| 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. |
Chad From The USA Asks Marty: [27.08.10]
I was reading a story on the web (http://www.irishelvisfanclub.com/vernon_elvis_imp_.htm) about a man named Radford Ellis. He claims he was a IMP
in the 1970's and put an Elvis show on for Elvis at Graceland?
The article state: "It was at one of the many parties at Graceland that Radford performed as Elvis for Elvis. It was at this time that Vernon Presley offered him
a job as Elvis' double. Radford was to be a decoy for Elvis after concerts. The job would have included leaving the arena dressed as Elvis, getting into a limo
and driving to the airport and/or the hotel to divert an onslaught of fans while Elvis safely left the building. Due to a conflict with his 1st wife, Radford turned
down the job. " Do you know if there is any credibility/truth to this story?
Marty Says:
Hi Chad,
Did you know I am the King Of Siam? You see this is how I got to be the King.
Many years ago,in the 60's, Elvis and I went to Siam and we were walking around one day when a man with a uniform came up to us and said,"I know who you
are, you're Marty Lacker but who's your friend here, is he your servant?" I smiled and said,"No, he's my friend not my servant. His name is Elvis Presley." The
man answered,"Never heard of him. However I would like to take you to see the royal family in the palace, I think the Queen Mother would like to meet you,you
can bring your friend if you'd like."
We went to the Palace and we were introduced to the Queen Mother and when she saw me she almost fainted.
The man told me that her son, The King just died and I looked just like him.
The Queen Mother whispered in the man's ear and then he turned to me and said. "The Queen Mother wants to know if you would like to take the place of
her son, it would be a great honor and you would have untold riches bestowed on you." I thought about it for a few minutes and discussed it with Elvis, the
Queen Mother didn't know who he was either. I then said, "OK but only if I could still live in Memphis and continue to work for my friend Elvis." She agreed
and so I then became the King Of Siam. I go back there once a year to take part in a ceremony and make new rulings then return to Memphis.
Does that answer your question about how real this guy Radford who I never heard of in my life is? Sounds like a story George Klein would tell.
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William Rauhuff Asks Marty: [26.08.10]
I have been reading on the internet that Myrna with The Sweet Inspirations is very sick and is in need of some financial help due to her medical bills and the
fans have sent donations and some of the TCB band have done some benefits for her at Elvis Week. Is that not another example of how Priscilla should step
up with all of her money and help her out as I know Elvis would have done all he could for her. Lisa could help her financially as well.
Also who was in charge of naming some of the Elvis movies? I have read The Trouble with Girls [and how to get into it] was to be called 'Chautauqua' which
would have made more sense as would 'Harem Holiday' over 'Harum Scarum'. Even 'California Holiday' would have sounded more serious than 'Spinout'.
Don't get me wrong as silly as some of the movies were, I was a young kid in the 60s and lined up to see them three times a year like a lot of people but I
always thought the titles could have been better. I never understood why you would name a movie 'Tickle Me' unless you just could not think of a name.
Although that movie was a little better than a few of the ones in that time.
Marty Says:
Hi William,
I'll go you better in answering your first question about Priscilla and Lisa. Elvis' cousin, Harold Lloyd, who was a gate guard for many years including after
Elvis died. He was a cousin who Elvis felt a great deal of caring for because he always remembered how good Harold was when he [Elvis] was a kid in Tupelo.
He specifically remembered that Harold used to bring him Payday candy bars every time he saw him back then.
After Elvis died, Harold learned that he was going to have to have heart surgery, he asked EPE and Priscilla to help him pay for it. I'll give you three guesses
whether she helped him or not and the first two guesses don't count. When it comes to Elvis' family, she does nothing.
So what makes you think she'd help Myrna.
The Directors and Studios named the movies, Elvis had nothing to do with that.
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Candy Asks Marty: [26.08.10]
When is your celebration coming for your note on Beale? Is there anyone else getting one?
I would assume that some of the other MM guys will try and be there..
Also, you mentioned before that you MM guys had a reunion a couple of years ago...I have seen clips on you tube of you guys, but is there a DVD available
for that? I have been unable to find where to obtain the entire interviews.
Marty Says:
Candy,
The dedication ceremony for my Beale Street Blues Note is tentatively scheduled for the first week in January which is also the time of my 74th birthday.
I'm looking forward to Billy and Sonny being there. Lamar, because of medical reasons, doesn't travel very much.
No the reunions were not filmed.
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William Rauhuff Asks Marty: [26.08.10]
I have not asked anything lately so I will make it up here. I wanted to thank you and some of the guys such as Red and yourself for some of the good ideas
such as you suggesting American to Elvis and Red with his writing and Billy Smith for his friendship with Elvis.
Some of you guys get no credit for anything except being hanger on's and some of the other guys like Joe, Jerry and George get classed as true friends who
really did not contribute anything but somehow get looked at as essential to Elvis creativity which is a joke. I believe Sonny has a good heart and helped Elvis
in many ways as well.
Now my question is what is your opinion of Lisa moving to London?
Do you like the idea of Sony releasing the 814 song The Complete Masters at around 820 dollars?
What about Lisa and scientology?
Marty Says:
Hello William,
I personally feel very happy and proud to have been a close friend to Elvis for 20 years and whatever I did to make his life more happy and enjoyable made
me happy. I don't need to ask for recognition, I don't need that to live my life. It is sufficient for me to know that he knew what I did and he showed his
appreciation with his friendship. I would feel the same towards any of my friends whether they are a superstar or not. That's just me and I'm sure the other
guys you praised feel the same way.
Joe, Jerry and George are painted as the good guys because of EPE praising them and EPE praises them because they kiss Priscilla's ass. That's their life
and not ours, thank G-d. Our satisfaction comes from all those years that Elvis cared about us and we cared about him as brothers. The hangers on bullshit
and all the other names we've been called comes from people who never spent one minute with Elvis and us, so their comments don't mean anything in the
grand scheme of things. The fact is, from a business standpoint, Elvis was like a major corporation and most of us original guys had serious responsibilities to
perform so that Elvis could perform his responsibilities and that's the name of that tune.
As for Lisa, my condolences to London. She has a right to be a cult worshipper, if that's what she wants. She is in no part of my life or the other four guys.
As long as the fans allow Sony and EPE to milk you out of your money they will continue to do things like the Masters set. What I also don't like and I don't
think Elvis would either, is them releasing all the bad alternate takes of songs from his sessions. He turned them down during the sessions because he didn't
think they were good enough to be released.
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Steve Asks Marty: [24.08.10]
Hi Marty,
Thank you so much for taking our questions. There seems to be conflicting information about whether Elvis met Patsy Cline. Most seem to think they did not
meet, but one book, "Honky Tonk Angel: The Intimate Story of Patsy Cline" by Ellis Nassour, Patsy Cline met Elvis Presley in 1962 at a fundraiser at St. Judes
and they even exchanged phone numbers. However, research shows that Elvis attended only two St. Jude's fundraisers, one in 1957, and one in 1964, after
Patsy's death. Can you clear this up? Did Elvis and Patsy ever meet?
Also, I just learned about your connection with Rita Coolidge's career. Did she or Kris Kristofferson ever meet Elvis?
Marty Says:
Hello Steve,
As far as I know Elvis and Patsy never met. I can tell you that they never met while I was around nor did Elvis or any of the other guys mention it happening
when I wasn't there.
Rita didn't meet Elvis and I don't think Kris did either, my answer for Kris would be the same as I said about Patsy.
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Arun Jassi Asks Marty: [23.08.10]
Hello Marty,
I have read that Elvis knew his Bible.
How well-versed was he on his knowledge of the Bible? Did he ever have Bible study sessions at all or was it all self-taught?
Marty Says:
Hi Arun,
Elvis knew the Bible fairly good. He was brought up reading it as a kid in Tupelo. He went to church as a kid in Tupelo but not when he was an adult in
Memphis. He sometimes would start talking about what was in the Bible in the later years mainly to the younger guys.
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Al Your Mountie Friend from Canada Asks Marty: [21.08.10]
Hey Marty, hope you are doing good my friend?
I just watched the movie Touched by Love with my wife and 15 year old daughter. I have to tell you that we shed a lot of tears. Not sure if you saw it but it is a
story about Karen who died (she was sick and hadicap) and Lena Canada who was taking care of her. Karen loved Elvis and wrote to him and he replied and
send her a lot of gift until she died a few months later. Did you see that movie and did you know anything about her from Elvis?
Take care and God bless you. Also where do you live Marty?
Marty Says:
Hi Al,
I know of the movie and understand what the story is about but I don't recall seeing it.
Elvis did many good things like that and most were done anonymously.
I live in Memphis.
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Candy Asks Marty: [21.08.10]
HI Marty,
I am assuming you didn't partake in the candlelight vigil or the annual events of aug. 16th...but I was wondering,,do you ever go there anymore?
You are SO right about Elvis' music being influenced by the black singers of the day and the gospel he loved so much. I don't think he realized how much of a
pioneer he really was.
You have had an amazing career yourself...you seemed to have flourished amid all the chaos. It had to be difficult to try and carve some 'other' career for
yourself whilst being with Elvis.
What are some of your treasured professional accomplishments aside from being with Elvis.
Marty Says:
Hello Candy,
No I don't participate in anything during so-called Elvis week. Billy and I did the first two vigils but we don't do anything during that time unless it is an even the
Memphis Mafia holds as we did with our two reunions years ago. We don't participate in any EPE functions and quite frankly with the emphasis being on
impersonators we wouldn't go anywhere near there.
As for my accomplishments, here's an excerpt from a Press Release that was released by the Beale Street Organization regarding the Beale Street Blues Note
Honor I will be getting in January.
"Marty was with and close to Elvis Presley for 20+ years, a number of them he was his right hand man as well as co-best man at his wedding. Marty had
attended the last year of high school at Humes with Elvis.
Marty spent a couple of years as a DJ and program Director in radio prior to that.
Marty left Elvis’ payroll in late ’67 as he was tired of travelling but he continued to handle special projects for him and also was with him every evening when
he was in Memphis until late ’76 and also went on some tours with him and to Vegas and the Aloha Special.
In ’67 Marty started a record company for Pepper Tanner Co. in Memphis and discovered Rita Coolidge and produced her first couple of hits. He recorded
her at American Studios in Memphis.
In ’69 Marty was solely responsible for and persuaded Elvis to record with Chips Moman at American Studios that resulted in his recording career back on
track with number one and top ten hits for the first time in five years. “Suspicious Minds”, “In The Ghetto”, “Don’t Cry Daddy”, “Kentucky Rain” and two
platinum albums. Shortly after that Chips asked Marty to be the VP and General Business Manager of American Studios which he accepted. Through the next
couple of years Marty handled negotiations and contracts with some of the major artists who cut at American.
Marty soon became one of the leaders of the Memphis Industry and was the co-founder of the Memphis NARAS chapter. You’ll find his name on the Chapter
Charter. He also served as an alternate member of The National Board Of Governors and represented the Memphis chapter at the one and only NARAS
Governors meeting in Memphis during the 70’s.
In 1972 Marty conceived the idea and was The Chairman Of The Board of the first government appointed Memphis and Shelby County Music Commission in
‘72 and wrote, directed and produced three highly successful Memphis Music Awards Shows attended by just about every President and execs of the major
recording companies in the country including Clive Davis and Jerry Wexler as well as most major trade papers.
After opening his own company Marty worked closely with all the studios and music industry in Memphis as well as national labels."
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Andrew Asks Marty: [19.08.10]
Hi Marty,
I wanted to ask you if Elvis ever met The Everly Brothers, and if he did, can you elaborate?
Secondly, I wondered if Elvis was ever liked or was influenced by their music, as he recorded a few songs which they did before him, like Let it Be Me, Baby
What You Want Me To Do and CC Rider.
Marty Says:
Hi There Andrew,
I believe I heard him say that he met them very early in his career before I started working for him but I don't recall him seeing them after I started.
Elvis liked their music but he wasn't influenced by them. he heard those songs by black artists which is why he liked and recorded them. That is with the
exception of Let It Be Me.
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Fran from Melbourne Australia Asks Marty: [13.08.10]
Dear Marty,
I know it's hard to foresee the future but if Elvis had lived what do you think he would be doing now (33 years on). Did he ever talk about the future, his future?
I could never see him retiring until he was very very old. Also, what are some of your favourite Elvis songs.
Marty Says:
Hello Fran,
Elvis talked about being a movie director and a good dramatic actor.
He might have done that after Colonel Parker was gone. He would also still be singing but not in movies.
A few of my favorite songs are "Ill Remember You", "I Got Stung" and "In The Ghetto".
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Tony Stuchbury Asks Marty: [11.08.10]
Hi Marty
Are you aware of any reaction or thoughts Elvis expressed in 1976 to seeing/hearing that ‘Harbour Lights’ from his SUN days was released on the Legendary
Performer Vol 2 album ?
Marty Says:
Hi Tony,
I never heard him say anything about it
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Candy Asks Marty: [09.08.10]
HI Marty !!
Congratulations on your Beale Street "NOTE" award ! You should be proud of yourself..you deserve it !!
You guys were all such confidants for Elvis and I just wondered, did he ever listen to any of you about business advice, or just depend totally on parker? I
am sure you guys could 'see' things that were going on.
Also, what was Elvis' relationship like with Priscilla's parents? I know he was respectful to everyone.
Lamar seems to have had an amicable relationship with David Stanley, has that changed? I had read that David was close to Lamar because Lamar was good
to him.
Thanks once again,
Candy
Marty Says:
Hello Candy,
He listened a few times to Red and myself about the music business and songs but when it came to financial business he told Alan Fortas and I to talk to his
father on two different occasions when we had suggestions on how to protect his money with good investments. When we went to talk with his father, who was
no financial genius but took care of Elvis' money, his father told us to mind our own business.
When I told Elvis what his father said he just shook his head and said no more. His father's lack of business sense is one of the reasons Elvis died with very
little money compared to what he made. He didn't invest Elvis' money except once when some guy conned him into invested in a coal mine, they lost every
penny.
Elvis hardly saw Priscilla's parents and he liked it like that. However, when he did he was always respectful.
Her father did ask him to loan him $100,000 to open a liquor store in Northern California where they lived but Elvis died before he could do it. It made Priscilla
mad that he didn't give him the money before he died. She herself told me and my wife that when she vested us the night before we moved backed to
Memphis from California two years after Elvis died.
Lamar no longer is friends with David. Eventually everyone learns about him and his family.
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Christopher Sp... Asks Marty: [02.08.10]
Hi Mr.Lacker;
First off I wish to sincerely congratulate you on being named to receive a Beale Street Blues Note. Because Beale Street is known around the world for it's
impact on the blues music, this is quite a distinguished honor. I'm sure Elvis would be very proud and happy for you.
"I was wondering about what went into Elvis' decision to also include Charlie Hodge and Alan Fortas (both of whom I liked) in the sit down/in the round section
of the 1968 Singer Special for NBC?
Also, since Alan Fortas' uncle was U.S. Supreme Court Justice Abe Fortas; I was wondering if Elvis ever met him and or the other members of the U.S.
Supreme Court?
Thank-for your time and again congratulations on your well deserved award.
Marty Says:
Hi Christopher,
Elvis liked to sing with Charlie and Alan, that made him comfortable. He really didn't need them on stage but they needed a couple more bodies on there to
make it look better visually since Bill Black was no longer here.
As far as I know Elvis never met Alan's uncle or any other member of the Supreme Court.
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Arun Jassi Asks Marty: [28.07.10]
Hello Marty,
I read in an interview with James Lee, the screenplay writer for the movie Change Of Habit that he tried to get Elvis and his co-star the late Barbara McNair to
sing together in the movie but his boss, Col.Parker said "No....Elvis doesn't do that with other people."
I think most Elvis fans don't know that Barbara McNair wasn't just an actress but also a very fine singer and recording artist (I have a few of her CDs) and
these two talents coming together and duetting would have been something quite ORIGINAL and actually BRILLIANT.
My question is if what James Lee said is true then why did Parker allow Elvis to sing with Ann-Margret and Nancy Sinatra among others in his movies?...Isnt the
subject of who Elvis could sing with or couldn't sing with in the movies more to do with Elvis himself than Parker???
Was Parker bothered by the race aspect on this?..If so, couldnt he see times were changing towards the end of the decade and that Elvis also had ethnic
fans? Your insight on this would be most appreciated, Marty.
Marty Says:
Hello Arun,
Parker didn't like Elvis singing duets at all however he made exceptions of Nancy because who her father was. Sinatra and Parker were good friends. As for
Ann Margret, I think Elvis had something to do with that and the fact that it was almost like a musical with the stages and dancing and the dynamics between
the two of them.
Race may have had something to do with it on Parker's part but not Elvis'.
Barbara was a well known singer in the 60's and had a few semi hits plus she did a lot of Variety TV Shows like Ed Sullivan and those types of shows. As for
times changing in regards to race and many other things, Parker never changed and that was detrimental to Elvis personally and his career.
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Candy Asks Marty: [27.07.10]
Hi Marty,
I read your response to someone about J.D.., Voice, and I agree,,,but do you think Elvis' need to have gospel on stage also lent itself to the image people
had? They all considered him to be christian, and even though it may have been for his own personal pleasure, it added to the general populations' belief of
said christianity.
Also,,I had read once, maybe it isn't true,,that Parker had wanted Elvis to stop the gospel on stage and Elvis told him if he couldn't sing his gospel he wouldn't
sing. Any truth to that as you know it?
I also think maybe he was trying to hold on to his upbringing in the midst of such chaos and confusion that existed in his mind.
Do you or any of the other members of he MM have memorabilia from Elvis?
It would be interesting to see what you guys could come with,,,I am sure the public would be interested to see it.
I have that J.D. Sumner wasn't always such a nice guy....what was his problem?
Life can be so strange,,,Elvis was such a phenomenon and you guys were almost as visible as he, and then it all passed...........what a life you all got to live !!
Marty Says:
Candy,
Yes, Elvis was a Christian but not a perfect one but there never has been a perfect human being of any religion.
When people paid money to see Elvis they paid to see The King Of Rock N' Roll not a preacher or Gospel singer. He took time in his private time off stage to
sing Gospel at times there was no need to bring it on stage at times. Parker may have said that to him but I didn't hear it or of it.
Elvis had ample time to reflect on his upbringing off stage.
Yes, most of the original guys have memorabilia and over the last 33 years some of us have sold some of it. My attitude is that I don't need material things to
remind me of Elvis or all those years, they and he are deeply imbedded in my mind and heart. I find it amusing some of the comments made by some negative
fans when we sell something.
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Fran from Melbourne, Australia Asks Marty: [27.07.10]
Hi Marty,
Hope this email finds you well. I recently watched a movie on David Stanley and his story with Elvis. My question is : What do you think of Dave Stanley in
respect to Elvis? I know he grew up around Elvis being Elvis' younger step-brother through marriage (Vernon to Dee) and ended up being part of Elvis'
entourage for a time in the much latter years.
Thanks Marty for your time
Take care
Marty Says:
Hi Fran,
I have no positive thoughts about David or the rest of his family and he knows exactly how I always have felt about him and them. I am not the only one who
thought that way.
Naturally he exaggerated his importance to Elvis. A remark Elvis made to me in the 70's sticks in my mind when we were standing in the den at Graceland and
David and Billy Stanley were in the kitchen in our direct eyesight, Elvis looked at them and calmly said to me,"It's not like they're my brothers!" Kind of says it
all.
Elvis used David and Ricky and the other young guys mainly in the last year after some of us original guys were gone. He knew that some of us were getting
tired of the same old routine and hearing the same stories so he needed fresh young ears to tell them to.
However, he made a remark to Billy Smith during the last year that the young guys were not the same as the original guys and he didn't trust them as he did
us and that he missed us. Billy reminded him that he was the cause of us being gone.
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Jim Zeraldo Asks Marty: [25.07.10]
Hi Marty,
I think this is a really cool forum for you to make available to the fans. Please keep it up.
My question is about the upcoming DVD release of Elvis on Tour. I'm surprised they didn't do a "Special Edition" version of it since we've all been waiting 33
years to see more of Elvis in Concert.
Do you think there's more to come (ie: milk the fans slowly) or is it possible no more good footage of Elvis On Tour really exists?
If there's a full concert in the can somewhere (i.e. Hampton Roads?) do you think we'll ever see it? Your comments please ...
Marty Says:
Jim,
If EPE and Priscilla follows their pattern, trust me something will pop up to keep, as you say,"milking the fans".
It almost looks like they care not what they put out as long as they can get you to buy it.
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Chad from USA Asks Marty: [24.07.10]
Hi Marty,
Thanks for answering all of our questions. Your honesty is much appreciated. You have been blessed with a amazing memory!
I can't help but see many parallels between Britney Spears current state and how Elvis was after 1976. What I mean by that is that she was once a huge sex
symbol, in amazing shape, etc..., but has lost her sex appeal, some of her talent, and seems reclusive. Would you agree? Perhaps her condition is more
mental than was Elvis'?
Marty Says:
Hello Chad,
It is hard for me to even make any connection between Britney and Elvis,she was not in his league,far from it.
In addition, as many of today's young performers they're mainly manufactured and choreographed and their voice is technically enhanced in the studio. On
stage they have to really mask their not so great singing talents by dancers and stage productions. Elvis was a natural talent, he did not use those gimmicks
and he had a very good voice and range.
Elvis' biggest downfall was Colonel Parker and Hill & range and the shitty songs they presented to him to record including the terrible movie songs that he did
for a number of years. There's a big reason the Memphis American sessions stands out to be so great because that one time he did songs that Parker and
H&R didn't give him. That plus the excellent hit making production talents of Chips Moman and his band plus Elvis wanting to cut hits again was the difference.
The equally big difference was in Elvis,he was loving it which made him upbeat.
But then he went back to Parker's crap and Parker kept booking him into the same towns ever year and almost every tour. Plus he began to hate Vegas. All of
that in the later years made him bored thus depressed and leaning more on his pills even more to try to escape all of that. Unfortunately he escaped in the
wrong way--he died.
Maybe I shouldn't say this because I don't know her but Britney has always struck me as being dumb, something Elvis was not.
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Tommy Asks Marty: [24.07.10]
Hi Marty,
On E.E.R, Lee is treating us to the great stuff from Thats The Way It Is for the 40th Anniversary celebrations and I was wondering if you would be willing to
share any stories of your time with Elvis during the making of this film. For me this film gives us the closest look into what it was like being with Elvis during the
sessions and his sense of humour. Thanks in advance and I know that many other fans will love to hear your stories about making this great film.
Marty Says:
Hi Tommy,
I can't help you there because during the shows they used in that film, I was back in Memphis as one of the leaders of the Memphis Music Industry at that time
the film was done.
However, to the best of my recollection of the film, because I haven't seen it but once when it first came out, is that most of the shows were the same as far as
his and our actions and the times in the recording studios were basically the same. The only real difference is the mood Elvis was in.
Sorry I can't help you there.
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Arun Jassi Asks Marty: [22.07.10]
Hello Marty,
Could you confirm to the best of your knowledge if Elvis ever went to the legendary Apollo Theatre in Harlem, New York in 1956 to see Bo Diddey perform?
If so, did he ever go there again to see anyone perform?
Marty Says:
Hi Arun,
I have no idea if he went to the Apollo in '56 because I was in the army stationed in Germany then.
However he didn't see or meet Bo while I was around, although he might have seen him in Vegas when I was in Memphis. I do know from Bo's statements that
he resented Elvis' popularity and accused him of stealing his music which is bullshit. Elvis didn't sing anything close to Bo Diddly's style.
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Randy Erdman Asks Marty: [13.07.10]
Dear Mr. Lacker,
I hope you and yours are very well. THANKS SO MUCH for your great kindness of taking questions about Elvis.
Can you please elaborate on your opinion that JD Sumner And The Stamps were a "bad influence" on Elvis.
Do you think Elvis kidded around with JD, onstage, way too much?
Do you think Elvis should not have featured JD singing "Why Me,Lord?" onstage?
Do you think that JD And The Stamps were just "wrong" for Elvis' show,period?
I always figured The Imperials and, later,The Stamps were part of the Elvis Show to "re-create" the parts sung by The Jordanaires.
I'd LOVE to know how you would have changed Elvis' concerts in general. Please tell us.
Getting back to the "back-up singers": Do you think Elvis should not have had a male quartet AT ALL? How did you feel about Voice?
Also: How did YOU feel about the part of The ELVIS Legend that was "The ELVIS Scarves"? Do you think the giving-out-the-scarves was okay, initially, but got
ENTIRELY out of hand? Or not?
Once again, many,many THANKS for your KINDNESS, Sir.
Marty Says:
Hello Randy,
I think JD was totally wrong for Elvis' show and therefore that also includes the Imperials. Some of them were nice guys although I don't feel the same way
about JD.
Elvis was Rock N' Roll, R&B and pop and that's what he should have presented on stage and the gospel influences of JD,in my opinion, took away from that.
People don't go to Vegas to listen to Gospel music just as they don't buy a ticket for a RNR tour concert to hear that.
In my opinion he should have just had the Sweets on stage with him, that's all he needed. My answer to your "Why Me Lord?" and JD is,"Why him lord?"
As for the scarves, the women loved them and that's why he kept doing it.
Voice was a joke and one of Elvis' spur of the minute whims. They were a waste of money and time.
Elvis was successful because of himself, he didn't need all that extra bullshit. He had the Gospel groups on there just to please himself without a thought
about the audience. That was wrong.
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Mike Eder Asks Marty: [13.07.10]
Hello Marty.
Did Elvis get to see some of the acts playing the lounge at The International during the period he was playing there?
Elvis is my very favorite artist but some of my other favorites such as Ike and Tina Turner and The First Edition were playing there at the same time.
I guess I'm just curious if he had an interest in those who shared the marquee especially those who were doing RnB and country/rock.
Marty Says:
Hi Mike,
Not while I was there, instead he would pick and choose and we went to the Flamingo a number of times to the lounge to see Fats Domino and Chuck Berry.
he also used to go see other artists in the main rooms of the hotels.
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Candy Asks Marty: [13.07.10]
Hi Marty, I am back with more questions....
Do you know about all Elvis' health problems? Did he really have glaucoma, heart disease and I am sure you had to know about his colon problems as he had
enemas with him all the time. Sorry for being so indelicate ,but it is just life.
Also, What was Elvis' real reaction to the book the guys wrote...
I just can't understand what he did each day..how he lived because if he was taking THAT many pills, wasn't he out of a lot? How could he even function..
Dr. nick has stated the ONLY time Elvis had an 'addiction' was after ghanem him on demerol..but isn't that not quite true?
He also said Elvis was never in control of his own medicines...well..I find THAT hard to believe because he was getting them from other sources...so nick wasn't
controlling everything.
I loved Elvis, but some of the things he started doing were very disappointing...like the video of him talking about a girl giving him h__d.....
Lots of people slur you guys about writing books saying you weren't loyal because you wrote books about private things....I do have to agree that some of the
things should have been left alone...like the problems soiling himself...but it is out there so we all just deal with it...it certainly didn't change my feelings for
Elvis...
BUT....did he actually have accidents on stage? Was that due to the drugs or the colon problems itself.
Love ya Marty....Thanks again.
Marty Says:
Candy,
Elvis had glaucoma, mild heart disease and colon problems.
He wasn't out of it all the time or most of the time. After taking pills for a long time you can handle them very well and function very well and he did that.
As for soiling himself I never saw that Nor did I ever see him have an accident on stage. As for his addiction and Nick controlling it,Nick tried hard to do so but it
is true about Ghanem and Dr. Newman in Vegas giving him things he shouldn't have had. The thing about the girl is no big deal as he was joking.
Elvis was not some stumbling down drug addict. He had pills in him every day and so did I and others but we all functioned well. he had other medical
problems that caused him to die and let's leave it at that.
If you or anyone else think some of us did wrong in what we write why do you all keep asking us about all this. It's 33 years since he died. It's over.
Enjoy his music and be happy!
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Candy Asks Marty: [13.07.10]
Did you ever know about Elvis' sleepwalking?
Also, I had written and asked you about Klein's book....what do you think of it?
I know this is a delicate, hurtful subject to his memory, but did you know Elvis supposedly wasn't bathing toward the end?
I have read the maids' "noticed" it and Billy said the same....
I think Elvis gave up a long time before he quit breathing...
Had he not given so much away he could have semi-retired and stayed with Lisa more.
I miss him Marty....crazy huh...for a gal who never even got to see him..
Myself and my family all loved him and were SO proud, especially being from Mississippi.
Love ya Marty, Candy
Marty Says:
Candy,
Yes, I knew about his sleepwalking. He was that way since he was a child.
It wasn't so much that he gave away it was that the money he made was never invested, had it been he would have been worth hundreds of millions when he
died, maybe even more in today's money.
Wasn't so much that he gave up, he just became bored with the same old crap that Parker was booking him in.
Elvis was partly to blame for putting up with it. if he had toured outside the US he may have lived much, much longer. Better yet, he should have gotten rid of
Parker many years before he died.
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Candy Asks Marty: [12.05.10]
Hi Marty,
What was the relationship between Priscilla and the Colonel when she was married to Elvis, after the divorce and after his death?
I am sure she had to kiss his ....a....s..until she got him out of that 50% deal.
What is your personal opinion of why Elvis didn't want to get into the business side of his life?
Why do you think Vernon sealed the autopsy?
Do you think Ann Margret will ever tell all the details of their relationship?
Do you know anything about Red West lately? I had heard that he had a son dealing with cancer.
Love ya marty.
Thanks for everything...I love you MM guys..
Please tell Billy hello for me..I wrote him but I understand his reluctance to write back.
later.
Marty Says:
Hi Candy, You are a question machine.
Priscilla didn't have much interaction with the Colonel except when she and Elvis went to Palm Springs every once in awhile. She wanted to continue dealing
with Parker after Elvis died because she was like Vernon, ignorant about business but the Probate Judge after an investigation on behalf of Lisa ordered that
they stop doing business with Parker.
Elvis went into the business at the young age of 18 and had no business sense at all and he just got to rely on Parker who quickly made him a millionaire in
the 50's. That has a psychological effect on someone who was dirt poor before that and not too academical, so he just began to enjoy himself and let Parker
take care of the business side.
Most celebrities or famous and wealthy people of that stature seal the autopsy but who knows why Vernon did it other than to keep the press out of it.
I doubt Ann will reveal anything because she is a private person. To my knowledge and having been around her a lot back then, I doubt there's anything
great to reveal except her personal feelings. Or are you looking for something of a sexual nature? If so than that's nobody's business and I know she won't talk
about that.
Red lives partly in Mississippi and Florida and occasionally gets roles in movies. His oldest son had Cancer but is in remission now.
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Phil from Bootle Asks Marty: [08.05.10]
Hi Marty,
I know you don't agree with the outtakes and private home recordings that Elvis did in his life being released and Elvis wouldn't have like them to be released
either.
In normal circumstances I would agree with you, but as He is sadly not with us anymore, as Lee said on EER, we don't have any new material, so we have to
do with what Elvis left in his short Life (what a lot of material he did leave), also the remixes that have been cleverly done for the modern era by different
people.
There have been a few home and private recordings released by FTD and on bootlegs.
Most of the songs that he does in these recordings are usually done in the studio at a later time like 'What now my love', 'Danny boy', 'She wears my ring' and
'I will be true' etc, he obviously liked these songs to sing in his own time.
There are other songs like 'Blowin' in the wind', 'Sweet Lailani', 'It's a sin to tell a Lie', '500 miles'(which is excellent), and 'Hide Thou Me', he must have liked
these songs as well?
Now my question (at Last):
I was just wondering did Elvis ever mention to you that he would like to record these songs in the studio? At a later date, as I think it was a great shame that
he didn't, or was it Parker sticking his nose in where he shouldn't.
I appologise for the long drawn out question, Thank you very much for your time.
Take Care
Marty Says:
Hey Phil,
No, he really didn't mention that to me. I think he liked those songs for his own enjoyment and often sang them around the house. He might just sing a chorus
or two and then go on to talking about something else.
Every once in awhile he would sit at the piano at Graceland or L.A. and just play and sing for his sheer enjoyment.
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Arun Jassi Asks Marty: [08.05.10]
Hello Marty,
Can you confirm if Elvis was responsible for the choreography for the Jailhouse Rock dance seqence in the 1957 movie and if so, why was he never offically
credited for this as I personally believe he should have been?
And did Elvis ever get to meet Little Richard or go to see him perform as he did Chuck Berry and Fats Domino?
All three of these living Rock'n'Roll/Black music Legends have acknowledged Elvis' importance musically and culturally over the years.
Marty Says:
Hi Arun,
The Choreographer for Jailhouse Rock was Alex Romero and he worked on a routine with Elvis based on Elvis' natural moves to the music so you can say that
they both did it but because of Hollywood union rules, Alex was credited as Choreographer because he was that for the entire picture not just that one scene.
Yes, Elvis met Little Richard but we did not see him perform in Vegas.
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Bill Rauhuff Asks Marty: [05.05.10]
I was reading your reply about Elvis being inducted in the R&R Hall of Fame. I was in attendance for his induction at the Gospel Hall of Fame in 2001 if I
remember the date correctly and they had Jack Soden from Graceland. You would think that Priscilla or Lisa would won't to be there in person when he is
inducted in something as important as a music hall of fame. He and I believe Johnny Cash are the only two inducted in the Rock, Country and Rockabilly Hall
of Fame and Elvis is the only one in four hall of fames if I am not mistaken. I was surprised John Lennon's children were at Elvis' Rock& Roll induction and EPE
sent George Klein. That was stupid. By the way, one quick question, was Elvis really a terrible guitar player as has been written or was he really pretty fair but
unfortunately in later years he only used the guitar on stage as a prop. I know he was no James Burton but I can't help but believe he was better than he
showed on stage sometimes.
Marty Says:
Bill,
Priscilla didn't go because there was no money involved.
The Lennon kids were there because of John's love for Elvis and the powers that be at the Hall, the ones who started it, Ahmet Ertegun, Jann Wenner and
Alan Grubman thought it would be a fitting gesture for the Lennons to be the presenters. I'm sure Klein campaigned to go and that's one of the reasons he
has kissed Priscilla's ass so he could be picked to do special things like that. He never does things for anyone unless he thinks he will get something in return
and that's sad and pitiful to be that way.
Elvis knew and could play the chords and just a little bit more but he was not that great with a guitar. He played the piano much better.
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Mark In Manchester Asks Marty: [05.05.10]
Thanks for your answer Marty, but the question wasnt if Elvis did this...It was did the memphis mafia do this thing?
Becky didnt say it was Elvis or Vernon but that it came from the memphis mafia
thanks again
Marty Says:
Hi Mark,
Sorry,I misread it but the answer is the same. I know of no MM that did that. In addition, as I said, we didn't send out invitations, so if the office did as a PR
thing to the club Presidents, that would have been done by Vernon.
Vernon and the girls in the office always handled the fan stuff. That includes answering any fans letter. Very seldom did Elvis go out to the office and when he
did if there was a special fan letter they wanted him to read he would do so and he might have,once or twice told them what to put in the answer. Most times
his cousin Patsy Presley signed those things for Elvis but he did also occasionally.......He appreciated that the fans wrote and also the work done by the Fan
Club Presidents.
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Bjorn, Sweden Asks Marty: [05.05.10]
Hi Marty,
And thanks. Thoughts of old keep surfacing.
There was this story long ago about Jerry Lee Lewis showing up at the Graceland gates with a gun in his hand. Is that true? If so – why in the world would he
do that? Did Elvis comment?
It is said that Elvis didn’t attend the funeral of Bill Black. Was it any lasting animosity between the two after that salary dispute way back? Did Elvis comment?
Did Elvis comment on who was his all time favourite guitar player?
Did Elvis himself pick the musicians for the recording sessions after the Scotty, Bill and D.J. days? Or at least try to influence the line-up? Did he care much?
Did Elvis ever meet Chuck Berry?
A lot of pop songs have been written about Elvis over the years. The only one recorded by Elvis and a steady part of his live appearances was Berry’s Johnny
B. Goode. Did Elvis realize that the song really was loosely based on himself?
There are some pictures of Elvis carrying an accordion. Did he actually play the instrument?
Marty Says:
Hello Bjorn
Yes, Jerry Lee showed up at the gates at Graceland and demanded to be let in. He was drunk and Jerry Lee has always been jealous of Elvis because he
thought he was as big of a star and he hated that Elvis got more attention and was liked by people better. They liked Elvis better because he wasn't crazy and
rude to people as Jerry was
nor did he have the same kind of image. Jerry also had a gun in his car. Unbeknownst to him,Elvis was watching him at the gate on Graceland's closed circuit
TV and the guard was told not to open the gate for Jerry Lee.
Elvis didn't like going to funerals and Bill's was no different. He felt he caused too much commotion with the people in attendance and didn't want to disrupt the
services. He also thought Bill was the one who was responsible for Scotty and him to quit.
I never heard Elvis say who was his favorite guitarist.
In Nashville he got used to the same players and at American in Memphis he knew it would be Chips Moman's studio rhythm section. Felton got the musicians
for the Stax sessions and the ones done at Graceland.
Yes, Elvis met Chuck and we used to go see Chuck play at The Flamingo Hotel Lounge in Vegas a couple of times. I never heard Elvis mention that Johnny B.
Goode was about him and fact is, I don't know if it's true because I never heard it mentioned by anyone including Chuck.
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Mark In Manchester Asks Marty: [03.05.10]
Hi Marty
I have just been rereading Becky Yancy’s book from 1977, and in it she says that she was told by members of the M.M, not to send out New Year/Christmas
party invites to fan club Presidents until the day of the party's so when they received them in the post it was to late for them to attend.
If this is true why do such a sh**ty thing to loyal fans? Its seems an a**e hole thing to do if it’s true. And if its not why would she write it in her book
Marty Says:
Hello Mark,
It's been a long time since I read Becky's book but what I do remember it had many exaggerations as to her relationship with him and the rest of us. Becky
was mainly in the office and worked for Vernon Presley not really Elvis.
I can assure you that if she was really told that it was by Vernon not Elvis. We never sent out any invitations to any party, it was all done by word of mouth to
people close to Elvis and us. What you describe is something Elvis would never do, he appreciated all the fans and fan club Presidents.
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Candy Asks Marty: [03.05.10]
Hi marty,
I hope this finds you well..
Overall....what do you think schilling , esposito and klein brought into elvis life? I know the capacity in which Joe worked...but did he actually bring anything
positive into Elvis' life?
One would think it would be obvious to the fans that those three guys in particular followed the money with Priscilla.
You guys lived an incredible life with Elvis and I am glad that you were around so that the rest of us could have somewhat of a piece of that life too.
What was life like day to day when Elvis wasn't on tour? How did he have a life with women when he surrounded himself with friends all the time? How did you
guys have a life during all that?
Also...I know you have mentioned the pills that you all used too, but did all the guys use them?
I love ya Marty...I don't think I will ever pay the ticket price to visit graceland again..but I bet you this..
When the attraction starts to wane,,,Priscilla will open the upstairs...I know you don't think highly of Lisa, but I do feel a bit of pity for her, she was just a kid
when Elvis died..and she is really screwed up....I think priscilla made it SO much worse..I read that Lisa really resented priscilla for a long time after elvis'
death. Priscilla has always over powered that girl. sad.
Thanks marty for all you do...thanks for answering my letters and being Elvis' friend.
Marty Says:
Hi Candy,
They (Schilling, Esposito & Klein) contributed things to Elvis' life, they weren't 100% bad.
Joe could be very funny at times and made Elvis and the rest of us laugh a lot with his comments and when he wanted to be he could be a good friend. He did
go a bit overboard as far as taking advantage of Elvis' generosity at times but Elvis knew it.
Klein was the epitome of how some uninformed writers have called us all Yes Men. Some of us were not that way but Elvis could tell George to give him oral
sex and I think his answer would be, "Do you want me to get on my knees or lay down?" Of course I'm exaggerating and want nobody to get the wrong idea,
Elvis would never say that because he wasn't gay.
Klein had a sixth sense when Elvis was in a generous mood but Klein would be sneaky about it because instead of asking Elvis for something, he would ask
one of us to ask him and a number of times it was me he asked.
As for Schilling, Jerry was basically OK but he greatly exaggerates his importance in the grand scheme of things except to Priscilla.
You are correct in their reason for being attached to Priscilla. But then again, they do that with other people who they think can benefit them but when their
usefulness to them is gone so are they.....I wish them well.
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Bjorn from Sweden Asks Marty: [02.05.10]
Hi Marty,
Thanks again. A few more topics if you have the time.
I can’t remember seeing Elvis on any red carpet pictures. Didn’t he even visit the openings of his own movies?
Records, ep:s and singles, was considered quite expensive in the 50’s, and must have represented something of value and accomplishment to the young Elvis
before he was famous. Did Elvis keep a personal collection of all of his record releases from the Sun days and onwards (that is apart from the golden ones)?
Did Elvis show any interest in or influenced the artwork of his record covers? Did he comment? Who would make the final decisions?
Did Elvis ever visit or meet Sam Phillips after the time of The Million Dollar Quartet? Did he express any afterthoughts about his time at Sun?
Marty Says:
Hi Bjorn,
No, Elvis never did the Red Carpet but you have to remember that back then those things were not as prevalent as they are today. Today they have a Red
Carpet for the opening of a toilet. It's all media hype to get people in the theaters. In the 50's & 60's a lot more people naturally went to the movies for their
entertainment.
Elvis had a record collection but except for right after the sessions, when he listened to the dubs of the sessions, he seldom listened to his own records. Just
as most times, he didn't watch his own movies even though he had 16 Millimeter copies at Graceland as well as a projector and screen in the basement den.
Colonel Parker handled all the album covers even to the point where he'd pick the picture and sell it to RCA to use on the cover. Elvis did not get involved with
that. Knowing Parker he probably didn't split the money with Elvis either.
In the 50's after he left Sun, every once in awhile we'd go down there at night when an artist was recording and Elvis would just hang around and sometimes
jam but then he stopped doing that after he got out of the army and for whatever reason, he was not interested in ever seeing Sam again which he said to
some of us a few times. However Sam was invited to Elvis' first Vegas pre-opening show by Parker.
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John from the UK Asks Marty: [29.04.10]
Hi Marty,
I read your reply to Bjorn regarding the Tupelo, birthplace.
You mention that the birth house is a replica. I have always had my doubts to the authenticity of the shack and wonderded is Elvis was aware that the house
was a replica?
Marty Says:
Hi John,
Yes, he did but what I meant by replica is although the original was in very bad shape, they moved it from it's original site and practically built a new one with
all the repairs they made. So in actuality both answers could apply. He certainly recognized the place since he spent his first 13 formative years in it.
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Bjorn, Sweden Asks Marty: [29.04.10]
Hi again Marty,
This feels like a direct line to something long and forever lost. And then it isn’t. Old thoughts and suppressed questions sure keep coming up.
Thank you for your previous answers.
Here’s a few odds and sods.
There’s an old home movie out there picturing a very young Elvis – shirt off - driving a tractor on the Graceland estate. Elvis looks a bit surprised about being
filmed and the overall impression is of a young man trying to accomplish some rough garden work by himself. Was Elvis interested in doing such and other
work attending to the estate?
Were there any musical discussions within the circle of the Memphis Mafia and Elvis about music such as good songs and good performances on the radio,
the general direction in rock and pop music etc? What went on from Elvis and the Mafia commenting on music?
Looking att Elvis work load from ‘69 onwards - all the Las Vegas stints, the touring and recording - it sure seems hefty. Did Elvis comment on that? What is
your take on his work load regarding his health?
Marty Says:
Hi Bjorn,
At times Elvis would just get a spur of the moment idea that he wanted to fix things at Graceland which is why he was on that tractor. He did the same thing
when he decided to knock down an old house where Billy Smith and his parents had lived in the first couple years Elvis was at Graceland and so he got on the
tractor and knocked down the house with it. Which was a dangerous thing for him to do but he thought nothing of it.
He would fix things down on the ranch too when he got it.
As for the music, he spoke about it a number of times with Red, Charlie and me. Me because I got involved in the Memphis Music Industry but even before that
in the 60's, while in Hollywood doing movies, every week I would go to one of the record shops near the studio and buy albums that I thought he would like.
Red, because he was a songwriter and was into music. With Charlie, his discussions really were limited to Gospel music because as far as pop,R&B or Rock N'
Roll, Charlie had no ear for it. When Charlie would pipe in about it Elvis would tell him to shut up.
As for Elvis' work load, yes, in my opinion it was too much and at times he would say the same things but he wouldn't tell Parker to stop booking him.. In a way,
Elvis needed to work to keep him from being bored to death. I wish he would have done tours for about 3 to five months a year and Vegas once a year. He
complained about playing Vegas so much after the first couple of years and would often say that he would be playing there for the rest of his life to pay off
Parker's gambling debts.
To be honest, whatever negative effect all that had on him, he is partly to blame for not confronting Parker about it but he didn't. One of Elvis' big downfall
was that he never really learned about the business end of entertainment and didn't realize how other managers and artists handled it all. He was too loyal to
Parker because of Parker making him a star in the beginning.
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Bjorn, Sweden Asks Marty: [27.04.10]
Hi Marty!
Did Elvis talk about and comment on his first thirteen years in Tupelo? Anything special coming to your mind?
Did he sometimes visit the places where he used to be, visiting childhood friends etc?
Thanks for all your work on Ask Marty.
Marty Says:
Hi Bjorn,
He talked about it some and we made trips down there every now and then. On one trip we spent a few ours in the jail visiting the Sheriff who gave Elvis a
badge from the Tupelo police dept.
We also saw the site of the land where the park and chapel were named for him and then a replica of the house he was born in. There is also a museum
there now since he died.
I do not recall him meeting any childhood friends on those trips.
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Nachman Fahrner Asks Marty: [26.04.10]
Dear Mr.Lacker,
Thank you so much for answering my previous questions; I was very happy to read what you had to say!
When I was around 12 my mother bought me “Elvis What Happened”- and my world broke down, I was devastated. It’s hard to explain how much he meant to
me, and I felt completely betrayed. I couldn’t listen to Elvis for a year, a year and a half. His voice made me cringe. I gave away some of my Elvis-related
possessions, took down the posters.
Today I know that the achievements of a person are even more powerful when seen inside the complete picture of a person’s life. One of my teachers told me
that he never learned from anybody until he first figured out what was wrong with the guy. Sometimes the very good resides close to the very bad… So thank
you for telling us the truth the way you see it, thank you for giving us the real Elvis the way you knew him.
I have a few more questions if you don’t mind:
You said in your previous email, that “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”
Did Elvis ever put you in such a situation where you had to refuse to do what he asked of you?
Also, you write elsewhere that you quit working for Elvis, but continued being with him (in Graceland) as before. Did the fact that you quit working for him make
it easier to be his friend?
Some people accuse Elvis of simply copying the demos that were sent to him. I assume you were present at many recording sessions (including American
Studios), as well as jam sessions. How creative was Elvis as a musician? Did he have a standard procedure when recording or rehearsing?
Thank you so much for taking the time to answer these questions,
Have a good day,
Marty Says:
Hi Nachman,
No, I can't think of anything Elvis asked me to do that was in anyway bad or against the law.
When I was on the payroll I had no problem telling him things I saw wrong or give him information that he didn't know on various subjects including financial
matters. When I quit the payroll I was no different. I was always his friend and that's how I really looked at our relationship because first and foremost I cared
about him as a person and a friend. I never put him on a pedestal.
To a certain extent, he did basically copy the demos arrangements and that's why the results of both his early Sun sessions and the American sessions
results were extraordinary than the rest because at both of those times, he didn't copy the demos. Scotty and Bill were creative for back then and so were the
American Studio musicians and that made Elvis sing what came natural to him. That's the main reason I wanted him to record at American. That was also the
problem with the Nashville musicians they just went along with the demo arrangement without really adding anything.
As for your opening remarks, I was sad to hear that because you have to understand that he was human just like the rest of us. He wasn't perfect but as a fan
you should just enjoy his music and don't let the human things get in the way.
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Bill Rauhuff Asks Marty: [21.04.10]
What is your opinion of the collectors label that was started 8-10 years ago [called] Follow That Dream?
I have bought some of the recordings but my god they are releasing 12-15 CDs a year at 30 dollars a copy and now they are re-releasing the albums that
were on RCA for years with a few outakes. Is Priscilla that damn money hungry?
It seems they are whoring his name and it needs to stop but it won't I guess.
I wonder how many copies they make of these CDs? I have heard 8-10 thousand. Do you think Elvis would have wanted the world to hear a Xrated version of
Hurt that was just originally a outake?
Marty Says:
Hello Bill,
Although I'm not familiar with that label because I don't buy records, I have spoken of those kinds of labels and also RCA releasing outtakes and the same old
songs over and over again. I have constantly stated that I am against the outtakes and alternative cuts and I know Elvis would be too. There's a reason those
takes were never released on the original record, they were subpar in his estimation and he wasn't happy with them.
As for Priscilla, her middle name is a symbol--$$$$$$$!
Her only interest, in mine and some of the guys opinions, is MONEY! She has shown numerous times that no matter what she says, she's more interested in
that than Elvis' memory or legacy. That's why about the only thing she hasn't put Elvis' face or name on is toilet paper and I'm waiting for that to eventually
happen.
RCA and Priscilla are doing nothing but milking the fans out of their money by putting those records out. They know there are a certain number of fanatics
who will buy anything Elvis no matter if they already have the same thing on other CD's. I think they'd buy a CD of Elvis farting for 30 minutes.
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Christopher Asks Marty: [20.04.10]
Hi Again Mr. Lacker;
Some time back I read kind of a far fetched story that alleged somewhere in the mid-70's, Elvis entered an Elvis impersonator contest in Memphis and came in
third place. I personally find it hard to believe that Elvis being as famous and well recognized as he was would attempt such a thing and not be recognized as
the "real deal" - himself. But on the other side of the coin, we know that Elvis had a zany sense of humor and from that stand-point it sounds like something he
might have attempted. Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction. I was wondering if there is any truth to this story or if it is in fact a somewhat benign fabrication?
Also...
Do you know if George Barris continued to customize cars for Elvis during the 1970's? I know he customized Elvis’ bus and a Cadillac for him in the 1960's
among other vehicles. But I was wondering if this customizing for Elvis continued into the 1970's. Thank-you.
Marty Says:
Hey Christopher,
That is a load of bullmanure. he did not enter an imp contest. They didn't have those while he was alive that we knew of because there wasn't really any
number of imps while he was alive.
As far as I know, George Barris did not do any further work for Elvis in the 70's. George was a good guy though and was a master at what he did.
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Candy Asks Marty: [20.04.10]
I have another question...I look at photos of elvis in the latter years and I detect a pale, swollen face with almost distortion...I suppose because he was swollen,,
but given this...why in hell couldn't vernon see what was happening?
Another thing....why were schilling and esposito still in his good graces? Schilling had an affair with priscilla..or so I believe...and esposito was there for $$$$$
we all know that...but WHY? Why did he keep them on?
Elvis looked like a dead man walking..and he was...I just don't get why..
I KNOW you guys all did what you could,and he wouldn't listen,,but Vernon could have done something.
Did any of the MM ever have to help him take injections....?
I thank you marty, you always answer me and I thank you
Another question.
Did Elvis cheat with any of the guys' wives? OR any other married woman?
Marty Says:
Candy,
You are letting your imagination run away with you like some of those other fans I spoke of before. Elvis' skin was naturally pale when he did not get any sun.
As for his face being swollen at times, he had colon and other problems which has been written about before for which he took cortisone shots which will make
you swell sometimes.
Mr. Presley would not confront Elvis about anything like that, he was afraid Elvis would get mad and cut him off.
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BACK TO PAGE 11
I was reading a story on the web (http://www.irishelvisfanclub.com/vernon_elvis_imp_.htm) about a man named Radford Ellis. He claims he was a IMP
in the 1970's and put an Elvis show on for Elvis at Graceland?
The article state: "It was at one of the many parties at Graceland that Radford performed as Elvis for Elvis. It was at this time that Vernon Presley offered him
a job as Elvis' double. Radford was to be a decoy for Elvis after concerts. The job would have included leaving the arena dressed as Elvis, getting into a limo
and driving to the airport and/or the hotel to divert an onslaught of fans while Elvis safely left the building. Due to a conflict with his 1st wife, Radford turned
down the job. " Do you know if there is any credibility/truth to this story?
Marty Says:
Hi Chad,
Did you know I am the King Of Siam? You see this is how I got to be the King.
Many years ago,in the 60's, Elvis and I went to Siam and we were walking around one day when a man with a uniform came up to us and said,"I know who you
are, you're Marty Lacker but who's your friend here, is he your servant?" I smiled and said,"No, he's my friend not my servant. His name is Elvis Presley." The
man answered,"Never heard of him. However I would like to take you to see the royal family in the palace, I think the Queen Mother would like to meet you,you
can bring your friend if you'd like."
We went to the Palace and we were introduced to the Queen Mother and when she saw me she almost fainted.
The man told me that her son, The King just died and I looked just like him.
The Queen Mother whispered in the man's ear and then he turned to me and said. "The Queen Mother wants to know if you would like to take the place of
her son, it would be a great honor and you would have untold riches bestowed on you." I thought about it for a few minutes and discussed it with Elvis, the
Queen Mother didn't know who he was either. I then said, "OK but only if I could still live in Memphis and continue to work for my friend Elvis." She agreed
and so I then became the King Of Siam. I go back there once a year to take part in a ceremony and make new rulings then return to Memphis.
Does that answer your question about how real this guy Radford who I never heard of in my life is? Sounds like a story George Klein would tell.
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William Rauhuff Asks Marty: [26.08.10]
I have been reading on the internet that Myrna with The Sweet Inspirations is very sick and is in need of some financial help due to her medical bills and the
fans have sent donations and some of the TCB band have done some benefits for her at Elvis Week. Is that not another example of how Priscilla should step
up with all of her money and help her out as I know Elvis would have done all he could for her. Lisa could help her financially as well.
Also who was in charge of naming some of the Elvis movies? I have read The Trouble with Girls [and how to get into it] was to be called 'Chautauqua' which
would have made more sense as would 'Harem Holiday' over 'Harum Scarum'. Even 'California Holiday' would have sounded more serious than 'Spinout'.
Don't get me wrong as silly as some of the movies were, I was a young kid in the 60s and lined up to see them three times a year like a lot of people but I
always thought the titles could have been better. I never understood why you would name a movie 'Tickle Me' unless you just could not think of a name.
Although that movie was a little better than a few of the ones in that time.
Marty Says:
Hi William,
I'll go you better in answering your first question about Priscilla and Lisa. Elvis' cousin, Harold Lloyd, who was a gate guard for many years including after
Elvis died. He was a cousin who Elvis felt a great deal of caring for because he always remembered how good Harold was when he [Elvis] was a kid in Tupelo.
He specifically remembered that Harold used to bring him Payday candy bars every time he saw him back then.
After Elvis died, Harold learned that he was going to have to have heart surgery, he asked EPE and Priscilla to help him pay for it. I'll give you three guesses
whether she helped him or not and the first two guesses don't count. When it comes to Elvis' family, she does nothing.
So what makes you think she'd help Myrna.
The Directors and Studios named the movies, Elvis had nothing to do with that.
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Candy Asks Marty: [26.08.10]
When is your celebration coming for your note on Beale? Is there anyone else getting one?
I would assume that some of the other MM guys will try and be there..
Also, you mentioned before that you MM guys had a reunion a couple of years ago...I have seen clips on you tube of you guys, but is there a DVD available
for that? I have been unable to find where to obtain the entire interviews.
Marty Says:
Candy,
The dedication ceremony for my Beale Street Blues Note is tentatively scheduled for the first week in January which is also the time of my 74th birthday.
I'm looking forward to Billy and Sonny being there. Lamar, because of medical reasons, doesn't travel very much.
No the reunions were not filmed.
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William Rauhuff Asks Marty: [26.08.10]
I have not asked anything lately so I will make it up here. I wanted to thank you and some of the guys such as Red and yourself for some of the good ideas
such as you suggesting American to Elvis and Red with his writing and Billy Smith for his friendship with Elvis.
Some of you guys get no credit for anything except being hanger on's and some of the other guys like Joe, Jerry and George get classed as true friends who
really did not contribute anything but somehow get looked at as essential to Elvis creativity which is a joke. I believe Sonny has a good heart and helped Elvis
in many ways as well.
Now my question is what is your opinion of Lisa moving to London?
Do you like the idea of Sony releasing the 814 song The Complete Masters at around 820 dollars?
What about Lisa and scientology?
Marty Says:
Hello William,
I personally feel very happy and proud to have been a close friend to Elvis for 20 years and whatever I did to make his life more happy and enjoyable made
me happy. I don't need to ask for recognition, I don't need that to live my life. It is sufficient for me to know that he knew what I did and he showed his
appreciation with his friendship. I would feel the same towards any of my friends whether they are a superstar or not. That's just me and I'm sure the other
guys you praised feel the same way.
Joe, Jerry and George are painted as the good guys because of EPE praising them and EPE praises them because they kiss Priscilla's ass. That's their life
and not ours, thank G-d. Our satisfaction comes from all those years that Elvis cared about us and we cared about him as brothers. The hangers on bullshit
and all the other names we've been called comes from people who never spent one minute with Elvis and us, so their comments don't mean anything in the
grand scheme of things. The fact is, from a business standpoint, Elvis was like a major corporation and most of us original guys had serious responsibilities to
perform so that Elvis could perform his responsibilities and that's the name of that tune.
As for Lisa, my condolences to London. She has a right to be a cult worshipper, if that's what she wants. She is in no part of my life or the other four guys.
As long as the fans allow Sony and EPE to milk you out of your money they will continue to do things like the Masters set. What I also don't like and I don't
think Elvis would either, is them releasing all the bad alternate takes of songs from his sessions. He turned them down during the sessions because he didn't
think they were good enough to be released.
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Steve Asks Marty: [24.08.10]
Hi Marty,
Thank you so much for taking our questions. There seems to be conflicting information about whether Elvis met Patsy Cline. Most seem to think they did not
meet, but one book, "Honky Tonk Angel: The Intimate Story of Patsy Cline" by Ellis Nassour, Patsy Cline met Elvis Presley in 1962 at a fundraiser at St. Judes
and they even exchanged phone numbers. However, research shows that Elvis attended only two St. Jude's fundraisers, one in 1957, and one in 1964, after
Patsy's death. Can you clear this up? Did Elvis and Patsy ever meet?
Also, I just learned about your connection with Rita Coolidge's career. Did she or Kris Kristofferson ever meet Elvis?
Marty Says:
Hello Steve,
As far as I know Elvis and Patsy never met. I can tell you that they never met while I was around nor did Elvis or any of the other guys mention it happening
when I wasn't there.
Rita didn't meet Elvis and I don't think Kris did either, my answer for Kris would be the same as I said about Patsy.
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Arun Jassi Asks Marty: [23.08.10]
Hello Marty,
I have read that Elvis knew his Bible.
How well-versed was he on his knowledge of the Bible? Did he ever have Bible study sessions at all or was it all self-taught?
Marty Says:
Hi Arun,
Elvis knew the Bible fairly good. He was brought up reading it as a kid in Tupelo. He went to church as a kid in Tupelo but not when he was an adult in
Memphis. He sometimes would start talking about what was in the Bible in the later years mainly to the younger guys.
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Al Your Mountie Friend from Canada Asks Marty: [21.08.10]
Hey Marty, hope you are doing good my friend?
I just watched the movie Touched by Love with my wife and 15 year old daughter. I have to tell you that we shed a lot of tears. Not sure if you saw it but it is a
story about Karen who died (she was sick and hadicap) and Lena Canada who was taking care of her. Karen loved Elvis and wrote to him and he replied and
send her a lot of gift until she died a few months later. Did you see that movie and did you know anything about her from Elvis?
Take care and God bless you. Also where do you live Marty?
Marty Says:
Hi Al,
I know of the movie and understand what the story is about but I don't recall seeing it.
Elvis did many good things like that and most were done anonymously.
I live in Memphis.
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Candy Asks Marty: [21.08.10]
HI Marty,
I am assuming you didn't partake in the candlelight vigil or the annual events of aug. 16th...but I was wondering,,do you ever go there anymore?
You are SO right about Elvis' music being influenced by the black singers of the day and the gospel he loved so much. I don't think he realized how much of a
pioneer he really was.
You have had an amazing career yourself...you seemed to have flourished amid all the chaos. It had to be difficult to try and carve some 'other' career for
yourself whilst being with Elvis.
What are some of your treasured professional accomplishments aside from being with Elvis.
Marty Says:
Hello Candy,
No I don't participate in anything during so-called Elvis week. Billy and I did the first two vigils but we don't do anything during that time unless it is an even the
Memphis Mafia holds as we did with our two reunions years ago. We don't participate in any EPE functions and quite frankly with the emphasis being on
impersonators we wouldn't go anywhere near there.
As for my accomplishments, here's an excerpt from a Press Release that was released by the Beale Street Organization regarding the Beale Street Blues Note
Honor I will be getting in January.
"Marty was with and close to Elvis Presley for 20+ years, a number of them he was his right hand man as well as co-best man at his wedding. Marty had
attended the last year of high school at Humes with Elvis.
Marty spent a couple of years as a DJ and program Director in radio prior to that.
Marty left Elvis’ payroll in late ’67 as he was tired of travelling but he continued to handle special projects for him and also was with him every evening when
he was in Memphis until late ’76 and also went on some tours with him and to Vegas and the Aloha Special.
In ’67 Marty started a record company for Pepper Tanner Co. in Memphis and discovered Rita Coolidge and produced her first couple of hits. He recorded
her at American Studios in Memphis.
In ’69 Marty was solely responsible for and persuaded Elvis to record with Chips Moman at American Studios that resulted in his recording career back on
track with number one and top ten hits for the first time in five years. “Suspicious Minds”, “In The Ghetto”, “Don’t Cry Daddy”, “Kentucky Rain” and two
platinum albums. Shortly after that Chips asked Marty to be the VP and General Business Manager of American Studios which he accepted. Through the next
couple of years Marty handled negotiations and contracts with some of the major artists who cut at American.
Marty soon became one of the leaders of the Memphis Industry and was the co-founder of the Memphis NARAS chapter. You’ll find his name on the Chapter
Charter. He also served as an alternate member of The National Board Of Governors and represented the Memphis chapter at the one and only NARAS
Governors meeting in Memphis during the 70’s.
In 1972 Marty conceived the idea and was The Chairman Of The Board of the first government appointed Memphis and Shelby County Music Commission in
‘72 and wrote, directed and produced three highly successful Memphis Music Awards Shows attended by just about every President and execs of the major
recording companies in the country including Clive Davis and Jerry Wexler as well as most major trade papers.
After opening his own company Marty worked closely with all the studios and music industry in Memphis as well as national labels."
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Andrew Asks Marty: [19.08.10]
Hi Marty,
I wanted to ask you if Elvis ever met The Everly Brothers, and if he did, can you elaborate?
Secondly, I wondered if Elvis was ever liked or was influenced by their music, as he recorded a few songs which they did before him, like Let it Be Me, Baby
What You Want Me To Do and CC Rider.
Marty Says:
Hi There Andrew,
I believe I heard him say that he met them very early in his career before I started working for him but I don't recall him seeing them after I started.
Elvis liked their music but he wasn't influenced by them. he heard those songs by black artists which is why he liked and recorded them. That is with the
exception of Let It Be Me.
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Fran from Melbourne Australia Asks Marty: [13.08.10]
Dear Marty,
I know it's hard to foresee the future but if Elvis had lived what do you think he would be doing now (33 years on). Did he ever talk about the future, his future?
I could never see him retiring until he was very very old. Also, what are some of your favourite Elvis songs.
Marty Says:
Hello Fran,
Elvis talked about being a movie director and a good dramatic actor.
He might have done that after Colonel Parker was gone. He would also still be singing but not in movies.
A few of my favorite songs are "Ill Remember You", "I Got Stung" and "In The Ghetto".
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Tony Stuchbury Asks Marty: [11.08.10]
Hi Marty
Are you aware of any reaction or thoughts Elvis expressed in 1976 to seeing/hearing that ‘Harbour Lights’ from his SUN days was released on the Legendary
Performer Vol 2 album ?
Marty Says:
Hi Tony,
I never heard him say anything about it
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Candy Asks Marty: [09.08.10]
HI Marty !!
Congratulations on your Beale Street "NOTE" award ! You should be proud of yourself..you deserve it !!
You guys were all such confidants for Elvis and I just wondered, did he ever listen to any of you about business advice, or just depend totally on parker? I
am sure you guys could 'see' things that were going on.
Also, what was Elvis' relationship like with Priscilla's parents? I know he was respectful to everyone.
Lamar seems to have had an amicable relationship with David Stanley, has that changed? I had read that David was close to Lamar because Lamar was good
to him.
Thanks once again,
Candy
Marty Says:
Hello Candy,
He listened a few times to Red and myself about the music business and songs but when it came to financial business he told Alan Fortas and I to talk to his
father on two different occasions when we had suggestions on how to protect his money with good investments. When we went to talk with his father, who was
no financial genius but took care of Elvis' money, his father told us to mind our own business.
When I told Elvis what his father said he just shook his head and said no more. His father's lack of business sense is one of the reasons Elvis died with very
little money compared to what he made. He didn't invest Elvis' money except once when some guy conned him into invested in a coal mine, they lost every
penny.
Elvis hardly saw Priscilla's parents and he liked it like that. However, when he did he was always respectful.
Her father did ask him to loan him $100,000 to open a liquor store in Northern California where they lived but Elvis died before he could do it. It made Priscilla
mad that he didn't give him the money before he died. She herself told me and my wife that when she vested us the night before we moved backed to
Memphis from California two years after Elvis died.
Lamar no longer is friends with David. Eventually everyone learns about him and his family.
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Christopher Sp... Asks Marty: [02.08.10]
Hi Mr.Lacker;
First off I wish to sincerely congratulate you on being named to receive a Beale Street Blues Note. Because Beale Street is known around the world for it's
impact on the blues music, this is quite a distinguished honor. I'm sure Elvis would be very proud and happy for you.
"I was wondering about what went into Elvis' decision to also include Charlie Hodge and Alan Fortas (both of whom I liked) in the sit down/in the round section
of the 1968 Singer Special for NBC?
Also, since Alan Fortas' uncle was U.S. Supreme Court Justice Abe Fortas; I was wondering if Elvis ever met him and or the other members of the U.S.
Supreme Court?
Thank-for your time and again congratulations on your well deserved award.
Marty Says:
Hi Christopher,
Elvis liked to sing with Charlie and Alan, that made him comfortable. He really didn't need them on stage but they needed a couple more bodies on there to
make it look better visually since Bill Black was no longer here.
As far as I know Elvis never met Alan's uncle or any other member of the Supreme Court.
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Arun Jassi Asks Marty: [28.07.10]
Hello Marty,
I read in an interview with James Lee, the screenplay writer for the movie Change Of Habit that he tried to get Elvis and his co-star the late Barbara McNair to
sing together in the movie but his boss, Col.Parker said "No....Elvis doesn't do that with other people."
I think most Elvis fans don't know that Barbara McNair wasn't just an actress but also a very fine singer and recording artist (I have a few of her CDs) and
these two talents coming together and duetting would have been something quite ORIGINAL and actually BRILLIANT.
My question is if what James Lee said is true then why did Parker allow Elvis to sing with Ann-Margret and Nancy Sinatra among others in his movies?...Isnt the
subject of who Elvis could sing with or couldn't sing with in the movies more to do with Elvis himself than Parker???
Was Parker bothered by the race aspect on this?..If so, couldnt he see times were changing towards the end of the decade and that Elvis also had ethnic
fans? Your insight on this would be most appreciated, Marty.
Marty Says:
Hello Arun,
Parker didn't like Elvis singing duets at all however he made exceptions of Nancy because who her father was. Sinatra and Parker were good friends. As for
Ann Margret, I think Elvis had something to do with that and the fact that it was almost like a musical with the stages and dancing and the dynamics between
the two of them.
Race may have had something to do with it on Parker's part but not Elvis'.
Barbara was a well known singer in the 60's and had a few semi hits plus she did a lot of Variety TV Shows like Ed Sullivan and those types of shows. As for
times changing in regards to race and many other things, Parker never changed and that was detrimental to Elvis personally and his career.
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Candy Asks Marty: [27.07.10]
Hi Marty,
I read your response to someone about J.D.., Voice, and I agree,,,but do you think Elvis' need to have gospel on stage also lent itself to the image people
had? They all considered him to be christian, and even though it may have been for his own personal pleasure, it added to the general populations' belief of
said christianity.
Also,,I had read once, maybe it isn't true,,that Parker had wanted Elvis to stop the gospel on stage and Elvis told him if he couldn't sing his gospel he wouldn't
sing. Any truth to that as you know it?
I also think maybe he was trying to hold on to his upbringing in the midst of such chaos and confusion that existed in his mind.
Do you or any of the other members of he MM have memorabilia from Elvis?
It would be interesting to see what you guys could come with,,,I am sure the public would be interested to see it.
I have that J.D. Sumner wasn't always such a nice guy....what was his problem?
Life can be so strange,,,Elvis was such a phenomenon and you guys were almost as visible as he, and then it all passed...........what a life you all got to live !!
Marty Says:
Candy,
Yes, Elvis was a Christian but not a perfect one but there never has been a perfect human being of any religion.
When people paid money to see Elvis they paid to see The King Of Rock N' Roll not a preacher or Gospel singer. He took time in his private time off stage to
sing Gospel at times there was no need to bring it on stage at times. Parker may have said that to him but I didn't hear it or of it.
Elvis had ample time to reflect on his upbringing off stage.
Yes, most of the original guys have memorabilia and over the last 33 years some of us have sold some of it. My attitude is that I don't need material things to
remind me of Elvis or all those years, they and he are deeply imbedded in my mind and heart. I find it amusing some of the comments made by some negative
fans when we sell something.
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Fran from Melbourne, Australia Asks Marty: [27.07.10]
Hi Marty,
Hope this email finds you well. I recently watched a movie on David Stanley and his story with Elvis. My question is : What do you think of Dave Stanley in
respect to Elvis? I know he grew up around Elvis being Elvis' younger step-brother through marriage (Vernon to Dee) and ended up being part of Elvis'
entourage for a time in the much latter years.
Thanks Marty for your time
Take care
Marty Says:
Hi Fran,
I have no positive thoughts about David or the rest of his family and he knows exactly how I always have felt about him and them. I am not the only one who
thought that way.
Naturally he exaggerated his importance to Elvis. A remark Elvis made to me in the 70's sticks in my mind when we were standing in the den at Graceland and
David and Billy Stanley were in the kitchen in our direct eyesight, Elvis looked at them and calmly said to me,"It's not like they're my brothers!" Kind of says it
all.
Elvis used David and Ricky and the other young guys mainly in the last year after some of us original guys were gone. He knew that some of us were getting
tired of the same old routine and hearing the same stories so he needed fresh young ears to tell them to.
However, he made a remark to Billy Smith during the last year that the young guys were not the same as the original guys and he didn't trust them as he did
us and that he missed us. Billy reminded him that he was the cause of us being gone.
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Jim Zeraldo Asks Marty: [25.07.10]
Hi Marty,
I think this is a really cool forum for you to make available to the fans. Please keep it up.
My question is about the upcoming DVD release of Elvis on Tour. I'm surprised they didn't do a "Special Edition" version of it since we've all been waiting 33
years to see more of Elvis in Concert.
Do you think there's more to come (ie: milk the fans slowly) or is it possible no more good footage of Elvis On Tour really exists?
If there's a full concert in the can somewhere (i.e. Hampton Roads?) do you think we'll ever see it? Your comments please ...
Marty Says:
Jim,
If EPE and Priscilla follows their pattern, trust me something will pop up to keep, as you say,"milking the fans".
It almost looks like they care not what they put out as long as they can get you to buy it.
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Chad from USA Asks Marty: [24.07.10]
Hi Marty,
Thanks for answering all of our questions. Your honesty is much appreciated. You have been blessed with a amazing memory!
I can't help but see many parallels between Britney Spears current state and how Elvis was after 1976. What I mean by that is that she was once a huge sex
symbol, in amazing shape, etc..., but has lost her sex appeal, some of her talent, and seems reclusive. Would you agree? Perhaps her condition is more
mental than was Elvis'?
Marty Says:
Hello Chad,
It is hard for me to even make any connection between Britney and Elvis,she was not in his league,far from it.
In addition, as many of today's young performers they're mainly manufactured and choreographed and their voice is technically enhanced in the studio. On
stage they have to really mask their not so great singing talents by dancers and stage productions. Elvis was a natural talent, he did not use those gimmicks
and he had a very good voice and range.
Elvis' biggest downfall was Colonel Parker and Hill & range and the shitty songs they presented to him to record including the terrible movie songs that he did
for a number of years. There's a big reason the Memphis American sessions stands out to be so great because that one time he did songs that Parker and
H&R didn't give him. That plus the excellent hit making production talents of Chips Moman and his band plus Elvis wanting to cut hits again was the difference.
The equally big difference was in Elvis,he was loving it which made him upbeat.
But then he went back to Parker's crap and Parker kept booking him into the same towns ever year and almost every tour. Plus he began to hate Vegas. All of
that in the later years made him bored thus depressed and leaning more on his pills even more to try to escape all of that. Unfortunately he escaped in the
wrong way--he died.
Maybe I shouldn't say this because I don't know her but Britney has always struck me as being dumb, something Elvis was not.
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Tommy Asks Marty: [24.07.10]
Hi Marty,
On E.E.R, Lee is treating us to the great stuff from Thats The Way It Is for the 40th Anniversary celebrations and I was wondering if you would be willing to
share any stories of your time with Elvis during the making of this film. For me this film gives us the closest look into what it was like being with Elvis during the
sessions and his sense of humour. Thanks in advance and I know that many other fans will love to hear your stories about making this great film.
Marty Says:
Hi Tommy,
I can't help you there because during the shows they used in that film, I was back in Memphis as one of the leaders of the Memphis Music Industry at that time
the film was done.
However, to the best of my recollection of the film, because I haven't seen it but once when it first came out, is that most of the shows were the same as far as
his and our actions and the times in the recording studios were basically the same. The only real difference is the mood Elvis was in.
Sorry I can't help you there.
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Arun Jassi Asks Marty: [22.07.10]
Hello Marty,
Could you confirm to the best of your knowledge if Elvis ever went to the legendary Apollo Theatre in Harlem, New York in 1956 to see Bo Diddey perform?
If so, did he ever go there again to see anyone perform?
Marty Says:
Hi Arun,
I have no idea if he went to the Apollo in '56 because I was in the army stationed in Germany then.
However he didn't see or meet Bo while I was around, although he might have seen him in Vegas when I was in Memphis. I do know from Bo's statements that
he resented Elvis' popularity and accused him of stealing his music which is bullshit. Elvis didn't sing anything close to Bo Diddly's style.
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Randy Erdman Asks Marty: [13.07.10]
Dear Mr. Lacker,
I hope you and yours are very well. THANKS SO MUCH for your great kindness of taking questions about Elvis.
Can you please elaborate on your opinion that JD Sumner And The Stamps were a "bad influence" on Elvis.
Do you think Elvis kidded around with JD, onstage, way too much?
Do you think Elvis should not have featured JD singing "Why Me,Lord?" onstage?
Do you think that JD And The Stamps were just "wrong" for Elvis' show,period?
I always figured The Imperials and, later,The Stamps were part of the Elvis Show to "re-create" the parts sung by The Jordanaires.
I'd LOVE to know how you would have changed Elvis' concerts in general. Please tell us.
Getting back to the "back-up singers": Do you think Elvis should not have had a male quartet AT ALL? How did you feel about Voice?
Also: How did YOU feel about the part of The ELVIS Legend that was "The ELVIS Scarves"? Do you think the giving-out-the-scarves was okay, initially, but got
ENTIRELY out of hand? Or not?
Once again, many,many THANKS for your KINDNESS, Sir.
Marty Says:
Hello Randy,
I think JD was totally wrong for Elvis' show and therefore that also includes the Imperials. Some of them were nice guys although I don't feel the same way
about JD.
Elvis was Rock N' Roll, R&B and pop and that's what he should have presented on stage and the gospel influences of JD,in my opinion, took away from that.
People don't go to Vegas to listen to Gospel music just as they don't buy a ticket for a RNR tour concert to hear that.
In my opinion he should have just had the Sweets on stage with him, that's all he needed. My answer to your "Why Me Lord?" and JD is,"Why him lord?"
As for the scarves, the women loved them and that's why he kept doing it.
Voice was a joke and one of Elvis' spur of the minute whims. They were a waste of money and time.
Elvis was successful because of himself, he didn't need all that extra bullshit. He had the Gospel groups on there just to please himself without a thought
about the audience. That was wrong.
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Mike Eder Asks Marty: [13.07.10]
Hello Marty.
Did Elvis get to see some of the acts playing the lounge at The International during the period he was playing there?
Elvis is my very favorite artist but some of my other favorites such as Ike and Tina Turner and The First Edition were playing there at the same time.
I guess I'm just curious if he had an interest in those who shared the marquee especially those who were doing RnB and country/rock.
Marty Says:
Hi Mike,
Not while I was there, instead he would pick and choose and we went to the Flamingo a number of times to the lounge to see Fats Domino and Chuck Berry.
he also used to go see other artists in the main rooms of the hotels.
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Candy Asks Marty: [13.07.10]
Hi Marty, I am back with more questions....
Do you know about all Elvis' health problems? Did he really have glaucoma, heart disease and I am sure you had to know about his colon problems as he had
enemas with him all the time. Sorry for being so indelicate ,but it is just life.
Also, What was Elvis' real reaction to the book the guys wrote...
I just can't understand what he did each day..how he lived because if he was taking THAT many pills, wasn't he out of a lot? How could he even function..
Dr. nick has stated the ONLY time Elvis had an 'addiction' was after ghanem him on demerol..but isn't that not quite true?
He also said Elvis was never in control of his own medicines...well..I find THAT hard to believe because he was getting them from other sources...so nick wasn't
controlling everything.
I loved Elvis, but some of the things he started doing were very disappointing...like the video of him talking about a girl giving him h__d.....
Lots of people slur you guys about writing books saying you weren't loyal because you wrote books about private things....I do have to agree that some of the
things should have been left alone...like the problems soiling himself...but it is out there so we all just deal with it...it certainly didn't change my feelings for
Elvis...
BUT....did he actually have accidents on stage? Was that due to the drugs or the colon problems itself.
Love ya Marty....Thanks again.
Marty Says:
Candy,
Elvis had glaucoma, mild heart disease and colon problems.
He wasn't out of it all the time or most of the time. After taking pills for a long time you can handle them very well and function very well and he did that.
As for soiling himself I never saw that Nor did I ever see him have an accident on stage. As for his addiction and Nick controlling it,Nick tried hard to do so but it
is true about Ghanem and Dr. Newman in Vegas giving him things he shouldn't have had. The thing about the girl is no big deal as he was joking.
Elvis was not some stumbling down drug addict. He had pills in him every day and so did I and others but we all functioned well. he had other medical
problems that caused him to die and let's leave it at that.
If you or anyone else think some of us did wrong in what we write why do you all keep asking us about all this. It's 33 years since he died. It's over.
Enjoy his music and be happy!
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Candy Asks Marty: [13.07.10]
Did you ever know about Elvis' sleepwalking?
Also, I had written and asked you about Klein's book....what do you think of it?
I know this is a delicate, hurtful subject to his memory, but did you know Elvis supposedly wasn't bathing toward the end?
I have read the maids' "noticed" it and Billy said the same....
I think Elvis gave up a long time before he quit breathing...
Had he not given so much away he could have semi-retired and stayed with Lisa more.
I miss him Marty....crazy huh...for a gal who never even got to see him..
Myself and my family all loved him and were SO proud, especially being from Mississippi.
Love ya Marty, Candy
Marty Says:
Candy,
Yes, I knew about his sleepwalking. He was that way since he was a child.
It wasn't so much that he gave away it was that the money he made was never invested, had it been he would have been worth hundreds of millions when he
died, maybe even more in today's money.
Wasn't so much that he gave up, he just became bored with the same old crap that Parker was booking him in.
Elvis was partly to blame for putting up with it. if he had toured outside the US he may have lived much, much longer. Better yet, he should have gotten rid of
Parker many years before he died.
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Candy Asks Marty: [12.05.10]
Hi Marty,
What was the relationship between Priscilla and the Colonel when she was married to Elvis, after the divorce and after his death?
I am sure she had to kiss his ....a....s..until she got him out of that 50% deal.
What is your personal opinion of why Elvis didn't want to get into the business side of his life?
Why do you think Vernon sealed the autopsy?
Do you think Ann Margret will ever tell all the details of their relationship?
Do you know anything about Red West lately? I had heard that he had a son dealing with cancer.
Love ya marty.
Thanks for everything...I love you MM guys..
Please tell Billy hello for me..I wrote him but I understand his reluctance to write back.
later.
Marty Says:
Hi Candy, You are a question machine.
Priscilla didn't have much interaction with the Colonel except when she and Elvis went to Palm Springs every once in awhile. She wanted to continue dealing
with Parker after Elvis died because she was like Vernon, ignorant about business but the Probate Judge after an investigation on behalf of Lisa ordered that
they stop doing business with Parker.
Elvis went into the business at the young age of 18 and had no business sense at all and he just got to rely on Parker who quickly made him a millionaire in
the 50's. That has a psychological effect on someone who was dirt poor before that and not too academical, so he just began to enjoy himself and let Parker
take care of the business side.
Most celebrities or famous and wealthy people of that stature seal the autopsy but who knows why Vernon did it other than to keep the press out of it.
I doubt Ann will reveal anything because she is a private person. To my knowledge and having been around her a lot back then, I doubt there's anything
great to reveal except her personal feelings. Or are you looking for something of a sexual nature? If so than that's nobody's business and I know she won't talk
about that.
Red lives partly in Mississippi and Florida and occasionally gets roles in movies. His oldest son had Cancer but is in remission now.
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Phil from Bootle Asks Marty: [08.05.10]
Hi Marty,
I know you don't agree with the outtakes and private home recordings that Elvis did in his life being released and Elvis wouldn't have like them to be released
either.
In normal circumstances I would agree with you, but as He is sadly not with us anymore, as Lee said on EER, we don't have any new material, so we have to
do with what Elvis left in his short Life (what a lot of material he did leave), also the remixes that have been cleverly done for the modern era by different
people.
There have been a few home and private recordings released by FTD and on bootlegs.
Most of the songs that he does in these recordings are usually done in the studio at a later time like 'What now my love', 'Danny boy', 'She wears my ring' and
'I will be true' etc, he obviously liked these songs to sing in his own time.
There are other songs like 'Blowin' in the wind', 'Sweet Lailani', 'It's a sin to tell a Lie', '500 miles'(which is excellent), and 'Hide Thou Me', he must have liked
these songs as well?
Now my question (at Last):
I was just wondering did Elvis ever mention to you that he would like to record these songs in the studio? At a later date, as I think it was a great shame that
he didn't, or was it Parker sticking his nose in where he shouldn't.
I appologise for the long drawn out question, Thank you very much for your time.
Take Care
Marty Says:
Hey Phil,
No, he really didn't mention that to me. I think he liked those songs for his own enjoyment and often sang them around the house. He might just sing a chorus
or two and then go on to talking about something else.
Every once in awhile he would sit at the piano at Graceland or L.A. and just play and sing for his sheer enjoyment.
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Arun Jassi Asks Marty: [08.05.10]
Hello Marty,
Can you confirm if Elvis was responsible for the choreography for the Jailhouse Rock dance seqence in the 1957 movie and if so, why was he never offically
credited for this as I personally believe he should have been?
And did Elvis ever get to meet Little Richard or go to see him perform as he did Chuck Berry and Fats Domino?
All three of these living Rock'n'Roll/Black music Legends have acknowledged Elvis' importance musically and culturally over the years.
Marty Says:
Hi Arun,
The Choreographer for Jailhouse Rock was Alex Romero and he worked on a routine with Elvis based on Elvis' natural moves to the music so you can say that
they both did it but because of Hollywood union rules, Alex was credited as Choreographer because he was that for the entire picture not just that one scene.
Yes, Elvis met Little Richard but we did not see him perform in Vegas.
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Bill Rauhuff Asks Marty: [05.05.10]
I was reading your reply about Elvis being inducted in the R&R Hall of Fame. I was in attendance for his induction at the Gospel Hall of Fame in 2001 if I
remember the date correctly and they had Jack Soden from Graceland. You would think that Priscilla or Lisa would won't to be there in person when he is
inducted in something as important as a music hall of fame. He and I believe Johnny Cash are the only two inducted in the Rock, Country and Rockabilly Hall
of Fame and Elvis is the only one in four hall of fames if I am not mistaken. I was surprised John Lennon's children were at Elvis' Rock& Roll induction and EPE
sent George Klein. That was stupid. By the way, one quick question, was Elvis really a terrible guitar player as has been written or was he really pretty fair but
unfortunately in later years he only used the guitar on stage as a prop. I know he was no James Burton but I can't help but believe he was better than he
showed on stage sometimes.
Marty Says:
Bill,
Priscilla didn't go because there was no money involved.
The Lennon kids were there because of John's love for Elvis and the powers that be at the Hall, the ones who started it, Ahmet Ertegun, Jann Wenner and
Alan Grubman thought it would be a fitting gesture for the Lennons to be the presenters. I'm sure Klein campaigned to go and that's one of the reasons he
has kissed Priscilla's ass so he could be picked to do special things like that. He never does things for anyone unless he thinks he will get something in return
and that's sad and pitiful to be that way.
Elvis knew and could play the chords and just a little bit more but he was not that great with a guitar. He played the piano much better.
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Mark In Manchester Asks Marty: [05.05.10]
Thanks for your answer Marty, but the question wasnt if Elvis did this...It was did the memphis mafia do this thing?
Becky didnt say it was Elvis or Vernon but that it came from the memphis mafia
thanks again
Marty Says:
Hi Mark,
Sorry,I misread it but the answer is the same. I know of no MM that did that. In addition, as I said, we didn't send out invitations, so if the office did as a PR
thing to the club Presidents, that would have been done by Vernon.
Vernon and the girls in the office always handled the fan stuff. That includes answering any fans letter. Very seldom did Elvis go out to the office and when he
did if there was a special fan letter they wanted him to read he would do so and he might have,once or twice told them what to put in the answer. Most times
his cousin Patsy Presley signed those things for Elvis but he did also occasionally.......He appreciated that the fans wrote and also the work done by the Fan
Club Presidents.
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Bjorn, Sweden Asks Marty: [05.05.10]
Hi Marty,
And thanks. Thoughts of old keep surfacing.
There was this story long ago about Jerry Lee Lewis showing up at the Graceland gates with a gun in his hand. Is that true? If so – why in the world would he
do that? Did Elvis comment?
It is said that Elvis didn’t attend the funeral of Bill Black. Was it any lasting animosity between the two after that salary dispute way back? Did Elvis comment?
Did Elvis comment on who was his all time favourite guitar player?
Did Elvis himself pick the musicians for the recording sessions after the Scotty, Bill and D.J. days? Or at least try to influence the line-up? Did he care much?
Did Elvis ever meet Chuck Berry?
A lot of pop songs have been written about Elvis over the years. The only one recorded by Elvis and a steady part of his live appearances was Berry’s Johnny
B. Goode. Did Elvis realize that the song really was loosely based on himself?
There are some pictures of Elvis carrying an accordion. Did he actually play the instrument?
Marty Says:
Hello Bjorn
Yes, Jerry Lee showed up at the gates at Graceland and demanded to be let in. He was drunk and Jerry Lee has always been jealous of Elvis because he
thought he was as big of a star and he hated that Elvis got more attention and was liked by people better. They liked Elvis better because he wasn't crazy and
rude to people as Jerry was
nor did he have the same kind of image. Jerry also had a gun in his car. Unbeknownst to him,Elvis was watching him at the gate on Graceland's closed circuit
TV and the guard was told not to open the gate for Jerry Lee.
Elvis didn't like going to funerals and Bill's was no different. He felt he caused too much commotion with the people in attendance and didn't want to disrupt the
services. He also thought Bill was the one who was responsible for Scotty and him to quit.
I never heard Elvis say who was his favorite guitarist.
In Nashville he got used to the same players and at American in Memphis he knew it would be Chips Moman's studio rhythm section. Felton got the musicians
for the Stax sessions and the ones done at Graceland.
Yes, Elvis met Chuck and we used to go see Chuck play at The Flamingo Hotel Lounge in Vegas a couple of times. I never heard Elvis mention that Johnny B.
Goode was about him and fact is, I don't know if it's true because I never heard it mentioned by anyone including Chuck.
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Mark In Manchester Asks Marty: [03.05.10]
Hi Marty
I have just been rereading Becky Yancy’s book from 1977, and in it she says that she was told by members of the M.M, not to send out New Year/Christmas
party invites to fan club Presidents until the day of the party's so when they received them in the post it was to late for them to attend.
If this is true why do such a sh**ty thing to loyal fans? Its seems an a**e hole thing to do if it’s true. And if its not why would she write it in her book
Marty Says:
Hello Mark,
It's been a long time since I read Becky's book but what I do remember it had many exaggerations as to her relationship with him and the rest of us. Becky
was mainly in the office and worked for Vernon Presley not really Elvis.
I can assure you that if she was really told that it was by Vernon not Elvis. We never sent out any invitations to any party, it was all done by word of mouth to
people close to Elvis and us. What you describe is something Elvis would never do, he appreciated all the fans and fan club Presidents.
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Candy Asks Marty: [03.05.10]
Hi marty,
I hope this finds you well..
Overall....what do you think schilling , esposito and klein brought into elvis life? I know the capacity in which Joe worked...but did he actually bring anything
positive into Elvis' life?
One would think it would be obvious to the fans that those three guys in particular followed the money with Priscilla.
You guys lived an incredible life with Elvis and I am glad that you were around so that the rest of us could have somewhat of a piece of that life too.
What was life like day to day when Elvis wasn't on tour? How did he have a life with women when he surrounded himself with friends all the time? How did you
guys have a life during all that?
Also...I know you have mentioned the pills that you all used too, but did all the guys use them?
I love ya Marty...I don't think I will ever pay the ticket price to visit graceland again..but I bet you this..
When the attraction starts to wane,,,Priscilla will open the upstairs...I know you don't think highly of Lisa, but I do feel a bit of pity for her, she was just a kid
when Elvis died..and she is really screwed up....I think priscilla made it SO much worse..I read that Lisa really resented priscilla for a long time after elvis'
death. Priscilla has always over powered that girl. sad.
Thanks marty for all you do...thanks for answering my letters and being Elvis' friend.
Marty Says:
Hi Candy,
They (Schilling, Esposito & Klein) contributed things to Elvis' life, they weren't 100% bad.
Joe could be very funny at times and made Elvis and the rest of us laugh a lot with his comments and when he wanted to be he could be a good friend. He did
go a bit overboard as far as taking advantage of Elvis' generosity at times but Elvis knew it.
Klein was the epitome of how some uninformed writers have called us all Yes Men. Some of us were not that way but Elvis could tell George to give him oral
sex and I think his answer would be, "Do you want me to get on my knees or lay down?" Of course I'm exaggerating and want nobody to get the wrong idea,
Elvis would never say that because he wasn't gay.
Klein had a sixth sense when Elvis was in a generous mood but Klein would be sneaky about it because instead of asking Elvis for something, he would ask
one of us to ask him and a number of times it was me he asked.
As for Schilling, Jerry was basically OK but he greatly exaggerates his importance in the grand scheme of things except to Priscilla.
You are correct in their reason for being attached to Priscilla. But then again, they do that with other people who they think can benefit them but when their
usefulness to them is gone so are they.....I wish them well.
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Bjorn from Sweden Asks Marty: [02.05.10]
Hi Marty,
Thanks again. A few more topics if you have the time.
I can’t remember seeing Elvis on any red carpet pictures. Didn’t he even visit the openings of his own movies?
Records, ep:s and singles, was considered quite expensive in the 50’s, and must have represented something of value and accomplishment to the young Elvis
before he was famous. Did Elvis keep a personal collection of all of his record releases from the Sun days and onwards (that is apart from the golden ones)?
Did Elvis show any interest in or influenced the artwork of his record covers? Did he comment? Who would make the final decisions?
Did Elvis ever visit or meet Sam Phillips after the time of The Million Dollar Quartet? Did he express any afterthoughts about his time at Sun?
Marty Says:
Hi Bjorn,
No, Elvis never did the Red Carpet but you have to remember that back then those things were not as prevalent as they are today. Today they have a Red
Carpet for the opening of a toilet. It's all media hype to get people in the theaters. In the 50's & 60's a lot more people naturally went to the movies for their
entertainment.
Elvis had a record collection but except for right after the sessions, when he listened to the dubs of the sessions, he seldom listened to his own records. Just
as most times, he didn't watch his own movies even though he had 16 Millimeter copies at Graceland as well as a projector and screen in the basement den.
Colonel Parker handled all the album covers even to the point where he'd pick the picture and sell it to RCA to use on the cover. Elvis did not get involved with
that. Knowing Parker he probably didn't split the money with Elvis either.
In the 50's after he left Sun, every once in awhile we'd go down there at night when an artist was recording and Elvis would just hang around and sometimes
jam but then he stopped doing that after he got out of the army and for whatever reason, he was not interested in ever seeing Sam again which he said to
some of us a few times. However Sam was invited to Elvis' first Vegas pre-opening show by Parker.
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John from the UK Asks Marty: [29.04.10]
Hi Marty,
I read your reply to Bjorn regarding the Tupelo, birthplace.
You mention that the birth house is a replica. I have always had my doubts to the authenticity of the shack and wonderded is Elvis was aware that the house
was a replica?
Marty Says:
Hi John,
Yes, he did but what I meant by replica is although the original was in very bad shape, they moved it from it's original site and practically built a new one with
all the repairs they made. So in actuality both answers could apply. He certainly recognized the place since he spent his first 13 formative years in it.
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Bjorn, Sweden Asks Marty: [29.04.10]
Hi again Marty,
This feels like a direct line to something long and forever lost. And then it isn’t. Old thoughts and suppressed questions sure keep coming up.
Thank you for your previous answers.
Here’s a few odds and sods.
There’s an old home movie out there picturing a very young Elvis – shirt off - driving a tractor on the Graceland estate. Elvis looks a bit surprised about being
filmed and the overall impression is of a young man trying to accomplish some rough garden work by himself. Was Elvis interested in doing such and other
work attending to the estate?
Were there any musical discussions within the circle of the Memphis Mafia and Elvis about music such as good songs and good performances on the radio,
the general direction in rock and pop music etc? What went on from Elvis and the Mafia commenting on music?
Looking att Elvis work load from ‘69 onwards - all the Las Vegas stints, the touring and recording - it sure seems hefty. Did Elvis comment on that? What is
your take on his work load regarding his health?
Marty Says:
Hi Bjorn,
At times Elvis would just get a spur of the moment idea that he wanted to fix things at Graceland which is why he was on that tractor. He did the same thing
when he decided to knock down an old house where Billy Smith and his parents had lived in the first couple years Elvis was at Graceland and so he got on the
tractor and knocked down the house with it. Which was a dangerous thing for him to do but he thought nothing of it.
He would fix things down on the ranch too when he got it.
As for the music, he spoke about it a number of times with Red, Charlie and me. Me because I got involved in the Memphis Music Industry but even before that
in the 60's, while in Hollywood doing movies, every week I would go to one of the record shops near the studio and buy albums that I thought he would like.
Red, because he was a songwriter and was into music. With Charlie, his discussions really were limited to Gospel music because as far as pop,R&B or Rock N'
Roll, Charlie had no ear for it. When Charlie would pipe in about it Elvis would tell him to shut up.
As for Elvis' work load, yes, in my opinion it was too much and at times he would say the same things but he wouldn't tell Parker to stop booking him.. In a way,
Elvis needed to work to keep him from being bored to death. I wish he would have done tours for about 3 to five months a year and Vegas once a year. He
complained about playing Vegas so much after the first couple of years and would often say that he would be playing there for the rest of his life to pay off
Parker's gambling debts.
To be honest, whatever negative effect all that had on him, he is partly to blame for not confronting Parker about it but he didn't. One of Elvis' big downfall
was that he never really learned about the business end of entertainment and didn't realize how other managers and artists handled it all. He was too loyal to
Parker because of Parker making him a star in the beginning.
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Bjorn, Sweden Asks Marty: [27.04.10]
Hi Marty!
Did Elvis talk about and comment on his first thirteen years in Tupelo? Anything special coming to your mind?
Did he sometimes visit the places where he used to be, visiting childhood friends etc?
Thanks for all your work on Ask Marty.
Marty Says:
Hi Bjorn,
He talked about it some and we made trips down there every now and then. On one trip we spent a few ours in the jail visiting the Sheriff who gave Elvis a
badge from the Tupelo police dept.
We also saw the site of the land where the park and chapel were named for him and then a replica of the house he was born in. There is also a museum
there now since he died.
I do not recall him meeting any childhood friends on those trips.
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Nachman Fahrner Asks Marty: [26.04.10]
Dear Mr.Lacker,
Thank you so much for answering my previous questions; I was very happy to read what you had to say!
When I was around 12 my mother bought me “Elvis What Happened”- and my world broke down, I was devastated. It’s hard to explain how much he meant to
me, and I felt completely betrayed. I couldn’t listen to Elvis for a year, a year and a half. His voice made me cringe. I gave away some of my Elvis-related
possessions, took down the posters.
Today I know that the achievements of a person are even more powerful when seen inside the complete picture of a person’s life. One of my teachers told me
that he never learned from anybody until he first figured out what was wrong with the guy. Sometimes the very good resides close to the very bad… So thank
you for telling us the truth the way you see it, thank you for giving us the real Elvis the way you knew him.
I have a few more questions if you don’t mind:
You said in your previous email, that “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”
Did Elvis ever put you in such a situation where you had to refuse to do what he asked of you?
Also, you write elsewhere that you quit working for Elvis, but continued being with him (in Graceland) as before. Did the fact that you quit working for him make
it easier to be his friend?
Some people accuse Elvis of simply copying the demos that were sent to him. I assume you were present at many recording sessions (including American
Studios), as well as jam sessions. How creative was Elvis as a musician? Did he have a standard procedure when recording or rehearsing?
Thank you so much for taking the time to answer these questions,
Have a good day,
Marty Says:
Hi Nachman,
No, I can't think of anything Elvis asked me to do that was in anyway bad or against the law.
When I was on the payroll I had no problem telling him things I saw wrong or give him information that he didn't know on various subjects including financial
matters. When I quit the payroll I was no different. I was always his friend and that's how I really looked at our relationship because first and foremost I cared
about him as a person and a friend. I never put him on a pedestal.
To a certain extent, he did basically copy the demos arrangements and that's why the results of both his early Sun sessions and the American sessions
results were extraordinary than the rest because at both of those times, he didn't copy the demos. Scotty and Bill were creative for back then and so were the
American Studio musicians and that made Elvis sing what came natural to him. That's the main reason I wanted him to record at American. That was also the
problem with the Nashville musicians they just went along with the demo arrangement without really adding anything.
As for your opening remarks, I was sad to hear that because you have to understand that he was human just like the rest of us. He wasn't perfect but as a fan
you should just enjoy his music and don't let the human things get in the way.
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Bill Rauhuff Asks Marty: [21.04.10]
What is your opinion of the collectors label that was started 8-10 years ago [called] Follow That Dream?
I have bought some of the recordings but my god they are releasing 12-15 CDs a year at 30 dollars a copy and now they are re-releasing the albums that
were on RCA for years with a few outakes. Is Priscilla that damn money hungry?
It seems they are whoring his name and it needs to stop but it won't I guess.
I wonder how many copies they make of these CDs? I have heard 8-10 thousand. Do you think Elvis would have wanted the world to hear a Xrated version of
Hurt that was just originally a outake?
Marty Says:
Hello Bill,
Although I'm not familiar with that label because I don't buy records, I have spoken of those kinds of labels and also RCA releasing outtakes and the same old
songs over and over again. I have constantly stated that I am against the outtakes and alternative cuts and I know Elvis would be too. There's a reason those
takes were never released on the original record, they were subpar in his estimation and he wasn't happy with them.
As for Priscilla, her middle name is a symbol--$$$$$$$!
Her only interest, in mine and some of the guys opinions, is MONEY! She has shown numerous times that no matter what she says, she's more interested in
that than Elvis' memory or legacy. That's why about the only thing she hasn't put Elvis' face or name on is toilet paper and I'm waiting for that to eventually
happen.
RCA and Priscilla are doing nothing but milking the fans out of their money by putting those records out. They know there are a certain number of fanatics
who will buy anything Elvis no matter if they already have the same thing on other CD's. I think they'd buy a CD of Elvis farting for 30 minutes.
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Christopher Asks Marty: [20.04.10]
Hi Again Mr. Lacker;
Some time back I read kind of a far fetched story that alleged somewhere in the mid-70's, Elvis entered an Elvis impersonator contest in Memphis and came in
third place. I personally find it hard to believe that Elvis being as famous and well recognized as he was would attempt such a thing and not be recognized as
the "real deal" - himself. But on the other side of the coin, we know that Elvis had a zany sense of humor and from that stand-point it sounds like something he
might have attempted. Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction. I was wondering if there is any truth to this story or if it is in fact a somewhat benign fabrication?
Also...
Do you know if George Barris continued to customize cars for Elvis during the 1970's? I know he customized Elvis’ bus and a Cadillac for him in the 1960's
among other vehicles. But I was wondering if this customizing for Elvis continued into the 1970's. Thank-you.
Marty Says:
Hey Christopher,
That is a load of bullmanure. he did not enter an imp contest. They didn't have those while he was alive that we knew of because there wasn't really any
number of imps while he was alive.
As far as I know, George Barris did not do any further work for Elvis in the 70's. George was a good guy though and was a master at what he did.
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Candy Asks Marty: [20.04.10]
I have another question...I look at photos of elvis in the latter years and I detect a pale, swollen face with almost distortion...I suppose because he was swollen,,
but given this...why in hell couldn't vernon see what was happening?
Another thing....why were schilling and esposito still in his good graces? Schilling had an affair with priscilla..or so I believe...and esposito was there for $$$$$
we all know that...but WHY? Why did he keep them on?
Elvis looked like a dead man walking..and he was...I just don't get why..
I KNOW you guys all did what you could,and he wouldn't listen,,but Vernon could have done something.
Did any of the MM ever have to help him take injections....?
I thank you marty, you always answer me and I thank you
Another question.
Did Elvis cheat with any of the guys' wives? OR any other married woman?
Marty Says:
Candy,
You are letting your imagination run away with you like some of those other fans I spoke of before. Elvis' skin was naturally pale when he did not get any sun.
As for his face being swollen at times, he had colon and other problems which has been written about before for which he took cortisone shots which will make
you swell sometimes.
Mr. Presley would not confront Elvis about anything like that, he was afraid Elvis would get mad and cut him off.
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