Product Description

This vivid oral biography of Elvis Presley is based on the recollections of three members of the "Memphis Mafia," the entourage who accompanied Elvis every day, from 1956 to his death in 1977. These were the men closest to Elvis, the ones who knew him best: Billy Smith, Elvis’ first cousin; Marty Lacker, foreman of the Memphis Mafia; and Lamar Fike, who joined the army with Elvis. Together, they offer rare insights into the greatest legend of them all, from the phenomenal successes to the long, devastating decline. A uniquely revealing portrait of a tragic figure whose immense talent changed the course of American music and culture.

Alanna Nash writes for THE NEW YORK TIMES and ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY. She is the author of The Colonel: The Extraordinary Story of Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis Presley.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #341425 in Books
• Published on: 2005-09-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 792 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781845131289
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Review
"'You don't need to be an Elvis fan to be awed by this book. It is so detailed, gossipy, far-ranging, and coherent that it becomes a clear window on an entire era. The book's genius is in the volume of fresh and flowing information... Nash is one of the finest, most perceptive chroniclers and appraisers of pop music in America.' Billboard magazine"

From the Publisher
Elvis Aaron Presley is as close as anybody's gotten to a psychological profile of Elvis, based on family information from Billy Smith, Elvis's first cousin, who lived with him throughout his life. The book also examines the larger human aspects of an unparalleled social phenomenon. Twenty years after Elvis's death, he still mystifies and thrills.

About the Author
Alanna Nash is a feature writer for the New York Times and Entertainment Weekly, who has written five books including The Colonel. She lives in Louisville, Kentucky.

Customer Reviews

Sad Revelations Indeed--I feel sorry for Elvis!
It's no wonder Elvis called what the Memphis Mafia did 'the worst betrayal.' Men who supposedly cared for him turned against him and the contents of this book are unbelievable or perhaps in-credible. A reader learns so much about Elvis that he/she is left in a state of shock. and not only that, but the reader is left confused.
Here is the private Elvis none of us knew. Lisa Marie even credits the Memphis Mafia for raking her father's reputation over the coals for the past thirty years and it's true. This book is a compilation of years of interviews by men who were with Elvis at every given hour of the day. The book shows a side of Elvis who tried to be in control but couldn't be his own person, was volatile, expressed his anger, fears, and tears. It showed his likes, dislikes, deepest desires, hopes, dreams, emotions, and even his weaknesses. In other words, we see Elvis as a human. It's obvious in this book as well as others I have read, that Elvis' life was never HIS. Still, though he surrounded himself with these men who were to protect him, he kept a private part of himself from even his closest friends, and his mafia.
Billy Smith, Elvis' first cousin, was far more sympathetic in his revelations than Lamar Fike and Marty Lacker, and it was good that where Fike and Lacker's details were either sketchy or in half truth and sometimes untrue, Billy elaborated on the truth about the real Elvis we all know and love.
To think that Colonel Parker who took 50% of his earnings at one point! To Elvis, I say, Mister Presley, I would have been mad too.' If you are an enemy of Elvis, you will enjoy this book, but if you are a die-hard Elvis fan like myself, you will be offended. The book is in many ways is heartbreaking. Elvis led a sad life and, it left me wondering: Yes, these men perhaps loved Elvis, but sometimes isn't it better to leave the past in the past and let Elvis' life remain the icon that he is (with a bit of mystery that adds to his mystique. Why not let him have his dignity, and let him Rest In Peace?

Money Talks
Oh That Old saying : "MONEY TALKS" ! No wonder Elvis just wanted to be loved, and felt people loved him for his money and his name, and just for whatever anyone could get from him ! Isn't it funny how when Elvis was alive, not one of his so called "friends", would cut him up, They were afraid the $'s would stop. Sonnie and Red only wrote there book on all Elvis dirt for the $'s, because they were fired, and needed a buck ! And anyone who would have stopped getting everything from Elvis would do the same, for a dollar. Elvis always felt everyone was around him for his name and his money, not for who he really was as a person, and oh how right he was. I think it's so sad.........to love anyone for money, and not for there heart, and the person they are. With "friends" like this, Elvis sure did'nt need enemies. I sure don't know how these people sleep at night------Oh ya.........I know............IT's FOR THE MONEY !!!!!!!! Dina

The inside story of Elvis Presley
Alanna Nash let the tape roll on three members of the "Memphis Mafia," the coterie of friends and relations that were closest to the King of Rock n Roll. There are a number of other recollections from family and friends as well, which blows the lid off the real life of Elvis, and what he turned into.

The stories seem a bit disjointed as the boys think back, but Nash has done well to assemble them and take us through a timeline of Elvis' early life, his career false starts, the rocket ride to superstardom and the tragic crash landing.

Elvis was indeed a talent, a great singer and performer and was indeed one of the pioneers of rock. Unfortunately he was also all too human; a small town Mississippi boy who never got rid of some of his prejudices, his love of southern food (and its odd combinations), his spiritual quest, and his descent into drug abuse.

Elvis like many great artists was an addictive personality--when he was into something, he threw himself into it, good and bad. The insiders followed Elvis through his varied vices (many wondering how they lived through it), and all the other things.

There were indeed moments of great generosity and giving, but Elvis could also be notoriously mean, controlling, and violent. His shooting out televisions was nothing, as readers will find.

Priscilla does not come off well; she is depicted as an ambitious, conniving creature who cared little for Elvis, but lusted after his money and anything else she could get out of him. Many relatives sponged off him, too, as did Colonel Tom Parker, the manager who enriched himself with what seems to be little caring for Presley's addictions and downward spiral.

The highs and lows are all here; believe it or not, the stories tend to ring true of many who achieve stardom and are not ready to deal with it.