tiger woods was reprimanded with at
the masters....
Elvis let us down Marty,,,,we still love him,,but he let himself and all of us down.
Marty Says:
Hello Candy,
Elvis did date some young girls but not very often. As for Priscilla I have no idea whether she'll speak up, we have nothing to do with her. About what is said
about her parents in Germany is true as far as I was told as I was not there. However they did let her come to the US from Germany to be with Elvis, what does
that tell you?
I'm also sure that Lamar couldn't care less about what those people are saying about him. They don't know him.
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Christopher Asks Marty: [06.04.10]
Hi Mr. Lacker;
I hope you are doing fine and had a pleasant Passover.
Recently, both on this web site and from other news services like the London Telegraph, it has been revealed that the marketing rights to Elvis' image will be
sold to a division of a banking conglomerate.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/media/7536091/Elvis-Presley-rights-to-be-sold.html
To you, Elvis was first and foremost your personal friend. And to us fans, he is often regarded as the same but perhaps in a slightly different way. As such,
even though Elvis' music and likeness in films etc. has generated billions and billions of dollars in profits, we still think of him as MAIN STREET America, not
Wall Street. We still think of him as "one of us" who just happened to hit the big time yet stayed true to his humble roots always remembering those less
fortunate. Elvis to hs fans was down home, Mom and apple pie...I can't make it any clearer.
It's hard for me then to understand why those in charge of is image and likeness are looking to sell Elvis' marketing rights to Wall Street. And I don't mean that
as an insult to Wall Street. It's just that Elvis and formal Wall Street entanglements seem like an odd mixture to me. Am I wrong about this?
What are your thoughts on this latest piece of news? And why do you think those in charge are dealing with Elvis' legacy in a way that was substantially
"different" to what Elvis was in real life?
Finally, why do these news sources keep referring to Priscilla as Elvis' widow when she and Elvis were divorced for almost 4 years before Elvis left us?
Thank-you for your time and insights.
Marty Says:
Hi Christopher,
You have to face reality, in essence Robert Sillerman has no personal attachment to Elvis......He is a businessman first and foremost and in business to make
the most money he can with his properties. That's what Elvis is to him, a property,one of many he has the rights to.
Priscilla and Lisa on the other hand, should care about Elvis' memory and legacy but unfortunately they repeatedly show that it's all about the money to them
too.
With the economy the way it is, Sillerman's company took a bit of a hit in the past couple of years and he's doing that deal,if it goes through, to ensure he will
have the capital to keep it going and possible do the future projects he wants to do. He has also talked about taking the company private so this deal may be
to have a money partner in the private company. Time will tell what he has up his sleeve. In essence, it's all about the money to all concerned, including his
daughter and EX-WIFE. It is my opinion that the deal will bring no change in the handling of the Elvis legacy by him, unless he gets plenty of money to improve
it.
The reason the media refers to her as Elvis' widow is because when he died she went on a little campaign trying to make people think she is. If you'll
notice,she never corrects them, whether in an interview or in print.
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The reason the media refers to her as Elvis' widow is because when he died she went on a little campaign trying to make people think she is.....If you'll notice,
she never corrects them, whether in an interview or in print.
Bill Rauhuff Asks Marty: [02.04.10]
This is a unusual question but in the last few years there is books and articles about Elvis jewish roots and he was jewish. Just curious because I believe in the
book you wrote with Lamar and Billy Smith I beleive you said you were unaware of that. Also do you believe there has been to many releases from RCA or
Sony BMG and do you believe they have oversaturaed the market with to much material instead of releasing fewer recordings and making it somewhat of an
event when they do like with The Beatles.
Marty Says:
Hello Bill,
While Elvis was alive that rumor that Elvis had some Jewish ancestry was never mentioned. It is supposedly in the Tackett part of the family which was on his
mother's side. Seeing that his father and just about all his family were anti-semitic, I doubt if it was true they'd admit it and I know they wouldn't like it. Billy
Smith vehemently denies that rumor and that was Billy's father's side of the family in that he was Mrs. Presley's brother. As an aside, I wish I had known about
that rumor when Elvis was alive, not only would I have asked him about it, I would have had some fun teasing him since I am Jewish.
I firmly believe that RCA released too many records each year when Elvis was alive and since he died, Parker was responsible for that. What I also am not in
favor of, them releasing all those sub par alternate takes since he died. They do it to milk the fans and make an extra buck. I know that Elvis would not want
that to happen as he was a stickler for the take released be the best he did during the session. He sometimes would do many takes before he'd give his final
approval.
Naturally neither Priscilla nor Lisa Marie give a damn about Elvis' image or legacy, as long as they get more money from those sub par alternate takes.
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Mark Bowden Asks Marty: [26.03.10]
Hi Marty,
I learned last week that Sylvia Shemwell passed away. Are there any recollections of Sylvia that you wish to share?
Also, would you please comment on why, in particular, Elvis chose the Sweet Inspirations to add "soul" to his live presentations?
Did he consider any other female groups? As always, appreciate your insights.
Marty Says:
Hello Mark,
Sylvia was great and one of my favorites in the Sweets because she was funny and feisty. In a kidding session, she could give as good as she got. That's
why Elvis was so playful with her on stage. It's sad she passed away and may she Rest In Peace.
Having become one of the leaders of the Memphis Music Industry and doing sessions at American Studios,including with Rita Coolidge who I discovered, I
became aware of the Sweet Inspirations because Chips Moman had produced a great R&B Gospel tinged record on them called, "Sweet Inspiration". I have
always known that Elvis basically had that also inside of him, that type of music, it was one of his favorites genres of music and what he grew up on. We
listened to many black gospel records in the early years.
After he got through with his American sessions and he began to concentrate on his upcoming Vegas opening, we were at the Memphian Theater one night
and he was talking about possibly getting The Blossoms to back him, I suggested The Sweets for two reasons. One was everybody and his brother was using
The Blossoms including Tom Jones. It was my opinion that Elvis should be different because he was the superstar. Secondly, it was my opinion that The
Sweets would be perfect for him, so I suggested them to him. The next day I brought a copy of their record for him to listen to and he loved what he heard and
the rest is history.
It is also my opinion that he should have had just them as his backup and left the male gospel groups like the Imperials and JD and the Stamps off his show.
Although I liked The Imperials more than JD.
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Candy Asks Marty: [26.03.10]
HI MARTY,
I know you are busy ,,and I write you a lot,but you must address this.
You , Billy, and the guys who really KNOW should write a book...NOT so much the constant Elvis tell-all,,but an expose` about joe, schilling and the other guys
who DID take advantage of Elvis while he was alive.
Joe has been on television and tours, cruises and whatever else for YEARS saying he was ELVIS' best friend, best man at the wedding,,(and we all know you
were too), spouting all these things about ELvis, putting out there what HE wants said..and WE know that Elvis was going to fire him after that tour.
I have never liked him. HE is a fake and I just wish you guys would come out and do a book on all those things that happened. I think Elvis would have
appreciated the public knowing that in spite of his drug problems, he was indeed being taken advantage of several levels.
Marty...I have to ask you though,,WHY did he keep on throwing money around to these people? HE wasn't a dumb man,,why did he do that?
I thank you SO much for every letter you answer to, and someday,,,haah...i know you think I'm persistent,,,I want to meet you guys....
Love ya Marty,
Candy
Marty Says:
Hi Candy,
I have said all I was going to say about Joe in our book, Revelations Of The Memphis Mafia. That included some of what you just wrote.
Joe is what he is. I guess he needs to tell people he was Elvis' Best Friend and the sole Best Man for his own ego and to make himself feel good because he
really hasn't accomplished anything in his life. He makes his living off of his association with Elvis. He has always thought he was special in the group,
problem is, contrary to what he thought/thinks, Elvis didn't think so and neither did the guys with the exception of one or two who still do.
The rest of us were just happy to be close to Elvis and we didn't/don't find it necessary to exaggerate our relationship.
If anyone was Elvis' Best Friend it would be Billy Smith, especially in the last year or so of Elvis' life. He was like a younger brother. I'm happy to say that Billy
and his family have always been close to me and mine. His wife Jo and mine,Patsy,are still best friends.
If the fans know Joe is the way he is then he's only fooling himself.
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Bill Rauhuff Asks Marty: [24.02.10]
I have a couple of questions. Besides Joe Esposito and Jerry Schilling and George Klein is everybody else pretty much out of the loop with Priscilla?
Also were you at American when Alex Chilton and The Box Tops recorded there? Also were you friends with BJ Thomas as well.
What is your take on Elvis turning down A Star Is Born with Striesand? The movie was not that great in my opinion. She tried to overshadow a decent
performance by Kris Krostofferson and the music was just so so.
Marty Says:
Hi Bill,
I wasn't working at American when Alex and the Box tops cut there but I was going over there and spent about an hour or two at the old Ardent Studios before
the new one was built, on the day Dan Penn was producing another record with him and the group.
The three you named are Priscilla's main supporters, although I could use another adjective but I'll leave it alone for now. From what I understand she and
Geller get along. Red, Sonny, Lamar Billy and I have absolutely nothing to do with her. We are not and never were,even when Elvis was alive, her ass kissers.
Yes, BJ and I are old friends and I was at few of his American sessions.
As for A Star Is Born, it is my firm belief that Parker didn't want Elvis to do the movie because he really didn't want to expose Elvis to Streisand's knowledge of
the business. He didn't want her schooling Elvis on how showbiz business and finances are done by other big stars who handled their money right and who
made good decisions as to their career and how they assert themselves to be sure that they made the right and good movies in their career. Parker was that
way with everything, he really didn't like Elvis spending any length of time with people like that. That's a big reason he also didn't want Elvis to record with
Chips Moman again because he saw how Elvis did the American session without any input from Parker. It's why he also made sure that Chips and the band
did not become Elvis' band in his Vegas opening even though Elvis had asked them to be and Chips said OK.
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Candy Asks Marty: [24.03.10]
Marty
DO you think red, sonny and daves' book was highly exaggerated dunleavy?
Why do you think Lisa is so in the background of EPE....my opinion is that priscilla overshadows her,,but then again she may like it that way.
I also think Lisa is VERY damaged because of all of it.
What is your take on shelia ryan ?
There is one particular lady on the topix board I post to that doesn't believe anything "negative" about Elvis.
She says he didn't have time to sleep with thousands of women...and I know this is delicate,,but was he taking meds for sexual dysfunction?
Sorry,,,but I would like to hear it from you.
Marty Says:
Hello Candy,
Red,Sonny and Dave told the 100% truth about everything they said and wrote. As for Dunleavy, the fact that he was a sleazy writer was not known by them
nor did they pick him to write the book, The Star Publications who they made their deal with assigned Dunleavy to write it. Dunleavy put the negative slant to
the book because that's what he does for a living. they also did not see what he wrote until it was finished and printed, had they been able to I'm sure they
would have told him to take his nonsense out.
One thing is a fact, Neither Red, Sonny or Dave have anything to apologize for in that book of what they said and wrote and all this fan and George Klein
bullshit about Red apologizing or should apologize, is pure bulklshit. Fans throw up the line of the song,"Walk A Mile In My Shoes", when some talk about
Elvis, well the same applies to Red,Sonny and Dave. The fans have no idea what went on all those years. they think they do but it's all just their uninformed
opinions and the false rumors they've heard.
Tell that poster, Elvis was basically a good person but he was far from perfect. He wasn't G-d or Jesus, he was just another human being like the rest of us.
Elvis had no reason to use sexual disfunction drugs. The only woman I heard any complaints in that area from is Priscilla but he didn't mess with her, not
because he couldn't perform, he just didn't want to with her anymore she wasn't appealing to him anymore. We never heard any complaints from any other
woman he was with.
Sheila Ryan is a good person and she's a lot of fun. Then and now.
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Dale Asks Marty: [18.03.10]
Hi Marty, First I want to say I agree with you about impersonators.
I was by accident one of the first people to be doing an Elvis impersonation and winning some contests back in 1975, but I haven't performed since I got out of
the military back in 79. That ultimate Elvis contest they have during Elvis Week sickens me.
My question is....did Elvis ever go to Deer Lake, Pa. to see Muhammad Ali? I went up there in 73, because I heard Elvis was suppose to be there.
I slept in my car and I did me Ali one on one, but I unfortunately I did not see.
Marty Says:
Hi Dale,
Good move on your part. If you have talent, make it on your own as Dale. You'd be better off in the long run.
There was only one Elvis and there'll never be another one. There's really no real future as an impersonator. As for the IMP Contest at Graceland, that
should give you a clue how much Priscilla and Lisa care about Elvis' memory.
As far as I know Elvis never went to Deer Lake. I know I didn't go with him and neither he nor any of the guys mentioned it and I'm sure they would as Elvis did
talk about meeting Ali in Vegas.
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Candy Asks Marty: [17.03.10]
HI MARTY,
WELL...THIS ONE IS GOING TO REALLY GET YOU GOING.
Larry Geller has said he colored Elvis hair with MASCARA for the funeral.....Personally I think he is NUTCASE!
BUT...some people on the topix board I post on,,even say he did and that Lisa kept running her hands through Elvis' hair..and got mascara on her hands !!!!!!
It astonishing me that people are SO delusional.
Marty Says:
Hello Candy,
I wasn't there as we were living in California at the time and I was scheduled to go with a ticket waiting for me at the L.A. airport, but my wife was very sick and I
decided at the last minute not to leave her as she asked me not to.
In a way I'm glad I didn't go because I really didn't want the last time I was to see him,he would be in a casket as that picture would remain in my memory as
long as I lived. I'd rather remember him as I do,him smiling.
I was told Larry fixed his hair in the casket and I have no idea if that's true about the mascara or about Lisa.
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Arun Jassi Asks Marty: [06.03.10]
Hello Marty,
In one of my previous qestions, you said that Elvis only wrote one song in his career.which was in the early days with Johnny Horton.Can you remember the
title of this song and did Horton actually record it?
Thank you.
Marty Says:
Hi Arun
Unfortunately the name escapes me. It was in the very early stages of Elvis' career when he did the Louisiana Hayride while I was in the army in Germany.
That information came from Lamar Fike who was with him at the time.
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Carol Hunter Asks Marty: [27.02.10]
Hi Marty: There have been a few questions for you recently from people wanting to know if Elvis had met certain celebrities. Was there a celebrity that Elvis
was really "star struck" over and particularly thrilled to meet?
Marty Says:
Hi Carol, Yes, me......Just kidding.
To the best of my recollection, I can't think of any celebrity that Elvis ever asked to meet or say he wanted to. He took them all in stride, I know there were a
few of them that he admired as far as their work, their acting went and he always treated everyone of them he met with respect. There were a couple who
pissed him off with their remarks and he handled that deftly by saying he had a meeting to go to and told them it was nice meeting them. He also handled it by
giving us a signal if they were in his dressing room on the movie set or in Vegas and we would then interrupt them to remind Elvis that we had that
appointment that we were supposed to be at in fifteen minutes.
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Bill Rauhuff Asks Marty: [27.02.10]
I always loved the song Kentucky Rain and have read you and Lamar had something to do with him recording it at American in Jan 1969. I often wonder why
he did not sing it live very much. As far as I know he dropped Kentucky Rain, In the Ghetto and Don't Cry Daddy after the February 1970 Las Vegas
engagement. Was it he did not like the songs or simple got bored with them. They were some of his biggest hits at the time. It seems puzzleing to me that he
would do some of the middle of the road ballads instead of the hits.
I also in hindsight wish he would have only done three or four of the fifties songs at a concert rather than put them in short medley form. I know he was bored
with some of them but I wish he would have rotated three to four different ones night after night and do them in there entirety. I guess we all are guilty of
analyzing every little thing he did now that he is gone when really I am just happy I was born and grew up during his time and was able to see him in concert
six times and warts and all, he was and is the greatest all around singer bar none. I guess we all want perfection from Elvis and unfortunately that probably
had a lot to do with his death at only 42. I can not imagine the pressure he had to be under to be put on such a god like pedestal.
Marty Says:
Hi Bill,
I was solely responsible for him recording at American Studios but Lamar was solely responsible for him recording Kentucky Rain.
Lamar, who at the time was running the Hill & Range Music Publishing office in Nashville, had recruited Eddie Rabbit as one of his songwriters and Lamar
talked Eddie into letting Elvis have the song because Eddie was going to cut it himself as he was also a recording artist. The night before we returned to
American after Elvis laid off for a few days because of a throat problem,I explained to Elvis why he wasn't getting good songs after he asked why. He wasn't
because of Parker and Freddy Bienstock, he then said he wanted to hear every good song he could and he would decide whether to cut it or not whether they
had the publishing on it or not. So that was when Lamar presented and pushed the song to Elvis and when we went back into American Elvis cut it.
Elvis mainly did the songs on stage he was comfortable with and for some reason and I think it's because of someone told him,he thought people wouldn't
want to hear those old Sun songs. He was wrong but it was his show.
I think it was Parker who told him to stay more current. In my opinion he never should have listened to anything Parker said about what he should do as far as
performing was concerned. Whereas Elvis had a natural instinct what people would like in that regard,the only talent Parker had was conning people.
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Jared Asks Marty: [27.02.10]
Hey Mr. Lacker,
It's Jared again. I was thinking about this question all day. You were around Elvis for years and he was known for pulling extremely funny pranks on friends.
What are some of the funniest things you ever saw him do?
Marty Says:
Hey Jared,
There were a number of things he did as a prank but the one that really sticks out in my mind, which also revealed what some were really there for, is one
Christmas Eve at Graceland. Every Christmas Eve we used to exchange gifts with Elvis, usually I was in charge of thinking of something unique to have made
or buy ready made to give to Elvis from all the guys, for which we all chipped in money for because it was usually expensive. Elvis would always give bonuses
at the previous payday but also would usually give us an extra check that night.
This one Christmas Eve we were all gathered downstairs and Elvis comes down and he has a bunch of envelopes in his hands. We were all there including
George Klein who didn't work for Elvis but usually showed up when he knew Elvis would probably be giving us something. Elvis hands the envelopes to all the
guys and while he gives George is George is mouthing off his phony bullshit,"Oh Yeah Elvis! You shouldn't have, you always give us enough." He's got this
big smile on his face while he's saying that and starting to open the envelope because he hand dreams of probably a $1,000 check. He opens his envelope
and pulls out a 50 cent coupon for McDonald's, his face dropped, the smile disappeared and he was shocked with a dejected look on his face. One of the
guy's said,"What's the matter George, disappointed?"
The rest of us were opening our envelopes and laughing at Elvis' joke while George had a different reaction. Elvis just laughed his ass off. He then reached
inside his coat pocket and came out with the real envelopes and handed them out, they had a check inside.
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Stephen Griffiths Asks Marty: [25.02.10]
Graceland released a partial list of Elvis's personal record collection a few years ago and the press article stated that Dionne Warwick was among his
favourite female singers. Do you know if Elvis and Dionne Warwick ever met?
Marty Says:
Hi Stephen,
Not that I know of but I brought him some records by Dionne who also recorded at American Studios, she and I became longtime friends and still are today.
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Jared Asks Marty: [25.02.10]
I looked through replies and did not see this question and I would love to know the answer. Did Elvis ever get to meet or talk to John Wayne?
I know that Elvis was the origional choice for some major roles in a few of John's movies. If Marty can give this answer, please send me an email to let me know.
Marty Says:
Hi Jared,
Yes, he met John Wayne one day when we were walking down a street at Paramount Studios and Wayne and Western Movie Director named Liles (His first
name escapes me) and we stopped and said hello for a few minutes. I do not know if they met again before or after.
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Phil from Bootle Asks Marty: [18.02.10]
Hi Marty,
My Favourite Elvis song of all time is 'Burning Love', I heard somewhere that Elvis found this song quite hard to do, as it was hard to control his breathing
when singing it, yet He has sang this song numerous times on stage, if He found it difficult surely he wouldn't do it. I was just wondering is there any truth to
that? or was it just a myth.
In 'I got a feelin' in my body' (certain takes), he seems to struggle with his breathing when he is singing it, what songs did Elvis like doing?, struggle with?,
didn't like doing? and what were His favourite and least favourite?
A few years ago there was series on television called either Elvis-the Mini Series or Elvis-the Early Years(I can't really remember), charting Elvis' early years
with Scotty and Bill before He became really big, which at the time I thought was quite good, do you remember it and if so what did you think of it?
Thank you very much for your time, it is really appreciated.
Marty Says:
Phil,
Elvis really didn't like Burning Love and to be honest neither did I. I thought it was a weak attempt to sound like the songs in his very early career.
He had a mental block about it so much that in the beginning he would forget the lyrics. Then believe or not, he used a lyric sheet on stage for a short time. It
got so bad that he had James "Hamburger James" Caughley lay in a prompters box under the stage with a cue card with the lyrics on it. The audience could
not see James but Elvis could when he looked down. The song did fairly well on the charts because in the 70's he really had no other good up-tempo songs
to compare to so that stood out.
As for his breathing at times that was caused by a number of things physically. He had breathing problems at times caused by his pill taking. He also,for a few
years and a malformed rib according to a doctor in the 60's and at times we used to have oxygen tanks in his room in case it got bad.
He loved singing ballads because he liked to show off his voice but he would have liked a good fast song if he had been presented with one.
I probably saw the show you speak of but in my opinion the right one about Elvis has not been made yet.
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Paul Asks Marty: [18.02.10]
I am curious-do you think the lives of people like yourself, Lamar, Sonny, George etc...would stand up to the kind of intense scrutiny that Elvis' has had with
his?
If all the "truth" came out on anyone of you-I mean the secrets that we all have and try to keep that way-how do you think you would fair?
In other words Elvis has been researched and written about ad nauseum before and after his death, anyone can say or imply anything they want about him
good or bad (and the bad seems to be what sells) how would you guys like your lives placed under such harsh glaring lights?
I think thats a fair question-if you browse Elvis forums and fan sites you will find his every "human frailty" discussed over and over.......
Marty Says:
Hi Paul,
That's a good question but I'm not sure of your intent in asking it.
First of all, the guys you named have always been very much aware that now and always Elvis will be the star in the group,not us. The way I see it is that
probably nobody is interested in our history and also in my opinion, because Elvis is the biggest historical cultural icon in the world that his history has to be a
complete and 100% truthful one. More than anyone else, more than his father,his EX wife or his daughter, we who were the closest to him daily for almost 20
years can tell that complete truth. I'm satisfied that most of us original guys have told the truth 100%, although there are a couple who have not in their
exaggerations about themselves.
That history has to be told mainly for the generations to come so that one,his memory will not fade away and two because his life and how it transpired from
beginning to end, can be one hell of a good lesson for everyone in living theirs. One thing that should be learned by that is that the grass is not always
greener on the other side. As an example there's no way with all that he had achieved and had should he have died so young and unhappy.
I have often said and written that he was 95% good and 5% what some would consider bad. The bad coming from his human faults and frailties just like we all
have. I wish I could say the same for myself as I'm sure we all would.
As for someone writing about me and exposing something in my past, have at it. I'm like everyone else including Elvis,imperfect. There are things in my life
I'm not proud of but I'm proud and happy to say that there are very few and no crimes are involved.
There's something else some of you need to realize, in most of the original MM's case, that was about 20 years of our life too, we earned the right to write
about it. If you've read my two books you will find that I reveal things about myself as well as Elvis but like I said, I doubt anyone's really interested but they are
about Elvis.
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William Rauhuff Asks Marty: [18.02.10]
I read after Elvis died that the Colonel was going to manage Rick Nelson but never heard much else about it. Did you ever hear anything about it?
I see all of the singers and movie stars saying how they were close to Elvis and so forth. Did Elvis really have much to do with any of them other than being
friendly and hospitable to them when he saw them.
I saw Elvis in Atlanta in 1975 and he wore the two piece suits for that tour. I really liked them on him and thought he should leave the jumpsuits behind at about
age 40 what is your take on the jumpsuits. It seem to me they looked great at first but after about 1974 or 1975 maybe wear something different. I believe and
this is just my opinion Elvis was a creature of habit and every great thing he started doing such as the movies and the jumpsuits and even the orchestra were
good ideas but after 4-5 years move on to something different to prevent boredom.
I would have loved to seen him tour in the 70s with just a rhythm band and maybe The Sweet Inspirations dressed like he did in 68 special not the leather but
something comfortable or maybe the plain jumpsuits from 1969. Thanks for all you do and again you are a CLASS ACT
Marty Says:
Hi William,
Compliments will get you everywhere. (Just kidding).
You've basically arrived at the correct opinion about what you write. I heard Parker was approached by Ricky Nelson through his then manager whose name
was Fitzgerald and he was a friend of Parker's. I think he wanted to be more like a partnership between the two managers. Parker might have just ended up
advising him.
I really didn't keep up with him because like when Elvis was alive we didn't have a mutual admiration society. he didn't like some of the things I talked with Elvis
about his recording career and the songs he recorded. Plus I never trusted him nor told him anything he tried to find out about Elvis daily personal life.
As for the jumpsuits,other than the first couple of years because they were different,I disliked them. Now after his death and all the clown that impersonate him
wear them, they have turned him into a cartoon because the media plays on them and ridicules them which rubs off on Elvis' memory.
Yes, he was a creature of habit because sometimes he got too comfortable with what he was doing without considering the effect it had on his career. Too
much and too long of one thing soon becomes boring and not interesting.
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Candy Asks Marty: [18.02.10]
Hi Marty...well guess who? Ha
I have two things today.....
First, I know Elvis knew about GOD and I feel he was a christian. I know he was searching for something to hold on to...but didn't his belief system make him
realize what was happening?
Also,,,I am assuming from what I have read that he was one of those men that wanted to be "free" in a sense.. He wanted what HE wanted at his convenience ,
and could be very cruel when it didn't suit his needs.
I knew a guy like that once,,,they want you to want them, then when you do they act as though you have "bothered" them. That is a very cruel thing to do and
as much as I admired elvis as a person, I find that part of his personality very selfish.
Thanks Marty
Marty Says:
Candy,
The best way I can answer that is that in a number of things as overly generous as Elvis could be he was also selfish at times. Yes, he wanted what he wanted
whenever he wanted it and sometimes he didn't consider who it hurt or inconvenienced.
But then again,many of us are that way at times. He wasn't all that bad though.
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BACK TO PAGE 10
Hey Marty thanks for asking all the fans questions.
I have a question, on the Elvis album Elvis Country, after every song they used the bit of the song "I was born 10,000 years ago so" who's idea was this?
How did it come about? And what was Elvis's opinion about this?
Marty Says:
Hi David,
Although Elvis like the song that line came from, I doubt that was his idea as unfortunately he really didn't get involved in what went on an album.
The time that album was released escapes me at the moment and if it was released after he died then I imagine it was Ernst Jorgenson but don't hold me to
that because in truth, I have no idea who did that.........Sorry I couldn't help you.
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Lee Asks Marty: [16.04.10]
Hi Marty. Thanks for your time.
I recently saw an interview clip of you, Lamar, Billy and the West boys and it was the first time I'd heard about Vernon getting abusive with Gladys. Would you
mind elaborating on that a bit...was it frequent? How did it impact Elvis?
Also you talked of how Elvis and Gladys had verbal arguments at the dinner table. Do you remember what types of things they would fight about and is it
something you can share with us? Thanks Marty.
Marty Says:
Hi Lee,
The story of abuse was told to us by Billy, as a family member he had first hand knowledge of it. Elvis found out and told his father if he laid another hand on
his mother he'd kill him.
Elvis and his mother used to argue about totally insignificant things, nothing in particular. They were both alike and Elvis got his temper from his mother.
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Candy Asks Marty: [16.04.10]
This topic site I visit has a guy saying that elvis was drugged against his will,,,given injections to control him,,,lots of to please the colonel and his pockets,,,and
that elvis was being 'held hostage' so to speak.
These events were supposed to have been witnessed as Elvis was dragged down hallways on tour in hotels and kept 'under control'..
If that were true,,,wouldn't some of you guys have heard about it,,even if you weren't still in his employ?
Do you think that could remotely be true? If it is, then several people should have been charged in his death/life.
Marty Says:
Oh Candy,
Why do you pay attention to these idiots and their nonsense?
Elvis' right hand forced the pills in his mouth without anyone else's help.
This guy is basically saying that Elvis was weak and stupid, tell him to kiss my ass. Elvis was strong willed and nobody made him do anything he didn't want to.
The Colonel was many things bad to Elvis but that was not one of them. If he had attempted to do that we would have, at the least, beat his old ass or much
worse than that.
Ask the guy who said that what he's smoking. Tell him he needs to lay off of that shit, it's poisoning his mind.
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Steve Vaughan Asks Marty: [14.04.10]
Hi Marty
I must thank you for taking time to answer fans questions. One thing Ive always been curious about was Elvis's favorite shows. Ive heard he was into star trek
and monty python but theres others im curious about. Hot shows at the time like all in the family, saturday night live, jeffersons...all those hot sitcoms, what did
he like? and was he more inclined to watch drama or comedy?
Was there a show he never wanted to miss? did he ever comment on saturday night live or any other shows? any info on his tv habits would be great.
Two more questions and ill leave you alone,lol... First, besides the obvious karate, do you have any idea what kind of work he did to get in shape for his 68
special, including his diet? His voice was unusually dry and a bit strained during that show and my guess is this may have been due to diet pills. The reason I
say that is that I used to take them too in my workout regimen and being a singer, I noticed how much they dry you out.
Finally, what routines did elvis go through for vocal care? from 1970 onwards his voice grew to staggering proportions. I had heard that maybe Charlie Hodge
gave him some vocal lessons for clarity.
ANY info you could give me on this would be INVALUABLE. I never see this info anywhere else.
Thank you soooo much for your time my friend!
Marty Says:
Hello Steve,
He used to watch the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson every night until Carson called him fat and forty. He also watched the Sunday morning black gospel
shows in Memphis. he also watched Hawaii 5 0. Saturday night live was not on when he was alive. I don't know where you heard he was star struck because he
wasn't. Many old-time stars visited him backstage in Vegas and they didn't seem to phase him.
Elvis kept in shape when he had to by playing racquetball and he also had an excercycle in his dressing room upstairs at Graceland. Much of his weight loss
before going on tour was from his extreme diet which was really not good for him because when he wasn't working he would binge on food and then go on a
crash diet just before he went on tour.
He really didn't have any voice regimen, he just had a great deal of natural talent and his voice strengthened as he aged. A number of thing Charlie claimed
were like the things George Klein claims--Bullshit! the only thing I heard Charlie say to him was to sing from his diaphragm,which Elvis already knew.
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Nachman Fahrner Jerusalem, Israel Asks Marty: [14.04.10]
Dear Mr. Lacker,
I listened to the interview you gave on EER, and read through the "Ask Marty" thread on the website. I want to thank you for giving of your time and answers. I
would like especially to thank you for your constant reminding us that Elvis was human, and not some sort of a G-d. To me this is an important lesson that
applies to life in general, not just to Elvis. I think feelings of being let down (in my own experience) result from me putting my own expectations onto someone
(or myself) and the consequent disappointment when the reality does not confirm the imagination.
I would also like to thank all the people who ask questions, because their questions bring all your insights onto the pages of this website.
Here are few questions of my own:
I was positively surprised to read that Elvis wanted the American studio band to perform with him. I think that would have been awesome! Did they ever get
together with Elvis (maybe for jams etc) after the recordings at the studio?
Could it be that Elvis never returned to American studios out of fear that he would no longer be able to duplicate his previous achievements there? Sometimes
people achieve something big in their lives only to shy away later from similar challenges...
Did Elvis ever have serious recording projects or ideas during his movie years? Did he try to maintain a music career separate from the movie/soundtrack
career?
It also seems that you guys had a lot of fun during the movie years; is there a specific point in time when Elvis got fed up with the movies?
Would you call Elvis a loyal person? Did he treat you as friends and equals (sometimes it seems to me he did, and sometimes it seems he didn't)?
Thank you for your time,
Marty Says:
Hi Nachman,
When people put someone on a pedestal and look at them as if they were G-d it's not fair to that person and it was not fair to Elvis. It amuses us when fans
badmouth us for writing or saying some of the things we have in books or interviews because they have built up in their minds so much about him that there's
no way he could live up to that. What we write and say is in no way intended to hurt or denigrate him but to give the world a historical and completely truthful
history of an important cultural icon. Elvis did much to change the world when he started and future generations should know about someone like that.
However, guess what, some of them forget, he went to the bathroom like the rest of us, he put his pants on the same way, he could be vulgar as hell and then
turn around and be as pious as you can be. He had human faults and frailties just like every human being that ever walked the face of the earth. This
nonsense that some have formed churches in his name since he died is blasphemous and he would hate it and tell them so. In other words Elvis was
contradictory just like all of us, depending on his mood. He was human. No person has ever been G-d or any closer to Him than the next person and it's time
the world understood that.
Yes, Elvis,Chips and I were in the control room at American when Elvis asked Chips if they would be his band in Vegas. That surprised me as did Chips'
answer when he said yes. But Colonel Parker killed that by offering Chips and the band very little money which would have meant a great financial loss for
them from what they made in the studio. Parker didn't like the idea that he lost control with that session since Elvis made the decision without telling him and
then ran the session with Chips without any input from him or his assistant Tom Diskin. Parker was a control freak much to the disadvantage to Elvis. He
wanted to make sure Elvis never worked with Chips again.
Elvis did not go back to American because of no other reason that Parker and Felton Jarvis told him a lie about Chips trying to steal 'In The Ghetto' and
unfortunately Elvis believed them no matter the truth of it that I told him after he told me that. Elvis hated a thief of any kind and he would cut someone loose
real quick if they stole from him. He had to trust people around him.
Elvis wanted to cut could songs during the movie years but unfortunately Parker and Hill & Range never sent him demos of good ones during those years. He
got fed up with the movies in the mid 60's because he saw they were basically all the same. he used to complain a lot about wearing a different uniform in
everyone,kissing a dog,(sometimes it was his co-star) ,having a fight with a guy and then singing to him in the next scene. They were nothing but musical
travelogues. They stilted his acting ability and development.
Elvis was basically a good friend but sometimes he got sideways with someone because of something they did or the mood he was in. He used to vent his
frustrations and anger on some of the guys at times but he had genuine brotherhood feelings for most of the original guys as opposed to the new and
younger guys that came later. Depending on his mood also, he would sometimes remind you he was also your boss. He could be cruel in his words to a couple
of guys at times but still love them. However, as much as I and others loved him like a brother, the way I think, if someone signs your check you should do what
they ask you to do unless they really get to ask too much that is not right.
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Bill Rauhuff Asks Marty: [09.04.10]
Hope you are well and enjoy answering the fan questions as we sure appreciate it. Another unusual question. What happened to Dee Stanley as she was a
piece of work. I remember seeing her on Geraldo talking down Elvis about sleeping with his Mom as a grown men and homosexuality. If there is a worse villian
in the Elvis story besides Priscilla and The Colonel it would have to be her. I have read that The Colonel and Vernon were arguing about selling souveniers at
his funeral and Vernon said absolutely no. This is supposedly in a book by Jerry Weintraub. Have you heard anything about that one? I wish you the best and
If you ever speak to Red, Sonny, Lamar and Billy Smith tell them hello as well. Any chance of you guys doing any Q&A sessions anytime soon?
Marty Says:
Hi Bill,
Dee Stanley is a piece of s##t and I have no use for the rest of her family either. Last I heard she lives in Nashville with some old guy and she and him were
behind the Billy Miller scam. She's not worth talking about except to say that Elvis hated her. In a disgusting way, she is worse than Priscilla. By the way, to
address what some think, Priscilla had no say so at that funeral. She was his ex-wife and no longer part of the family for that past 5 years.
As for Jerry Weintraub and what he says about The Colonel and Vernon, from what Lamar and Billy tell me, Jerry wasn't at the funeral. Jerry has always been
a nice guy and he of course has become a very successful movie producer.
However, in his true Carnival,"Get The Money And Run" style, Parker did have his carny hucksters outside Graceland selling pictures of Elvis and all kinds of
things.
He had no regard for Elvis' memory or his family. So much for Elvis being like a son to him......BULLSHIT!
And no, we have no future Q&A planned.
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Candy Asks Marty: [09.04.10]
Hello Dear Friend,
I have a question,,,isn't Al Strada dead? I had heard he is.
Marty, I heard sonny say that parker is a very maligned man.....I don't think so, but I would be interested to now what you think.
There are so many things that could have been done to save Elvis, but I guess like dave said,,it is hard to save someone from themselves.
Sometimes I have to confess, I am angered by Elvis taking his life for granted when he was given so much, and putting himself into such a "common' category.
He just threw everything away.
Would you mind commenting on the mounds of pills that were being delivered, without prescriptions to graceland and is it true that a lot of the pills were for the
entourage because vernon didn't want to pay for meds for them?
How much was really normal in Elvis' life,,,by that I mean, if he spent so much time locked away upstairs..HOW could he possibly have had so much control of
the pills......like actually receiving them,...picking them up...because obviously there had to be 'go-fers' to pick them up...
SO many enablers.....
I have also read all these things he was supposed to have done....with women,,etc...being mean, throwing fits...and I know you say you all shielded them from
the press...but he did a lot out in public,,,
If a lot of these "women" were actually involved with him,,WHY didn't they come forth and give interviews... WHY wasn't it "out there" more?
What did he do when he wasn't on tour? I know he couldn't go out in public like others, but seems like memphians would have let him alone...
Marty Says:
Hello Candy,
I have heard that Al died and also that he is still alive. I have no knowledge of what is true. I have not seen or talked with Al in over 30 years. I was never that
close to him.
As for the pills, they all had prescriptions, he had nothing from the streets. As to what pills they were and how many that has been discussed ad nauseum and
I'm not gonna get into that again. It was kept from the press because it was none of the press or public's business and we respected Elvis' wishes on that.
That's not to say that some of us didn't talk to him about it but it was his decision not to stop taking them. the enablers were the Doctor's who wrote the
prescriptions. Not so much Dr. Nick who tried to control it but the other doctors were more at fault.
Elvis was a human being, he was not G-d and had the same problems as we all did and he handled them just like many other humans do. He was far from
perfect and some fans expected and still do expect too much from him.
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Dale Asks Marty: [09.04.10]
Hope all is well with you. I read your book when it came out, so maybe this question was answered. Was the divorce from Priscilla the thing that Elvis never
recovered from or a combination of factors? I hope all of you guys are ok, because I have never understood the unkind remarks regarding the men helping
Elvis. Some of the most honest statements are for example: Sonny and Dave Hebler press conference and you, Lamar, Billy, and Red from All the King's Men.
Marty Says:
Hi Dale
The thing that effected Elvis about Priscilla and his divorce is that fact that she left him for another man and especially for someone like Mike Stone. He
couldn't understand it.
In '72 I went out to LA on music business and went up to the Monovale House. Elvis hear me on the intercom from the gate and when drove up and parked my
car he was waiting outside for me. After we hugged he said,"Marty Priscilla is leaving me." I said,"I'm sorry to hear that but you know why she's doing it, don't
you?" He asked why. I then said,"Because she wants you to change, she wants you to be the way she wants you to be. Are you willing to do that to keep her."
He answered,"Hell No, I'm not changing for her or anyone else." I then said,"Well then no matter how much it hurts, you're gonna have to live with it." He
looked at me and said,"You're right." We went into the house and said nothing more about it.
Fans, because they're uninformed and really didn't know him or any of us, build things in their minds that many times is not there. Was he sorry they broke
up, in a way yes because he didn't want his family to break up or at least his idea of a family and he really didn't want to be separated from Lisa Marie. I can
assure you had they remained married he still would have played around on her with other women until he got older and got it out of his system but this
nonsense that he died because he was pining away for her, is just that,nonsense. It didn't take him very long to hook up with another girl---Linda Thompson.
As for those fans who have badmouthed us, it's what I said above, they're uninformed about us and our relationship with Elvis and again, they just built shit up
in their minds not knowing us because they never spent any time with Elvis and us. As I've said before, if he didn't have us or a group around him that he
could be himself with and trust, he probably would have died much earlier.
It doesn't really bother us unless they get really nasty and then we give them a taste of their own medicine and then some. We, at least most of us original
guys,treat everyone with respect and that's all we ask in return. If it's not returned then we either ignore them or they get more than what they give. Some of
them think I'm rude and arrogant but I'm not. I'm just a tell it like it is person and if they get nasty, I don't hold back.
Thanks for the nice comments about the guys.
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Candy Asks Marty: [09.04.10]
The new reviews and opinions about this new book by Alanna Nash are just disturbing and Lamar is taking some heat.
Would you agree that Elvis dated many really young girls? If so...why didn't any of these girls' parents come forth and say something?
Also...she says Priscilla's parents encouraged her to date Elvis three to four times a week in germany.....The order in which the paper, the GLOBE states
things is out of order....I am wondering if Priscilla will speak up....she should this time..UNLESS these things have some validity.
What do you say? Are these things true?
I agree that some things should have been kept private, but also with much talent that is given , much is expected...as Tiger woods was reprimanded with at
the masters....
Elvis let us down Marty,,,,we still love him,,but he let himself and all of us down.
Marty Says:
Hello Candy,
Elvis did date some young girls but not very often. As for Priscilla I have no idea whether she'll speak up, we have nothing to do with her. About what is said
about her parents in Germany is true as far as I was told as I was not there. However they did let her come to the US from Germany to be with Elvis, what does
that tell you?
I'm also sure that Lamar couldn't care less about what those people are saying about him. They don't know him.
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Christopher Asks Marty: [06.04.10]
Hi Mr. Lacker;
I hope you are doing fine and had a pleasant Passover.
Recently, both on this web site and from other news services like the London Telegraph, it has been revealed that the marketing rights to Elvis' image will be
sold to a division of a banking conglomerate.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/media/7536091/Elvis-Presley-rights-to-be-sold.html
To you, Elvis was first and foremost your personal friend. And to us fans, he is often regarded as the same but perhaps in a slightly different way. As such,
even though Elvis' music and likeness in films etc. has generated billions and billions of dollars in profits, we still think of him as MAIN STREET America, not
Wall Street. We still think of him as "one of us" who just happened to hit the big time yet stayed true to his humble roots always remembering those less
fortunate. Elvis to hs fans was down home, Mom and apple pie...I can't make it any clearer.
It's hard for me then to understand why those in charge of is image and likeness are looking to sell Elvis' marketing rights to Wall Street. And I don't mean that
as an insult to Wall Street. It's just that Elvis and formal Wall Street entanglements seem like an odd mixture to me. Am I wrong about this?
What are your thoughts on this latest piece of news? And why do you think those in charge are dealing with Elvis' legacy in a way that was substantially
"different" to what Elvis was in real life?
Finally, why do these news sources keep referring to Priscilla as Elvis' widow when she and Elvis were divorced for almost 4 years before Elvis left us?
Thank-you for your time and insights.
Marty Says:
Hi Christopher,
You have to face reality, in essence Robert Sillerman has no personal attachment to Elvis......He is a businessman first and foremost and in business to make
the most money he can with his properties. That's what Elvis is to him, a property,one of many he has the rights to.
Priscilla and Lisa on the other hand, should care about Elvis' memory and legacy but unfortunately they repeatedly show that it's all about the money to them
too.
With the economy the way it is, Sillerman's company took a bit of a hit in the past couple of years and he's doing that deal,if it goes through, to ensure he will
have the capital to keep it going and possible do the future projects he wants to do. He has also talked about taking the company private so this deal may be
to have a money partner in the private company. Time will tell what he has up his sleeve. In essence, it's all about the money to all concerned, including his
daughter and EX-WIFE. It is my opinion that the deal will bring no change in the handling of the Elvis legacy by him, unless he gets plenty of money to improve
it.
The reason the media refers to her as Elvis' widow is because when he died she went on a little campaign trying to make people think she is. If you'll
notice,she never corrects them, whether in an interview or in print.
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The reason the media refers to her as Elvis' widow is because when he died she went on a little campaign trying to make people think she is.....If you'll notice,
she never corrects them, whether in an interview or in print.
Bill Rauhuff Asks Marty: [02.04.10]
This is a unusual question but in the last few years there is books and articles about Elvis jewish roots and he was jewish. Just curious because I believe in the
book you wrote with Lamar and Billy Smith I beleive you said you were unaware of that. Also do you believe there has been to many releases from RCA or
Sony BMG and do you believe they have oversaturaed the market with to much material instead of releasing fewer recordings and making it somewhat of an
event when they do like with The Beatles.
Marty Says:
Hello Bill,
While Elvis was alive that rumor that Elvis had some Jewish ancestry was never mentioned. It is supposedly in the Tackett part of the family which was on his
mother's side. Seeing that his father and just about all his family were anti-semitic, I doubt if it was true they'd admit it and I know they wouldn't like it. Billy
Smith vehemently denies that rumor and that was Billy's father's side of the family in that he was Mrs. Presley's brother. As an aside, I wish I had known about
that rumor when Elvis was alive, not only would I have asked him about it, I would have had some fun teasing him since I am Jewish.
I firmly believe that RCA released too many records each year when Elvis was alive and since he died, Parker was responsible for that. What I also am not in
favor of, them releasing all those sub par alternate takes since he died. They do it to milk the fans and make an extra buck. I know that Elvis would not want
that to happen as he was a stickler for the take released be the best he did during the session. He sometimes would do many takes before he'd give his final
approval.
Naturally neither Priscilla nor Lisa Marie give a damn about Elvis' image or legacy, as long as they get more money from those sub par alternate takes.
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Mark Bowden Asks Marty: [26.03.10]
Hi Marty,
I learned last week that Sylvia Shemwell passed away. Are there any recollections of Sylvia that you wish to share?
Also, would you please comment on why, in particular, Elvis chose the Sweet Inspirations to add "soul" to his live presentations?
Did he consider any other female groups? As always, appreciate your insights.
Marty Says:
Hello Mark,
Sylvia was great and one of my favorites in the Sweets because she was funny and feisty. In a kidding session, she could give as good as she got. That's
why Elvis was so playful with her on stage. It's sad she passed away and may she Rest In Peace.
Having become one of the leaders of the Memphis Music Industry and doing sessions at American Studios,including with Rita Coolidge who I discovered, I
became aware of the Sweet Inspirations because Chips Moman had produced a great R&B Gospel tinged record on them called, "Sweet Inspiration". I have
always known that Elvis basically had that also inside of him, that type of music, it was one of his favorites genres of music and what he grew up on. We
listened to many black gospel records in the early years.
After he got through with his American sessions and he began to concentrate on his upcoming Vegas opening, we were at the Memphian Theater one night
and he was talking about possibly getting The Blossoms to back him, I suggested The Sweets for two reasons. One was everybody and his brother was using
The Blossoms including Tom Jones. It was my opinion that Elvis should be different because he was the superstar. Secondly, it was my opinion that The
Sweets would be perfect for him, so I suggested them to him. The next day I brought a copy of their record for him to listen to and he loved what he heard and
the rest is history.
It is also my opinion that he should have had just them as his backup and left the male gospel groups like the Imperials and JD and the Stamps off his show.
Although I liked The Imperials more than JD.
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Candy Asks Marty: [26.03.10]
HI MARTY,
I know you are busy ,,and I write you a lot,but you must address this.
You , Billy, and the guys who really KNOW should write a book...NOT so much the constant Elvis tell-all,,but an expose` about joe, schilling and the other guys
who DID take advantage of Elvis while he was alive.
Joe has been on television and tours, cruises and whatever else for YEARS saying he was ELVIS' best friend, best man at the wedding,,(and we all know you
were too), spouting all these things about ELvis, putting out there what HE wants said..and WE know that Elvis was going to fire him after that tour.
I have never liked him. HE is a fake and I just wish you guys would come out and do a book on all those things that happened. I think Elvis would have
appreciated the public knowing that in spite of his drug problems, he was indeed being taken advantage of several levels.
Marty...I have to ask you though,,WHY did he keep on throwing money around to these people? HE wasn't a dumb man,,why did he do that?
I thank you SO much for every letter you answer to, and someday,,,haah...i know you think I'm persistent,,,I want to meet you guys....
Love ya Marty,
Candy
Marty Says:
Hi Candy,
I have said all I was going to say about Joe in our book, Revelations Of The Memphis Mafia. That included some of what you just wrote.
Joe is what he is. I guess he needs to tell people he was Elvis' Best Friend and the sole Best Man for his own ego and to make himself feel good because he
really hasn't accomplished anything in his life. He makes his living off of his association with Elvis. He has always thought he was special in the group,
problem is, contrary to what he thought/thinks, Elvis didn't think so and neither did the guys with the exception of one or two who still do.
The rest of us were just happy to be close to Elvis and we didn't/don't find it necessary to exaggerate our relationship.
If anyone was Elvis' Best Friend it would be Billy Smith, especially in the last year or so of Elvis' life. He was like a younger brother. I'm happy to say that Billy
and his family have always been close to me and mine. His wife Jo and mine,Patsy,are still best friends.
If the fans know Joe is the way he is then he's only fooling himself.
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Bill Rauhuff Asks Marty: [24.02.10]
I have a couple of questions. Besides Joe Esposito and Jerry Schilling and George Klein is everybody else pretty much out of the loop with Priscilla?
Also were you at American when Alex Chilton and The Box Tops recorded there? Also were you friends with BJ Thomas as well.
What is your take on Elvis turning down A Star Is Born with Striesand? The movie was not that great in my opinion. She tried to overshadow a decent
performance by Kris Krostofferson and the music was just so so.
Marty Says:
Hi Bill,
I wasn't working at American when Alex and the Box tops cut there but I was going over there and spent about an hour or two at the old Ardent Studios before
the new one was built, on the day Dan Penn was producing another record with him and the group.
The three you named are Priscilla's main supporters, although I could use another adjective but I'll leave it alone for now. From what I understand she and
Geller get along. Red, Sonny, Lamar Billy and I have absolutely nothing to do with her. We are not and never were,even when Elvis was alive, her ass kissers.
Yes, BJ and I are old friends and I was at few of his American sessions.
As for A Star Is Born, it is my firm belief that Parker didn't want Elvis to do the movie because he really didn't want to expose Elvis to Streisand's knowledge of
the business. He didn't want her schooling Elvis on how showbiz business and finances are done by other big stars who handled their money right and who
made good decisions as to their career and how they assert themselves to be sure that they made the right and good movies in their career. Parker was that
way with everything, he really didn't like Elvis spending any length of time with people like that. That's a big reason he also didn't want Elvis to record with
Chips Moman again because he saw how Elvis did the American session without any input from Parker. It's why he also made sure that Chips and the band
did not become Elvis' band in his Vegas opening even though Elvis had asked them to be and Chips said OK.
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Candy Asks Marty: [24.03.10]
Marty
DO you think red, sonny and daves' book was highly exaggerated dunleavy?
Why do you think Lisa is so in the background of EPE....my opinion is that priscilla overshadows her,,but then again she may like it that way.
I also think Lisa is VERY damaged because of all of it.
What is your take on shelia ryan ?
There is one particular lady on the topix board I post to that doesn't believe anything "negative" about Elvis.
She says he didn't have time to sleep with thousands of women...and I know this is delicate,,but was he taking meds for sexual dysfunction?
Sorry,,,but I would like to hear it from you.
Marty Says:
Hello Candy,
Red,Sonny and Dave told the 100% truth about everything they said and wrote. As for Dunleavy, the fact that he was a sleazy writer was not known by them
nor did they pick him to write the book, The Star Publications who they made their deal with assigned Dunleavy to write it. Dunleavy put the negative slant to
the book because that's what he does for a living. they also did not see what he wrote until it was finished and printed, had they been able to I'm sure they
would have told him to take his nonsense out.
One thing is a fact, Neither Red, Sonny or Dave have anything to apologize for in that book of what they said and wrote and all this fan and George Klein
bullshit about Red apologizing or should apologize, is pure bulklshit. Fans throw up the line of the song,"Walk A Mile In My Shoes", when some talk about
Elvis, well the same applies to Red,Sonny and Dave. The fans have no idea what went on all those years. they think they do but it's all just their uninformed
opinions and the false rumors they've heard.
Tell that poster, Elvis was basically a good person but he was far from perfect. He wasn't G-d or Jesus, he was just another human being like the rest of us.
Elvis had no reason to use sexual disfunction drugs. The only woman I heard any complaints in that area from is Priscilla but he didn't mess with her, not
because he couldn't perform, he just didn't want to with her anymore she wasn't appealing to him anymore. We never heard any complaints from any other
woman he was with.
Sheila Ryan is a good person and she's a lot of fun. Then and now.
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Dale Asks Marty: [18.03.10]
Hi Marty, First I want to say I agree with you about impersonators.
I was by accident one of the first people to be doing an Elvis impersonation and winning some contests back in 1975, but I haven't performed since I got out of
the military back in 79. That ultimate Elvis contest they have during Elvis Week sickens me.
My question is....did Elvis ever go to Deer Lake, Pa. to see Muhammad Ali? I went up there in 73, because I heard Elvis was suppose to be there.
I slept in my car and I did me Ali one on one, but I unfortunately I did not see.
Marty Says:
Hi Dale,
Good move on your part. If you have talent, make it on your own as Dale. You'd be better off in the long run.
There was only one Elvis and there'll never be another one. There's really no real future as an impersonator. As for the IMP Contest at Graceland, that
should give you a clue how much Priscilla and Lisa care about Elvis' memory.
As far as I know Elvis never went to Deer Lake. I know I didn't go with him and neither he nor any of the guys mentioned it and I'm sure they would as Elvis did
talk about meeting Ali in Vegas.
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Candy Asks Marty: [17.03.10]
HI MARTY,
WELL...THIS ONE IS GOING TO REALLY GET YOU GOING.
Larry Geller has said he colored Elvis hair with MASCARA for the funeral.....Personally I think he is NUTCASE!
BUT...some people on the topix board I post on,,even say he did and that Lisa kept running her hands through Elvis' hair..and got mascara on her hands !!!!!!
It astonishing me that people are SO delusional.
Marty Says:
Hello Candy,
I wasn't there as we were living in California at the time and I was scheduled to go with a ticket waiting for me at the L.A. airport, but my wife was very sick and I
decided at the last minute not to leave her as she asked me not to.
In a way I'm glad I didn't go because I really didn't want the last time I was to see him,he would be in a casket as that picture would remain in my memory as
long as I lived. I'd rather remember him as I do,him smiling.
I was told Larry fixed his hair in the casket and I have no idea if that's true about the mascara or about Lisa.
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Arun Jassi Asks Marty: [06.03.10]
Hello Marty,
In one of my previous qestions, you said that Elvis only wrote one song in his career.which was in the early days with Johnny Horton.Can you remember the
title of this song and did Horton actually record it?
Thank you.
Marty Says:
Hi Arun
Unfortunately the name escapes me. It was in the very early stages of Elvis' career when he did the Louisiana Hayride while I was in the army in Germany.
That information came from Lamar Fike who was with him at the time.
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Carol Hunter Asks Marty: [27.02.10]
Hi Marty: There have been a few questions for you recently from people wanting to know if Elvis had met certain celebrities. Was there a celebrity that Elvis
was really "star struck" over and particularly thrilled to meet?
Marty Says:
Hi Carol, Yes, me......Just kidding.
To the best of my recollection, I can't think of any celebrity that Elvis ever asked to meet or say he wanted to. He took them all in stride, I know there were a
few of them that he admired as far as their work, their acting went and he always treated everyone of them he met with respect. There were a couple who
pissed him off with their remarks and he handled that deftly by saying he had a meeting to go to and told them it was nice meeting them. He also handled it by
giving us a signal if they were in his dressing room on the movie set or in Vegas and we would then interrupt them to remind Elvis that we had that
appointment that we were supposed to be at in fifteen minutes.
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Bill Rauhuff Asks Marty: [27.02.10]
I always loved the song Kentucky Rain and have read you and Lamar had something to do with him recording it at American in Jan 1969. I often wonder why
he did not sing it live very much. As far as I know he dropped Kentucky Rain, In the Ghetto and Don't Cry Daddy after the February 1970 Las Vegas
engagement. Was it he did not like the songs or simple got bored with them. They were some of his biggest hits at the time. It seems puzzleing to me that he
would do some of the middle of the road ballads instead of the hits.
I also in hindsight wish he would have only done three or four of the fifties songs at a concert rather than put them in short medley form. I know he was bored
with some of them but I wish he would have rotated three to four different ones night after night and do them in there entirety. I guess we all are guilty of
analyzing every little thing he did now that he is gone when really I am just happy I was born and grew up during his time and was able to see him in concert
six times and warts and all, he was and is the greatest all around singer bar none. I guess we all want perfection from Elvis and unfortunately that probably
had a lot to do with his death at only 42. I can not imagine the pressure he had to be under to be put on such a god like pedestal.
Marty Says:
Hi Bill,
I was solely responsible for him recording at American Studios but Lamar was solely responsible for him recording Kentucky Rain.
Lamar, who at the time was running the Hill & Range Music Publishing office in Nashville, had recruited Eddie Rabbit as one of his songwriters and Lamar
talked Eddie into letting Elvis have the song because Eddie was going to cut it himself as he was also a recording artist. The night before we returned to
American after Elvis laid off for a few days because of a throat problem,I explained to Elvis why he wasn't getting good songs after he asked why. He wasn't
because of Parker and Freddy Bienstock, he then said he wanted to hear every good song he could and he would decide whether to cut it or not whether they
had the publishing on it or not. So that was when Lamar presented and pushed the song to Elvis and when we went back into American Elvis cut it.
Elvis mainly did the songs on stage he was comfortable with and for some reason and I think it's because of someone told him,he thought people wouldn't
want to hear those old Sun songs. He was wrong but it was his show.
I think it was Parker who told him to stay more current. In my opinion he never should have listened to anything Parker said about what he should do as far as
performing was concerned. Whereas Elvis had a natural instinct what people would like in that regard,the only talent Parker had was conning people.
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Jared Asks Marty: [27.02.10]
Hey Mr. Lacker,
It's Jared again. I was thinking about this question all day. You were around Elvis for years and he was known for pulling extremely funny pranks on friends.
What are some of the funniest things you ever saw him do?
Marty Says:
Hey Jared,
There were a number of things he did as a prank but the one that really sticks out in my mind, which also revealed what some were really there for, is one
Christmas Eve at Graceland. Every Christmas Eve we used to exchange gifts with Elvis, usually I was in charge of thinking of something unique to have made
or buy ready made to give to Elvis from all the guys, for which we all chipped in money for because it was usually expensive. Elvis would always give bonuses
at the previous payday but also would usually give us an extra check that night.
This one Christmas Eve we were all gathered downstairs and Elvis comes down and he has a bunch of envelopes in his hands. We were all there including
George Klein who didn't work for Elvis but usually showed up when he knew Elvis would probably be giving us something. Elvis hands the envelopes to all the
guys and while he gives George is George is mouthing off his phony bullshit,"Oh Yeah Elvis! You shouldn't have, you always give us enough." He's got this
big smile on his face while he's saying that and starting to open the envelope because he hand dreams of probably a $1,000 check. He opens his envelope
and pulls out a 50 cent coupon for McDonald's, his face dropped, the smile disappeared and he was shocked with a dejected look on his face. One of the
guy's said,"What's the matter George, disappointed?"
The rest of us were opening our envelopes and laughing at Elvis' joke while George had a different reaction. Elvis just laughed his ass off. He then reached
inside his coat pocket and came out with the real envelopes and handed them out, they had a check inside.
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Stephen Griffiths Asks Marty: [25.02.10]
Graceland released a partial list of Elvis's personal record collection a few years ago and the press article stated that Dionne Warwick was among his
favourite female singers. Do you know if Elvis and Dionne Warwick ever met?
Marty Says:
Hi Stephen,
Not that I know of but I brought him some records by Dionne who also recorded at American Studios, she and I became longtime friends and still are today.
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Jared Asks Marty: [25.02.10]
I looked through replies and did not see this question and I would love to know the answer. Did Elvis ever get to meet or talk to John Wayne?
I know that Elvis was the origional choice for some major roles in a few of John's movies. If Marty can give this answer, please send me an email to let me know.
Marty Says:
Hi Jared,
Yes, he met John Wayne one day when we were walking down a street at Paramount Studios and Wayne and Western Movie Director named Liles (His first
name escapes me) and we stopped and said hello for a few minutes. I do not know if they met again before or after.
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Phil from Bootle Asks Marty: [18.02.10]
Hi Marty,
My Favourite Elvis song of all time is 'Burning Love', I heard somewhere that Elvis found this song quite hard to do, as it was hard to control his breathing
when singing it, yet He has sang this song numerous times on stage, if He found it difficult surely he wouldn't do it. I was just wondering is there any truth to
that? or was it just a myth.
In 'I got a feelin' in my body' (certain takes), he seems to struggle with his breathing when he is singing it, what songs did Elvis like doing?, struggle with?,
didn't like doing? and what were His favourite and least favourite?
A few years ago there was series on television called either Elvis-the Mini Series or Elvis-the Early Years(I can't really remember), charting Elvis' early years
with Scotty and Bill before He became really big, which at the time I thought was quite good, do you remember it and if so what did you think of it?
Thank you very much for your time, it is really appreciated.
Marty Says:
Phil,
Elvis really didn't like Burning Love and to be honest neither did I. I thought it was a weak attempt to sound like the songs in his very early career.
He had a mental block about it so much that in the beginning he would forget the lyrics. Then believe or not, he used a lyric sheet on stage for a short time. It
got so bad that he had James "Hamburger James" Caughley lay in a prompters box under the stage with a cue card with the lyrics on it. The audience could
not see James but Elvis could when he looked down. The song did fairly well on the charts because in the 70's he really had no other good up-tempo songs
to compare to so that stood out.
As for his breathing at times that was caused by a number of things physically. He had breathing problems at times caused by his pill taking. He also,for a few
years and a malformed rib according to a doctor in the 60's and at times we used to have oxygen tanks in his room in case it got bad.
He loved singing ballads because he liked to show off his voice but he would have liked a good fast song if he had been presented with one.
I probably saw the show you speak of but in my opinion the right one about Elvis has not been made yet.
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Paul Asks Marty: [18.02.10]
I am curious-do you think the lives of people like yourself, Lamar, Sonny, George etc...would stand up to the kind of intense scrutiny that Elvis' has had with
his?
If all the "truth" came out on anyone of you-I mean the secrets that we all have and try to keep that way-how do you think you would fair?
In other words Elvis has been researched and written about ad nauseum before and after his death, anyone can say or imply anything they want about him
good or bad (and the bad seems to be what sells) how would you guys like your lives placed under such harsh glaring lights?
I think thats a fair question-if you browse Elvis forums and fan sites you will find his every "human frailty" discussed over and over.......
Marty Says:
Hi Paul,
That's a good question but I'm not sure of your intent in asking it.
First of all, the guys you named have always been very much aware that now and always Elvis will be the star in the group,not us. The way I see it is that
probably nobody is interested in our history and also in my opinion, because Elvis is the biggest historical cultural icon in the world that his history has to be a
complete and 100% truthful one. More than anyone else, more than his father,his EX wife or his daughter, we who were the closest to him daily for almost 20
years can tell that complete truth. I'm satisfied that most of us original guys have told the truth 100%, although there are a couple who have not in their
exaggerations about themselves.
That history has to be told mainly for the generations to come so that one,his memory will not fade away and two because his life and how it transpired from
beginning to end, can be one hell of a good lesson for everyone in living theirs. One thing that should be learned by that is that the grass is not always
greener on the other side. As an example there's no way with all that he had achieved and had should he have died so young and unhappy.
I have often said and written that he was 95% good and 5% what some would consider bad. The bad coming from his human faults and frailties just like we all
have. I wish I could say the same for myself as I'm sure we all would.
As for someone writing about me and exposing something in my past, have at it. I'm like everyone else including Elvis,imperfect. There are things in my life
I'm not proud of but I'm proud and happy to say that there are very few and no crimes are involved.
There's something else some of you need to realize, in most of the original MM's case, that was about 20 years of our life too, we earned the right to write
about it. If you've read my two books you will find that I reveal things about myself as well as Elvis but like I said, I doubt anyone's really interested but they are
about Elvis.
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William Rauhuff Asks Marty: [18.02.10]
I read after Elvis died that the Colonel was going to manage Rick Nelson but never heard much else about it. Did you ever hear anything about it?
I see all of the singers and movie stars saying how they were close to Elvis and so forth. Did Elvis really have much to do with any of them other than being
friendly and hospitable to them when he saw them.
I saw Elvis in Atlanta in 1975 and he wore the two piece suits for that tour. I really liked them on him and thought he should leave the jumpsuits behind at about
age 40 what is your take on the jumpsuits. It seem to me they looked great at first but after about 1974 or 1975 maybe wear something different. I believe and
this is just my opinion Elvis was a creature of habit and every great thing he started doing such as the movies and the jumpsuits and even the orchestra were
good ideas but after 4-5 years move on to something different to prevent boredom.
I would have loved to seen him tour in the 70s with just a rhythm band and maybe The Sweet Inspirations dressed like he did in 68 special not the leather but
something comfortable or maybe the plain jumpsuits from 1969. Thanks for all you do and again you are a CLASS ACT
Marty Says:
Hi William,
Compliments will get you everywhere. (Just kidding).
You've basically arrived at the correct opinion about what you write. I heard Parker was approached by Ricky Nelson through his then manager whose name
was Fitzgerald and he was a friend of Parker's. I think he wanted to be more like a partnership between the two managers. Parker might have just ended up
advising him.
I really didn't keep up with him because like when Elvis was alive we didn't have a mutual admiration society. he didn't like some of the things I talked with Elvis
about his recording career and the songs he recorded. Plus I never trusted him nor told him anything he tried to find out about Elvis daily personal life.
As for the jumpsuits,other than the first couple of years because they were different,I disliked them. Now after his death and all the clown that impersonate him
wear them, they have turned him into a cartoon because the media plays on them and ridicules them which rubs off on Elvis' memory.
Yes, he was a creature of habit because sometimes he got too comfortable with what he was doing without considering the effect it had on his career. Too
much and too long of one thing soon becomes boring and not interesting.
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Candy Asks Marty: [18.02.10]
Hi Marty...well guess who? Ha
I have two things today.....
First, I know Elvis knew about GOD and I feel he was a christian. I know he was searching for something to hold on to...but didn't his belief system make him
realize what was happening?
Also,,,I am assuming from what I have read that he was one of those men that wanted to be "free" in a sense.. He wanted what HE wanted at his convenience ,
and could be very cruel when it didn't suit his needs.
I knew a guy like that once,,,they want you to want them, then when you do they act as though you have "bothered" them. That is a very cruel thing to do and
as much as I admired elvis as a person, I find that part of his personality very selfish.
Thanks Marty
Marty Says:
Candy,
The best way I can answer that is that in a number of things as overly generous as Elvis could be he was also selfish at times. Yes, he wanted what he wanted
whenever he wanted it and sometimes he didn't consider who it hurt or inconvenienced.
But then again,many of us are that way at times. He wasn't all that bad though.
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