| 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. |
Candy Asks Marty: [21.09.09]
I just found this site to email you....oh my....I am SO excited.
I love you guys..I don't care what others say about you all, I loved the book (mm) that you all did....I would LOVE to someday meet you Marty.
I have such respect for the memories and TRUTH that you all possess.
I agree that Elvis wouldn't want so many folks in his house...but I do have to admit I myself enjoyed visiting where he lived. The other side of that is I am glad
Lisa has "some" of the benefits from that.
I do not agree with Priscilla getting anything from it. She was a widow but an EX.
What do you think of folks saying Elvis has other children out there, and do you think Elvis would be alive had LInda Thompson been there instead of Ginger?
Also...do you think there will be any new revelations in the autopsy when is it opened , after vernon's sealing of it for 50 years?
I am 58 years old,,,from Mississippi originally, and guess what ? My mothers' name is Gladys Smith.
I am SO happy to get to ask visit with you.
I wrote Billy a personal letter but never received a reply,,I can understand but I would LOVE to meet you guys.....Love you all
Marty Says:
Hello Candy,
Thank you for your nice comments and I get exited when I email me too. Just kidding Candy, I'm nothing special just was proud to have Elvis like a brother but
he was the star not any of us guys.
As I have said, Elvis would be happy and appreciative that so many people remember him and want to see his house but the inside was something special and
private to him and I don't think he'd want all those people to traipse through it. That was his home not a house but now it has turned out to be a cold museum,
all the warmth is gone since he left.
As for the truth, as Elvis always said, "The Truth Shall Set You Free." Lying is a waste of time.
Priscilla is not his widow, as an ex you don't have the right to claim being a widow but she likes to make herself more than she is. To her, it's all about her
instead of him.
If Linda had been there he would have had a better chance of living. She cared for and about him whereas Ginger was just there as a trophy.
The mere fact that no woman legitimately came forth saying she was having or had Elvis' baby seeking money when he was alive should tell you that he had
no other children.
The one who did come forth was a fraud trying to con him out of money but she was proven to be just that and prosecuted.
As for the autopsy I have no idea what's in it but I doubt there will be anything major. At 58 you should be still alive when it's released unless Lisa seals it
again.
As for meeting Billy,Lamar and I, we only do that if we have some sort of event for the fans as we get so many requests and we feel if we do it for one we have
to do it for all and we can't do that. At this stage of our life we spend and devote most of our time with our families.
Thank you for your email. Marty
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Arun Jassi Asks Marty: [21.09.09]
Hello Marty,
I read in an Elvis Encyclopedia that Elvis' classic rocker 'A Big Hunk O' Love' was nominated twice for a Grammy award in the categories of Best Rhythm and
Blues Performance, and Best Performance by a 'Top 40' Artist of 1959.
Could you confirm if this is true?
Marty Says:
Hi Arun,
I really have no recollection of that but it might be true.
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Christopher Asks Marty: [11.09.09]
Greetings Mr. Lacker;
Thank-you Sir for answering my previous question. I have read that the legendary Elia Kazan expressed a desire to work with Elvis early in his career but this
never happened. (I think there is a picture of Elia and Elvis together. And I presume Spiros Skouras who headed 20th Century Fox at the time would have
agreed to such a venture.)
I have read that the great Louis "Sachmo" Armstrong wanted to make a record with Elvis but it didn't happen. I have read that John Lennon and Paul
McCartney wanted to write a song specifically for Elvis to record and that didn't happen either. And in an interview with 60 Minutes, Arthur Fiedler said that
Elvis and he were going to do a live album together but that didn't happen because Elvis was gone on August 16,1977.
Of these stories Mr. Lacker; what ones are true? And of those that are true; why didn't these potentially exciting movie and musical collaborations happen?
We know that Colonel Tom Parker liked to make money and I'm pretty sure all of these ventures would have netted noteworthy profits for all those involved.
Thank-you for your time Sir.
Marty Says:
Hello Christopher,
Parker is the answer to all your questions.
Yes, Parker liked to make money but he wanted to make all of it and not share it with another artist as far as royalties are concerned.
Kazan wanted to turn Elvis into a great dramatic actor, no singing. Parker didn't want Elvis to become a dramatic actor and take him away from his music
travelogues.
Plus Parker thought Kazan would exert too much control on Elvis as far as movies were concerned.
I never heard that Armstrong or Fiedler expressed a desire to do an album with Elvis.
As for Paul and John, Elvis would have no problem with them writing a song for him but Parker would want the publishing and they weren't about to do that.
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Arun Jassi Asks Marty: [11.09.09]
Hello Marty,
Thank you for your answer to my previous question about Chips Moman.
What actual role did Parker have as far as Elvis' recording sessions were concerned and Elvis' choice of music producer?
Wasn't Parker pleased and impressed with with what Elvis was able to achieve with a Producer like Chips Moman?
Elvis has never been offically credited as being a Music Producer for his own music but rather someone else has been credited,i.e.Steve Sholes,Sam Phillips,
Felton Jarvis etc. and I have read that Elvis was his own Producer in a lot of cases.Is this true?
Can you shed some light on how much of Elvis'music was actually produced by Elvis himself including the Sun records and those with Felton Jarvis?
Marty Says:
Hello Arun,
Parker was pleased with the royalties that the Memphis sessions brought him because they were such successful selling records, but he didn't like losing
control, for the first time, this out of any of Elvis' recording sessions in terms of the songs recorded and the publishing of some of them.
Every session that Elvis did since Parker began managing him, either him, Tom Diskin or Freddy Bienstock and many times all three of them, were always
present to make sure Elvis basically recorded songs they had the publishing on. Other than that they made no decisions as to how the musicians played
or Elvis sang. Elvis always had the say so of those two factors of the sessions. He was in essence the producer.
That is until 1969 when Chips was definitely the producer. Chips told the musicians how to play and for the first time someone,he, would tell Elvis when he was
off key or too fast or slow or he gave other suggestions to Elvis and quite frankly that is something Elvis really needed someone to do.
That is why that session was so successful and Elvis welcomed the directions.
Felton was never the producer per se, he did none of those things in other sessions. Felton was an RCA producer assigned to Elvis to make him happy and
to sometimes book the musicians and background singers but he didn't actually produce the records and he never told Elvis when he was off key or the
musicians how to play.
Sam Phillips and Steve Sholes were there when Elvis was young and more or less a novice in recording and so they guided him to a degree in their sessions
but Elvis still a lot of say so as to what and how he sang.
Elvis wasn't credited as producer on the record label, other than Sam at Sun and Sholes in the early years nobody ever was.
However I'll tell you a funny piece of trivia. When In The Ghetto came out as the first record from the Memphis sessions Billboard listed Felton as the
producer. That pissed me off because I know Felton had that put on there even though he knew he didn't produce anything, Chips did. So I called Billboard
and told them they made a mistake that it should have Chips' name on there not Felton. They asked who I was and I just told them I was from RCA. The next
week when the charts came out, it had Chips' name.
I laughed because what I did worked. However I knew that someone, either Felton or Parker would be pissed. The third week when the Billboard charts came
out it had nobody's name as producer. I called them again and ask what they were doing to put Chips' name back on there. The guy said,"You people need
to make up your minds because Colonel Parker called and angrily told us to leave the producers space blank,no producer." I told them I'd straighten Parker
out. I hung up and laughed my ass off and just left it alone.
That's how petty Parker and Felton could get. They resented Chips being in control with Elvis of the sessions.
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Arun Jassi Asks Marty: [06.09.09]
Hello Marty,
I would like to ask a question which may have already been previously asked.
Why didn't Elvis ever work with Chips Moman again after the brilliant Memphis recording sessions at American Sound Studios in January 1969?
I understand you was the catalyst in getting Chips Moman to be the producer for Elvis at these legendary sessions.
Marty Says:
Hello Arun,
Yes, that has been asked before. The answer was Colonel Parker and Felton Jarvis who lied to Elvis about something negative pertaining to Chips because
they didn't want Elvis to work with him anymore. Parker because it's the first time he lost control of a session and Felton because he wanted Elvis to continue
recording in Nashville where Felton lived and he made it seem like he was producer which he wasn't.
I tried to tell Elvis that they were lying to him but to no avail, he did what Parker wanted. Unfortunately Elvis was the one who suffered musically.
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Christopher S Asks Marty: [30.08.09]
Dear Mr. Lacker;
Hi again. And thank-you so much for answering my previous question about "the business politics" behind Elvis' music. It's kind of sad to consider that a
performance artist as creative as Elvis was, got bogged down by such issues.
Anyway...with reference to Elvis and the movies. The traditional reason given for Elvis not getting better movie scripts during the 1960's is that because a
formula flick like "Blue Hawaii" did better at the box office than more serious works like "Wild In The Country" and "Flaming Star"; the decision was made that
Elvis would primarily stick to formula pictures. Of course there was a notable exception in the fine little comedy Elvis made called, "Follow That Dream" and a
couple of other pretty good non - formula films.
Elvis was probably the biggest star in the world. Other music stars in the same league like Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby, made formula pictures as well. But
Sinatra also got to do "The Manchurian Candidate". Bing Crosby did "Holiday Inn" and "White Christmas" and Bing Crosby along with Sinatra did "High
Society". Why wasn't Elvis at least on occasion allowed to do similar movie vehicles? He certainly had the talent and the star power for such ventures. Surely,
someone in Hollywood or Elvis' management team could have figured out that Elvis could successfully build a strong audience for films similar to those
mentioned above. And to make the accountants even happier, he occasionally could have done a formula film for the even bigger box office they may have
netted.
I was wondering why he wasn't given such opportunities at least once every couple of years? And did he ever express his disappointment to you over this?
Some Elvis commentators have opined that they wasted much of Elvis' considerable acting abilities in Hollywood. Thank-you for your time and insight.
And special thanks for your part in helping to bring, "From Elvis In Memphis" to us fans. It was Elvis' best studio album and has stood the test of time.
Marty Says:
Hi Christopher,
The blame goes to Colonel Parker and to some degree Elvis himself.
Parker was only interested in money, he had the artistic talent of snail or better yet a snake which in fact he was. He didn't care about Elvis' acting ability
being furthered, all he wanted was Elvis on screen, singing songs so that he could also make money on a soundtrack album. Elvis wouldn't have been singing
in a dramatic movie. He had a cohort also in producer Hal Wallis at Paramount studios who once made the statement,"I didn't sign Elvis to be another James
Dean, I signed him to be Elvis Presley and sing songs."
Elvis has to share the blame because although he often bitched to us about the kind of movies he was doing he never put his foot down to Parker to say he
wasn't going to do anymore of those musical travelogues, which is what they all amounted to.
Many people in the know in Hollywood stated that had he been allowed to have done more serious movies after King Creole, he would have developed into a
very good dramatic actor but sadly that never happened.
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Kate Olson Asks Marty: [09.08.09]
Hi Marty,
I've always wanted to go to Memphis and visit Graceland and Sun Studios.. I'm hoping to do so next summer. What do you think Elvis would have thought
about people still coming to his home so many years later after his music stopped? I know the anniversary is coming up very soon, it's still hard to believe it's
been so long.
Marty Says:
Hello Kate
Elvis would be happy that people have not forgotten him and he'd really appreciate it after all these years it's still being done.
I think he'd have mixed feelings about people going through his home because it had great meaning to him and it was part of the memory of his mother, who
he bought the house for.
I don't think he'd like all the junk that's being sold across the street with his name and picture on it though.
Some of us still have him with us everyday in our mind and heart.
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Mark Bowden Asks Marty: [08.08.09]
Hi Marty,
I know Elvis loved all kinds of music and never wanted to find himself type-cast as a certain kind of singer.
Is that why he didn't do more thematic albums - beyond his country album "I'm 10,000 Years Old," and his gospel albums? I would've loved for him to do an all
blues or folk album.
Also, two more questions: Could you please explain the reason for the fade-out/in on Suspicious Minds?
And why was Elvis' voice sped-up on the song Girl Happy?
As always, thanks so much for your time.
Marty Says:
Hi Mark,
Elvis really never thought of doing thematic albums, the problem in part was due to the songs Parker and Hill & Range sent him and they never thought along
those lines. I would have loved to see him do an album backed by a big black mass choir and do songs like R. Kelley's,"I Believe I Can Fly." Along with other
kinds of songs.
Felton Jarvis put that stupid ending on Suspicious Minds without Elvis knowing it and that's a story that I told Lee Dawson here on EER and I believe he told it
on one of his Friday shows. It might be best for you to email Lee and ask him to do it again on next week's show and you should be sure to listen to him and
Joe Krein they have a very entertaining and informative EER show on Friday nights.
As for Girl Happy, I have no idea why that was done by RCA. It was not Elvis' idea. It was a movie song anyway.
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Gerard McCluskey (Scotland) Asks Marty: [07.08.09]
Elvis is well known for stopping by in Scotland on his way back to the usa, did he ever talk to you guys about it?
Your book,along with Red and Sonnys gives me the understanding of elvis the man....sadly there are too many people who think Elvis was above fault.
My second question is:
Which celebraties was Elvis really close friends too, if any?
Thirdly: What did Elvis say his favourite song was that he recorded?
Fourth: In todays way of recording music, would Elvis have accepted that individual tracks would have to be layed, to complete a song, or would he have still
wanted everyone in the room to record? Would he have changed to do this Marty?
Lastly, what....if any did Elvis have, views on Cathoics?
Being brought up one myself, I am just curious on the subject?
Thank you Marty, on any answers,
Marty Says:
Hello Gerard,
No, Elvis really didn't speak of his few hours in Prestwick, Scotland during his refueling stop on the way home. He really didn't have to tell me anything about it
as I had that same layover but mine was overnight four years earlier on my way home from the army stationed in Germany.
Elvis was friendly with Jackie Wilson, B.B. King, Tom Jones and a couple of others but none of them were what you'd consider close friends. He saw them very
infrequently but since he's died a few of them have made their friendships out to be more than they were. He met many celebrities when he played Vegas as
they all wanted to come backstage and meet him.
Elvis had a number of songs he liked but I cannot recall any one song that he said was his absolute favorite.
Elvis basically didn't do that when he recorded at American Studios in '69 because that's the way Chips Moman always produced songs. Just with the rhythm
section and the singer in the room and the singer just laying down a rough track coming back later after everything else is done and singing the final vocal
track.
He later went back to his old way of everyone in the room just as he went back to cutting bad songs. For him to change he would have had to have another
producer the calibre of Chips.
I never heard him make any reference to Catholics. He did his best to respect all religions as he was a strong believer in G-d.
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Kim Asks Marty: [26.07.09]
Hi Marty,
I hope you'll induldge me on this question. I grew in Arkansas, close to Memphis. When I was growing up in the 60's there was a local Memphis TV show
hosted by a character named Sivad - horror movies. Did Elvis or y'all ever watch him?
It is a dream come true for an Elvis fan to get to actually ask questions like this.
Many thanks,
Kim
Marty Says:
Hi Kim,
I'm carrying on Elvis' legacy by making dreams like this come true. I'm exaggerating a bit Kim, that's something Elvis did, I'm nobody special.
However, I'm glad to answer when I can and know the truth.
Yes, we sometimes watched Sivad whose real last name was Davis, his first name escapes me at the moment. Sivad is Davis spelled backwards. In real life he
was an executive for The Malco Theaters. We knew of him and met him once but we didn't watch that often because we were not big horror movies fans.
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Andrew Rollason Asks Marty: [24.07.09]
Marty,
I was reading through Writing For The King last night and really couldn't believe that Kal Mann, the writer of Teddy Bear stated that he met Elvis in Freddy
Bienstock's office which was in the Brill building in New York around the latter part of July or possibly early August 77. He went on to say that Elvis was a bit
surprised at seeing his old friend and told Kal that he didn't want anyone to know he was there and not to mention it. Any ideas what he was doing there?
Going through the book, All Shook Up, there is no mention of a trip to New York, although there is some mention of Elvis spending a few days in Las Vegas in
early August. Apart from that there are virtually no details I have found what Elvis did during July, until 8th August. Can you shed any light on this. Incidentally I
checked through Billy Smith's account of the final few weeks in Alanna Nash's book and there is nothing there either.
Any info would be great,
Marty Says:
Hello Andrew,
Another fairytale.......Elvis was not in NY in '77. Elvis was in Memphis at that time.
Unfortunately some people have to try to make themselves into something they were not.
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Tony Stuchbury Asks Marty: [22.07.09]
In regard to a gentleman called Bill Lynn who is no longer with us.
He was on tour in the UK a few years ago with Wayne Carmen (the karate guy who trained with Elvis) and was ‘touting’ himself as Elvis’ drummer.
Of course he never was (as far as I’m aware) other than as an extra in a few Elvis’ movies (Easy Come, Easy Go and Speedway for sure) but……… I’ve come
across some pictures of him with Elvis from 1960 and 1961 in and around studio B Nashville, so is there more to his story?
Marty Says:
Hi Tony,
I never heard of him. If he was in studio B in '60 & '6,1 I wouldn't have met him, although I started hanging around with Elvis and the guys in early '57 right
after I got out of the army, I didn't start working and travelling with him until Sept. '61, as I was a Program Director in radio until that time.
I can tell you though I never met, saw or knew of anyone by that name from '57 until '77. I can tell you for sure he was not around Elvis after '61 and was
nobody significant in Elvis' life. If he only saw him in Studio B in those two dates, that's all he would be able to tell you first hand about Elvis and I doubt he had
much interaction with Elvis even then.
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Gerard McCluskey Asks Marty: [20.07.09]
Dear Marty,
I have been reading you Q&As for sometime now and respect your answers, after all my friend you were there. I have three questions I hope in someway you
can answer,
1. Was there any talk of a TV special in 1974/75 as I believe it was advertised on one of Elvis albums back in the 70s (either Fool album or Elvis today)
2. I have read somewhere that when Jerry Lee Lewis was backstage in Vegas 69, Col. Parker ask him along with others to leave, to which jerry lee reply that
"he wasn’t gonna listen to some old man, tell him what to do" do you remember this? If so what was yours and Elvis’ reaction, let alone the colonel.
Lastly,
What do you think Elvis would think of Elvis Presley enterprises? Do you think he would of wanted it to be run in which the way it is?
Because in my opinion between the Colonel Parker and EPE I personally don’t see much difference
Marty Says:
Hello Gerard,
Thanks for your questions.
I do not recall anything said about a '74/'75 TV Special at all.
When Jerry mouthed about The Colonel it was after Colonel left the room and he asked belligerently in his own inimitable style, why Elvis put up with him and
called him an old bastard. Elvis then got up and said it's time to go upstairs and in his smartass way Jerry Lee said, "that old bastard ain't good for you" and
Elvis answered, "Yeah Jerry Lee he's why I'm here making big bucks and you're still playing school auditoriums." then Elvis and everyone left.
I think Elvis would be happy that the fans still remember and think about him. I doubt he'd like some of the trashy things EPE sells with his name and picture
on them. I also don't think he'd be happy about the Impersonators and he also did not want Priscilla to have anything to do with his estate.
Knowing Elvis and his generosity and caring about people,especially his fans, if it was feasible he might have wanted Graceland to be opened for the fans free
of charge. However, to be realistic, that's really not feasible financially. What I think he really would have wanted is for Lisa Marie to live there and carry on
the family tradition. However, she has always seemed to not really give a damn about the Presley/Smith family legacy and outside of one cousin occasionally
she has nothing to do with the family including Billy Smith who was the closest one to her father. Priscilla started that as soon as Elvis died. She has always
made sure Lisa was close to her family though.
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Thomas Asks Marty: [19.07.09]
I wanted to ask Marty this question.
I have always wondered what Elvis used on his hair in the 50's to get that famous ducktail wet look he always had, I have heard brylcream but was not sure?
I have some photo's of him using Vaseline hair tonic in ealry 1956, but I thought you may remember what he used.
Marty Says:
Hi Thomas,
He [Elvis] mostly used Brylcream. "A Little Dab'll Do Ya'"
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Rich Wilson Asks Marty: [17.07.09]
Marty: Thanks for answering questions honestly...fans should respect that from you and not expect you or anyone else to sugar-coat anything just to make
them feel better.
Now, my question is this, I know you were really into the music so you might know.
Priscilla Presley is now claiming that SHE is the person who brought the song "An American Trilogy" to Elvis' attention and that SHE suggested it was the
perfect song for him ...do you have any recollection about this particular song and where Elvis found it?
Thanks so very much,
Marty Says:
Rich,
Thank you for your comments. Although there are a few things I never would reveal, I find no need to sugar coat what I do say because it is the truth.
As Elvis always used to say,"The Truth Shall Set You Free."
Whether someone respects or disrespects me is up to them but I do my best to be respectful to everyone unless they don't let me. As funny as that may
sound, there are people who enjoy badmouthing and try to pick an argument or fight. That's their problem not mine but if they get real nasty I give them a
taste of their own medicine and then some.
As for Priscilla bringing him American Trilogy, I might be wrong but I think she's taking lessons from George Klein and claiming she did something someone
else did. In the case of Trilogy, I believe Elvis heard Mickey Newberry's hit on the radio. Mickey wrote the song.
As a bit of trivia, the three songs that make up Trilogy were all Public Domain songs, which means that nobody could claim they were the writer anymore for
each song. However, when the three were made into one song, whoever did that could claim to be the writer and publisher. Elvis could have done that when
he recorded it but instead as a nice gesture, he gave that right to Mickey and Mickey gets the writer's and publisher's royalties on it.
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Ida Ritter Asks Marty: [13.07.08]
Thanks for answering the fans questions, over time I build up some respect for you because I can see your love and sincerity when answering them and that
took away some of my resentment for what we all know about that terrible book written.
As I said before, my respects. My question is: I understand John Wilkinson was the only one in Elvis band that never missed a concert and that always was
there, that never asked for an increase on salary or threaten Elvis with leaving him. I do know he has his faults too like all of us, like you once said, we are all
human and Elvis was. Why you never mention him, or at least I maybe miss out if you did, and what was the relationship of John and Elvis according to your
views. And I thank you very much in advance for your time and devotion
Marty Says:
Ida,
First off, what terrible book are you speaking of, if you're talking about Revelations I'm sorry you feel that way but if you can't handle the truth about an
important American Historical cultural icon then what can I say. However, neither I, Billy or Lamar have anything to apologize or feel sorry about. We wouldn't
change a thing. What some think is a terrible book, many others have claimed is the best book ever written about Elvis.
As for John, he always seemed like a nice guy but we didn't have much contact with him or the band. They were separate from the Memphis Mafia and we
really didn't socialize with them and that includes Elvis. On the tours they flew in a separate plane from Elvis and the MM. However I know Elvis liked John as
he did most in the band and there biggest times together were on stage and in rehearsals but not other times. They did come to the suite in Vegas every so
often after the shows when when Elvis had people up there.
I have nothing negative to say about him or any other members of the band. The few times I talked to John he seemed like a heck of a nice guy. Fact is I was
more of a friend of Ronnie Tutt as I knew Ronnie before he worked for Elvis. Ronnie lived in Memphis for a good while pre-Elvis and worked on some of the
recording sessions I did after I quit working for Elvis.
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Steve from Atlanta, GA Asks Marty: [25.06.08]
I have several questions for you.
Recently Bill Black & DJ Fontana were inducted in to the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame.
My first question is this:
Did Elvis ever communicate with Scotty and D.J. during the later years (after the 68 NBC program) and did he still reflect about his days of touring and
recording with them?
Next:
On a related note, I just viewed an interview with Johnny Cash from the mid 80's, where he said he never saw Elvis again (in person) after the late 50's.
Is that true?
My final question is this;
Did Elvis ever mention having a desire to meet or socialize with any of the artists he started out with, and if not, any idea why?
Thanks very much Marty for your insight.
Marty Says:
Hello Steve,
No Elvis never saw Scotty and DJ in the later years. DJ came to the gate a few times and when the guard called up to see if he should let him in, we asked
Elvis and he told us to tell DJ he was still asleep. After Elvis died DJ badmouthed us saying we wouldn't let him see Elvis. He was wrong. We always asked
Elvis if someone came to the gate and it was always Elvis' decision to let them or not let them up. It was his home and we respected that.
No he didn't see Johnny again.
A few times he and Red reminisced about touring in the 50's as Red was their driver and he told us some funny stories about things that happened on the
road in the one car they used with Bill Black's big bass strapped to the roof. No he never expressed the desire to socialize with any of those old guys.
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Arun Jassi Asks Marty: [25.05.09]
In an interview with the late Barabra McNair, Elvis'co-star in ''Change of Habit'', she recollected the day that legendary Gospel singer, Mahalia Jackson came
on the film set and asked Elvis if he would participate in a fund-raiser that she was going to organize, to which, Elvis graciously said that he would love to but
he still had to ask the Colonel.
After Mahalia Jackson left the set he said to Barbara McNair, ''I'll never do it the Colonel won't let me''. Elvis was very gracious to Mahalia but knew all the time
the Colonel would not let him do it.
My question is exactly what was the Colonel's problem on such matters apart from the fact that he was a control-freak?
Why would the Colonel object to this?
Has it got anything to do with Race since he advised Elvis not to make any political messages and statements in case it affected his career?
The Colonel orchestrated various fund-raisers for Elvis to do during his career; would this fund -raiser with Mahalia been different because he would not have
been doing it on his own?
Surely, doing such a fund-raiser with other stars like this would have been fantastic for his career, image and his own self-esteem.
I feel and believe the Colonel, despite all the positive things he did for Elvis' career, also stifled and suppressed him as well and did not give him the freedom
to do what he REALLY wanted to do and this is just another example of that!
Your views are appreciated, Marty.
Marty Says:
Hi Arun,
First of all it has to do with money and this was a free fund raiser.
Secondly, Parker didn't want Elvis to do a show with other performers, he didn't think Elvis should be on a show where there were many other performers.
Third, race played a small part in it,Parker didn't like any ethnic group of people.
In my opinion, part of it was Elvis' fault in this and a few other things, he should have stood up to the Colonel if he wanted to do it. Elvis revered Mahalia and it
meant a great deal to him that she came to see him even if she came just to ask him to do the show. He often played her records at home.
Parker was good for Elvis in the very early years in getting him known but he wouldn't change with the times and he continued to promote Elvis as if he was a
carnival side show which was Parker's specialty. He was always a carny con man whose motto was,"GET THE MONEY AND RUN."
He hurt Elvis by his tactics after the early years.
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Mari Asks Marty: [25.06.08]
I apologize, I don't want to abuse your good will but I do have another question that I came across right after I had sent you the last ones.
This one is really puzzling to me. I am having a hard time putting dates to certain events because I am finding conflicting information in the literature out there.
In day by day it says Priscilla told Elvis she was leaving him at the end of 1971 and told him about Mike Stone at the beginning of 1972? In her book she says
she met Stone in 1972 and their relationship evolved that year. She does not mention dates when it comes to when she told Elvis she was leaving. She also
does not mention she told him about Stone at all.
She only gives the date for the divorce (October 1973).
Do you know what happened and when?
Also Ed Parker (in his book) says she was the one who switched karate schools (to be close to Stone) while she says Elvis encouraged her to take lessons
from Stone. What is the real story?
Thank you so much. I am forever indebted to your generosity and help.
Marty Says:
Hello Mari,
Sometimes dates get mixed up, I believe it was '72 when she told him but it was after she had been fooling around with Stone a good while and some of us
also suspect her dancing teacher whose name escapes me at the moment. Fact is when Elvis was in Vegas the time before that he sent Sonny back to the
Monovale House to get something and bring it back to Vegas. When Sonny got to the house he noticed a car that was strange. he went into the house and
started looking around to see who was there. When he went upstairs and went in Elvis' room he discovered Priscilla and Stone in the shower. She and Stone
evidently got it on in Elvis and her bed and in his shower. Sonny did not tell Elvis because he didn't feel it was his place and he didn't want to hurt him. In
addition, when Priscilla saw Sonny in the house she pleaded with him not to tell Elvis.
Priscilla is not gonna mention anything that makes her look bad, she pins it all on Elvis. Yes, he sort of encouraged her to take martial arts for a couple of
reasons. One so she could protect herself and second he wanted her to be preoccupied by something so she wouldn't get into his business.
Anything she says is to make her look good and not Elvis. She told Elvis she was leaving and about Stone when she visited him in Vegas and she claims that
when she told him up in the suite he raped her. What a crock.
She thought so much of Elvis that she picked the wrong time to tell him, just before he had to go on stage to do his show for that night.
I'll let you and everyone else form your own opinion about her. It's obvious what I and some of us guys think of her.
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I just found this site to email you....oh my....I am SO excited.
I love you guys..I don't care what others say about you all, I loved the book (mm) that you all did....I would LOVE to someday meet you Marty.
I have such respect for the memories and TRUTH that you all possess.
I agree that Elvis wouldn't want so many folks in his house...but I do have to admit I myself enjoyed visiting where he lived. The other side of that is I am glad
Lisa has "some" of the benefits from that.
I do not agree with Priscilla getting anything from it. She was a widow but an EX.
What do you think of folks saying Elvis has other children out there, and do you think Elvis would be alive had LInda Thompson been there instead of Ginger?
Also...do you think there will be any new revelations in the autopsy when is it opened , after vernon's sealing of it for 50 years?
I am 58 years old,,,from Mississippi originally, and guess what ? My mothers' name is Gladys Smith.
I am SO happy to get to ask visit with you.
I wrote Billy a personal letter but never received a reply,,I can understand but I would LOVE to meet you guys.....Love you all
Marty Says:
Hello Candy,
Thank you for your nice comments and I get exited when I email me too. Just kidding Candy, I'm nothing special just was proud to have Elvis like a brother but
he was the star not any of us guys.
As I have said, Elvis would be happy and appreciative that so many people remember him and want to see his house but the inside was something special and
private to him and I don't think he'd want all those people to traipse through it. That was his home not a house but now it has turned out to be a cold museum,
all the warmth is gone since he left.
As for the truth, as Elvis always said, "The Truth Shall Set You Free." Lying is a waste of time.
Priscilla is not his widow, as an ex you don't have the right to claim being a widow but she likes to make herself more than she is. To her, it's all about her
instead of him.
If Linda had been there he would have had a better chance of living. She cared for and about him whereas Ginger was just there as a trophy.
The mere fact that no woman legitimately came forth saying she was having or had Elvis' baby seeking money when he was alive should tell you that he had
no other children.
The one who did come forth was a fraud trying to con him out of money but she was proven to be just that and prosecuted.
As for the autopsy I have no idea what's in it but I doubt there will be anything major. At 58 you should be still alive when it's released unless Lisa seals it
again.
As for meeting Billy,Lamar and I, we only do that if we have some sort of event for the fans as we get so many requests and we feel if we do it for one we have
to do it for all and we can't do that. At this stage of our life we spend and devote most of our time with our families.
Thank you for your email. Marty
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Arun Jassi Asks Marty: [21.09.09]
Hello Marty,
I read in an Elvis Encyclopedia that Elvis' classic rocker 'A Big Hunk O' Love' was nominated twice for a Grammy award in the categories of Best Rhythm and
Blues Performance, and Best Performance by a 'Top 40' Artist of 1959.
Could you confirm if this is true?
Marty Says:
Hi Arun,
I really have no recollection of that but it might be true.
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Christopher Asks Marty: [11.09.09]
Greetings Mr. Lacker;
Thank-you Sir for answering my previous question. I have read that the legendary Elia Kazan expressed a desire to work with Elvis early in his career but this
never happened. (I think there is a picture of Elia and Elvis together. And I presume Spiros Skouras who headed 20th Century Fox at the time would have
agreed to such a venture.)
I have read that the great Louis "Sachmo" Armstrong wanted to make a record with Elvis but it didn't happen. I have read that John Lennon and Paul
McCartney wanted to write a song specifically for Elvis to record and that didn't happen either. And in an interview with 60 Minutes, Arthur Fiedler said that
Elvis and he were going to do a live album together but that didn't happen because Elvis was gone on August 16,1977.
Of these stories Mr. Lacker; what ones are true? And of those that are true; why didn't these potentially exciting movie and musical collaborations happen?
We know that Colonel Tom Parker liked to make money and I'm pretty sure all of these ventures would have netted noteworthy profits for all those involved.
Thank-you for your time Sir.
Marty Says:
Hello Christopher,
Parker is the answer to all your questions.
Yes, Parker liked to make money but he wanted to make all of it and not share it with another artist as far as royalties are concerned.
Kazan wanted to turn Elvis into a great dramatic actor, no singing. Parker didn't want Elvis to become a dramatic actor and take him away from his music
travelogues.
Plus Parker thought Kazan would exert too much control on Elvis as far as movies were concerned.
I never heard that Armstrong or Fiedler expressed a desire to do an album with Elvis.
As for Paul and John, Elvis would have no problem with them writing a song for him but Parker would want the publishing and they weren't about to do that.
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Arun Jassi Asks Marty: [11.09.09]
Hello Marty,
Thank you for your answer to my previous question about Chips Moman.
What actual role did Parker have as far as Elvis' recording sessions were concerned and Elvis' choice of music producer?
Wasn't Parker pleased and impressed with with what Elvis was able to achieve with a Producer like Chips Moman?
Elvis has never been offically credited as being a Music Producer for his own music but rather someone else has been credited,i.e.Steve Sholes,Sam Phillips,
Felton Jarvis etc. and I have read that Elvis was his own Producer in a lot of cases.Is this true?
Can you shed some light on how much of Elvis'music was actually produced by Elvis himself including the Sun records and those with Felton Jarvis?
Marty Says:
Hello Arun,
Parker was pleased with the royalties that the Memphis sessions brought him because they were such successful selling records, but he didn't like losing
control, for the first time, this out of any of Elvis' recording sessions in terms of the songs recorded and the publishing of some of them.
Every session that Elvis did since Parker began managing him, either him, Tom Diskin or Freddy Bienstock and many times all three of them, were always
present to make sure Elvis basically recorded songs they had the publishing on. Other than that they made no decisions as to how the musicians played
or Elvis sang. Elvis always had the say so of those two factors of the sessions. He was in essence the producer.
That is until 1969 when Chips was definitely the producer. Chips told the musicians how to play and for the first time someone,he, would tell Elvis when he was
off key or too fast or slow or he gave other suggestions to Elvis and quite frankly that is something Elvis really needed someone to do.
That is why that session was so successful and Elvis welcomed the directions.
Felton was never the producer per se, he did none of those things in other sessions. Felton was an RCA producer assigned to Elvis to make him happy and
to sometimes book the musicians and background singers but he didn't actually produce the records and he never told Elvis when he was off key or the
musicians how to play.
Sam Phillips and Steve Sholes were there when Elvis was young and more or less a novice in recording and so they guided him to a degree in their sessions
but Elvis still a lot of say so as to what and how he sang.
Elvis wasn't credited as producer on the record label, other than Sam at Sun and Sholes in the early years nobody ever was.
However I'll tell you a funny piece of trivia. When In The Ghetto came out as the first record from the Memphis sessions Billboard listed Felton as the
producer. That pissed me off because I know Felton had that put on there even though he knew he didn't produce anything, Chips did. So I called Billboard
and told them they made a mistake that it should have Chips' name on there not Felton. They asked who I was and I just told them I was from RCA. The next
week when the charts came out, it had Chips' name.
I laughed because what I did worked. However I knew that someone, either Felton or Parker would be pissed. The third week when the Billboard charts came
out it had nobody's name as producer. I called them again and ask what they were doing to put Chips' name back on there. The guy said,"You people need
to make up your minds because Colonel Parker called and angrily told us to leave the producers space blank,no producer." I told them I'd straighten Parker
out. I hung up and laughed my ass off and just left it alone.
That's how petty Parker and Felton could get. They resented Chips being in control with Elvis of the sessions.
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Arun Jassi Asks Marty: [06.09.09]
Hello Marty,
I would like to ask a question which may have already been previously asked.
Why didn't Elvis ever work with Chips Moman again after the brilliant Memphis recording sessions at American Sound Studios in January 1969?
I understand you was the catalyst in getting Chips Moman to be the producer for Elvis at these legendary sessions.
Marty Says:
Hello Arun,
Yes, that has been asked before. The answer was Colonel Parker and Felton Jarvis who lied to Elvis about something negative pertaining to Chips because
they didn't want Elvis to work with him anymore. Parker because it's the first time he lost control of a session and Felton because he wanted Elvis to continue
recording in Nashville where Felton lived and he made it seem like he was producer which he wasn't.
I tried to tell Elvis that they were lying to him but to no avail, he did what Parker wanted. Unfortunately Elvis was the one who suffered musically.
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Christopher S Asks Marty: [30.08.09]
Dear Mr. Lacker;
Hi again. And thank-you so much for answering my previous question about "the business politics" behind Elvis' music. It's kind of sad to consider that a
performance artist as creative as Elvis was, got bogged down by such issues.
Anyway...with reference to Elvis and the movies. The traditional reason given for Elvis not getting better movie scripts during the 1960's is that because a
formula flick like "Blue Hawaii" did better at the box office than more serious works like "Wild In The Country" and "Flaming Star"; the decision was made that
Elvis would primarily stick to formula pictures. Of course there was a notable exception in the fine little comedy Elvis made called, "Follow That Dream" and a
couple of other pretty good non - formula films.
Elvis was probably the biggest star in the world. Other music stars in the same league like Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby, made formula pictures as well. But
Sinatra also got to do "The Manchurian Candidate". Bing Crosby did "Holiday Inn" and "White Christmas" and Bing Crosby along with Sinatra did "High
Society". Why wasn't Elvis at least on occasion allowed to do similar movie vehicles? He certainly had the talent and the star power for such ventures. Surely,
someone in Hollywood or Elvis' management team could have figured out that Elvis could successfully build a strong audience for films similar to those
mentioned above. And to make the accountants even happier, he occasionally could have done a formula film for the even bigger box office they may have
netted.
I was wondering why he wasn't given such opportunities at least once every couple of years? And did he ever express his disappointment to you over this?
Some Elvis commentators have opined that they wasted much of Elvis' considerable acting abilities in Hollywood. Thank-you for your time and insight.
And special thanks for your part in helping to bring, "From Elvis In Memphis" to us fans. It was Elvis' best studio album and has stood the test of time.
Marty Says:
Hi Christopher,
The blame goes to Colonel Parker and to some degree Elvis himself.
Parker was only interested in money, he had the artistic talent of snail or better yet a snake which in fact he was. He didn't care about Elvis' acting ability
being furthered, all he wanted was Elvis on screen, singing songs so that he could also make money on a soundtrack album. Elvis wouldn't have been singing
in a dramatic movie. He had a cohort also in producer Hal Wallis at Paramount studios who once made the statement,"I didn't sign Elvis to be another James
Dean, I signed him to be Elvis Presley and sing songs."
Elvis has to share the blame because although he often bitched to us about the kind of movies he was doing he never put his foot down to Parker to say he
wasn't going to do anymore of those musical travelogues, which is what they all amounted to.
Many people in the know in Hollywood stated that had he been allowed to have done more serious movies after King Creole, he would have developed into a
very good dramatic actor but sadly that never happened.
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Kate Olson Asks Marty: [09.08.09]
Hi Marty,
I've always wanted to go to Memphis and visit Graceland and Sun Studios.. I'm hoping to do so next summer. What do you think Elvis would have thought
about people still coming to his home so many years later after his music stopped? I know the anniversary is coming up very soon, it's still hard to believe it's
been so long.
Marty Says:
Hello Kate
Elvis would be happy that people have not forgotten him and he'd really appreciate it after all these years it's still being done.
I think he'd have mixed feelings about people going through his home because it had great meaning to him and it was part of the memory of his mother, who
he bought the house for.
I don't think he'd like all the junk that's being sold across the street with his name and picture on it though.
Some of us still have him with us everyday in our mind and heart.
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Mark Bowden Asks Marty: [08.08.09]
Hi Marty,
I know Elvis loved all kinds of music and never wanted to find himself type-cast as a certain kind of singer.
Is that why he didn't do more thematic albums - beyond his country album "I'm 10,000 Years Old," and his gospel albums? I would've loved for him to do an all
blues or folk album.
Also, two more questions: Could you please explain the reason for the fade-out/in on Suspicious Minds?
And why was Elvis' voice sped-up on the song Girl Happy?
As always, thanks so much for your time.
Marty Says:
Hi Mark,
Elvis really never thought of doing thematic albums, the problem in part was due to the songs Parker and Hill & Range sent him and they never thought along
those lines. I would have loved to see him do an album backed by a big black mass choir and do songs like R. Kelley's,"I Believe I Can Fly." Along with other
kinds of songs.
Felton Jarvis put that stupid ending on Suspicious Minds without Elvis knowing it and that's a story that I told Lee Dawson here on EER and I believe he told it
on one of his Friday shows. It might be best for you to email Lee and ask him to do it again on next week's show and you should be sure to listen to him and
Joe Krein they have a very entertaining and informative EER show on Friday nights.
As for Girl Happy, I have no idea why that was done by RCA. It was not Elvis' idea. It was a movie song anyway.
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Gerard McCluskey (Scotland) Asks Marty: [07.08.09]
Elvis is well known for stopping by in Scotland on his way back to the usa, did he ever talk to you guys about it?
Your book,along with Red and Sonnys gives me the understanding of elvis the man....sadly there are too many people who think Elvis was above fault.
My second question is:
Which celebraties was Elvis really close friends too, if any?
Thirdly: What did Elvis say his favourite song was that he recorded?
Fourth: In todays way of recording music, would Elvis have accepted that individual tracks would have to be layed, to complete a song, or would he have still
wanted everyone in the room to record? Would he have changed to do this Marty?
Lastly, what....if any did Elvis have, views on Cathoics?
Being brought up one myself, I am just curious on the subject?
Thank you Marty, on any answers,
Marty Says:
Hello Gerard,
No, Elvis really didn't speak of his few hours in Prestwick, Scotland during his refueling stop on the way home. He really didn't have to tell me anything about it
as I had that same layover but mine was overnight four years earlier on my way home from the army stationed in Germany.
Elvis was friendly with Jackie Wilson, B.B. King, Tom Jones and a couple of others but none of them were what you'd consider close friends. He saw them very
infrequently but since he's died a few of them have made their friendships out to be more than they were. He met many celebrities when he played Vegas as
they all wanted to come backstage and meet him.
Elvis had a number of songs he liked but I cannot recall any one song that he said was his absolute favorite.
Elvis basically didn't do that when he recorded at American Studios in '69 because that's the way Chips Moman always produced songs. Just with the rhythm
section and the singer in the room and the singer just laying down a rough track coming back later after everything else is done and singing the final vocal
track.
He later went back to his old way of everyone in the room just as he went back to cutting bad songs. For him to change he would have had to have another
producer the calibre of Chips.
I never heard him make any reference to Catholics. He did his best to respect all religions as he was a strong believer in G-d.
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Kim Asks Marty: [26.07.09]
Hi Marty,
I hope you'll induldge me on this question. I grew in Arkansas, close to Memphis. When I was growing up in the 60's there was a local Memphis TV show
hosted by a character named Sivad - horror movies. Did Elvis or y'all ever watch him?
It is a dream come true for an Elvis fan to get to actually ask questions like this.
Many thanks,
Kim
Marty Says:
Hi Kim,
I'm carrying on Elvis' legacy by making dreams like this come true. I'm exaggerating a bit Kim, that's something Elvis did, I'm nobody special.
However, I'm glad to answer when I can and know the truth.
Yes, we sometimes watched Sivad whose real last name was Davis, his first name escapes me at the moment. Sivad is Davis spelled backwards. In real life he
was an executive for The Malco Theaters. We knew of him and met him once but we didn't watch that often because we were not big horror movies fans.
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Andrew Rollason Asks Marty: [24.07.09]
Marty,
I was reading through Writing For The King last night and really couldn't believe that Kal Mann, the writer of Teddy Bear stated that he met Elvis in Freddy
Bienstock's office which was in the Brill building in New York around the latter part of July or possibly early August 77. He went on to say that Elvis was a bit
surprised at seeing his old friend and told Kal that he didn't want anyone to know he was there and not to mention it. Any ideas what he was doing there?
Going through the book, All Shook Up, there is no mention of a trip to New York, although there is some mention of Elvis spending a few days in Las Vegas in
early August. Apart from that there are virtually no details I have found what Elvis did during July, until 8th August. Can you shed any light on this. Incidentally I
checked through Billy Smith's account of the final few weeks in Alanna Nash's book and there is nothing there either.
Any info would be great,
Marty Says:
Hello Andrew,
Another fairytale.......Elvis was not in NY in '77. Elvis was in Memphis at that time.
Unfortunately some people have to try to make themselves into something they were not.
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Tony Stuchbury Asks Marty: [22.07.09]
In regard to a gentleman called Bill Lynn who is no longer with us.
He was on tour in the UK a few years ago with Wayne Carmen (the karate guy who trained with Elvis) and was ‘touting’ himself as Elvis’ drummer.
Of course he never was (as far as I’m aware) other than as an extra in a few Elvis’ movies (Easy Come, Easy Go and Speedway for sure) but……… I’ve come
across some pictures of him with Elvis from 1960 and 1961 in and around studio B Nashville, so is there more to his story?
Marty Says:
Hi Tony,
I never heard of him. If he was in studio B in '60 & '6,1 I wouldn't have met him, although I started hanging around with Elvis and the guys in early '57 right
after I got out of the army, I didn't start working and travelling with him until Sept. '61, as I was a Program Director in radio until that time.
I can tell you though I never met, saw or knew of anyone by that name from '57 until '77. I can tell you for sure he was not around Elvis after '61 and was
nobody significant in Elvis' life. If he only saw him in Studio B in those two dates, that's all he would be able to tell you first hand about Elvis and I doubt he had
much interaction with Elvis even then.
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Gerard McCluskey Asks Marty: [20.07.09]
Dear Marty,
I have been reading you Q&As for sometime now and respect your answers, after all my friend you were there. I have three questions I hope in someway you
can answer,
1. Was there any talk of a TV special in 1974/75 as I believe it was advertised on one of Elvis albums back in the 70s (either Fool album or Elvis today)
2. I have read somewhere that when Jerry Lee Lewis was backstage in Vegas 69, Col. Parker ask him along with others to leave, to which jerry lee reply that
"he wasn’t gonna listen to some old man, tell him what to do" do you remember this? If so what was yours and Elvis’ reaction, let alone the colonel.
Lastly,
What do you think Elvis would think of Elvis Presley enterprises? Do you think he would of wanted it to be run in which the way it is?
Because in my opinion between the Colonel Parker and EPE I personally don’t see much difference
Marty Says:
Hello Gerard,
Thanks for your questions.
I do not recall anything said about a '74/'75 TV Special at all.
When Jerry mouthed about The Colonel it was after Colonel left the room and he asked belligerently in his own inimitable style, why Elvis put up with him and
called him an old bastard. Elvis then got up and said it's time to go upstairs and in his smartass way Jerry Lee said, "that old bastard ain't good for you" and
Elvis answered, "Yeah Jerry Lee he's why I'm here making big bucks and you're still playing school auditoriums." then Elvis and everyone left.
I think Elvis would be happy that the fans still remember and think about him. I doubt he'd like some of the trashy things EPE sells with his name and picture
on them. I also don't think he'd be happy about the Impersonators and he also did not want Priscilla to have anything to do with his estate.
Knowing Elvis and his generosity and caring about people,especially his fans, if it was feasible he might have wanted Graceland to be opened for the fans free
of charge. However, to be realistic, that's really not feasible financially. What I think he really would have wanted is for Lisa Marie to live there and carry on
the family tradition. However, she has always seemed to not really give a damn about the Presley/Smith family legacy and outside of one cousin occasionally
she has nothing to do with the family including Billy Smith who was the closest one to her father. Priscilla started that as soon as Elvis died. She has always
made sure Lisa was close to her family though.
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Thomas Asks Marty: [19.07.09]
I wanted to ask Marty this question.
I have always wondered what Elvis used on his hair in the 50's to get that famous ducktail wet look he always had, I have heard brylcream but was not sure?
I have some photo's of him using Vaseline hair tonic in ealry 1956, but I thought you may remember what he used.
Marty Says:
Hi Thomas,
He [Elvis] mostly used Brylcream. "A Little Dab'll Do Ya'"
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Rich Wilson Asks Marty: [17.07.09]
Marty: Thanks for answering questions honestly...fans should respect that from you and not expect you or anyone else to sugar-coat anything just to make
them feel better.
Now, my question is this, I know you were really into the music so you might know.
Priscilla Presley is now claiming that SHE is the person who brought the song "An American Trilogy" to Elvis' attention and that SHE suggested it was the
perfect song for him ...do you have any recollection about this particular song and where Elvis found it?
Thanks so very much,
Marty Says:
Rich,
Thank you for your comments. Although there are a few things I never would reveal, I find no need to sugar coat what I do say because it is the truth.
As Elvis always used to say,"The Truth Shall Set You Free."
Whether someone respects or disrespects me is up to them but I do my best to be respectful to everyone unless they don't let me. As funny as that may
sound, there are people who enjoy badmouthing and try to pick an argument or fight. That's their problem not mine but if they get real nasty I give them a
taste of their own medicine and then some.
As for Priscilla bringing him American Trilogy, I might be wrong but I think she's taking lessons from George Klein and claiming she did something someone
else did. In the case of Trilogy, I believe Elvis heard Mickey Newberry's hit on the radio. Mickey wrote the song.
As a bit of trivia, the three songs that make up Trilogy were all Public Domain songs, which means that nobody could claim they were the writer anymore for
each song. However, when the three were made into one song, whoever did that could claim to be the writer and publisher. Elvis could have done that when
he recorded it but instead as a nice gesture, he gave that right to Mickey and Mickey gets the writer's and publisher's royalties on it.
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Ida Ritter Asks Marty: [13.07.08]
Thanks for answering the fans questions, over time I build up some respect for you because I can see your love and sincerity when answering them and that
took away some of my resentment for what we all know about that terrible book written.
As I said before, my respects. My question is: I understand John Wilkinson was the only one in Elvis band that never missed a concert and that always was
there, that never asked for an increase on salary or threaten Elvis with leaving him. I do know he has his faults too like all of us, like you once said, we are all
human and Elvis was. Why you never mention him, or at least I maybe miss out if you did, and what was the relationship of John and Elvis according to your
views. And I thank you very much in advance for your time and devotion
Marty Says:
Ida,
First off, what terrible book are you speaking of, if you're talking about Revelations I'm sorry you feel that way but if you can't handle the truth about an
important American Historical cultural icon then what can I say. However, neither I, Billy or Lamar have anything to apologize or feel sorry about. We wouldn't
change a thing. What some think is a terrible book, many others have claimed is the best book ever written about Elvis.
As for John, he always seemed like a nice guy but we didn't have much contact with him or the band. They were separate from the Memphis Mafia and we
really didn't socialize with them and that includes Elvis. On the tours they flew in a separate plane from Elvis and the MM. However I know Elvis liked John as
he did most in the band and there biggest times together were on stage and in rehearsals but not other times. They did come to the suite in Vegas every so
often after the shows when when Elvis had people up there.
I have nothing negative to say about him or any other members of the band. The few times I talked to John he seemed like a heck of a nice guy. Fact is I was
more of a friend of Ronnie Tutt as I knew Ronnie before he worked for Elvis. Ronnie lived in Memphis for a good while pre-Elvis and worked on some of the
recording sessions I did after I quit working for Elvis.
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Steve from Atlanta, GA Asks Marty: [25.06.08]
I have several questions for you.
Recently Bill Black & DJ Fontana were inducted in to the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame.
My first question is this:
Did Elvis ever communicate with Scotty and D.J. during the later years (after the 68 NBC program) and did he still reflect about his days of touring and
recording with them?
Next:
On a related note, I just viewed an interview with Johnny Cash from the mid 80's, where he said he never saw Elvis again (in person) after the late 50's.
Is that true?
My final question is this;
Did Elvis ever mention having a desire to meet or socialize with any of the artists he started out with, and if not, any idea why?
Thanks very much Marty for your insight.
Marty Says:
Hello Steve,
No Elvis never saw Scotty and DJ in the later years. DJ came to the gate a few times and when the guard called up to see if he should let him in, we asked
Elvis and he told us to tell DJ he was still asleep. After Elvis died DJ badmouthed us saying we wouldn't let him see Elvis. He was wrong. We always asked
Elvis if someone came to the gate and it was always Elvis' decision to let them or not let them up. It was his home and we respected that.
No he didn't see Johnny again.
A few times he and Red reminisced about touring in the 50's as Red was their driver and he told us some funny stories about things that happened on the
road in the one car they used with Bill Black's big bass strapped to the roof. No he never expressed the desire to socialize with any of those old guys.
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Arun Jassi Asks Marty: [25.05.09]
In an interview with the late Barabra McNair, Elvis'co-star in ''Change of Habit'', she recollected the day that legendary Gospel singer, Mahalia Jackson came
on the film set and asked Elvis if he would participate in a fund-raiser that she was going to organize, to which, Elvis graciously said that he would love to but
he still had to ask the Colonel.
After Mahalia Jackson left the set he said to Barbara McNair, ''I'll never do it the Colonel won't let me''. Elvis was very gracious to Mahalia but knew all the time
the Colonel would not let him do it.
My question is exactly what was the Colonel's problem on such matters apart from the fact that he was a control-freak?
Why would the Colonel object to this?
Has it got anything to do with Race since he advised Elvis not to make any political messages and statements in case it affected his career?
The Colonel orchestrated various fund-raisers for Elvis to do during his career; would this fund -raiser with Mahalia been different because he would not have
been doing it on his own?
Surely, doing such a fund-raiser with other stars like this would have been fantastic for his career, image and his own self-esteem.
I feel and believe the Colonel, despite all the positive things he did for Elvis' career, also stifled and suppressed him as well and did not give him the freedom
to do what he REALLY wanted to do and this is just another example of that!
Your views are appreciated, Marty.
Marty Says:
Hi Arun,
First of all it has to do with money and this was a free fund raiser.
Secondly, Parker didn't want Elvis to do a show with other performers, he didn't think Elvis should be on a show where there were many other performers.
Third, race played a small part in it,Parker didn't like any ethnic group of people.
In my opinion, part of it was Elvis' fault in this and a few other things, he should have stood up to the Colonel if he wanted to do it. Elvis revered Mahalia and it
meant a great deal to him that she came to see him even if she came just to ask him to do the show. He often played her records at home.
Parker was good for Elvis in the very early years in getting him known but he wouldn't change with the times and he continued to promote Elvis as if he was a
carnival side show which was Parker's specialty. He was always a carny con man whose motto was,"GET THE MONEY AND RUN."
He hurt Elvis by his tactics after the early years.
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Mari Asks Marty: [25.06.08]
I apologize, I don't want to abuse your good will but I do have another question that I came across right after I had sent you the last ones.
This one is really puzzling to me. I am having a hard time putting dates to certain events because I am finding conflicting information in the literature out there.
In day by day it says Priscilla told Elvis she was leaving him at the end of 1971 and told him about Mike Stone at the beginning of 1972? In her book she says
she met Stone in 1972 and their relationship evolved that year. She does not mention dates when it comes to when she told Elvis she was leaving. She also
does not mention she told him about Stone at all.
She only gives the date for the divorce (October 1973).
Do you know what happened and when?
Also Ed Parker (in his book) says she was the one who switched karate schools (to be close to Stone) while she says Elvis encouraged her to take lessons
from Stone. What is the real story?
Thank you so much. I am forever indebted to your generosity and help.
Marty Says:
Hello Mari,
Sometimes dates get mixed up, I believe it was '72 when she told him but it was after she had been fooling around with Stone a good while and some of us
also suspect her dancing teacher whose name escapes me at the moment. Fact is when Elvis was in Vegas the time before that he sent Sonny back to the
Monovale House to get something and bring it back to Vegas. When Sonny got to the house he noticed a car that was strange. he went into the house and
started looking around to see who was there. When he went upstairs and went in Elvis' room he discovered Priscilla and Stone in the shower. She and Stone
evidently got it on in Elvis and her bed and in his shower. Sonny did not tell Elvis because he didn't feel it was his place and he didn't want to hurt him. In
addition, when Priscilla saw Sonny in the house she pleaded with him not to tell Elvis.
Priscilla is not gonna mention anything that makes her look bad, she pins it all on Elvis. Yes, he sort of encouraged her to take martial arts for a couple of
reasons. One so she could protect herself and second he wanted her to be preoccupied by something so she wouldn't get into his business.
Anything she says is to make her look good and not Elvis. She told Elvis she was leaving and about Stone when she visited him in Vegas and she claims that
when she told him up in the suite he raped her. What a crock.
She thought so much of Elvis that she picked the wrong time to tell him, just before he had to go on stage to do his show for that night.
I'll let you and everyone else form your own opinion about her. It's obvious what I and some of us guys think of her.
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