Gladys Love Smith was born on April 25, 1912 in Pontotoc County, Mississippi to a family of migrant workers. Her parents were Robert Lee (Bob) Smith and Doll Mansell Smith. She grew up in the peasant poverty typical of her generation. With the exception of her father, her family was made up of drunkards who always seemed to […] More
He is considered by many to be the father of rock & roll. His recording of “Blue Suede Shoes” was on the way up when he was involved in a serious car accident on his way to New York to appear on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1956 . His brother died in the accident and Perkins missed his […] More
Patti was one of Elvis’ dearest friends. She met Elvis in 1960 while she and a friend were driving down Santa Monica Boulevard in Los Angeles. Standing next to Elvis at a red light, Patti simply rolled down her window and spoke to him.Elvis was impressed. He invited her to his home in Bel Air. Later the two had […] More
Elvis met Hawaiian-born kenpo karate instructor Ed Parker at his studio in Pasadena, California. In 1972, Elvis walked into Parker’s studio and began studying karate in earnest. It was Parker’s style of canting and jabbing that Elvis used on stage when demonstrating his karate routines to the admiring fans. This type of karate is called “Kenpo” and was […] More
Scotty Moore didn’t get the public recognition he deserved for his part in shaping young Elvis Presley’s distinctive style, but the truth is that Elvis owed him a lot and he let Scotty know it too.Moore was an innovative young guitarist with a stirring style, performing in early 1950s Memphis. He was playing with Doug Poindexter’s […] More
Mansfield was one of the twelve soldiers who came to Fort Chaffee, Arkansas with Elvis. He was also posted to Germany with Elvis and a friendship developed that only ended when Rex and Elisabeth Stefaniak, who worked for Elvis as a secretary, fell in love.Elvis probably also had a fondness for Elisabeth, but of course he […] More
Klein attended Humes High School with Elvis and a lifelong bond was formed there.When George persuaded Elvis to appear on a local radio show early in his career, the response from the audience was enthusiastic and a new star blazed in the entertainment sky.As DJ and program director of WHBQ, he was a strong ally […] More
This rockabilly singer was an old friend from Memphis and met Elvis back in 1956. He accompanied Elvis to Hollywood for the filming of “Love Me Tender” and he was present in the studio at the “Million Dollar Quartet” jam session which coincidentally took place in 1956 with Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis , Johnny Cash and […] More
Larry quit his job at Jay Sebring’s iconic Beverly Hills hair salon and became Elvis’ personal hairstylist, after not only giving him a particularly good haircut in April 1964, but also making time for Elvis and his spiritual yearnings. His enthusiasm for religion and the spiritual hit the mark with Elvis and before long Geller, nicknamed […] More
Fortas was a celebrated football player in Memphis, his hometown, and a longtime member of the “Memphis Mafia”. From 1958 he was a bodyguard and assistant in the team. He was one of Elvis’ closest friends and confidants, a dependable and loyal employee. Fortas was responsible for making the travel between engagements that Elvis had to go on […] More
Lamar was born and raised in Memphis. Already as a teenager he was very interested in the music scene and he often hung around the city’s various recording studios listening to the music and also meeting the musicians. One day in 1955 he was at Sun Studio chatting with Sam Phillips when Elvis Presley walked in […] More
James Burton is the lead guitarist for the TCB Band. He began his career at age 14 playing in the house band on Shreveport’s famous “Louisiana Hayride Show”. While in Dale Hawkins’ band in 1955, he wrote the tune for and recorded the hit song “Susie Q” with Hawkins. In 1957 he began his nine-year stint as Ricky […] More