Smith recalls that the legendary entertainer had some major issues with how his nose looked. And now his cousin has shared the moment he found out on that awful final day. In turn, many in Elvis' entourage believed Ginger to be nothing more than a gold-digger. People there in the inner group did but you did not tell Elvis what to do. Elvis' only child was just 54 when she died Thursday, reportedly after suffering cardiac arrest at home in Calabasas, California. His son Danny said: We all do. His hip-swinging antics might seem tame to today's audiences, but when he first emerged as a pop star, Elvis introduced millions to rock's inherent sexuality. Recently, Smith appeared on his son Danny Smith's YouTube channel known as the Memphis Mafia Kid. While there is no living person that has spent more time with Elvis, Billy and Jo say they have no contact with Priscilla, Lisa Marie, or any other member of the Presley family. (Red had known the singer since the '50s.) He lived on the grounds at Graceland with his wife Jo and sons Danny and Joey. As detailed in the documentary Elvis Presley: The Last 24 Hours, Elvis' final day on earth included a nighttime trip to the dentist in search of prescription drugs, a 4 a.m. game of racquetball with his cousin Billy Smith, and an impromptu piano performance of classics including "Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain." Weve got big things to do, were going to do big things, Elvis told the pair after telling the couple he loved them. Presley had recorded tracks at home in Palm Springs in 1973 to great success, and said that he enjoyed being in a room with his fellow musicians to feed off their emotions so why not set up a mobile studio in Graceland? When Elvis was targeted for surveillance and harassment by Hoover's FBI, Gene. That haunts me.". 15 distinct works. Dr. George Nichopoulos, aka "Dr. Nick," traveled with Elvis, and carried three suitcases of pills to make sure he could fulfill any of Elvis' needs. After Elvis died, Smith and his wife Jo moved to Mississippi to be closer to her family. So, the house, in a way, has been home to Elvis' legacy for twice as long as it was home to Elvis.. "He was the centre of our life, you know. They've been married for years. Around 6:45 Elvis called downstairs for some sleep medication to be sent up. "We've got big things to do, we're going to do big things," Elvis told the pair after telling the couple he loved them. By 1976, Elvis had become disenfranchised and unhinged, his drug use, bad health, and financial excess chipping away at his composure. "A few speculated and began telling untruths regarding Elvis and me which were completely unwarranted, mean spirited and wrong.". A fan asked if they stay in contact with the Presley family, and if not, why. Jo said: "He was the centre of our life, you know. His cousin, Billy Smith, has revealed the truth behind those ongoing rumors. Billy added: Graceland didnt make Elvis, Elvis made Graceland.. In fact, Billy and his wife Jo lived on the grounds of Graceland behind the main house for years. BANG Showbiz. "He was not only my patient, but a good friend," Henley later wrote in a book,via Express. including Elvis Presley, Barbra Streisand, Harry Belafonte, Johnny Cash, Anne Murray, Jane's Addiction and Sarah . Elvis Aaron Presley died August 16, 1977, at the age of 42. Billy Smith, Elvis' first cousin is recovering from a heart attack. Its not his home.". Elvis's death certificate will remain under wraps until 2027, 50 years . But with his life ended, those who loved him could now remember the man he'd once been, revolutionizing rock music with his energy, charisma, and raw talent. All three shake their heads. But even more shocking and strange might be the sheer amount of activity undertaken by the King in the hours before he passed away. Who is Jay Glazer engaged to? The King had suffered a fatal heart attack while using the upstairs bathroom at Graceland. Billy's son, Danny, runs the Youtube channel Memphis Mafia Kid, where the family post their memories of the star. And yet, when Elvis died on August 16, 1977, he had become something entirely different from his former self. Actually no, we dont. ", In Ginger's mind, these opinions were unfair stones cast by her fiance's cronies. But it was when Billy was near the front of Graceland and he saw the upstairs windows that he says he felt something. Travis was the brother of Gladys Presley, Elvis's mother, making Billy and Elvis first cousins. [3], After Elvis became famous, Smith's father Travis worked for him as Chief Guard, and the family moved into Graceland. Two respected Elvis aides, Marty Lacker and Elvis's cousin Billy Smith, say that although the body found slumped in the bathroom of Elvis's Graceland mansion on August 16, 1977 was certified dead, the real Elvis was hundreds of miles away. ORION ELVIS/JESSE DOCUMENTATION IMAGES, ORION PICTURES MUCH OF THE MATERIAL ORIGINATED FROM ME, ELVISS FORMER EMPLOYEES TELL OF THE RETIREMENT OF ELVIS IN 1977, AN EXAMPLE OF HOW ELVIS/JESSE TOLD US THINGS LONG BEFORE THE PUBLIC KNEW, COMMENTS FROM FRIENDS OF JESSE AND MYSELF, Lisa Marie on Larry King in 2003 discomfort over Larrys question. Get ready to stock up on your favorite Wendys chili because its about to be available to purchase in grocery stores across the country. READ MORE:Elvis Presley final years pictures shared by Linda Thompson. The following notable deaths in the United States occurred in 2023.Names are reported under the date of death, in alphabetical order as set out in WP:NAMESORT.A typical entry reports information in the following sequence: Name, age, country of citizenship at birth and subsequent nationality (if applicable), what subject was noted for, year of birth (if known), and reference. He had lived at Graceland for 20 years. Packer's broadcasting career . We knew him as that big hero cousin.. According to the New York Daily News, by the end of his life Elvis was consuming enough calories to feed several people every day. [1], Other articles of the topic Elvis Presley:Elvis PresleySome use of "" in your query was not closed by a matching "".Some use of "" in your query was not closed by a matching "". . ", Billy added: "Graceland didnt make Elvis. Recently, Billy Smith who is the cousin of the late Elvis Presley addressed these rumors and threw more light on them. We feel his presence a lot and thats not getting weird or [makes spooky sounds]., DON'T MISSElvis Presley GHOST appears to Kings cousin 'I freaked out!' The King's cousin Billy Smith was present when he heard the . We travelled with him, lived with him We had to have a whole new life. Billy Smith was born to Travis and Lorraine Smith on April 6, 1943. The new site began in July 2018 and all subsequent new pages have been created on that site. Larry Geller, Joe Esposito, and Billy Smith. Elvis Presley died on August 16, 1977, at the age of just 42. What confused some people, though, was that Elvis took a portion of the show to introduce everyone from his life onstage. During a recent question and answer session, Smith and his wife Jo opened up about their estranged relationship with the Presley family. Will the children of Lisa Marie Presley be able to attend grandfather Elvis Presleys 85th birthday celebrations in Memphis! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7T7QKcIrE8). Hes dead. The only thing that brought it to reality was when she said, Hes smothered in the carpet. And when she said that, I just threw the phone because I thought, Ok, hes gone. She used to wake up too sometimes close to the same time.. Many would later wonder if this was because Elvis knew somewhere deep down that he would never play again and wanted to shout out all of those who made his career possible. However, though Dr. Nick was charged with 11 felony accounts of overprescribing drugs, he was acquitted the medical examiner claimed that Elvis had died of heart disease, adding, "Had these drugs not been there, he still would've died.". And yet, when Elvis died on August 16, 1977, he had become something entirely different from his former self. Aerosmith Announces Farewell Tour: Its Time For One Last Go, Wynonna Reveals How Faith Hill Helped Her Following Naomi Judds Death, VIDEO: Farmers Bull Gets Pelted By Giant Hail In Recent Texas Storm. / Billy Smith, the cousin of Elvis Presley talks about his cosmetic surgeries and rumors of his webbed toes! Fortunately, there is one rare photograph that captures the King of Rock & Roll on the day he died, returning home from a dentist appointment in the early morning. They would try and no way.". [10] Besides Ginger Alden, Smith and his wife Jo had been the last people to see Elvis alive. Travis was reportedly Gladys' favorite brother. For the latest video, Billy, Danny and Jo answer questions sent in by fans. As one of Elvis' closest confidants and a blood relative, Smith has been described as a "wonderful asset to the Elvis Presley fans worldwide."[13]. The critics noted his weight gain when reviewing his public appearances. He verified later that it was Elvis, himself, who phoned her in Oct. 1988. The rest of the tour was subsequently canceled, acting for many historians as a benchmark of just how far the King had fallen from the pedestals of his youth. FOX 8 REPORT 2008, FOX 8 May 24, 2004 Elvis/Jesse Dr. Hinton update to 2002 report, FOX 8 May 24, 2004 very brief excerpt from the reportdetails the DEA investigation and result, YOUTUBE VISIT MY CHANNEL FOR MORE DOCUMENTATION. ", What The Final 12 Months Of Elvis' Life Were Like, a 2019 interview with Elvis' Australian fan club. Elvis second cousin said: After [he died] it seemed like the world stopped. Nevertheless, those rooms are perfectly preserved and maintained as though he just got up and left, right down to the tiniest details including the final vinyl he played on his record player. As an adult, one of his favorite meals was a roll stuffed with bacon, peanut butter, and jelly, alongside midnight snacks like hamburgers and deep-fried bread. And me and Lisa actually went up to the treehouse and we hung out for a while. The photo shows Elvis Presley wearing a blue shirt and sunglasses, sitting behind the . Its not Elvis. Even though the famous couple broke up 8 months before Elvis Presley passed, Thompson stayed close to his nine-year-old daughter, Lisa Marie. Joey admitted that to this day if his father thinks about it too deeply he starts crying. The comment was particularly personal because Elvis did not talk about his shows very often. Billy Smith II/Houston Chronicle Gallery Furniture's Jim McIngvale gives a tour of the damaged warehouse on Thursday, June 4, 2009 in Houston, TX. They speculated that Elvis has done facelifts and also dyed his hair to look younger and more charming. TERMS OF AGREEMENT FOR THOSE WHO VISIT THIS WEB SITE. Well, that's not true. 6. RIP Paul Cattermole! Before I write one more word, I want it clearly understood that, Please dont take everything they said in this. . Most challenging during Elvis' final years was his nonstop schedule of his live performances. No, hes not, Thompson continued. Billy says that the first facelift Elvis got wasnt a facelift to him. He says, Elvis did not like the flare in his nose at that time, how wide it was. Elvis Presley's mother was Gladys Smith and her elder brother's son is Billy Smith. Billy, is reportedly recovering well. S Club 7 Singer has died at the age of 46. In doing so, Elvis manages to hit himself with his racquet, bruising his leg. One of these final songs Elvis played was "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain," which Stallings had playing on a true-to-the-era stereo in the dojo's viewing room, the Jungle Den. As recorded in Rolling Stone, the three bodyguards co-wrote a tell-all biography of Elvis that was released only days before his death. Earlier, Billy had spoken about how Elvis would recount his favorite Monty Python comedy sketches of BBC. Elvis used to dye his hair black and Billy revealed the reason: The reason being someone told him his eyes were so blue and all that, [so] if he had dark hair it would make his eyes stand out.. They married in 1933 after lying about their ages to create a family. In response, Elvis shared his doubts that his concerts met expectations. Elvis Presley ended up passing away on August 16, 1977. [2] When Smith was five in November of 1948, his family moved along with the Presley family from Tupelo, Mississippi to Memphis, Tennessee. Elvis funeral took place just two days later and he was buried next to his mother Gladys in Forest Hill Cemetery, before both were moved to Gracelands Meditation Garden where their graves are to this day. Hugely overweight, his mind dulled by the pharmacopeia he daily ingested, he was barely able to pull himself through his abbreviated concerts.". I knew he was dead.". Elvis made Graceland a home. While the world at large saw Elvis as the man who had it all, Letitia known to those around Elvis as "Tish" had a private window into his personal struggles. Vernon Presley, son of Elvis, died in June of 1979 of cardiac arrest two years before. document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); You have entered an incorrect email address! "One of the maids picked up the phone, and it's Ginger. Back in 2018, he shared the sad story in more detail on his brother Danny Smiths YouTube channel Memphis Mafia Kid. The couple and their two sons Danny and Joey said how they miss Elvis every day, but love sharing stories of the fun times with him and are happy to answer fan questions. In November 1976, Elvis split with his girlfriend of four years Linda Thompson, according to The Wrap. "Hound Dog" is an antique in 2020, but when it first premiered, it was a revolution. When Elvis Presleypassed away in August of '77, he was surrounded by family and members of the Memphis Mafia. Provided to YouTube by Music Video Distributors Inc. Highway 61 Elvis Found Alive Copyright Released on: 2011-12-06 Artist: Highway 61 Auto-generated by YouTube.HIGHWAY 61 TOPIC. The gang held various roles, from sounding boards for Presley's personal problems to helping him wade through crowds of rabid fans. But by 1976, Elvis wasn't just getting his uppers and downers from his manager. While his grandson, who died aged 27, was laid to rest opposite last year. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends, especially his daughter, Katie Springer. She died Dec 30, 1976, so I'm guessing Elvis paid for the funeral expenses since she is so close in proximity to Gladys' grave at Forest Lawn Elvis had another cousin, Bobby Smith, brother to Gene who was very close to him. Billy added that Elvis might have got the webbed toes surgically corrected. There were rumors afloat that Elvis had resorted to cosmetic surgery to have some great exceptional looks of his time. Elvis is gone. In September 2022, Kane Brown and his wife Katelyn released their first duet together. Titled Elvis: What Happened?, the book offered the public its first look into Presley's drug use and sex life. This was especially true during the last year of his life, when he was deep in his chemical dependency and had left behind many of the loyal friends of his youth. Now in a new interview, the Memphis Mafia member has opened up on his claim that he sensed the presence of Elvis spirit upstairs at Graceland after he died. Elvis' last live gig was on June 26, 1977, at the Market Square Arena in Indianapolis to a crowd of 18,000 fans, according to LiveAbout. But according to the book The Mysteries Surrounding the Death of Elvis Presley, even worse was in Baton Rouge, where Elvis had to cancel a show because he couldn't make it out of his hotel bed in order to get to the venue. Benjamin died on July 12, 2020 at 27 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. 4.25 avg rating 537 ratings published 1995 7 editions. Elvis, who was set to fly to Portland, Maine that evening for a string of concert dates, said: This is going to be the best tour ever., Billy replied: All of them to me are great. Four people have made these cancer claims. Holding back tears, Joey continued: I wont ever forget the look on my Daddys face when he came back home. Its Graceland. When he lived at Graceland from 1957 until his death, Presley had an open-door policy with his Memphis Mafia. He was last seen alive going into the bathroom to read. Elvis died at Graceland on Aug. 16, 1977, at 42. Some use of "" in your query was not closed by a matching "". So he decided to have it trimmed down and thats what they didwhich made him lookgod! While some claimed this was because they'd been rough enough with fans to incite lawsuits, others countered that it was due to their criticism of Elvis' drug use. The Smith parents, Billy and Jo, according to Stallings, were the last people to hear Elvis sing before he passed away in 1977. by. Joe Esposito on Geraldo, Elvis/Jesses Hair, rings and note Christmas 2000. He spent most of his time holed up in the elaborate den nicknamed the "Jungle Room" for its exotic decor of his Memphis compound Graceland. "Not getting to know them well, shortly after Elvis passed away, I was extremely disappointed to see the character of some that Elvis had around him," she said in a 2019 interview with Elvis' Australian fan club while promoting her book Elvis and Ginger: Elvis Presley's Fiance and Last Love Finally Tells Her Story. Billy Smith is not only Elvis' first cousin but a former member of the singer'sinner Mafia circle. He said: Theres still times that I have now, and [my wife] Jo does too. Billy Stanley can still vividly recall the last time he spoke to his stepbrother, Elvis Presley. Following his death in 1977, Graceland was left to his only child Lisa Marie and the Memphis mansion was opened as a museum to the public in 1982. He added: His presence was so strong while he was alive I guess it carried over even after his death. If he didn't prescribe the pills to Elvis, someone else would, and at least this way he wouldn't get them off the street. I'm sick and tired of my life," the note read. Elvis 100% - Interview with Billy Smith - 12.02.2006. When Elvis asked for sleeping pills during his final hours, it was she who told his private doctor where to find them, and she regrets not being there as he died. Joey said: Lisa spent some time with us. Never even crossed my mind that it was Elvis or that that could possibly happen to him.. Appearing on SiriusXM's 'The Howard Stern Show', he said: "She was . Eight years younger than The King, Billy grew up with his own family in a home in Graceland's grounds and when he married his wife Jo, they also lived behind the main house. Thats it. He brought me out of the ghetto with him and my family.We always had a bond? His friends kept pimping him with pretty 17- and 18-year-old girls but he had nothing in common with them. Some [back] thenall through the years and now. 19 years ago. 2008. His father is Billy Smith, Elvis cousin and nephew to The Kings mother Gladys who had died in 1958. Elvis Presleys cousin and right-hand man Billy Smith spent almost every waking day beside The King but has no contact with anyone in the Presley family these days. Moody Blue, released in February 1977, was a mix of live recordings and new studio tracks, containing two of Presley's most widely regarded songs. Alanna Nash, Billy Smith, Marty Lacker. 00:00. Most worrisome to his record label, RCA, was that the King had become entirely uninterested in going into the studio and recording. They were not allowed to take the trailer that Elvis had purchased for them that they had lived in on the Graceland property. Presleys cousin is eight years younger but spent 34 years of his life in the company of the famous singer before he passed away in 1977. Billy Smith was an administrative aid to Elvis Presley, as well as Elvis' first cousin and part of the Memphis Mafia. if(typeof utag_data.ads.fb_pixel!=="undefined"&&utag_data.ads.fb_pixel==!0){!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s){if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window,document,'script','https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js');fbq('init','568781449942811');fbq('track','PageView')}. [12], When Graceland reopened to the public in June of 1982, Smith and his family moved back to Memphis and he took a job at Graceland as tour guide. The photographer was the object of speculation for years, but it was later confirmed in a tell-all book by Enquirereditor Iain Calder that Elvis' cousin Billy Mann was paid $18,000 to sneak a photo of Elvis in his coffin. On the Memphis Mafia Kid YouTube channel, Billy recalled the last conversation he had with the music icon. Billy and Jo returned home before receiving a phone call just hours later that Ginger had found Elvis dead on the bathroom floor around 1:30 p.m. the same afternoon. [2] When Smith was five in November of 1948, his family moved along with the Presley family from Tupelo, Mississippi to Memphis . For fans of rock and roll everywhere, the King's death was a monumental blow. National Enquirer picture of Elvis Presley in open casket shredded Jun 23, 2008 - The original photo of the famous National Enquirer picture of Elvis Presley lying in his open casket was shredded during a six-year anthrax 2010. Oh boy thatthatgot to me. The band announced on Monday (May 1) they are embarking on their farewell tour. Meanwhile, though his adoption of African-American musical traditions is a bone of contention for many listeners today, in his heyday it was a powerful way to put non-white rhythms in front of segregated audiences. But in 1976, all three were fired to "cut back on expenses." Elvis always tried to improve his looks. Billy also mentions that Elvis also had caps on his teeth and facial blemishes removed. The controversies are in the past, and he has a new outlook along with plans for a box set of unreleased Zwan . Early on, these were heavily pushed by his manager, the infamous "Colonel" Tom Parker, who many believe swindled the naive young Elvis while running him ragged. Titled Thank God, the song reached the #1 spot on the Country Airplay chart. Priscilla pointed out that Elvis had written a note to friend and "Memphis Mafia" member Joe Esposito, which stated, "I'm sick and tired of my life. These were gripped by paranoid obsessions and Billy used to remember business magnate Howard Hughes who had OCD on hearing the anecdotes of Elvis. Although, Gracelands upstairs is remains off-limits since it was Elvis private space even in life. Copyright LindaHoodSigmonsTruth.com May, 2009 2020 All rights reserved. William Earle Smith 06/05/1951 - 04/02/2023 On the evening of April 2, 2023, Bill passed away peacefully. Jul 10, 2019 - 206 Likes, 7 Comments - elvis aaron presley (@forever.presley) on Instagram: "Elvis's first cousin, Billy Smith with his wife, Jo Smith. Want to Read. Billy Smith was Elvis' first cousin, the son of Gladys Presley's oldest brother. When news of his hospitalization broke, those close to The King rushed to his bedside, one of these being Presley's cousin, Billy Smith. Elvis Presley shot to fame in 1956 but just two years later his beloved mother Gladys died of heart failure at the age of just 46. It was Elvis other cousin Patsy Gamble on the phone and she told Joey to get his dad. Therefore, Billy was very close to Elvis and knew many of his secrets. Theres no doubt, that changed the course of my life. Some Elvis fans did not like the new movie because they said it was "too sad", I on the other hand loved it precisely because it showed the true story. Billy is" It was Rhee who gave Elvis his animal name "Tiger Man." Footage for a planned karate movie financed by Elvis. He was 82. NBC August 16,1997 news report about Elvis health problems in 1977. Eight Rare Photos Of Elvis Presley When He Was Serving In The Army, Writing Lines Exploring The Tedious Yet Creative Punishment, Why It Is So Unusual To Find An Original Bob Ross Painting. Elvis is buried next to his parents, Gladys and Vernon, plus his grandmother Minnie. But when one looks at the last 12 months of Elvis' life, it becomes clear that the truth behind the King Of Rock And Roll's death might have been even stranger than the rumors people spread about him. Several members filled practical roles; for instance, they were employed to work for Presley as bodyguards or on tour logistics and . As far as I'm aware, the plan for rehab was already in the works and set up. That was the only thing we ever knewIts like a light switch turned off. He was found there by Ginger Alden around 2 p.m. on August 16. By 1977, Elvis had lost all interest in recording new music. ", Additionally, a report from the tabloid The Sun shows that Priscilla considered depictions of Elvis as a bystander in his own life to be inaccurate, only that he was dismissive of attempts to help him get treatment.
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