Elvis Presley was a close personal friend to Dottie Rambo

Elvis Presley was a close personal friend to Dottie Rambo and had signed an agreement to sing 12 of her songs as a tribute album to her, but only got ‘If That Isn’t Love recorded before his death.’

Dottie was concerned about Elvis’ health, and he attempted to distract her by offering to give her anything, including a car. She asked for his bible instead, and when he returned from his bedroom with the bible, he stated “for all the bibles I’ve had, this is the only one I’ve really been able to listen to. It speaks to me. You might as well read it the way I read it.” J D Sumner was at the party and signed it to Dottie.

The bible was The Living Bible (Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale House, 1971) with a leather-bound cover and “Elvis Aaron Presley” printed in gold on the front. The first page has a handwritten note to Joyce “Dottie” Rambo and is signed by JD Sumner. Dottie’s daughter said the Rambos frequently visited Elvis in Las Vegas.

“He had just recorded If That Isn’t Love. Elvis, believe it or not, he was a real friend. He encouraged me to keep my home together,” said Mrs. Rambo.

As well as his Bible Elvis also gave her jewellery such as a turquoise ring and 14 carat gold nugget necklace and also his Wheat jumpsuit as mementos of their friendship.

One day during a private walk together, Elvis was talking to her about his fixation about the ancient act of repairing valuable items by using gold as filler. He compared the process to the ring he was wearing and its creation, saying, “Some of the most beautiful things in the world are flawed before they are fixed.” And he then gave her the ring.

Dottie was killed on 11th May 2008 in a bus accident in Mt Vernon, Missouri en route to a concert in Texas