| 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. |
Mari Asks Marty: [24.06.08]
I just stumbled upon another question if you could please help me out yet again.
During the tours in the 70's Parker continued to do what he had always done, work as an advance man.
Did he always have someone from Elvis' personal staff to accompany him or that only happened later? If so why did he need somebody from Elvis' staff since
he had so many people working for him "the Colonel's army" as they say.
I've read that he always did have someone from Elvis' staff and how nobody wanted to do it so they took turns. If so who were they and how long they worked
with Parker? Would this information be correct to your knowledge?
Marty Says:
Hello Mari,
One of the Memphis Mafia went with the Colonel to handle the room assignments in the hotels and a few other things like security in each city for Elvis that
they knew he wanted. Parker was more interested in the venues and the money and also because that was one of Parker's games he played.
Lamar went a few times towards the end, Grob, I think, lasted just one tour with Parker before Parker asked for someone else. Sonny went many times until
July '76 and then Lamar took over from there. I think Sonny was the only one who says he enjoyed it.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Julie from Kingston, TN Asks Marty: [24.06.08]
How is everything in your corner of the world?
I have always wanted to ask why doesn't Billy Smith or any of of Elvis's family come forward to speak? I know a lot in Elvis' family has passed away but why
doesn't Billy? It is a shame the way he was and has been treated by EPE, including you and the rest of the Memphis Mafia. I know you all do not speak at the
Graceland events.
I just wondered why some of the family who is still alive does not get together and have a formal speaking on Elvis.
I am tired of listening about Elvis from Priscilla's family and friends.
I hate the fact that Priscilla in her conniving way has managed to practically erase from memory any of Elvis' family. The only reason she can say she is
famous is she was married to Elvis; then divorced. Which convenently has been erased from memory or she sidesteps all together.
The talent in Elvis' family stopped with Elvis.
Marty Says:
Hi Julie,
Everything is fine here,thanks for asking.
We, Billy included, spoke in the years shortly after Elvis died and we also said almost everything there was to say in our large book, ELVIS AARON PRESLEY:
Revelations From The Memphis Mafia. If you haven't read it you will find just about everything you'd want to know about all those years and our relationship
with Elvis. You may find it at your Public Library or very inexpensively at Amazon.com. By the way, I'm not suggesting Amazon so we'd get royalties. The
book is out of print and we do not get royalties anymore.
As for Priscilla and Lisa, we've heard the same comments about them from many fans and we agree.
It's all about them now.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tony King Asks Marty: [15.06.08]
I have a question that might seem silly, but at the same time I would like your take on it.
To millions of Elvis fans around the world, Elvis was a special human being. one of those rare individuals that transcend any before or after him. When I think
of ELVIS I know in my heart of hearts that he was unlike anyone else. He had what they refer to nowadays as the "X" Factor. That something special that some
people have that is so different from the vast millions of others. Laurel and Hardy had the X-Factor. Muhammad Ali, Groucho Marx, Fred Astaire, Alistair Sim,
Judy Garland, all had this "X" Factor. And a select handful of others that were truly great!
My question to you is….
Did you ever feel that "X" Factor feeling with Elvis?
Did any of the guys and Gals feel that feeling that here is someone really special about him that you and they knew as friends?
I personally feel that many didn't "Get it" that lots of the people who knew and were friendly with Elvis (yes they loved him), but didn't really get the enormity of
his presence here on earth, nor do they really know what he was.
Maybe I'm jaded, because I did feel that… but whether you knew then or know it now. You and those around him experienced something wonderful, unlike
anything before or since. I hope that you realize that no matter how flawed he may have been. he was literally a GOD!
I know you might say that he would find that offensive, that there was only one God. But I say it in the way I wish to express what he was and what he means to
me (an atheist). If there was ever a GOD in my life, then Elvis is the closest to one that I will have or ever breathed the same air as. I never saw him, but I lived
in his lifetime and for me that is enough…
Marty Says:
Tony,
He got that X Factor from me.......A silly question deserves a silly answer.
Yes, Elvis was special in many ways. He had charisma and magnetism but he was human just like the rest of us. He was not G-d. It's nice that you personally
feel that way about him but that's your personal thing and not anyone else's. Just do yourself a favor and don't pray to him.
A few of us who were close to him understood him as much as anyone can understand another person they're close to for a long time but nobody knows
anyone else one hundred percent because we all have our inner feelings and thoughts. Some choose to never reveal them and some choose to reveal some
after they have come to trust certain of those close friends or family. he trusted some of us.
A few of us knew what he was capable of and we were privileged to have had private conversations with him about each other, where others didn't.
If you had spent the time we did with Elvis you would understand that he was more just like many of us even though he was special in certain ways. There was
more than one side of Elvis. As generous as he was he could also be selfish. As straight forward he was he could also be devious and conniving when he
wanted something or wanted you to do something for him. I used to find that amusing when he did it.
He had his strengths but he also had his weaknesses. As much as he didn't want to hurt anyone he could hurt the hell out of you by something he did or
said. Then later he would feel bad about it but he had no compunction about doing the hurting at the time. HOWEVER, on that score, some of us cared
enough about him that we would let him do the hurting towards us because deep down we knew he didn't mean it and he would realize it and feel bad later.
He did those things because he knew we loved him and he purposely used us to vent his anger even though it was not caused by us.
So in short, yes, he was special in many areas but he was a human being and not a G-d. He's not someone to be worshiped and yes, he would find it
offensive if you did.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Christopher S Asks Marty: [12.06.08]
Thank-you for answering my previous questions. And I do like reading your responses to the questions posed by Elvis fans from around the globe.
Despite a few misconceptions out there, some of the songs that came from Elvis' movie soundtracks were pretty darn good. (Ie. Can't Help Falling In Love,
Return to Sender, Follow That Dream, Sing You Children Sing, You're Time Hasn't Come Yet Baby, Edge of Reality, Change of Habit etc.) Yet, there were
others that were clearly not worthy of Elvis' vast vocal and musical talents even though he did a good professional job on them.
My question is:
Why didn't the Colonel or someone in Elvis' management intervene on his behalf and say, "Hey, Elvis is one of rock music's founding fathers and he's a
music icon to boot. We're not going to let him sing this stuff." ? (And I don't blame the movie song writers one bit for this problem because they had a job to do
and I know they meant no harm to Elvis.)
Contracts or no contracts, surely the Elvis name had so much star power behind it that something could have been done to get him better movie songs.
According to Scotty Moore in an interview he gave, much of Elvis' musical talent went to waste back there. It's hard for me to understand why this was allowed
to happen to an artist with that much talent and social significance.
My Final Question:
At the Madison Square Garden Press Conference in June of 1972, a reporter asked Elvis, why he wasn't recording hard rock songs anymore. (He was but
very little.) Elvis responded that if he could find some good songs in that genre he would do them.
It's apparent that Elvis could sing just about any kind of music - well. And I understand his desire to branch out into other avenues, besides rock. But I was
wondering if Elvis' reduced rock music out put in the 1970's really had to do with difficulty in finding material as he said?
Maybe he really had a desire to become more of a ballad singer?
Did he perhaps secretly think that at 37 (still a young man), he had outgrown rock music?
Was it a publishing thing with Hill and Range, Freddy Beinstock and others taking Elvis in a different direction?
Or perhaps Elvis himself did not like the direction rock music had taken since his vast 1950's output and sought to steer well clear of it?
Most of the biographies of Elvis I have come across have not gotten too deep into these things. Any light you can shed on these subjects Sir, would be a help
to both fans and pop music buffs alike. Thank-you for your time Mr. Lacker.
Marty Says:
Hello Christopher,
Nice to hear from you again.
You can lay the blame for all that crappy music at the feet of Colonel Parker and Hill & Range. I have spoken extensively on this subject in the Revelations
book I wrote with Lamar Fike and Billy Smith as written by Alanna Nash. Also in many interviews I've done and similar questions I've answered online.
Parker and Hill & Range's priority was in making money without the thought of how it effected Elvis. For many years any songwriter who wanted Elvis to record
their songs had to give a quarter to a half of the publishing to Elvis and Hill & Range. In the very early years when Elvis was starting he was the surest thing to
sell a million records or more and the songwriters didn't mind doing that. However Elvis busted the gates wide open for more singers and new singers and he
exploded the record business and pretty soon they too were selling millions but they didn't demand a piece of the publishing so the writers gave them the
songs because Parker and H&R would not change their tactics. Elvis knew he wasn't getting good songs but he wouldn't confront Parker about changing the
tactic. He hated most of his movie songs. In addition, many of the songs were written specifically for the scripts by H&R writers and H&R didn't really give a
shit how bad they were because they knew the songs would at least be in a soundtrack album and they'd make money off the sales but those songs'
publishing were not shared with Elvis.
That all changed temporarily in '69 during the American Studios sessions one night when I had a talk with Elvis up in his Graceland office when he was pissed
at the demos Parker sent and he wanted to know why he wasn't getting good songs, so I told him why. He then said to me and the four other guys in the room
that from then on he wanted to hear every song he could listen to and if he liked them he'd cut them whether he got a piece of the publishing or not. Parker
and Hill & Range were pissed when they found out but for those sessions Elvis stuck to his word. He was tested the very next night when Chips Moman would
not give Diskin and Bienstock a piece of Suspicious Minds. I followed Diskin into the studio from the control room when he told Elvis. Diskin didn't know I was
behind him but Elvis was looking at me shaking my head NO when Diskin was explaining it to him. Elvis then said to Diskin," Mr. Diskin, I know you're just trying
to do your job but let me, Chips and Felton handle the session."
I was very happy. Diskin turned and saw me, he wasn't happy to see me and then went out to the front room and called Parker in California. Parker told Diskin
to leave and fly back to L.A. and let, as Parker put it,"Elvis fall on his ass without them."
Some falling on his ass. 36 sides cut in 12 days, 4 platinum singles, two platinum albums and the first legitimate Number One Billboard Hit Elvis had in the
previous 5 years.
And that is the short version of the answer to your question.
As for Madison Square press Conference that was just an excuse Elvis quickly made up to answer the question. The fact is they more or less went back to the
old ways because Parker was pissed about the missed money which he made more of than Elvis. I know I could have got the hit songwriters of the day to write
songs specifically for Elvis but it was hard to get around the bullshit. When I started to bring songs that had been hits or semi hits for others that I knew Elvis
would like and would be good for him I had to pick my spots during a session without any prior warning for Parker or Bienstock to protest about although I had
a couple of skirmishes with them when I did including the Stax sessions that I set up for Elvis. Elvis cut most of what I brought.
They got so spiteful that they told Joe and Felton and a few others not to let me know about the last couple of sessions so I wouldn't be there.
Unfortunately Elvis bears some of the blame for not confronting Parker about songs and other things. He just suffered through the crappy music, movies and
eventually having to play Vegas so much and touring in the same small cities over and over again. I truly believe that had he been given more variety and
been able to tour outside the US he might still be alive today or at least would have lived a lot longer than he did.
Elvis' bad health and pill consumption was exacerbated by boredom.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mari Asks Marty: [03.06.08]
Hello Marty
How have you been?
I have another question.
Is there any information on when Sonny and Red West stopped doing drugs? I find it so helpful to read your description of how you were able to stop and
Forta's description of his battle with it as well after he left Elvis. Sadly I don't find that information about Sonny and Red. Do you know anything about it? Were
they still using drugs in 1976 and if so how/when did they stop.
Likewise - how was it for Esposito and Schilling? I am not so sure if they used and how long they used because it is not clear in their recollections.
Thank you once again for your patience with our questions!
Marty Says:
Hello Mari,
Neither Red or Sonny took that many drugs, at least not that I know of. They did not take the amounts that Elvis, Alan or I took. As far as I know neither one of
them have taken anything in years.
As for Joe and Jerry they took sleeping pills but I have no idea when they stopped as I and some of the other guys haven't spoken to Joe in many years and
I've only seen Jerry once in all those years and that was at Richard Davis' funeral.
Joe made it plain years ago that the relationship we all had together really didn't mean much to him as he began to bad mouth us so we choose not to have
anything to do with him. As for Jerry, he prefers Joe's company and he is really involved with Graceland which is something that most of us originals are not.
The five of us are quite happy living the life we live at this stage of our lives. We all stay in touch with each other regularly.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Julian Asks Marty: [02.06.08]
Hi Marty,
I just want to say how great it is that you are giving your time to answer fans questions here on EER!
You were there and we were not and as a fan I want to hear from someone who is not bound to the rules of EPE and will answer questions honestly because
as we know, you are not one of those in the employ of EPE.
Can you give us an insight into people like Joe Esposito, George Klein and Jerry Schilling. What were are these guys really like and is it true that the likes of
Esposito and Klein used to run and tell tales about Elvis to the Colonel?
Marty Says:
Hi Julian,
Joe was basically a nice guy for many years during the early years but his problem was/is he thought he was more special than any of the other original guys
in the group. The problem is Elvis didn't think so and neither did we. Other than Billy Smith, none of the guys were more special than anyone else in Elvis'
eyes or ours.
In saying that I'm speaking solely of the guys from the early years. The guys who came later were not the same to Elvis or us and I have to say that Elvis said
that more than once. Since Elvis died, Joe has made it clear to us that the relationship we all had back then really didn't mean that much to him and he, as
well as Klein have said negative things about us so we choose not to have anything to do with them. We haven't spoken to either one of them for many years.
Joe and George have always attached themselves to people who they think can do things for them or give them things, hence their friendships with Parker
and Priscilla. Jerry has always been close to Priscilla even when Elvis was alive and Elvis was aware of it. George has a bad habit of claiming things he did
for Elvis that someone else did. Yes, he and particularly Joe because George was not around that much contrary to what he tells people now, would tell Parker
almost everything Elvis did almost daily and Parker would do favors for Joe.
The sad part of it is, Joe and George hitched their wagon to two people who would cut their throats once they were of no use to them.
They have not exhibited what the rest of us believe real close friendship is all about.
Jerry is basically OK and he relies on Priscilla and Lisa for an income. He, Joe and George have a longtime clique.
We wish them well.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steve From Atlanta Asks Marty: [29.05.09]
Hi Marty,
It's a pleasure to speak with you.
The late Charlie Hodge stated on numerous occasions (I even recall hearing him say this himself several times) that he "laid out" the song lineup in many of
Elvis' concerts, including the Aloha From Hawaii concert. The subject of Elvis not changing his show repertoire has been a long running debate on many Elvis
forums as long as I can remember.
There, my question (s) are:
Is it true that Charlie determined what songs Elvis should sing in his shows?
And if so, should the finger be pointed at him for this rather than Elvis?
Thanks for letting me enquire, and I look forward to hearing your insight.
Marty Says:
Hi Steve,
Charlie would go to Elvis before each show and Elvis would tell him what songs and in what order he wanted to do them that night. Charlie would then relay
that information to the band. Charlie was the go-between Elvis and the band on matters of music for the shows.
It was Elvis' show and he was in charge, not Charlie nor anyone else.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arun Jassi Asks Marty: [29.05.08]
Thank you for answering my previous question about Elvis' best friends in which you said that Elvis didn't really have any bosom buddies in the showbiz world
only acqaintances. Having read two biographies on Jackie Wilson (one excellent biography by Doug Carter entitled "The Black Elvis" which was one of Jackie's
sobriquets) in which both books the mutual admiration, respect and their friendship is mentioned by the writers and those who knew them.
Jackie loved Elvis and one of his most cherished possessions was a photograph Elvis had signed, "Jackie, you got yourself a friend for life, Elvis" taken after
they had met in 1966 on the set of ''Double Trouble''even though Elvis had admired Jackie since seeing him perform with his group Billy Ward and The
Dominoes in Las Vegas in 1956; Elvis was so blown away by Jackie's rendition of "Don't Be Cruel" that he went to see the show five nights in a row. Jackie
apparently carried the photograph with him until he was stricken with illness but it shows how much Elvis meant to him.
Would it be true to say Marty, that if Elvis were to have had a close friend in showbiz then Jackie Wilson would be near to the mark as they appear to have
been kindred spirits?
Marty Says:
Hi Arun,
Yes, Jackie was a special friend unfortunately they didn't see much of each other after '66. Jackie spent the day with us during Double Trouble and we had
gone to see him perform the night before at a club called The Trip on Sunset Blvd.. Yes, Jackie liked to be called The Black Elvis. He was a great performer.
Jackie and I became good friends and I saw him the few times he performed in Memphis after that and we spent some time together after the shows. I used to
call him Sonny Boy as it had a special meaning to him because that's what his grandmother called him, he liked that name.
Elvis thought so much about Jackie that when Jack got ill and was placed in a nursing home before he died, Elvis paid part of his medical bills.
When I said "Bosom Buddies" I meant people who were around him a lot.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carol Asks Marty: [26.05.08]
Hello Marty:
I don't have a question but just a comment.
A fan wrote in with a question for you recently "What is your most cherished memory of Elvis" and you replied "his smile."
I'd like to thank you for that. I've been a long-time Elvis fan since the l950's and (even though I didn't know Elvis personally ) that has always been my answer
when asked the same question.
I was thrilled to read your answer! Of course, I appreciate the musical legacy Elvis has left us and have an extensive record collection. There's scarcely been
a day in all these years when I haven't listened to at least one Elvis song. But when I think of Elvis and fondly remember him, it's his smile! that I visualize each
and every time.
Marty Says:
Hello Carol.
Thank you. His smile could make your troubles or depression to disappear and I particularly remember a certain incident when I came into the Graceland
kitchen from the back door and he was leaning against the counter near the dining room and when he saw me he broke into his smile as if to say, "I'm glad
you're here,I'm happy to see you."
His smile could light up the world.
On a personal level that is my fondest memory of him, every time he smiled.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arun Jassi Asks Marty: [25.05.08]
Hello Marty,
Joe Esposito has referred to himself as "Elvis' Best Friend".
Is this, in your opinion a true description that he has given?
Who were Elvis' Best Friends both within the Memphis Mafia (not counting Billy Smith) and in the showbiz world?
My apologies if these questions have already been previously asked?
Marty Says:
Hi there Arun,
Joe has always thought he was more special than everyone else, the thing is Elvis didn't think so nor did any of us guys. Joe does that because he thinks it
makes him look important to people but it doesn't, especially to the ones that know it's not true.
Elvis had a few best friends strictly from the original guys but if anyone was THE best friend, even though he was his first cousin, it would be Billy.
The others were Lamar, Red, Sonny,Joe, for a time, Alan Fortas, Richard Davis and I'm proud to say me.
However I would never say that I was his best friend.
I remember in the early 70's I did an interview show in L.A. with Regis Philbin and we took a break for commercials and as we were getting ready to go back on
the air I noticed the cue card that a staffer was holding up for Regis to read and it said "and now we're back with Elvis Presley's Best Friend, Marty Lacker." I
whispered to Regis not to read it that way, to say, "I was One of Elvis' close friends."
None of the other guys would say what Joe says on that subject about themselves either.
Elvis didn't have Best friends in showbiz, he had acquaintances. Some he saw more than others but not very often. He liked some a bit more but none of
them were his bosom buddies. Except maybe Ann Margret but that's another story.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Christopher Asks Marty: [24.05.09]
Hi Again Mr. Lacker;
Thank-you for answering my previous questions in your usual forthright, respectful and honest way.
On the last day of July in 1969 and into most of August of that year; Elvis of course began his first regular month long Las Vegas engagement. A trend that
would continue through much of the 1970's. (I'm not counting the shorter stint in 1956.) Elvis looked great, sang well and many of his performances in that
town were outstanding. It's my opinion that while his work there was often excellent and legendary; a rock superstar, cultural icon like Elvis Presley was a little
out of place gigging in a town like Las Vegas, often times for a month at a time and twice a year. (At least back in 1969 and into the 1970's. This has probably
since changed.) Additionally, Elvis easily could have made and did make more money in one night playing on the road, than he did playing Vegas for a week.
Mr. Lacker, do you agree with my assessment? Or should I simply think of it as Elvis starting a trend that has since been echoed somewhat by Celine Dion,
Elton John and Barry Manilow.
Hind sight is always 20/20. But given all of this; what went into the decision for Elvis to play Las Vegas as much as he did between 1969-1975? (Only two
weeks in 1976.)
And did Elvis eventually tire of playing that town? (No offence to any of the good people and fine entertainment that city has to offer.)
Finally, I understand that in the mid-1970's Elvis was offered $2 million in cash to play a few shows in Japan and the Colonel refused it. I've also read that Elvis
was offered $10 million to do a show or two at the pyramids in Egypt in 1975 and the Colonel turned that down as well. Is any of this true? And if it is true; why
did the Colonel who liked making money refuse these lucrative offers?
To my thinking, Elvis could have done those few shows abroad and gone home to rest instead of working so hard back in the U.S. when he was tired and not
feeling so well.
Any light you can shed on these important Elvis issues Mr. Lacker would be much valued. Thank-you for your time.
Marty Says:
Hi Christopher,
Nice to hear from you again.
You are very astute in my opinion. Yes, it was a trend, playing Vegas, that Elvis should have put off for a number of years but you can chalk all of it up to
Parker. I think Parker booked Elvis into Vegas more for himself than for Elvis. Parker liked to gamble and after a couple of years Elvis got bored and would
often say,"I'll be playing here forever to pay the Colonel's damn gambling debts off."
Parker, as he did in all of Elvis' deals and I might add, and unbeknownst to Elvis, made all kinds of sweet side deals for himself.
Yes, four separate one night concerts throughout the country would have made Elvis more money, if done right, than the money he made in Vegas in two
weeks.
When Parker started Elvis' tours, he sold the tickets too cheap for one but then, much to Elvis' dismay, booked him in basically the same towns over and over
again every year.
The story about Japan and the Pyramids is true. We were in Tahoe when Elvis showed me the brochure that Adnan Khashoggi sent with color pictures of the
Pyramids plus all kinds of literature.
Elvis was excited, he told me they first offered $5 Million but because Parker was an illegal alien and wouldn't be able to go with Elvis, he used his typical trick
when he didn't want to do something, he doubled the price to $10 Million thinking they would refuse and thus give him an excuse to turn the deal down. They
agreed to pay it and he still turned it down and gave Elvis a bullshit excuse that Parker couldn't guarantee Elvis' security over there. While Elvis was alive we,
including Elvis, didn't know Parker was an illegal alien.
I think if Elvis had toured outside the US, giving him something new, a new challenge, he might still be alive today or at least he would have lived longer than
he did.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
April Tilch Asks Marty: [24.05.08]
Hi Marty, It is April again and as always thanks for answering our questions.
I have a couple this time if you don't mind.
I
've always heard that Elvis didn't like alcoholic drinks. I'm not much for them either but I do have one favorite alcoholic drink which is a fuzzy navel. I only drink
maybe 4 times a year. I was wondering if Elvis had one or not? For it's hard to believe that an adult would never had at least one alcoholic drink other than
champagne in their life time.
Next question is when did Elvis start smoking cigars and what was his favorite brand? I ask these questions because you never hear the truth about these as
his image was to conceal this. I've seen many pictures of Elvis with one arm behind his back hiding the fact he had a cigar in his hand. At least that is why I
think his hand was hiding behind his back. If I'm wrong maybe you can clear that. But by the seventies it seem like he didn't care who knew any more for you
see more pictures of him smoking.
My next 3 questions are on a more personal note for you.
1. What is your most cherished memory of Elvis?
2. We all know Elvis was a practical joker. What is the best joke he pulled on you? Or the best joke he ever pulled?
3. What was it like to live with Elvis?
I just want to say again thank you so much for taking the time to view our questions and for answering to the best of your knowledge.
Have a nice day Marty, April
Marty Says:
Hey there April, it's May, (Just joking)
Elvis didn't like alcohol that much and he didn't like anyone to drink around him except on special occasions. The big reason for that is many in his family
drank a lot and he didn't like what it did to them. The only time he really drank was in the early years when we would go to Vegas just to relax and he would
have at the most one or two Bloody Mary's.
Elvis like to smoke Hav A Tampa cigars because they had a wooden tip on them instead of putting tobacco in his mouth. In the early years he smoked
Tareyton cigarettes but we kept it sort of secret because Parker didn't want the fans to think Elvis smoked. It was stupid.
To answer your other questions:
1. His smile.
2. At one Christmas time when we usually got a bonus he gave us $5 McDonalds gift certificates.
3. As time went by living with him was just like living with our family. For a short time before I built my own house, my wife and children and I all lived at
Graceland. To be honest when you live in any house for awhile, rooms are all the same as anywhere else.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Al the Canadian Mountie Asks Marty: [24.05.09]
Hi again Marty, could you tell little bit more about the last time you saw him.
Did he go strait to his room?,
Did you guys talk and what was said?
I believe it was July 1976. Also the last time you talk to him on the phone, was he happy to hear you? What was said?
Did you feel that it was the last time you were talking to him?
I am sure that the fans including myself would like to know more.
Thanks brother.
Marty Says:
Hi Al,
It was July '77 when I last talked with him on the phone. He sounded out of it, but it's obvious he wanted to hear from me since he took the call.
It wasn't a long conversation, we asked each other how we were, naturally he said he was OK even if he wasn't.
He asked why I moved to California and I told him just to get away from everything and clear my head. I had stopped taking pills months before, he said take
care of
yourself and I said the same to him. We then said goodbye and that was it. He was gone a month later.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Al The Canadian Mountie Asks Marty: [22.05.08]
Hi Marty,
1- I was wondering if Elvis had name for his jumpsuits like his fan do?
2- When and where was your last conversation with Elvis and last time you saw him? How was he?
Thank you on behalf of all the fans for answering our sometimes stupid questions?
Marty Says:
Hi Al,
No, Elvis didn't have names for his jumpsuits that I know of.
I Last saw him after his last show in Memphis in '76 he was not in a good mood that night, he had started getting overweight and the pills were getting to him.
I last spoke to him in July '77 after I moved to California to get away for awhile, he was in Memphis and I called him.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Elizabeth From Merrick New York Asks Marty: [17.05.08]
Thanks for answering all our questions.
I was wondering, about the time Elvis just left Graceland and flew on a plane by himself. Did he ever tell one of the guys what happened when "Elvis Presley"
walked up to the counter to buy a ticket? I know anyone can do this but Elvis never did this himself as he always had one of the guys do it as to not cause a
scene and I had read that Elvis never carried around money and he always had one of guys take care of that. I know they had some cheesy movie re-
enacting this scene but I was curious what really happened. I would think one of the guys might have asked him being surprised that Elvis did this impulsive
act.
Marty Says:
Hello Elizabeth,
Yes, that was the one and only time Elvis ever did that and we were shocked that afternoon after he left and we found out. Sonny and I were in the dining
room at Graceland and we were discussing the information for his wedding as he got Elvis to say it was OK for me to put the wedding together as Elvis was
paying for it for Sonny and Judy as a wedding present.
We had a couple of friends who were supervisors for American Airlines at the Memphis Airport. One of them was Wally Jones, whenever we had to fly all we
had to do is call Wally and he would have the tickets ready for us and we didn't have to go through the terminal as he arranged for us to come in the side
entrance of the field and drive right up to the back of the plane where they had the back stairs lowered and we'd walk up into the plane. The only people who
saw us was the people already seated on the plane. That's exactly what Elvis did that day.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yves from Paris, France Asks Marty: [17.05.09]
First I would like to thank you once more for your kindness and quickness in responding questions.
May you please answer one more question?
I read the following about english actress Claire Boom saying she turned down Elvis advances in 1958:
"In 1958 Presley was 23 and shooting King Creole next to the sound stage where Bloom - then 37 - was filming The Brothers Karamazov with Brenner.
Her nine-year marriage to Steiger was on the rocks and Bloom recalled that Presley was "direct" in his sexual advances. In her book Leaving A Doll's House
Bloom wrote "there wasn't a great deal of subtlety about Elvis. He was direct. His magnetism was as considerable as his unmistakable aura of sexuality." Never-
the-less Bloom turned him down recalling "Alas! A chance missed, but one I have lived well without."
Do you remeber this? Did Elvis ever mentionned it?
Thank you so much Marty for your help. We Elvis fans are so lucky to be able to correspond with you!
Marty Says:
Hello again Yves,
I wasn't there in '58 I was back in Tennessee as a Program Director for a major radio station.
However, one night upon seeing Claire Bloom on screen in a movie we were watching Elvis did mention that she turned him on but he had no luck in being with
her. At the time as she said, she was married to Rod Steiger and he was one of Elvis' favorite actors.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yves from Paris, France Asks Marty: [15.05.08]
Hello Marty,
In Bob Dylan's latest interview in Rolling Stone magazine he made the following comments as reported by interviewer Douglas Brinkley:
[...]Dylan says. “I never met Elvis, because I didn’t want to meet Elvis. Elvis was in his Sixties movie period, and he was just crankin’ ‘em out and knockin’ ‘em
off, one after another. And Elvis had kind of fallen out of favor in the Sixties. He didn’t really come back until, whatever was it, ‘68? I know the Beatles went to
see him, and he just played with their heads. ‘Cause George [Harrison] told me about the scene. And Derek [Taylor], one of the guys who used to work for
him. Elvis was truly some sort of American king. His face is even on the Statue of Liberty. And, well, like I said, I wouldn’t quite say he was ridiculed, but close.
You see, the music scene had gone past him, and nobody bought his records. Nobody young wanted to listen to him or be like him. Nobody went to see his
movies, as far as I know. He just wasn’t in anybody’s mind. Two or three times we were up in Hollywood, and he had sent some of the Memphis Mafia down to
where we were to bring us up to see Elvis. But none of us went. Because it seemed like a sorry thing to do. I don’t know if I would have wanted to see Elvis like
that. I wanted to see the powerful, mystical Elvis that had crash-landed from a burning star onto American soil. The Elvis that was bursting with life. That’s the
Elvis that inspired us to all the possibilities of life. And that Elvis was gone, had left the building.”
What are your thoughts on that? Is that true you were send to him with an invitation from Elvis as Dylan claimed? Was Elvis really out among the young in the
mid sixties?
Many thanks in advance for your answers. Always a great pleasure reading from you!
Marty Says:
Hello Yves,
Nice to hear from you again.
Seems like Dylan is another history revisionist. To my memory Elvis sent nobody with an invitation for Dylan to come up to the house and meet him. Wishful
thinking maybe. As for what it seems some of The Beatles have supposedly commented about that historical meeting between them and Elvis, I'm amused.
They seemed to be thrilled about being there that night even though George spent most of the night by himself smoking joints out by the pool instead of being
inside the house where everyone else was. Fact is both John and Paul expressed to me the next day when some of us visited them at their house, how
thrilled they were to meet Elvis and that the night before meant a great deal to them.
As for Elvis' career being low in the 60's I understand what Dylan is saying. Recording wise Elvis' career had died down in spite of die hard fans buying some
of his records. The records themselves were nowhere near as good as they had been in the late 50's and very early 60's. They were basically terrible movie
songs, "Do The Clam" was not the real Elvis Presley. Then with the advent of The Beatles and other artists who Elvis paved the way for, his music at the time
was below standards.
That's why I nagged him for about six months to record with Chips Moman at American Studios which he finally did in '69. I wanted him to cut relevant hits that
would bring him back to the top of the charts where he hadn't been in 4 or 5 years.
Dylan is and has been a great talent and there were a few songs he wrote and did that Elvis liked from the first Dylan album I brought to him in the 60's.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arun Jassi Asks Marty: [15.05.09]
Hello Marty
I came across an interesting quote by Rev. Ralph Abernathy (associate of Dr.Martin Luther King) from 1972 where he says ''Elvis Presley did much to
advance the cause of the black equality,whether intentionally or not,he brought black music and culture to white audiences and made them more aware of the
social injustice that was widespread in American society.''
My question is, to the best of your knowledge,how much was Elvis himself aware and conscious of the part he played in helping to break down the racial
barriers in American society? Did Elvis ever actually feel he did contribute somewhat towards the Civil Rights Movement through the music if not overtly?
Marty Says:
Hello Arun,
What Abernathy said was true and it's a shame that some young black artists think Elvis was a racist based purely on the fact that he was from the south.
They knew nothing about him nore history. The older black artists always gave Elvis credit for what he did.
Elvis was not a braggard and even though we had conversations about many personal and private things and feelings, the closest he ever came, to my
knowledge, of speaking about that is when he spoke of his love and affinity for soul and Black Gospel music.
He had great relationships with black artist of his era.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kate O Asks Marty: [15.05.09]
Hi Marty, I really love this section of EER I check it almost daily for new Q&A's. Thank you for doing this for us fans!
I really love the song If I Can Dream and while watching again for the 1,000th time the 68 comeback you can really see and feel the emotion in Elvis when he
sings this. Why did Elvis never sing this song again? He did such a wonderful job with it, he did with all of his songs though. That has always been a bit of
mystery to me.
Thank you,
Marty Says:
Hi Kate,
Glad you are enjoying the Q & A section.
I think Elvis didn't do it much because it was better left for that particular dramatic moment at the end of the '68 Special. He didn't think it would have the same
effect on people by singing it live on stage.
In my opinion as far as songs and especially message songs go, I don't think Dream is as good a song as "In The Ghetto." That is my opinion as far as good
and commercial songs go.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Julia From Kingston, TN Asks Marty: [14.05.09]
Hi Marty,
I hope everything is well with you.
I have a question about inside Graceland. I hope I explain it so you know what I am talking about.
At the top of the staircase there is a wall extension that has been built and there is a small window there. The wall is up against the stair railing. Was the
addition there when Elvis was alive? If so, why the small window. It looks as if the window was placed there in order to see who would be at the bottom of the
stairs or trying to get in the door. Of course, if you don't know what I am talking about then it was added after Elvis died.
Also, on the grave of Glady's was there not a verse on it at one time which read, "She was the sunshine of our home."? I could swear I saw it at one time on
her tombstone and the last few times I have went I cannot find it.
Marty Says:
Hello Julia,
Nice to hear from you again.
The window actually at one time was in Priscilla's or the girl he was with bathroom. That was extended upstairs when Elvis had the whole upstairs closed off
and made his entire suite. In the early days there was no door at the top of the stairs it was an open hallway and Grandma lived in one room and one of the
guy's, Lamar and then Joe lived in another room. Elvis' dressing room closet originally was a small conference room. This was when his mother was alive and
she and Vernon lived in the downstairs bedroom that later was taken over by Grandma and Elvis closed it all off upstairs.
I don't remember what was on Mrs. Presley's tombstone but the original that was in Forest Hill Cemetary was not used at Graceland.
As a side note when she was still buried at Forest Hill, Elvis asked me to have a foot stone made for her grave that said, "Not Mine But Thy Will Be done"
Gladys Love Presley and he had me have a Cross put on the right side and a Star Of David on the left side. I asked him why the Star and he said he felt it
was what she'd want because she loved everyone.
When she was moved to Graceland and interred in the Meditation Garden, Vernon put the foot stone in the garage as he didn't like the Jewish Star Of David
on the stone............To be as nice as I can, he didn't like Jews.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mark Bowden Asks Marty: [13.05.08]
Before Elvis signed any of his movie contracts, was there ever a discussion about him having script approval? If not, why not?
Also, of the many long-term members of the Memphis Mafia, Richard Davis seems to be one of the least known. Would you please talk a little about Richard
as a person and his role in the Memphis Mafia? As always, thanks for taking questions.
Marty Says:
Hello Mark,
If anyone had script control and he shouldn't have had it, it's Colonel Parker. He was the one who made the deals with the studio and it was usually for more
than one picture all he was interested in was the money. Unfortunately Elvis didn't express his dislike for the script until while he was doing the picture and that
was mainly to us instead of the director or producer. He should have exerted his power but didn't because he was non confrontational so he suffered through
them.
Richard was one of my close buddies, he was a good person and he was one guy who never complained when asked to do anything. He began working for
Elvis in '62 and left in the 70's. Richard and I along with Alan Fortas, used to go to clubs in L.A. and do a lot of things together. He and Billy Smith and I were
real close for many years. A lot of fans knew who he was but because he really never made a lot of noise about himself it may seem he was little known
about. He cared a great deal for Elvis and he was a true friend His nickname was Broom because Elvis thought he was skinny like a broom stick. Richard
also worked for me in my music promotion and management company in the 70's.
He had a wonderful wife named Kim and she had given him triplets a couple of years before he died. They decided that he would become a House Husband
and take care of the kids and she worked at Horseshoe Casino in Tunica, Mississippi as a Casino Host. Richard died in his sleep a few years ago.
I miss him a great deal.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Simon Harper Asks Marty: [13.05.09]
Hello Marty, First of all I want to thank you for taking the time to do these Q&A's with the fans on Elvis Express Radio.
I saw on another website that Rex Martin who published the old fanzine 'Worldwide Elvis News Service Weekly', has accused the Memphis Mafia and people
like Jimmy Velvet of stealing hundreds of items that belonged to Elvis between August 16 1977 and November 1977 when an inventory was carried out.
What I would like to ask Marty is this, it is well known that yourself, Sonny, Red and Dave Hebler were not at Graceland during this period so who do you think
stole Elvis’ personal items? I think I’m right in saying that Joe Esposito, Charlie Hodge, Jerry Schilling, David Stanley, Larry Geller, Lamar Fike, George Klein
etc were all still around Graceland at this time and also, just how on earth did Jimmy Velvet manage to get so many of Elvis’ personal belongings? To the best
of your knowledge, how did all this stuff end up in private hands and do you know who took them and sold them on?
Marty Says:
Hi Simon,
To begin with Rex Martin has no idea who did or did not do anything around Elvis, he wouldn't know, he was no part of Elvis' group from the beginning.
As for Jimmy Velvet, he had those things because the people who were with and close to Elvis sold him many things that they had in their possession after
Elvis died, not before. Much of it was things that Elvis gave to them. Jimmy knew Elvis but he never worked or travelled with him nor was he really around us
except for a few times when he happened to be where we were. He's a good guy.
As to who I think took stuff, I have knowledge of the few people who took stuff out of Graceland that belonged to Elvis but they shall not be named by me
especially in public. I'm not the only guy who knows who did, there are two or three of us who know besides the ones who actually did it. However, I can tell
you it wasn't just the few members of the MM that did it but also a couple of family members.
I am proud to say that I never took anything that I shouldn't have from Elvis or that didn't belong to me and I can tell you that neither did Billy Smith,Lamar Fike
nor Red and Sonny. He meant too much to us to do that.
The ones that did it know what they did and they have to live with themselves.
I know some of you fans would like to know stuff like that but that's not my game.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Al the Canadian Mountie Asks Marty: [04.05.09]
My questions are:
1- Did Elvis ever met Charlie Rich? If yes how was their relationship?
2- There was that new blue lazer jumpsuit for Elvis that he never wore. Do you think that Elvis would have it ready before the end of his tour.
3- Elvis prepared a few new song for Portland, Maine. Do you know which one they were? I heard SWEET CAROLINE, YESTERDAY/HEY JUDE, WABASH
CANNONBALL....
Marty Says:
Hello Al,
Nice to hear from you again.
Yes, Elvis and Charlie met and they had a good relationship but did not see each other very often.
They were not close,bosom buddies. Charlie had his career and Elvis had his that kept them both busy. Charlie continued to live in Memphis until he died.
As far as I know, his wife Margaret Ann, still lives here.
I have no idea about the blue jumpsuit or what songs he was going to sing in Portland.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Christopher Asks Marty: [28.04.09]
I really do enjoy reading your Q&A with us fans. Lot of interesting stuff here. Since you knew Elvis from way back in the day, I was wondering this.
1. During the Sun years and then the early years at RCA; did Elvis realize that he was helping to change and mould the course of popular music? Was it his
plan to do this? Or was he simply an assuming hero, not really knowing what he was accomplishing until well after the fact? I wonder if he understood his
place in music history or just felt that he was an entertainer who made it big. (I know he was a humble man and that's good.)
2. Some years back, there was an article I read on the Internet, ALLEDGING that you and Billy Smith had written a ficticious story about Elvis having escaped
his great fame and wandered off into the sunset with a beautiful brunette named Maria. And then some people took it out of context thinking it was true. Please
forgive me if this is a complete fabrication. But if there is a grain of truth to it, I was just wondering what was actually written and how things may have been
taken out of context.
Thanks for taking time out to talk to us fan. We truly enjoy hearing from you Sir.
Marty Says:
Hi Christopher,
When Elvis started out it wasn't to become the big superstar he became, he just loved to sing and to get the opportunity to do so for a living. When he started
he played in schools and auditoriums and toured in small cities but because he was so different for the time, he burst onto the world stage with an explosion.
Nobody had ever heard or seen the likes of Elvis before and he not only became a big singing sensation he changed the culture of the world.
He gave young people a voice they never had before. In addition he played a huge role in black music and black artists being accepted much more by white
people, especially young people. With a manager like Parker, who was basically a carny con man, he was exposed in a big way. He was happy to be singing
on a bigger stage and at the same time he enjoyed the money it brought so he could provide his mother a better life.
The story you're talking about is a story that was written as FICTION. When we wrote it, we ended the story with that fact and our agent presented it to a
newspaper in England called 'The People' as FICTION.
Billy and I didn't know 'The People' was a tabloid rag, if we had known we would not have allowed it to be sold to them. They of course, as a tabloid will do,
printed it without including the FICTION part. After it came out a few of the "Elvis Is Alive" nuts, especially one in Kentucky used it to spread their nonsense
that Elvis was alive. We wrote the story to make the nuts look exactly what they were/are, nuts. That was a long time ago and it's time that crap was put to rest.
Unfortunately Elvis died August 16,1977.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Philip Tosini ( Liverpool, England) Asks Marty: [27.04.08]
First of all thank you for giving me and all Elvis fans the opportunity to get an insight into what Elvis was really like from a close friend.
It has taken me about 6 weeks to think of a question, as when you get the chance you can't think of anything to ask.
Anyway my question.
What do you think of? And What would Elvis have thought of his TCB band and backing singers taking the whole show on a world tour with the big screen and
His great voice?
Do you think it would have freaked him out?
I'm sorry if this question has been asked before.
Thank you again
Marty Says:
Hi Philip
Thank you for the question.
I think he would have liked the fact that his memory is being kept alive in such a fashion. He enjoyed entertaining people and he probably would be happy to
know that he's still doing it. I doubt he'd mind unless the fans were being ripped off on ticket prices. Above all he appreciated how all the fans made his career
possible and to such a high degree where he became the most famous entertainer in history.
By the way, he would never claim that but I'm saying it for him.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stephen Griffiths Asks Marty: [27.04.09]
Hi Marty,
Thank you for taking questions. I'm enjoying reading the answers. I have a clarification to offer and a question myself.
A previous question was about whether Olivia Newton-John ever met Elvis. You are right that Olivia went backstage to meet Elvis in Vegas, however, he left
due to an emergency before they could meet. So you probably remember her being there backstage, but although they nearly met, they never actually did. I
asked Olivia about this at a fan meet and greet in 2001 because I had long wondered about whether they ever met. The subject later came up in the Las
Vegas Sun on Nov. 19 2006: " ... Newton-John (who turned 58 in September and man do I feel old) recalled a 1974 visit, her first, to Vegas when she opened
for Charlie Rich at the LV Hilton showroom when Elvis Presley was dark. She arrived a few days early, while Presley was still performing. "He was singing my
hit at the time, 'Let Me Be There,' in his show and wanted to meet me, but something happened and he got taken away. I was so disappointed."
My Question to you is:
I would like to know whether Whitney Houston ever met Elvis. I know that her mother Cissy performed backup for Elvis along with the Sweet Inspirations but I
haven't found any information about whether Whitney was introduced to Elvis.
Marty Says:
Hi Stephen,
Yes, but Whitney was a little girl at the time and Cissy brought her one time.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thomas Barnett From Harvard IL Asks Marty: [26.04.09]
Hi Marty!
Quick question, if you could hear Elvis sing a song from todays music, which one do you think would be a good song for him? I read somewhere that Joe
Guercio thought Elvis would sing the heck out of "Don't let the sun go down on me" What do you think?
Marty Says:
Hello Thomas,
Thanks for your question. First let me say, I think the sun went down on Guercio a long time ago when it came to what Elvis should sing.
Right off the top of my head and also the first time I heard it, I'd say, R. Kelley's, "I Believe I Can Fly."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dean Craik, Manchester U.K Asks Marty: [10.04.09]
Thanks for answering my previous questions.
I am currently reading your book, 'Elvis and the Memphis Mafia', and I am thouroughly enjoying it. It's so good to read, an honest, frank and open account of
what went on with no gloss or whitewash.
Anyway I have a couple of questions,
1, Many people involved with Elvis claimed to have witnessed Elvis perform miracles of various kinds. I saw a documentary where Myrna Smith of the sweet
inspirations told a story about a member of the sweets having a cancer scare, she had a lump in her stomache. Myrna says she told Elvis about it and Elvis
put his hand on the girls stomache and prayed for her and the next day, the lump had gone. Also, other tales include Elvis reading people minds and also
Elvis seeing things moving in the sky. What do you make of all this? And did you ever personally see Elvis perform a miracle?
2. I recently went to an Elvis convention and one of the special guests there was a man introduced as "Scott Presley", Elvis`s first cousin. I've been a big Elvis
fan for a while I had never heard of Scott Presley before so I searched the net for any reference of him but couldnt find anything on him. Have you ever heard
of Elvis having a cousin by the name of scott presley?
Thanks for your continued honesty
Marty Says:
Dean,
Nice to hear from you again. I'm glad you're enjoying the book and yes, when we wrote it with Alanna Nash we were implicit to her that nothing be changed,
that it be our words because it was all truth.
As for Elvis' miracles, there were none. He liked to sometimes think he had those miraculous powers and when he did lay his hands on someone and prayed
we humored him in a joking way that he did something to change the situation. However, I do not diminish the power of prayer but realize that is something we
all have.
As for the lump in the person's stomach, either the prayer did it or it was something they ate and it went away, It was not some miracle Elvis performed.
As for the things moving in the skies, what he saw were satellites when they were visible to the naked eye. No mind reading either.
Never heard of a Scott Presley. He was never at Graceland when Elvis was alive nor did I ever hear of his name by Elvis or any relative of his.
It might be a tenth removed cousin because of his last name or he may be just another phony cousin and there have been a number of them since Elvis
passed away.
(Addition: Scott Presley was not born with the Presley name - This Q & A will be discussed on the Friday Requeast Show from 10.04.09)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Al from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Asks Marty: [08.04.09]
I don't want to be morbid with my questions but I am very questioning myself about Elvis's Funeral.
1. Did you attend the funeral? If not why? If yes how was Elvis appearance in his casket?
2. I read in the book of the man who was the funeral director for Elvis funeral and he stated that they recorded (sound only) the funeral. Do you know anything
about it?
3. When did you see Elvis for the last time?
4. Can you tell me if the Memphis Mafia were invited to the funeral or Vernon did not invite them?
5. I also would like to know a bit about you. Where do you live and what are you up to these days.
Marty Says:
Hi Al.
No, I was not at Elvis' funeral, I was scheduled to go, there was a plane waiting for me at the L.A. airport as I lived in Southern California at the time but my wife
got very ill and at the last minute I decided not to leave her.
I'm glad I didn't go because I'd rather remember him as I knew him for over 20 years instead of seeing him in his casket.
Some of the original Memphis Mafia were there, except Red, Sonny and me.
I am not aware of any recording of the funeral, it's not something that would have been allowed plus it would have been in bad taste.
Knowing Colonel Parker, if it had been, he would have made a deal with RCA to release it on record. I put nothing past him.
I last saw Elvis in late '76 but spoke with him on the phone in July '77.
I live in Memphis and I am retired from the Music Industry.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Julia from Kingston, TN Asks Marty: [01.04.09]
Hello Marty,
You probably get many questions which cannot be answered because of legal issues but I am hoping these can be answered.
My first question is regarding Priscilla having more show time at Graceland events.
I think it is is a contract arrangements with the company who bought the EPE rights.
I honestly do not think she has started showing up to so many events because she misses Elvis or the goodness in her heart. What say you?
The other question pertains to two books, 'Priscilla Child Bride' and the unreleased book by 'Currie Grant'. Both did not speak highly of Priscilla in case you
never heard or read either. Both in different words pretty much stated she and her mother pushed the relationship with Elvis, among other issues. Would
either of these books in your opinion be right on or close to the mark?
Hopefully you can answer these. If not, I understand. Take Care.
Marty Says:
Hello Julia,
There are no legal restrictions on answering questions, it's up to the person asked if he/she wants to answer.
I have no problem answering your good questions, it's not the first time I've been asked.
From what was in the media, Priscilla was paid $6.5 million dollars by Robert Sillerman's company when they bought 85% of EPE. In actuality she owned NO
PART of EPE but the newspaper stated she was paid that money so she would be the face of EPE at various events as Lisa Marie had no desire to do so.
In my opinion and that of a few of the other guys, if she wasn't paid she wouldn't be there nor interact with the fans. It is our opinion she's more interested in
making herself look good not Elvis. EPE is a business to her. She, in my opinion, was never a genuine, warm person.
I have read Child Bride and I think the writer hit the nail on the head in her portrayal of Priscilla.
I have not read Currie's book but I know he has no love for her.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yves (from Paris, France) Asks Marty: [31.03.09]
I have seen that President Obama and former President Clinton are now "honorary members" of the The Memphis Mafia.
May you please tell us a little more about it?
How did that happen? Did they ask personnally? Is Obama really an Elvis fan or is just PR?
One last question: Do you think Obama attend the show in Hawaii in 1973, as he was living there by the time? Many thanks in advance for all your answers!
Best regards,
Marty Says:
Hi Yves, Thank you for your questions.
We know that President Obama is a music lover as he has spoken about that before in conversation. We know from someone that knows him that he likes
Elvis' music so we decided to honor his fandom with an honorary membership in the Memphis Mafia.
As for President Clinton, he is a well known Elvis super fan. He has proclaimed his love of Elvis' music from the time he was District Attorney in Arkansas and
then Governor. When he campaigned for President he played "Heartbreak Hotel" on his sax on the Arsenio Hall Show here in the US.
As for whether President Obama attended the Aloha Show, I believe he was only ten or eleven years old at the time and I have no idea whether he was there
although I don't remember seeing any children there that night. That doesn't mean he wasn't there, I just don't know if he was.
Needless to say, we are proud to have them both as members.
Marty
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Christopher Asks Marty: [30.03.09]
Hi Again Mr. Lacker;
I had sent in a question or two last year and you were nice enough to answer them for me. Thanks for that.
I'm amazed at the stories I hear about Elvis' memory.
1. I read once, that Elvis allegedly recited the entire Jewish marriage ceremony in Hebrew when he was George Klein's best man. I find that fascinating. Is this
true?
2. Since Elvis had people of various ethnic backgrounds around him; (Greek, Jewish, Mexican, etc.); did they teach him some words from those languages?
With the Bible originally being written primarily in Hebrew and Greek, I would imagine that Elvis would have had an extra interest in those languages since his
favorite book was said to be the Holy Bible.
And finally,
3. I understand that Elvis' old friend and MD - Dr. Nick, along with his son Dean are writing a book about their years with Elvis along with a professional writer.
Do you know when this will be coming out; and have you contributed to it in some way? (I hope you will contribute as I admire your candid yet considerate
approach.)
Thanks for talking to us fans.
Marty Says:
Hello Christopher, Nice to hear from you again.
1. No Elvis did not recite the Jewish marriage ceremony, what he did was when the judge began to say the usual words in English, we are gathered here,etc.,
Elvis started saying the words along with him but we stopped him and he let the judge continue. That story sounds like another one of George's fabrications.
2. No nobody really taught nor did he say any words in other languages.
3. I heard Dr. Nick and Dean are writing a book but I've been hearing that for a few years so I have no idea if it was done or will ever be published. No, I have
not nor would I, contribute to the book. I have written enough I think in my book with Lamar and Billy as written by Alanna Nash, originally titled ELVIS AARON
PRESLEY: Revelations From The Memphis Mafia which was re-issued recently as Elvis & the Memphis Mafia. It is a big book, over 800 pages and says a lot.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Al from Canada Asks Marty: [23.03.09]
Hi Marty,
I have a big respect for you and this is the reason why I have a few questions for you.
1- Do you know if there is some professional footages of Elvis on stage between 1974 and 1976?
2- I am a Royal Canadian Mounted Police constable in Canada and do you thing that Elvis would have appreciated a copy of our red uniformed with a badge
as a gift? Would he let me entered his home to present it to him? (Sincere gift)
3- Who was choosing which jumpsuit Elvis would wear each night? He had so many of them?
4- Do you think that we would had seen Elvis in Canada?
Thanks and may God bless you.
Marty Says:
Hi Al,
Nice to hear from an RCM and to know you're an Elvis fan.
As for your first question, I can't think of any professional footage but someone probably took some still photos during that time.
I think Elvis would have loved to receive one of your uniforms and a badge from the RCM and it would not surprise me if he would have worn it a time or two at
home but knowing him, he also might have worn it in public at least once. Yes, I'm sure he would have invited you into Graceland to present it to him.
Elvis basically chose his jumpsuits each evening depending on his mood that night.
Yes, if Elvis had his way, you would have eventually seen Elvis perform in Canada.
Thanks for keeping Elvis' memory alive,
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gerben from Holland Asks Marty: [19.03.09]
Hello Marty,
It's a great pleasure to watch the fan questions and your answers on the Elvis express website once in a while. Thanks very much for the opportunity to give
us fans more insight information about the topics we are interested in regarding Elvis and the Memphis Mafia.
Some questions:
1. I always wondered which songs Elvis exactly wrote in his career and why Elvis didn't write more of them? I heard Elvis wrote very few songs himself.
If he would have just a couple of chords and lyrics, there would probably be a lot of co-writers who would love to write with him to complete songs I presume.
2. If Elvis would have been alive today, which contemporary music and artists would be really "his thing" you think? To which concerts would he probably
pursue to go and which albums (or which style of music) would be then in his CD-collection?
Thanks for taking time to look into these questions Marty. All the best wishes !
Marty Says:
Hi Gerben,
Elvis only wrote one song and that was in the very early years with country singer Johnny Horton. He just never had the patience to sit and write songs.
In my opinion I doubt Elvis would like most of today's artists. Most of them are contrived, what I call manufactured and choreographed as opposed to being
natural talents. There might be a couple of young female country singers but he would like them as much because of what they looked like as well as their
singing. I can't think of one pop or rock singer that he would really like. However, I might be wrong, but one just does not come to my mind at the moment.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thomas Barnett Asks Marty: [12.03.09]
Hi Marty,
I was listening to the original recordings of That's alright mama by Arthur Crudup and Hound dog by Big mama Thorton and was wondering why Elvis sang
different lyrics in some parts of the songs when he covered them? Don't get me wrong I would listen to Elvis sing the alphebet if he recoreded it, but I am just
wondering out of curiosity. I hope you can shed some light on this for me. Thanks for your time.
Marty Says:
Hi Thomas,
He changed them because the words didn't fit him at the time and he did not want to sing the original words so he changed it to make him feel comfortable.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
April (Tilchkitten) Asks Marty: [10.03.09]
This is Tilchkitten again. Thanks for the compliment about my name and yes I'm female. It is my last name and my favorite animal. My real name is April Joy.
Thanks for answering my last question. Here is my new question:
What did Elvis think of his voice talking and singing? I know he always wanted his voice to be deeper but did he like the sound of his voice that we all love?
Marty Says:
Hello April,
Elvis liked his voice and yes, he liked deep voices and he was proud that he could hit those high dramatic parts of a song that built to a crescendo.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Roger Young Asks Marty: [07.03.09]
That is so cool I am so happy to hear you are all doing that for Lee. Good on you for showing your appreciation to what Lee has done and still does for Elvis
and the fans everywhere. As for the remark about making money, that was not aimed at you it was aimed at all these fan club leaders and magazine editors
who are out there making money out of Elvis and the fans, for example: The recent TTWII set that came out for £160. One of these leaders/editors kept a few
back waiting for them to sell out then charged fans £250. I was aiming my comments to these people. Again, Kudos to you for showing your appreciation to
Lee by presenting him with a real honorary membership to the Memphis Mafia.
Marty Says:
Thank you Roger
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Roger Young Asks Marty: [07.03.09]
May I request that you make Lee Dawson the founding honorary member of the Memphis Mafia and not for some fee. Lee has taken care of Elvis and his
legacy in the most outstanding way because he puts Elvis and the fans first. He is not like so many others out there who make money out of Elvis. He does not
see Elvis or the fans as some profit line. He does not sell products or charge for all he does.
Not only has he entertained us for years but now fights to stop fans buying fakes in the mine field of bogus Elvis items out there. I say it's your right and
privilege to charge anyone to become a member of the Memphis Mafia, but Lee should be sent certificate number 001 as a true honorary member of Elvis'
Memphis Mafia.
Marty Says:
Hello Roger,
Thank you for that suggestion and for thinking that much of Lee. That was already in the works.
We appreciate what Lee has done to keep Elvis' memory alive and he does great things for the fans and for us. His won't be number one because that's
already gone.
If your remark about seeing fans as a profit line is directed at us, I'm sorry you feel that way but neither Lamar, Billy Smith or I sell things that often, sometimes
you can't do things for many people without charging to cover the expense and compensate you for your time and efforts.
Do not put the three of us in the same category as two or three other people who worked for Elvis.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dean Craik Asks Marty: [03.03.09]
Over the years, I have seen a few TV articles and video clips regarding the jungle room in graceland. They always mention the tear on the pool table and
they always say it was torn by 'one of Elvis`s buddies' trying a trickshot. Can you tell us more about this and who tore the cloth on that pool table?
Marty Says:
Hello Dean,
The pool table is in the basement den, the room that was dubbed,"The Pool Room", it is not in the Jungle Room which is on the first floor.
My memory escapes me as to who cut the table felt. However for many years it was in good condition and although I haven't been to Graceland in a number
of years, I think it's still in good condition. Most of us were skilled players. I grew up shooting pool for money in the Bronx, NY.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Elizabeth Smith Asks Marty: [02.03.09]
Thank you for taking the time and allowing us to ask you questions about Elvis and your time with him.
I was wondering out of all the songs that Elvis sang, which one did he like the most?
I've seen several concert footages and he always sang "Can't Help Falling In Love" at the end. Why did he do that?
Also, I just got done watching Elvis-The Early Years (2005) and in it there is a comment made about the Beatles and how he thinks they treat their fans like
crap and he thinks they showed be loved. It seems Elvis really did love his fans and would rarely turn them away. Do you think this has to do with the way he
was brought up?
Or was Elvis that genuinely nice of a guy. Thanks for your time Marty.
Marty Says:
Hello Elizabeth,
Elvis didn't have one favorite song but he liked a number of them.
As for "Can't Help Falling In Love" he closed his shows with that as a message to his audience to show how much he loved them and his fans. Sometimes Elvis
blurted things out that he shouldn't have and the Beatles comment was one of them. He liked their music but he wished they hadn't openly talked about drugs.
Yes, he did love his fans from the beginning to his last days. He knew that without y'all he wouldn't have been as famous as he was and he genuinely
appreciated it.
Elvis was a nice guy but like us all he had his human faults and frailties.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ElvisFanTLC Asks Marty: [28.02.09]
In regards to the movie "This Is Elvis" I heard that EPE had Johnny Harra wore Elvis's actual clothes during the filming of the scenes.
I find that hard to believe. I understand that you don't approve of Impersonators, but if you don't mind me asking, why do you feel that Johnny Harra was the
worst person chosen for the part?
What are your thoughts of Rick Stanley, and his account regarding the death of Elvis in the movie "Protecting The King"?
I'd like to get your perspective on it. Personally, I find it hard to believe that Elvis would take his own life.
One last question, Did Elvis have any major surgeries that you know of?
Marty Says:
Elvisfan,
I do not know whether they let Harra use Elvis' clothes, I had no connection to that production and I'm glad I didn't.
No, I have no use for impersonators, most of them are horrible looking and bad singers and to me do a dis-service to Elvis.
Harra fits in that category in my opinion and the only reason they used him was because they wanted to show Elvis as being fat and Priscilla approved it.
I believe you're thinking of David Stanley not Rick although both of them are not much different. I have no use for that entire family and to be honest I have no
desire to waste my time talking about them. Pardon my English but that's a crock of shit that Elvis took his own life. Do you think Elvis would choose to be on
the toilet with his pants down to commit suicide?
The only surgeries Elvis had that I know of were to get the bags taken out from under his eyes and one time when he swallowed cap that was on his tooth and
it got lodged but I don't think either one was major.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mari Asks Marty: [28.12.08]
Regarding Dean's question - did all that happened after Elvis fell and got that concussion? (Him having to include Joe in the ceremony) Could it all be part of
the "changes" Parker made or wanted to make at that point?
I often think about that incident and it just makes me sad. Not surprised because knowing a lot about Parker now I can see it was almost expected.
However, I can't help but think that from that point on, with him asking 50% and just being so controlling and clueless about what Elvis really wanted, things
started to reach the point of no return. You know I've only been to Graceland twice and only once at the anniversary and I met Joe then but I hadn't read much
about any of you at the time.
I think it was a good thing otherwise I would have asked Joe a few things that he probably would not have liked. I think his involvement with Parker is sad, it was
so detrimental to Elvis, instead of helping Elvis get out of the trap he was in, he kept pushing him down further. I like to think that he didn't realize what he was
doing. Did he?
Marty Says:
Hello Mari,
Yes, that happened after Elvis fell and Parker, like a vulture, swept down when he saw his opportunity to control Elvis even more. In the meeting the four of us
had in Elvis' bedroom was a farce and I hated to see Elvis in that situation but that was not the time for me to tell him what I thought because he was still
recovering from his fall.
You ask if Joe realized what he was doing to Elvis by being Parker's stooge, I don't think Joe looked at it that way because he was self serving and whatever
he did was for Joe not necessarily against or for someone else.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NEXT PAGE BACK to page 5
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I just stumbled upon another question if you could please help me out yet again.
During the tours in the 70's Parker continued to do what he had always done, work as an advance man.
Did he always have someone from Elvis' personal staff to accompany him or that only happened later? If so why did he need somebody from Elvis' staff since
he had so many people working for him "the Colonel's army" as they say.
I've read that he always did have someone from Elvis' staff and how nobody wanted to do it so they took turns. If so who were they and how long they worked
with Parker? Would this information be correct to your knowledge?
Marty Says:
Hello Mari,
One of the Memphis Mafia went with the Colonel to handle the room assignments in the hotels and a few other things like security in each city for Elvis that
they knew he wanted. Parker was more interested in the venues and the money and also because that was one of Parker's games he played.
Lamar went a few times towards the end, Grob, I think, lasted just one tour with Parker before Parker asked for someone else. Sonny went many times until
July '76 and then Lamar took over from there. I think Sonny was the only one who says he enjoyed it.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Julie from Kingston, TN Asks Marty: [24.06.08]
How is everything in your corner of the world?
I have always wanted to ask why doesn't Billy Smith or any of of Elvis's family come forward to speak? I know a lot in Elvis' family has passed away but why
doesn't Billy? It is a shame the way he was and has been treated by EPE, including you and the rest of the Memphis Mafia. I know you all do not speak at the
Graceland events.
I just wondered why some of the family who is still alive does not get together and have a formal speaking on Elvis.
I am tired of listening about Elvis from Priscilla's family and friends.
I hate the fact that Priscilla in her conniving way has managed to practically erase from memory any of Elvis' family. The only reason she can say she is
famous is she was married to Elvis; then divorced. Which convenently has been erased from memory or she sidesteps all together.
The talent in Elvis' family stopped with Elvis.
Marty Says:
Hi Julie,
Everything is fine here,thanks for asking.
We, Billy included, spoke in the years shortly after Elvis died and we also said almost everything there was to say in our large book, ELVIS AARON PRESLEY:
Revelations From The Memphis Mafia. If you haven't read it you will find just about everything you'd want to know about all those years and our relationship
with Elvis. You may find it at your Public Library or very inexpensively at Amazon.com. By the way, I'm not suggesting Amazon so we'd get royalties. The
book is out of print and we do not get royalties anymore.
As for Priscilla and Lisa, we've heard the same comments about them from many fans and we agree.
It's all about them now.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tony King Asks Marty: [15.06.08]
I have a question that might seem silly, but at the same time I would like your take on it.
To millions of Elvis fans around the world, Elvis was a special human being. one of those rare individuals that transcend any before or after him. When I think
of ELVIS I know in my heart of hearts that he was unlike anyone else. He had what they refer to nowadays as the "X" Factor. That something special that some
people have that is so different from the vast millions of others. Laurel and Hardy had the X-Factor. Muhammad Ali, Groucho Marx, Fred Astaire, Alistair Sim,
Judy Garland, all had this "X" Factor. And a select handful of others that were truly great!
My question to you is….
Did you ever feel that "X" Factor feeling with Elvis?
Did any of the guys and Gals feel that feeling that here is someone really special about him that you and they knew as friends?
I personally feel that many didn't "Get it" that lots of the people who knew and were friendly with Elvis (yes they loved him), but didn't really get the enormity of
his presence here on earth, nor do they really know what he was.
Maybe I'm jaded, because I did feel that… but whether you knew then or know it now. You and those around him experienced something wonderful, unlike
anything before or since. I hope that you realize that no matter how flawed he may have been. he was literally a GOD!
I know you might say that he would find that offensive, that there was only one God. But I say it in the way I wish to express what he was and what he means to
me (an atheist). If there was ever a GOD in my life, then Elvis is the closest to one that I will have or ever breathed the same air as. I never saw him, but I lived
in his lifetime and for me that is enough…
Marty Says:
Tony,
He got that X Factor from me.......A silly question deserves a silly answer.
Yes, Elvis was special in many ways. He had charisma and magnetism but he was human just like the rest of us. He was not G-d. It's nice that you personally
feel that way about him but that's your personal thing and not anyone else's. Just do yourself a favor and don't pray to him.
A few of us who were close to him understood him as much as anyone can understand another person they're close to for a long time but nobody knows
anyone else one hundred percent because we all have our inner feelings and thoughts. Some choose to never reveal them and some choose to reveal some
after they have come to trust certain of those close friends or family. he trusted some of us.
A few of us knew what he was capable of and we were privileged to have had private conversations with him about each other, where others didn't.
If you had spent the time we did with Elvis you would understand that he was more just like many of us even though he was special in certain ways. There was
more than one side of Elvis. As generous as he was he could also be selfish. As straight forward he was he could also be devious and conniving when he
wanted something or wanted you to do something for him. I used to find that amusing when he did it.
He had his strengths but he also had his weaknesses. As much as he didn't want to hurt anyone he could hurt the hell out of you by something he did or
said. Then later he would feel bad about it but he had no compunction about doing the hurting at the time. HOWEVER, on that score, some of us cared
enough about him that we would let him do the hurting towards us because deep down we knew he didn't mean it and he would realize it and feel bad later.
He did those things because he knew we loved him and he purposely used us to vent his anger even though it was not caused by us.
So in short, yes, he was special in many areas but he was a human being and not a G-d. He's not someone to be worshiped and yes, he would find it
offensive if you did.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Christopher S Asks Marty: [12.06.08]
Thank-you for answering my previous questions. And I do like reading your responses to the questions posed by Elvis fans from around the globe.
Despite a few misconceptions out there, some of the songs that came from Elvis' movie soundtracks were pretty darn good. (Ie. Can't Help Falling In Love,
Return to Sender, Follow That Dream, Sing You Children Sing, You're Time Hasn't Come Yet Baby, Edge of Reality, Change of Habit etc.) Yet, there were
others that were clearly not worthy of Elvis' vast vocal and musical talents even though he did a good professional job on them.
My question is:
Why didn't the Colonel or someone in Elvis' management intervene on his behalf and say, "Hey, Elvis is one of rock music's founding fathers and he's a
music icon to boot. We're not going to let him sing this stuff." ? (And I don't blame the movie song writers one bit for this problem because they had a job to do
and I know they meant no harm to Elvis.)
Contracts or no contracts, surely the Elvis name had so much star power behind it that something could have been done to get him better movie songs.
According to Scotty Moore in an interview he gave, much of Elvis' musical talent went to waste back there. It's hard for me to understand why this was allowed
to happen to an artist with that much talent and social significance.
My Final Question:
At the Madison Square Garden Press Conference in June of 1972, a reporter asked Elvis, why he wasn't recording hard rock songs anymore. (He was but
very little.) Elvis responded that if he could find some good songs in that genre he would do them.
It's apparent that Elvis could sing just about any kind of music - well. And I understand his desire to branch out into other avenues, besides rock. But I was
wondering if Elvis' reduced rock music out put in the 1970's really had to do with difficulty in finding material as he said?
Maybe he really had a desire to become more of a ballad singer?
Did he perhaps secretly think that at 37 (still a young man), he had outgrown rock music?
Was it a publishing thing with Hill and Range, Freddy Beinstock and others taking Elvis in a different direction?
Or perhaps Elvis himself did not like the direction rock music had taken since his vast 1950's output and sought to steer well clear of it?
Most of the biographies of Elvis I have come across have not gotten too deep into these things. Any light you can shed on these subjects Sir, would be a help
to both fans and pop music buffs alike. Thank-you for your time Mr. Lacker.
Marty Says:
Hello Christopher,
Nice to hear from you again.
You can lay the blame for all that crappy music at the feet of Colonel Parker and Hill & Range. I have spoken extensively on this subject in the Revelations
book I wrote with Lamar Fike and Billy Smith as written by Alanna Nash. Also in many interviews I've done and similar questions I've answered online.
Parker and Hill & Range's priority was in making money without the thought of how it effected Elvis. For many years any songwriter who wanted Elvis to record
their songs had to give a quarter to a half of the publishing to Elvis and Hill & Range. In the very early years when Elvis was starting he was the surest thing to
sell a million records or more and the songwriters didn't mind doing that. However Elvis busted the gates wide open for more singers and new singers and he
exploded the record business and pretty soon they too were selling millions but they didn't demand a piece of the publishing so the writers gave them the
songs because Parker and H&R would not change their tactics. Elvis knew he wasn't getting good songs but he wouldn't confront Parker about changing the
tactic. He hated most of his movie songs. In addition, many of the songs were written specifically for the scripts by H&R writers and H&R didn't really give a
shit how bad they were because they knew the songs would at least be in a soundtrack album and they'd make money off the sales but those songs'
publishing were not shared with Elvis.
That all changed temporarily in '69 during the American Studios sessions one night when I had a talk with Elvis up in his Graceland office when he was pissed
at the demos Parker sent and he wanted to know why he wasn't getting good songs, so I told him why. He then said to me and the four other guys in the room
that from then on he wanted to hear every song he could listen to and if he liked them he'd cut them whether he got a piece of the publishing or not. Parker
and Hill & Range were pissed when they found out but for those sessions Elvis stuck to his word. He was tested the very next night when Chips Moman would
not give Diskin and Bienstock a piece of Suspicious Minds. I followed Diskin into the studio from the control room when he told Elvis. Diskin didn't know I was
behind him but Elvis was looking at me shaking my head NO when Diskin was explaining it to him. Elvis then said to Diskin," Mr. Diskin, I know you're just trying
to do your job but let me, Chips and Felton handle the session."
I was very happy. Diskin turned and saw me, he wasn't happy to see me and then went out to the front room and called Parker in California. Parker told Diskin
to leave and fly back to L.A. and let, as Parker put it,"Elvis fall on his ass without them."
Some falling on his ass. 36 sides cut in 12 days, 4 platinum singles, two platinum albums and the first legitimate Number One Billboard Hit Elvis had in the
previous 5 years.
And that is the short version of the answer to your question.
As for Madison Square press Conference that was just an excuse Elvis quickly made up to answer the question. The fact is they more or less went back to the
old ways because Parker was pissed about the missed money which he made more of than Elvis. I know I could have got the hit songwriters of the day to write
songs specifically for Elvis but it was hard to get around the bullshit. When I started to bring songs that had been hits or semi hits for others that I knew Elvis
would like and would be good for him I had to pick my spots during a session without any prior warning for Parker or Bienstock to protest about although I had
a couple of skirmishes with them when I did including the Stax sessions that I set up for Elvis. Elvis cut most of what I brought.
They got so spiteful that they told Joe and Felton and a few others not to let me know about the last couple of sessions so I wouldn't be there.
Unfortunately Elvis bears some of the blame for not confronting Parker about songs and other things. He just suffered through the crappy music, movies and
eventually having to play Vegas so much and touring in the same small cities over and over again. I truly believe that had he been given more variety and
been able to tour outside the US he might still be alive today or at least would have lived a lot longer than he did.
Elvis' bad health and pill consumption was exacerbated by boredom.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mari Asks Marty: [03.06.08]
Hello Marty
How have you been?
I have another question.
Is there any information on when Sonny and Red West stopped doing drugs? I find it so helpful to read your description of how you were able to stop and
Forta's description of his battle with it as well after he left Elvis. Sadly I don't find that information about Sonny and Red. Do you know anything about it? Were
they still using drugs in 1976 and if so how/when did they stop.
Likewise - how was it for Esposito and Schilling? I am not so sure if they used and how long they used because it is not clear in their recollections.
Thank you once again for your patience with our questions!
Marty Says:
Hello Mari,
Neither Red or Sonny took that many drugs, at least not that I know of. They did not take the amounts that Elvis, Alan or I took. As far as I know neither one of
them have taken anything in years.
As for Joe and Jerry they took sleeping pills but I have no idea when they stopped as I and some of the other guys haven't spoken to Joe in many years and
I've only seen Jerry once in all those years and that was at Richard Davis' funeral.
Joe made it plain years ago that the relationship we all had together really didn't mean much to him as he began to bad mouth us so we choose not to have
anything to do with him. As for Jerry, he prefers Joe's company and he is really involved with Graceland which is something that most of us originals are not.
The five of us are quite happy living the life we live at this stage of our lives. We all stay in touch with each other regularly.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Julian Asks Marty: [02.06.08]
Hi Marty,
I just want to say how great it is that you are giving your time to answer fans questions here on EER!
You were there and we were not and as a fan I want to hear from someone who is not bound to the rules of EPE and will answer questions honestly because
as we know, you are not one of those in the employ of EPE.
Can you give us an insight into people like Joe Esposito, George Klein and Jerry Schilling. What were are these guys really like and is it true that the likes of
Esposito and Klein used to run and tell tales about Elvis to the Colonel?
Marty Says:
Hi Julian,
Joe was basically a nice guy for many years during the early years but his problem was/is he thought he was more special than any of the other original guys
in the group. The problem is Elvis didn't think so and neither did we. Other than Billy Smith, none of the guys were more special than anyone else in Elvis'
eyes or ours.
In saying that I'm speaking solely of the guys from the early years. The guys who came later were not the same to Elvis or us and I have to say that Elvis said
that more than once. Since Elvis died, Joe has made it clear to us that the relationship we all had back then really didn't mean that much to him and he, as
well as Klein have said negative things about us so we choose not to have anything to do with them. We haven't spoken to either one of them for many years.
Joe and George have always attached themselves to people who they think can do things for them or give them things, hence their friendships with Parker
and Priscilla. Jerry has always been close to Priscilla even when Elvis was alive and Elvis was aware of it. George has a bad habit of claiming things he did
for Elvis that someone else did. Yes, he and particularly Joe because George was not around that much contrary to what he tells people now, would tell Parker
almost everything Elvis did almost daily and Parker would do favors for Joe.
The sad part of it is, Joe and George hitched their wagon to two people who would cut their throats once they were of no use to them.
They have not exhibited what the rest of us believe real close friendship is all about.
Jerry is basically OK and he relies on Priscilla and Lisa for an income. He, Joe and George have a longtime clique.
We wish them well.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steve From Atlanta Asks Marty: [29.05.09]
Hi Marty,
It's a pleasure to speak with you.
The late Charlie Hodge stated on numerous occasions (I even recall hearing him say this himself several times) that he "laid out" the song lineup in many of
Elvis' concerts, including the Aloha From Hawaii concert. The subject of Elvis not changing his show repertoire has been a long running debate on many Elvis
forums as long as I can remember.
There, my question (s) are:
Is it true that Charlie determined what songs Elvis should sing in his shows?
And if so, should the finger be pointed at him for this rather than Elvis?
Thanks for letting me enquire, and I look forward to hearing your insight.
Marty Says:
Hi Steve,
Charlie would go to Elvis before each show and Elvis would tell him what songs and in what order he wanted to do them that night. Charlie would then relay
that information to the band. Charlie was the go-between Elvis and the band on matters of music for the shows.
It was Elvis' show and he was in charge, not Charlie nor anyone else.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arun Jassi Asks Marty: [29.05.08]
Thank you for answering my previous question about Elvis' best friends in which you said that Elvis didn't really have any bosom buddies in the showbiz world
only acqaintances. Having read two biographies on Jackie Wilson (one excellent biography by Doug Carter entitled "The Black Elvis" which was one of Jackie's
sobriquets) in which both books the mutual admiration, respect and their friendship is mentioned by the writers and those who knew them.
Jackie loved Elvis and one of his most cherished possessions was a photograph Elvis had signed, "Jackie, you got yourself a friend for life, Elvis" taken after
they had met in 1966 on the set of ''Double Trouble''even though Elvis had admired Jackie since seeing him perform with his group Billy Ward and The
Dominoes in Las Vegas in 1956; Elvis was so blown away by Jackie's rendition of "Don't Be Cruel" that he went to see the show five nights in a row. Jackie
apparently carried the photograph with him until he was stricken with illness but it shows how much Elvis meant to him.
Would it be true to say Marty, that if Elvis were to have had a close friend in showbiz then Jackie Wilson would be near to the mark as they appear to have
been kindred spirits?
Marty Says:
Hi Arun,
Yes, Jackie was a special friend unfortunately they didn't see much of each other after '66. Jackie spent the day with us during Double Trouble and we had
gone to see him perform the night before at a club called The Trip on Sunset Blvd.. Yes, Jackie liked to be called The Black Elvis. He was a great performer.
Jackie and I became good friends and I saw him the few times he performed in Memphis after that and we spent some time together after the shows. I used to
call him Sonny Boy as it had a special meaning to him because that's what his grandmother called him, he liked that name.
Elvis thought so much about Jackie that when Jack got ill and was placed in a nursing home before he died, Elvis paid part of his medical bills.
When I said "Bosom Buddies" I meant people who were around him a lot.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carol Asks Marty: [26.05.08]
Hello Marty:
I don't have a question but just a comment.
A fan wrote in with a question for you recently "What is your most cherished memory of Elvis" and you replied "his smile."
I'd like to thank you for that. I've been a long-time Elvis fan since the l950's and (even though I didn't know Elvis personally ) that has always been my answer
when asked the same question.
I was thrilled to read your answer! Of course, I appreciate the musical legacy Elvis has left us and have an extensive record collection. There's scarcely been
a day in all these years when I haven't listened to at least one Elvis song. But when I think of Elvis and fondly remember him, it's his smile! that I visualize each
and every time.
Marty Says:
Hello Carol.
Thank you. His smile could make your troubles or depression to disappear and I particularly remember a certain incident when I came into the Graceland
kitchen from the back door and he was leaning against the counter near the dining room and when he saw me he broke into his smile as if to say, "I'm glad
you're here,I'm happy to see you."
His smile could light up the world.
On a personal level that is my fondest memory of him, every time he smiled.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arun Jassi Asks Marty: [25.05.08]
Hello Marty,
Joe Esposito has referred to himself as "Elvis' Best Friend".
Is this, in your opinion a true description that he has given?
Who were Elvis' Best Friends both within the Memphis Mafia (not counting Billy Smith) and in the showbiz world?
My apologies if these questions have already been previously asked?
Marty Says:
Hi there Arun,
Joe has always thought he was more special than everyone else, the thing is Elvis didn't think so nor did any of us guys. Joe does that because he thinks it
makes him look important to people but it doesn't, especially to the ones that know it's not true.
Elvis had a few best friends strictly from the original guys but if anyone was THE best friend, even though he was his first cousin, it would be Billy.
The others were Lamar, Red, Sonny,Joe, for a time, Alan Fortas, Richard Davis and I'm proud to say me.
However I would never say that I was his best friend.
I remember in the early 70's I did an interview show in L.A. with Regis Philbin and we took a break for commercials and as we were getting ready to go back on
the air I noticed the cue card that a staffer was holding up for Regis to read and it said "and now we're back with Elvis Presley's Best Friend, Marty Lacker." I
whispered to Regis not to read it that way, to say, "I was One of Elvis' close friends."
None of the other guys would say what Joe says on that subject about themselves either.
Elvis didn't have Best friends in showbiz, he had acquaintances. Some he saw more than others but not very often. He liked some a bit more but none of
them were his bosom buddies. Except maybe Ann Margret but that's another story.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Christopher Asks Marty: [24.05.09]
Hi Again Mr. Lacker;
Thank-you for answering my previous questions in your usual forthright, respectful and honest way.
On the last day of July in 1969 and into most of August of that year; Elvis of course began his first regular month long Las Vegas engagement. A trend that
would continue through much of the 1970's. (I'm not counting the shorter stint in 1956.) Elvis looked great, sang well and many of his performances in that
town were outstanding. It's my opinion that while his work there was often excellent and legendary; a rock superstar, cultural icon like Elvis Presley was a little
out of place gigging in a town like Las Vegas, often times for a month at a time and twice a year. (At least back in 1969 and into the 1970's. This has probably
since changed.) Additionally, Elvis easily could have made and did make more money in one night playing on the road, than he did playing Vegas for a week.
Mr. Lacker, do you agree with my assessment? Or should I simply think of it as Elvis starting a trend that has since been echoed somewhat by Celine Dion,
Elton John and Barry Manilow.
Hind sight is always 20/20. But given all of this; what went into the decision for Elvis to play Las Vegas as much as he did between 1969-1975? (Only two
weeks in 1976.)
And did Elvis eventually tire of playing that town? (No offence to any of the good people and fine entertainment that city has to offer.)
Finally, I understand that in the mid-1970's Elvis was offered $2 million in cash to play a few shows in Japan and the Colonel refused it. I've also read that Elvis
was offered $10 million to do a show or two at the pyramids in Egypt in 1975 and the Colonel turned that down as well. Is any of this true? And if it is true; why
did the Colonel who liked making money refuse these lucrative offers?
To my thinking, Elvis could have done those few shows abroad and gone home to rest instead of working so hard back in the U.S. when he was tired and not
feeling so well.
Any light you can shed on these important Elvis issues Mr. Lacker would be much valued. Thank-you for your time.
Marty Says:
Hi Christopher,
Nice to hear from you again.
You are very astute in my opinion. Yes, it was a trend, playing Vegas, that Elvis should have put off for a number of years but you can chalk all of it up to
Parker. I think Parker booked Elvis into Vegas more for himself than for Elvis. Parker liked to gamble and after a couple of years Elvis got bored and would
often say,"I'll be playing here forever to pay the Colonel's damn gambling debts off."
Parker, as he did in all of Elvis' deals and I might add, and unbeknownst to Elvis, made all kinds of sweet side deals for himself.
Yes, four separate one night concerts throughout the country would have made Elvis more money, if done right, than the money he made in Vegas in two
weeks.
When Parker started Elvis' tours, he sold the tickets too cheap for one but then, much to Elvis' dismay, booked him in basically the same towns over and over
again every year.
The story about Japan and the Pyramids is true. We were in Tahoe when Elvis showed me the brochure that Adnan Khashoggi sent with color pictures of the
Pyramids plus all kinds of literature.
Elvis was excited, he told me they first offered $5 Million but because Parker was an illegal alien and wouldn't be able to go with Elvis, he used his typical trick
when he didn't want to do something, he doubled the price to $10 Million thinking they would refuse and thus give him an excuse to turn the deal down. They
agreed to pay it and he still turned it down and gave Elvis a bullshit excuse that Parker couldn't guarantee Elvis' security over there. While Elvis was alive we,
including Elvis, didn't know Parker was an illegal alien.
I think if Elvis had toured outside the US, giving him something new, a new challenge, he might still be alive today or at least he would have lived longer than
he did.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
April Tilch Asks Marty: [24.05.08]
Hi Marty, It is April again and as always thanks for answering our questions.
I have a couple this time if you don't mind.
I
've always heard that Elvis didn't like alcoholic drinks. I'm not much for them either but I do have one favorite alcoholic drink which is a fuzzy navel. I only drink
maybe 4 times a year. I was wondering if Elvis had one or not? For it's hard to believe that an adult would never had at least one alcoholic drink other than
champagne in their life time.
Next question is when did Elvis start smoking cigars and what was his favorite brand? I ask these questions because you never hear the truth about these as
his image was to conceal this. I've seen many pictures of Elvis with one arm behind his back hiding the fact he had a cigar in his hand. At least that is why I
think his hand was hiding behind his back. If I'm wrong maybe you can clear that. But by the seventies it seem like he didn't care who knew any more for you
see more pictures of him smoking.
My next 3 questions are on a more personal note for you.
1. What is your most cherished memory of Elvis?
2. We all know Elvis was a practical joker. What is the best joke he pulled on you? Or the best joke he ever pulled?
3. What was it like to live with Elvis?
I just want to say again thank you so much for taking the time to view our questions and for answering to the best of your knowledge.
Have a nice day Marty, April
Marty Says:
Hey there April, it's May, (Just joking)
Elvis didn't like alcohol that much and he didn't like anyone to drink around him except on special occasions. The big reason for that is many in his family
drank a lot and he didn't like what it did to them. The only time he really drank was in the early years when we would go to Vegas just to relax and he would
have at the most one or two Bloody Mary's.
Elvis like to smoke Hav A Tampa cigars because they had a wooden tip on them instead of putting tobacco in his mouth. In the early years he smoked
Tareyton cigarettes but we kept it sort of secret because Parker didn't want the fans to think Elvis smoked. It was stupid.
To answer your other questions:
1. His smile.
2. At one Christmas time when we usually got a bonus he gave us $5 McDonalds gift certificates.
3. As time went by living with him was just like living with our family. For a short time before I built my own house, my wife and children and I all lived at
Graceland. To be honest when you live in any house for awhile, rooms are all the same as anywhere else.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Al the Canadian Mountie Asks Marty: [24.05.09]
Hi again Marty, could you tell little bit more about the last time you saw him.
Did he go strait to his room?,
Did you guys talk and what was said?
I believe it was July 1976. Also the last time you talk to him on the phone, was he happy to hear you? What was said?
Did you feel that it was the last time you were talking to him?
I am sure that the fans including myself would like to know more.
Thanks brother.
Marty Says:
Hi Al,
It was July '77 when I last talked with him on the phone. He sounded out of it, but it's obvious he wanted to hear from me since he took the call.
It wasn't a long conversation, we asked each other how we were, naturally he said he was OK even if he wasn't.
He asked why I moved to California and I told him just to get away from everything and clear my head. I had stopped taking pills months before, he said take
care of
yourself and I said the same to him. We then said goodbye and that was it. He was gone a month later.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Al The Canadian Mountie Asks Marty: [22.05.08]
Hi Marty,
1- I was wondering if Elvis had name for his jumpsuits like his fan do?
2- When and where was your last conversation with Elvis and last time you saw him? How was he?
Thank you on behalf of all the fans for answering our sometimes stupid questions?
Marty Says:
Hi Al,
No, Elvis didn't have names for his jumpsuits that I know of.
I Last saw him after his last show in Memphis in '76 he was not in a good mood that night, he had started getting overweight and the pills were getting to him.
I last spoke to him in July '77 after I moved to California to get away for awhile, he was in Memphis and I called him.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Elizabeth From Merrick New York Asks Marty: [17.05.08]
Thanks for answering all our questions.
I was wondering, about the time Elvis just left Graceland and flew on a plane by himself. Did he ever tell one of the guys what happened when "Elvis Presley"
walked up to the counter to buy a ticket? I know anyone can do this but Elvis never did this himself as he always had one of the guys do it as to not cause a
scene and I had read that Elvis never carried around money and he always had one of guys take care of that. I know they had some cheesy movie re-
enacting this scene but I was curious what really happened. I would think one of the guys might have asked him being surprised that Elvis did this impulsive
act.
Marty Says:
Hello Elizabeth,
Yes, that was the one and only time Elvis ever did that and we were shocked that afternoon after he left and we found out. Sonny and I were in the dining
room at Graceland and we were discussing the information for his wedding as he got Elvis to say it was OK for me to put the wedding together as Elvis was
paying for it for Sonny and Judy as a wedding present.
We had a couple of friends who were supervisors for American Airlines at the Memphis Airport. One of them was Wally Jones, whenever we had to fly all we
had to do is call Wally and he would have the tickets ready for us and we didn't have to go through the terminal as he arranged for us to come in the side
entrance of the field and drive right up to the back of the plane where they had the back stairs lowered and we'd walk up into the plane. The only people who
saw us was the people already seated on the plane. That's exactly what Elvis did that day.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yves from Paris, France Asks Marty: [17.05.09]
First I would like to thank you once more for your kindness and quickness in responding questions.
May you please answer one more question?
I read the following about english actress Claire Boom saying she turned down Elvis advances in 1958:
"In 1958 Presley was 23 and shooting King Creole next to the sound stage where Bloom - then 37 - was filming The Brothers Karamazov with Brenner.
Her nine-year marriage to Steiger was on the rocks and Bloom recalled that Presley was "direct" in his sexual advances. In her book Leaving A Doll's House
Bloom wrote "there wasn't a great deal of subtlety about Elvis. He was direct. His magnetism was as considerable as his unmistakable aura of sexuality." Never-
the-less Bloom turned him down recalling "Alas! A chance missed, but one I have lived well without."
Do you remeber this? Did Elvis ever mentionned it?
Thank you so much Marty for your help. We Elvis fans are so lucky to be able to correspond with you!
Marty Says:
Hello again Yves,
I wasn't there in '58 I was back in Tennessee as a Program Director for a major radio station.
However, one night upon seeing Claire Bloom on screen in a movie we were watching Elvis did mention that she turned him on but he had no luck in being with
her. At the time as she said, she was married to Rod Steiger and he was one of Elvis' favorite actors.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yves from Paris, France Asks Marty: [15.05.08]
Hello Marty,
In Bob Dylan's latest interview in Rolling Stone magazine he made the following comments as reported by interviewer Douglas Brinkley:
[...]Dylan says. “I never met Elvis, because I didn’t want to meet Elvis. Elvis was in his Sixties movie period, and he was just crankin’ ‘em out and knockin’ ‘em
off, one after another. And Elvis had kind of fallen out of favor in the Sixties. He didn’t really come back until, whatever was it, ‘68? I know the Beatles went to
see him, and he just played with their heads. ‘Cause George [Harrison] told me about the scene. And Derek [Taylor], one of the guys who used to work for
him. Elvis was truly some sort of American king. His face is even on the Statue of Liberty. And, well, like I said, I wouldn’t quite say he was ridiculed, but close.
You see, the music scene had gone past him, and nobody bought his records. Nobody young wanted to listen to him or be like him. Nobody went to see his
movies, as far as I know. He just wasn’t in anybody’s mind. Two or three times we were up in Hollywood, and he had sent some of the Memphis Mafia down to
where we were to bring us up to see Elvis. But none of us went. Because it seemed like a sorry thing to do. I don’t know if I would have wanted to see Elvis like
that. I wanted to see the powerful, mystical Elvis that had crash-landed from a burning star onto American soil. The Elvis that was bursting with life. That’s the
Elvis that inspired us to all the possibilities of life. And that Elvis was gone, had left the building.”
What are your thoughts on that? Is that true you were send to him with an invitation from Elvis as Dylan claimed? Was Elvis really out among the young in the
mid sixties?
Many thanks in advance for your answers. Always a great pleasure reading from you!
Marty Says:
Hello Yves,
Nice to hear from you again.
Seems like Dylan is another history revisionist. To my memory Elvis sent nobody with an invitation for Dylan to come up to the house and meet him. Wishful
thinking maybe. As for what it seems some of The Beatles have supposedly commented about that historical meeting between them and Elvis, I'm amused.
They seemed to be thrilled about being there that night even though George spent most of the night by himself smoking joints out by the pool instead of being
inside the house where everyone else was. Fact is both John and Paul expressed to me the next day when some of us visited them at their house, how
thrilled they were to meet Elvis and that the night before meant a great deal to them.
As for Elvis' career being low in the 60's I understand what Dylan is saying. Recording wise Elvis' career had died down in spite of die hard fans buying some
of his records. The records themselves were nowhere near as good as they had been in the late 50's and very early 60's. They were basically terrible movie
songs, "Do The Clam" was not the real Elvis Presley. Then with the advent of The Beatles and other artists who Elvis paved the way for, his music at the time
was below standards.
That's why I nagged him for about six months to record with Chips Moman at American Studios which he finally did in '69. I wanted him to cut relevant hits that
would bring him back to the top of the charts where he hadn't been in 4 or 5 years.
Dylan is and has been a great talent and there were a few songs he wrote and did that Elvis liked from the first Dylan album I brought to him in the 60's.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arun Jassi Asks Marty: [15.05.09]
Hello Marty
I came across an interesting quote by Rev. Ralph Abernathy (associate of Dr.Martin Luther King) from 1972 where he says ''Elvis Presley did much to
advance the cause of the black equality,whether intentionally or not,he brought black music and culture to white audiences and made them more aware of the
social injustice that was widespread in American society.''
My question is, to the best of your knowledge,how much was Elvis himself aware and conscious of the part he played in helping to break down the racial
barriers in American society? Did Elvis ever actually feel he did contribute somewhat towards the Civil Rights Movement through the music if not overtly?
Marty Says:
Hello Arun,
What Abernathy said was true and it's a shame that some young black artists think Elvis was a racist based purely on the fact that he was from the south.
They knew nothing about him nore history. The older black artists always gave Elvis credit for what he did.
Elvis was not a braggard and even though we had conversations about many personal and private things and feelings, the closest he ever came, to my
knowledge, of speaking about that is when he spoke of his love and affinity for soul and Black Gospel music.
He had great relationships with black artist of his era.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kate O Asks Marty: [15.05.09]
Hi Marty, I really love this section of EER I check it almost daily for new Q&A's. Thank you for doing this for us fans!
I really love the song If I Can Dream and while watching again for the 1,000th time the 68 comeback you can really see and feel the emotion in Elvis when he
sings this. Why did Elvis never sing this song again? He did such a wonderful job with it, he did with all of his songs though. That has always been a bit of
mystery to me.
Thank you,
Marty Says:
Hi Kate,
Glad you are enjoying the Q & A section.
I think Elvis didn't do it much because it was better left for that particular dramatic moment at the end of the '68 Special. He didn't think it would have the same
effect on people by singing it live on stage.
In my opinion as far as songs and especially message songs go, I don't think Dream is as good a song as "In The Ghetto." That is my opinion as far as good
and commercial songs go.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Julia From Kingston, TN Asks Marty: [14.05.09]
Hi Marty,
I hope everything is well with you.
I have a question about inside Graceland. I hope I explain it so you know what I am talking about.
At the top of the staircase there is a wall extension that has been built and there is a small window there. The wall is up against the stair railing. Was the
addition there when Elvis was alive? If so, why the small window. It looks as if the window was placed there in order to see who would be at the bottom of the
stairs or trying to get in the door. Of course, if you don't know what I am talking about then it was added after Elvis died.
Also, on the grave of Glady's was there not a verse on it at one time which read, "She was the sunshine of our home."? I could swear I saw it at one time on
her tombstone and the last few times I have went I cannot find it.
Marty Says:
Hello Julia,
Nice to hear from you again.
The window actually at one time was in Priscilla's or the girl he was with bathroom. That was extended upstairs when Elvis had the whole upstairs closed off
and made his entire suite. In the early days there was no door at the top of the stairs it was an open hallway and Grandma lived in one room and one of the
guy's, Lamar and then Joe lived in another room. Elvis' dressing room closet originally was a small conference room. This was when his mother was alive and
she and Vernon lived in the downstairs bedroom that later was taken over by Grandma and Elvis closed it all off upstairs.
I don't remember what was on Mrs. Presley's tombstone but the original that was in Forest Hill Cemetary was not used at Graceland.
As a side note when she was still buried at Forest Hill, Elvis asked me to have a foot stone made for her grave that said, "Not Mine But Thy Will Be done"
Gladys Love Presley and he had me have a Cross put on the right side and a Star Of David on the left side. I asked him why the Star and he said he felt it
was what she'd want because she loved everyone.
When she was moved to Graceland and interred in the Meditation Garden, Vernon put the foot stone in the garage as he didn't like the Jewish Star Of David
on the stone............To be as nice as I can, he didn't like Jews.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mark Bowden Asks Marty: [13.05.08]
Before Elvis signed any of his movie contracts, was there ever a discussion about him having script approval? If not, why not?
Also, of the many long-term members of the Memphis Mafia, Richard Davis seems to be one of the least known. Would you please talk a little about Richard
as a person and his role in the Memphis Mafia? As always, thanks for taking questions.
Marty Says:
Hello Mark,
If anyone had script control and he shouldn't have had it, it's Colonel Parker. He was the one who made the deals with the studio and it was usually for more
than one picture all he was interested in was the money. Unfortunately Elvis didn't express his dislike for the script until while he was doing the picture and that
was mainly to us instead of the director or producer. He should have exerted his power but didn't because he was non confrontational so he suffered through
them.
Richard was one of my close buddies, he was a good person and he was one guy who never complained when asked to do anything. He began working for
Elvis in '62 and left in the 70's. Richard and I along with Alan Fortas, used to go to clubs in L.A. and do a lot of things together. He and Billy Smith and I were
real close for many years. A lot of fans knew who he was but because he really never made a lot of noise about himself it may seem he was little known
about. He cared a great deal for Elvis and he was a true friend His nickname was Broom because Elvis thought he was skinny like a broom stick. Richard
also worked for me in my music promotion and management company in the 70's.
He had a wonderful wife named Kim and she had given him triplets a couple of years before he died. They decided that he would become a House Husband
and take care of the kids and she worked at Horseshoe Casino in Tunica, Mississippi as a Casino Host. Richard died in his sleep a few years ago.
I miss him a great deal.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Simon Harper Asks Marty: [13.05.09]
Hello Marty, First of all I want to thank you for taking the time to do these Q&A's with the fans on Elvis Express Radio.
I saw on another website that Rex Martin who published the old fanzine 'Worldwide Elvis News Service Weekly', has accused the Memphis Mafia and people
like Jimmy Velvet of stealing hundreds of items that belonged to Elvis between August 16 1977 and November 1977 when an inventory was carried out.
What I would like to ask Marty is this, it is well known that yourself, Sonny, Red and Dave Hebler were not at Graceland during this period so who do you think
stole Elvis’ personal items? I think I’m right in saying that Joe Esposito, Charlie Hodge, Jerry Schilling, David Stanley, Larry Geller, Lamar Fike, George Klein
etc were all still around Graceland at this time and also, just how on earth did Jimmy Velvet manage to get so many of Elvis’ personal belongings? To the best
of your knowledge, how did all this stuff end up in private hands and do you know who took them and sold them on?
Marty Says:
Hi Simon,
To begin with Rex Martin has no idea who did or did not do anything around Elvis, he wouldn't know, he was no part of Elvis' group from the beginning.
As for Jimmy Velvet, he had those things because the people who were with and close to Elvis sold him many things that they had in their possession after
Elvis died, not before. Much of it was things that Elvis gave to them. Jimmy knew Elvis but he never worked or travelled with him nor was he really around us
except for a few times when he happened to be where we were. He's a good guy.
As to who I think took stuff, I have knowledge of the few people who took stuff out of Graceland that belonged to Elvis but they shall not be named by me
especially in public. I'm not the only guy who knows who did, there are two or three of us who know besides the ones who actually did it. However, I can tell
you it wasn't just the few members of the MM that did it but also a couple of family members.
I am proud to say that I never took anything that I shouldn't have from Elvis or that didn't belong to me and I can tell you that neither did Billy Smith,Lamar Fike
nor Red and Sonny. He meant too much to us to do that.
The ones that did it know what they did and they have to live with themselves.
I know some of you fans would like to know stuff like that but that's not my game.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Al the Canadian Mountie Asks Marty: [04.05.09]
My questions are:
1- Did Elvis ever met Charlie Rich? If yes how was their relationship?
2- There was that new blue lazer jumpsuit for Elvis that he never wore. Do you think that Elvis would have it ready before the end of his tour.
3- Elvis prepared a few new song for Portland, Maine. Do you know which one they were? I heard SWEET CAROLINE, YESTERDAY/HEY JUDE, WABASH
CANNONBALL....
Marty Says:
Hello Al,
Nice to hear from you again.
Yes, Elvis and Charlie met and they had a good relationship but did not see each other very often.
They were not close,bosom buddies. Charlie had his career and Elvis had his that kept them both busy. Charlie continued to live in Memphis until he died.
As far as I know, his wife Margaret Ann, still lives here.
I have no idea about the blue jumpsuit or what songs he was going to sing in Portland.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Christopher Asks Marty: [28.04.09]
I really do enjoy reading your Q&A with us fans. Lot of interesting stuff here. Since you knew Elvis from way back in the day, I was wondering this.
1. During the Sun years and then the early years at RCA; did Elvis realize that he was helping to change and mould the course of popular music? Was it his
plan to do this? Or was he simply an assuming hero, not really knowing what he was accomplishing until well after the fact? I wonder if he understood his
place in music history or just felt that he was an entertainer who made it big. (I know he was a humble man and that's good.)
2. Some years back, there was an article I read on the Internet, ALLEDGING that you and Billy Smith had written a ficticious story about Elvis having escaped
his great fame and wandered off into the sunset with a beautiful brunette named Maria. And then some people took it out of context thinking it was true. Please
forgive me if this is a complete fabrication. But if there is a grain of truth to it, I was just wondering what was actually written and how things may have been
taken out of context.
Thanks for taking time out to talk to us fan. We truly enjoy hearing from you Sir.
Marty Says:
Hi Christopher,
When Elvis started out it wasn't to become the big superstar he became, he just loved to sing and to get the opportunity to do so for a living. When he started
he played in schools and auditoriums and toured in small cities but because he was so different for the time, he burst onto the world stage with an explosion.
Nobody had ever heard or seen the likes of Elvis before and he not only became a big singing sensation he changed the culture of the world.
He gave young people a voice they never had before. In addition he played a huge role in black music and black artists being accepted much more by white
people, especially young people. With a manager like Parker, who was basically a carny con man, he was exposed in a big way. He was happy to be singing
on a bigger stage and at the same time he enjoyed the money it brought so he could provide his mother a better life.
The story you're talking about is a story that was written as FICTION. When we wrote it, we ended the story with that fact and our agent presented it to a
newspaper in England called 'The People' as FICTION.
Billy and I didn't know 'The People' was a tabloid rag, if we had known we would not have allowed it to be sold to them. They of course, as a tabloid will do,
printed it without including the FICTION part. After it came out a few of the "Elvis Is Alive" nuts, especially one in Kentucky used it to spread their nonsense
that Elvis was alive. We wrote the story to make the nuts look exactly what they were/are, nuts. That was a long time ago and it's time that crap was put to rest.
Unfortunately Elvis died August 16,1977.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Philip Tosini ( Liverpool, England) Asks Marty: [27.04.08]
First of all thank you for giving me and all Elvis fans the opportunity to get an insight into what Elvis was really like from a close friend.
It has taken me about 6 weeks to think of a question, as when you get the chance you can't think of anything to ask.
Anyway my question.
What do you think of? And What would Elvis have thought of his TCB band and backing singers taking the whole show on a world tour with the big screen and
His great voice?
Do you think it would have freaked him out?
I'm sorry if this question has been asked before.
Thank you again
Marty Says:
Hi Philip
Thank you for the question.
I think he would have liked the fact that his memory is being kept alive in such a fashion. He enjoyed entertaining people and he probably would be happy to
know that he's still doing it. I doubt he'd mind unless the fans were being ripped off on ticket prices. Above all he appreciated how all the fans made his career
possible and to such a high degree where he became the most famous entertainer in history.
By the way, he would never claim that but I'm saying it for him.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stephen Griffiths Asks Marty: [27.04.09]
Hi Marty,
Thank you for taking questions. I'm enjoying reading the answers. I have a clarification to offer and a question myself.
A previous question was about whether Olivia Newton-John ever met Elvis. You are right that Olivia went backstage to meet Elvis in Vegas, however, he left
due to an emergency before they could meet. So you probably remember her being there backstage, but although they nearly met, they never actually did. I
asked Olivia about this at a fan meet and greet in 2001 because I had long wondered about whether they ever met. The subject later came up in the Las
Vegas Sun on Nov. 19 2006: " ... Newton-John (who turned 58 in September and man do I feel old) recalled a 1974 visit, her first, to Vegas when she opened
for Charlie Rich at the LV Hilton showroom when Elvis Presley was dark. She arrived a few days early, while Presley was still performing. "He was singing my
hit at the time, 'Let Me Be There,' in his show and wanted to meet me, but something happened and he got taken away. I was so disappointed."
My Question to you is:
I would like to know whether Whitney Houston ever met Elvis. I know that her mother Cissy performed backup for Elvis along with the Sweet Inspirations but I
haven't found any information about whether Whitney was introduced to Elvis.
Marty Says:
Hi Stephen,
Yes, but Whitney was a little girl at the time and Cissy brought her one time.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thomas Barnett From Harvard IL Asks Marty: [26.04.09]
Hi Marty!
Quick question, if you could hear Elvis sing a song from todays music, which one do you think would be a good song for him? I read somewhere that Joe
Guercio thought Elvis would sing the heck out of "Don't let the sun go down on me" What do you think?
Marty Says:
Hello Thomas,
Thanks for your question. First let me say, I think the sun went down on Guercio a long time ago when it came to what Elvis should sing.
Right off the top of my head and also the first time I heard it, I'd say, R. Kelley's, "I Believe I Can Fly."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dean Craik, Manchester U.K Asks Marty: [10.04.09]
Thanks for answering my previous questions.
I am currently reading your book, 'Elvis and the Memphis Mafia', and I am thouroughly enjoying it. It's so good to read, an honest, frank and open account of
what went on with no gloss or whitewash.
Anyway I have a couple of questions,
1, Many people involved with Elvis claimed to have witnessed Elvis perform miracles of various kinds. I saw a documentary where Myrna Smith of the sweet
inspirations told a story about a member of the sweets having a cancer scare, she had a lump in her stomache. Myrna says she told Elvis about it and Elvis
put his hand on the girls stomache and prayed for her and the next day, the lump had gone. Also, other tales include Elvis reading people minds and also
Elvis seeing things moving in the sky. What do you make of all this? And did you ever personally see Elvis perform a miracle?
2. I recently went to an Elvis convention and one of the special guests there was a man introduced as "Scott Presley", Elvis`s first cousin. I've been a big Elvis
fan for a while I had never heard of Scott Presley before so I searched the net for any reference of him but couldnt find anything on him. Have you ever heard
of Elvis having a cousin by the name of scott presley?
Thanks for your continued honesty
Marty Says:
Dean,
Nice to hear from you again. I'm glad you're enjoying the book and yes, when we wrote it with Alanna Nash we were implicit to her that nothing be changed,
that it be our words because it was all truth.
As for Elvis' miracles, there were none. He liked to sometimes think he had those miraculous powers and when he did lay his hands on someone and prayed
we humored him in a joking way that he did something to change the situation. However, I do not diminish the power of prayer but realize that is something we
all have.
As for the lump in the person's stomach, either the prayer did it or it was something they ate and it went away, It was not some miracle Elvis performed.
As for the things moving in the skies, what he saw were satellites when they were visible to the naked eye. No mind reading either.
Never heard of a Scott Presley. He was never at Graceland when Elvis was alive nor did I ever hear of his name by Elvis or any relative of his.
It might be a tenth removed cousin because of his last name or he may be just another phony cousin and there have been a number of them since Elvis
passed away.
(Addition: Scott Presley was not born with the Presley name - This Q & A will be discussed on the Friday Requeast Show from 10.04.09)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Al from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Asks Marty: [08.04.09]
I don't want to be morbid with my questions but I am very questioning myself about Elvis's Funeral.
1. Did you attend the funeral? If not why? If yes how was Elvis appearance in his casket?
2. I read in the book of the man who was the funeral director for Elvis funeral and he stated that they recorded (sound only) the funeral. Do you know anything
about it?
3. When did you see Elvis for the last time?
4. Can you tell me if the Memphis Mafia were invited to the funeral or Vernon did not invite them?
5. I also would like to know a bit about you. Where do you live and what are you up to these days.
Marty Says:
Hi Al.
No, I was not at Elvis' funeral, I was scheduled to go, there was a plane waiting for me at the L.A. airport as I lived in Southern California at the time but my wife
got very ill and at the last minute I decided not to leave her.
I'm glad I didn't go because I'd rather remember him as I knew him for over 20 years instead of seeing him in his casket.
Some of the original Memphis Mafia were there, except Red, Sonny and me.
I am not aware of any recording of the funeral, it's not something that would have been allowed plus it would have been in bad taste.
Knowing Colonel Parker, if it had been, he would have made a deal with RCA to release it on record. I put nothing past him.
I last saw Elvis in late '76 but spoke with him on the phone in July '77.
I live in Memphis and I am retired from the Music Industry.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Julia from Kingston, TN Asks Marty: [01.04.09]
Hello Marty,
You probably get many questions which cannot be answered because of legal issues but I am hoping these can be answered.
My first question is regarding Priscilla having more show time at Graceland events.
I think it is is a contract arrangements with the company who bought the EPE rights.
I honestly do not think she has started showing up to so many events because she misses Elvis or the goodness in her heart. What say you?
The other question pertains to two books, 'Priscilla Child Bride' and the unreleased book by 'Currie Grant'. Both did not speak highly of Priscilla in case you
never heard or read either. Both in different words pretty much stated she and her mother pushed the relationship with Elvis, among other issues. Would
either of these books in your opinion be right on or close to the mark?
Hopefully you can answer these. If not, I understand. Take Care.
Marty Says:
Hello Julia,
There are no legal restrictions on answering questions, it's up to the person asked if he/she wants to answer.
I have no problem answering your good questions, it's not the first time I've been asked.
From what was in the media, Priscilla was paid $6.5 million dollars by Robert Sillerman's company when they bought 85% of EPE. In actuality she owned NO
PART of EPE but the newspaper stated she was paid that money so she would be the face of EPE at various events as Lisa Marie had no desire to do so.
In my opinion and that of a few of the other guys, if she wasn't paid she wouldn't be there nor interact with the fans. It is our opinion she's more interested in
making herself look good not Elvis. EPE is a business to her. She, in my opinion, was never a genuine, warm person.
I have read Child Bride and I think the writer hit the nail on the head in her portrayal of Priscilla.
I have not read Currie's book but I know he has no love for her.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yves (from Paris, France) Asks Marty: [31.03.09]
I have seen that President Obama and former President Clinton are now "honorary members" of the The Memphis Mafia.
May you please tell us a little more about it?
How did that happen? Did they ask personnally? Is Obama really an Elvis fan or is just PR?
One last question: Do you think Obama attend the show in Hawaii in 1973, as he was living there by the time? Many thanks in advance for all your answers!
Best regards,
Marty Says:
Hi Yves, Thank you for your questions.
We know that President Obama is a music lover as he has spoken about that before in conversation. We know from someone that knows him that he likes
Elvis' music so we decided to honor his fandom with an honorary membership in the Memphis Mafia.
As for President Clinton, he is a well known Elvis super fan. He has proclaimed his love of Elvis' music from the time he was District Attorney in Arkansas and
then Governor. When he campaigned for President he played "Heartbreak Hotel" on his sax on the Arsenio Hall Show here in the US.
As for whether President Obama attended the Aloha Show, I believe he was only ten or eleven years old at the time and I have no idea whether he was there
although I don't remember seeing any children there that night. That doesn't mean he wasn't there, I just don't know if he was.
Needless to say, we are proud to have them both as members.
Marty
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Christopher Asks Marty: [30.03.09]
Hi Again Mr. Lacker;
I had sent in a question or two last year and you were nice enough to answer them for me. Thanks for that.
I'm amazed at the stories I hear about Elvis' memory.
1. I read once, that Elvis allegedly recited the entire Jewish marriage ceremony in Hebrew when he was George Klein's best man. I find that fascinating. Is this
true?
2. Since Elvis had people of various ethnic backgrounds around him; (Greek, Jewish, Mexican, etc.); did they teach him some words from those languages?
With the Bible originally being written primarily in Hebrew and Greek, I would imagine that Elvis would have had an extra interest in those languages since his
favorite book was said to be the Holy Bible.
And finally,
3. I understand that Elvis' old friend and MD - Dr. Nick, along with his son Dean are writing a book about their years with Elvis along with a professional writer.
Do you know when this will be coming out; and have you contributed to it in some way? (I hope you will contribute as I admire your candid yet considerate
approach.)
Thanks for talking to us fans.
Marty Says:
Hello Christopher, Nice to hear from you again.
1. No Elvis did not recite the Jewish marriage ceremony, what he did was when the judge began to say the usual words in English, we are gathered here,etc.,
Elvis started saying the words along with him but we stopped him and he let the judge continue. That story sounds like another one of George's fabrications.
2. No nobody really taught nor did he say any words in other languages.
3. I heard Dr. Nick and Dean are writing a book but I've been hearing that for a few years so I have no idea if it was done or will ever be published. No, I have
not nor would I, contribute to the book. I have written enough I think in my book with Lamar and Billy as written by Alanna Nash, originally titled ELVIS AARON
PRESLEY: Revelations From The Memphis Mafia which was re-issued recently as Elvis & the Memphis Mafia. It is a big book, over 800 pages and says a lot.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Al from Canada Asks Marty: [23.03.09]
Hi Marty,
I have a big respect for you and this is the reason why I have a few questions for you.
1- Do you know if there is some professional footages of Elvis on stage between 1974 and 1976?
2- I am a Royal Canadian Mounted Police constable in Canada and do you thing that Elvis would have appreciated a copy of our red uniformed with a badge
as a gift? Would he let me entered his home to present it to him? (Sincere gift)
3- Who was choosing which jumpsuit Elvis would wear each night? He had so many of them?
4- Do you think that we would had seen Elvis in Canada?
Thanks and may God bless you.
Marty Says:
Hi Al,
Nice to hear from an RCM and to know you're an Elvis fan.
As for your first question, I can't think of any professional footage but someone probably took some still photos during that time.
I think Elvis would have loved to receive one of your uniforms and a badge from the RCM and it would not surprise me if he would have worn it a time or two at
home but knowing him, he also might have worn it in public at least once. Yes, I'm sure he would have invited you into Graceland to present it to him.
Elvis basically chose his jumpsuits each evening depending on his mood that night.
Yes, if Elvis had his way, you would have eventually seen Elvis perform in Canada.
Thanks for keeping Elvis' memory alive,
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gerben from Holland Asks Marty: [19.03.09]
Hello Marty,
It's a great pleasure to watch the fan questions and your answers on the Elvis express website once in a while. Thanks very much for the opportunity to give
us fans more insight information about the topics we are interested in regarding Elvis and the Memphis Mafia.
Some questions:
1. I always wondered which songs Elvis exactly wrote in his career and why Elvis didn't write more of them? I heard Elvis wrote very few songs himself.
If he would have just a couple of chords and lyrics, there would probably be a lot of co-writers who would love to write with him to complete songs I presume.
2. If Elvis would have been alive today, which contemporary music and artists would be really "his thing" you think? To which concerts would he probably
pursue to go and which albums (or which style of music) would be then in his CD-collection?
Thanks for taking time to look into these questions Marty. All the best wishes !
Marty Says:
Hi Gerben,
Elvis only wrote one song and that was in the very early years with country singer Johnny Horton. He just never had the patience to sit and write songs.
In my opinion I doubt Elvis would like most of today's artists. Most of them are contrived, what I call manufactured and choreographed as opposed to being
natural talents. There might be a couple of young female country singers but he would like them as much because of what they looked like as well as their
singing. I can't think of one pop or rock singer that he would really like. However, I might be wrong, but one just does not come to my mind at the moment.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thomas Barnett Asks Marty: [12.03.09]
Hi Marty,
I was listening to the original recordings of That's alright mama by Arthur Crudup and Hound dog by Big mama Thorton and was wondering why Elvis sang
different lyrics in some parts of the songs when he covered them? Don't get me wrong I would listen to Elvis sing the alphebet if he recoreded it, but I am just
wondering out of curiosity. I hope you can shed some light on this for me. Thanks for your time.
Marty Says:
Hi Thomas,
He changed them because the words didn't fit him at the time and he did not want to sing the original words so he changed it to make him feel comfortable.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
April (Tilchkitten) Asks Marty: [10.03.09]
This is Tilchkitten again. Thanks for the compliment about my name and yes I'm female. It is my last name and my favorite animal. My real name is April Joy.
Thanks for answering my last question. Here is my new question:
What did Elvis think of his voice talking and singing? I know he always wanted his voice to be deeper but did he like the sound of his voice that we all love?
Marty Says:
Hello April,
Elvis liked his voice and yes, he liked deep voices and he was proud that he could hit those high dramatic parts of a song that built to a crescendo.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Roger Young Asks Marty: [07.03.09]
That is so cool I am so happy to hear you are all doing that for Lee. Good on you for showing your appreciation to what Lee has done and still does for Elvis
and the fans everywhere. As for the remark about making money, that was not aimed at you it was aimed at all these fan club leaders and magazine editors
who are out there making money out of Elvis and the fans, for example: The recent TTWII set that came out for £160. One of these leaders/editors kept a few
back waiting for them to sell out then charged fans £250. I was aiming my comments to these people. Again, Kudos to you for showing your appreciation to
Lee by presenting him with a real honorary membership to the Memphis Mafia.
Marty Says:
Thank you Roger
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Roger Young Asks Marty: [07.03.09]
May I request that you make Lee Dawson the founding honorary member of the Memphis Mafia and not for some fee. Lee has taken care of Elvis and his
legacy in the most outstanding way because he puts Elvis and the fans first. He is not like so many others out there who make money out of Elvis. He does not
see Elvis or the fans as some profit line. He does not sell products or charge for all he does.
Not only has he entertained us for years but now fights to stop fans buying fakes in the mine field of bogus Elvis items out there. I say it's your right and
privilege to charge anyone to become a member of the Memphis Mafia, but Lee should be sent certificate number 001 as a true honorary member of Elvis'
Memphis Mafia.
Marty Says:
Hello Roger,
Thank you for that suggestion and for thinking that much of Lee. That was already in the works.
We appreciate what Lee has done to keep Elvis' memory alive and he does great things for the fans and for us. His won't be number one because that's
already gone.
If your remark about seeing fans as a profit line is directed at us, I'm sorry you feel that way but neither Lamar, Billy Smith or I sell things that often, sometimes
you can't do things for many people without charging to cover the expense and compensate you for your time and efforts.
Do not put the three of us in the same category as two or three other people who worked for Elvis.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dean Craik Asks Marty: [03.03.09]
Over the years, I have seen a few TV articles and video clips regarding the jungle room in graceland. They always mention the tear on the pool table and
they always say it was torn by 'one of Elvis`s buddies' trying a trickshot. Can you tell us more about this and who tore the cloth on that pool table?
Marty Says:
Hello Dean,
The pool table is in the basement den, the room that was dubbed,"The Pool Room", it is not in the Jungle Room which is on the first floor.
My memory escapes me as to who cut the table felt. However for many years it was in good condition and although I haven't been to Graceland in a number
of years, I think it's still in good condition. Most of us were skilled players. I grew up shooting pool for money in the Bronx, NY.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Elizabeth Smith Asks Marty: [02.03.09]
Thank you for taking the time and allowing us to ask you questions about Elvis and your time with him.
I was wondering out of all the songs that Elvis sang, which one did he like the most?
I've seen several concert footages and he always sang "Can't Help Falling In Love" at the end. Why did he do that?
Also, I just got done watching Elvis-The Early Years (2005) and in it there is a comment made about the Beatles and how he thinks they treat their fans like
crap and he thinks they showed be loved. It seems Elvis really did love his fans and would rarely turn them away. Do you think this has to do with the way he
was brought up?
Or was Elvis that genuinely nice of a guy. Thanks for your time Marty.
Marty Says:
Hello Elizabeth,
Elvis didn't have one favorite song but he liked a number of them.
As for "Can't Help Falling In Love" he closed his shows with that as a message to his audience to show how much he loved them and his fans. Sometimes Elvis
blurted things out that he shouldn't have and the Beatles comment was one of them. He liked their music but he wished they hadn't openly talked about drugs.
Yes, he did love his fans from the beginning to his last days. He knew that without y'all he wouldn't have been as famous as he was and he genuinely
appreciated it.
Elvis was a nice guy but like us all he had his human faults and frailties.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ElvisFanTLC Asks Marty: [28.02.09]
In regards to the movie "This Is Elvis" I heard that EPE had Johnny Harra wore Elvis's actual clothes during the filming of the scenes.
I find that hard to believe. I understand that you don't approve of Impersonators, but if you don't mind me asking, why do you feel that Johnny Harra was the
worst person chosen for the part?
What are your thoughts of Rick Stanley, and his account regarding the death of Elvis in the movie "Protecting The King"?
I'd like to get your perspective on it. Personally, I find it hard to believe that Elvis would take his own life.
One last question, Did Elvis have any major surgeries that you know of?
Marty Says:
Elvisfan,
I do not know whether they let Harra use Elvis' clothes, I had no connection to that production and I'm glad I didn't.
No, I have no use for impersonators, most of them are horrible looking and bad singers and to me do a dis-service to Elvis.
Harra fits in that category in my opinion and the only reason they used him was because they wanted to show Elvis as being fat and Priscilla approved it.
I believe you're thinking of David Stanley not Rick although both of them are not much different. I have no use for that entire family and to be honest I have no
desire to waste my time talking about them. Pardon my English but that's a crock of shit that Elvis took his own life. Do you think Elvis would choose to be on
the toilet with his pants down to commit suicide?
The only surgeries Elvis had that I know of were to get the bags taken out from under his eyes and one time when he swallowed cap that was on his tooth and
it got lodged but I don't think either one was major.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mari Asks Marty: [28.12.08]
Regarding Dean's question - did all that happened after Elvis fell and got that concussion? (Him having to include Joe in the ceremony) Could it all be part of
the "changes" Parker made or wanted to make at that point?
I often think about that incident and it just makes me sad. Not surprised because knowing a lot about Parker now I can see it was almost expected.
However, I can't help but think that from that point on, with him asking 50% and just being so controlling and clueless about what Elvis really wanted, things
started to reach the point of no return. You know I've only been to Graceland twice and only once at the anniversary and I met Joe then but I hadn't read much
about any of you at the time.
I think it was a good thing otherwise I would have asked Joe a few things that he probably would not have liked. I think his involvement with Parker is sad, it was
so detrimental to Elvis, instead of helping Elvis get out of the trap he was in, he kept pushing him down further. I like to think that he didn't realize what he was
doing. Did he?
Marty Says:
Hello Mari,
Yes, that happened after Elvis fell and Parker, like a vulture, swept down when he saw his opportunity to control Elvis even more. In the meeting the four of us
had in Elvis' bedroom was a farce and I hated to see Elvis in that situation but that was not the time for me to tell him what I thought because he was still
recovering from his fall.
You ask if Joe realized what he was doing to Elvis by being Parker's stooge, I don't think Joe looked at it that way because he was self serving and whatever
he did was for Joe not necessarily against or for someone else.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NEXT PAGE BACK to page 5
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
