Whether it was something else or whatever, whatever it could have been, there have been things even Ive talked [about] on the videos where you get feelingsor we get to talking or strange things happen. 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. The claims are . "Billy Smith, Elvis' cousin and Memphis Mafia member talks candidly to EIN", "LAMAR FIKE DIES AGED 75 (Member of Elvis Presley's entourage, the Memphis Mafia)", article "Billy Smith (Memphis Mafia)" is from Wikipedia, https://en.everybodywiki.com/index.php?title=Billy_Smith_(Memphis_Mafia)&oldid=1915493, Pages using citations with accessdate and no URL, Portal templates with all redlinked portals. One asks if the Presley side of the family have stayed in contact and, if not, why. Replacing Linda was actress Ginger Alden (above), a woman 20 years Elvis' junior. 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. knew that he would also be targeted by these same forces because he was totally. Elvis Presley died at the age of just 42-year-old on August 16, 1977 in the upstairs bathroom of Graceland. S Club 7 Singer has died at the age of 46. 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. He said: Theres still times that I have now, and [my wife] Jo does too. ", Jo said: "I dont care if I never go to Graceland again. "He was not only my patient, but a good friend," Henley later wrote in a book,via Express. With Elvis' cousin Billy Smith also in the hospital room, the elder Presley lashed out at. Given his pill dependency and excessive weight, some might assume that Elvis spent the day before his death lying in bed eating or doing drugs. People there in the inner group did but you did not tell Elvis what to do. 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. Elvis Presleys mother was Gladys Smith and her elder brothers son is Billy Smith. Elvis Presley was a great actor and pop singer. Travis was reportedly Gladys' favorite brother. ", Billy added: "Graceland didnt make Elvis. Bobby died a tragic death by falling into a boiling vat of chemicals at work in Memphis about 1968. The King's cousin Billy Smith was present when he heard the . Once the light's gone, you have to look for something else." Priscilla and Lisa make a new life in Beverly Hills Recently, Smith appeared on his son Danny Smith's YouTube channel known as the Memphis Mafia Kid. Billy and Jo say they dont know exactly why theyve lost contact with the Presleys. He said: Mom and Daddy were in the bedroom because they were asleep. 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. There were often rumors of Elvis undergoing cosmetic surgery like facelifts and dying his hair. Even though the famous couple broke up 8 months before Elvis Presley passed, Thompson stayed close to his nine-year-old daughter, Lisa Marie. Talking about the first plastic surgery, Billy disclosed: Elvis did not like the flare in his nose at that time, how wide it was. including Elvis Presley, Barbra Streisand, Harry Belafonte, Johnny Cash, Anne Murray, Jane's Addiction and Sarah . 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In 1977, Frank said he would miss Elvis very much: "I shall miss him very much as a friend." . As an adult, he was an inner member of the Memphis Mafia, catering to the star's needs at home and accompanying him on tour. Please keep Billy Smith in your thoughts and prayers. Larry Geller, Joe Esposito, and Billy Smith. Billy Smith interview on the Day Elvis Presley Died January 2019 Marlowe's Restaurant Carey Rayburn outlawfilms 3.99K subscribers Subscribe 220 15K views 4 years ago Billy Smith. 'Elvis DIDN'T want to marry Priscilla' so why did The King do it? He brought me out of the ghetto with him and my family.We always had a bond? But following an attempt to steal his corpse, Elvis and his mothers remains were brought back to Graceland to be buried there where they are to this day. 4.25 avg rating 537 ratings published 1995 7 editions. Earlier, Billy had spoken about how Elvis would recount his favorite Monty Python comedy sketches of BBC. by. According to LiveAbout.com, Elvis became dependent on several different types of prescription drugs, specifically amphetamines to keep him awake and barbiturates to help him sleep or relax. Before Elvis Presley passed away on August 16, 1977, he spent his last night and early morning with his cousin Billy Smith. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. For fans of rock and roll everywhere, the King's death was a monumental blow. Along with his wife Jo, he and their two sons lived in a trailer in the back yard. Gene Smith died on March 2, 1999, believing that he, and his beloved first. 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]. In 1968, Elvis made an unexpected public statement about The Beatles during his "Comeback . Actually no, we dont. A graveside service for Billy will be held Monday, April 10, 2023 from 9:30 AM to 9:50 AM at Travis County Wells. 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')}. We havent been in contact with any of them, Jo adds. Billy Corgan found Lisa Marie Presley's death "really hard". "He knew what he was doing," she said, "and people go, 'Why didn't anyone do anything?" It was Elvis other cousin Patsy Gamble on the phone and she told Joey to get his dad. Theres a lot of that.. The Memphis Mafia member and his wife Jo joined Elvis and his girlfriend Ginger Alden for racquetball around 3:30 a.m. the night before Elvis died. I dont know, youd have to ask them. Speaking on the Memphis Mafia Kid YouTube channel, The Kings cousin recounted his final conversation with the 42-year-old star. 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. Dealing with addiction and health issues and having a difficult time adjusting to the shifting cultural climate of the '60s and '70s, Elvis died a Vegas showman rather than a groundbreaking rocker. 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. Afterward, the group ended the night around 7 a.m., and The King bid Billy and Jo goodnight. The moment came toward the end of the night, just before his closing performance of "Can't Help Falling In Love With You." Billy says, Actually no, we dont. In a new video from his son Dannys YouTube channel Memphis Mafia Kid found below, Billy was answering fan questions when one came up asking: Did you ever sense a presence at Graceland?. He was found there by Ginger Alden around 2 p.m. on August 16. DON'T MISSElvis Presley death: Research finds drug abuse didn't kill him[ELVIS DEATH]Elvis Presleys 86th birthday celebrated by Linda Thompson[ELVIS BIRTHDAY]Elvis: Benjamin Keough paid tribute to at King's Graceland birthday[ELVIS GRANDSON], Joey added: Its a memory I wish I could erase as well as something I wish I could go back and change.. We talked for what seemed like hours that day.. It was Rhee who gave Elvis his animal name "Tiger Man." Footage for a planned karate movie financed by Elvis. They speculated that Elvis has done facelifts and also dyed his hair to look younger and more charming. Smith is frequently cited as one of Elvis' longest and most devoted friends and family members. "Elvis was Graceland," says his cousin Billy Smith, for years one of the singer's close aides and now a maintenance man on the Illinois Central-Gulf Railroad. By 1976, Elvis had become disenfranchised and unhinged, his drug use, bad health, and financial excess chipping away at his composure. document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); You have entered an incorrect email address! Tuesday, 2nd May 2023See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive. They've been married for years. After his death, there were still family members living on the Tennessee mansion property including his cousin Billy Smith. Who is Jay Glazer engaged to? This page was last edited on 16 March 2015, at 18:35. 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 and cousin Elvis Presley. Elvis Aaron Presley died August 16, 1977, at the age of 42. Elviss cousin grew up with him in Tupelo, Mississippi and says that it could be true. Billy says that Elvis likely got them separated since people often take that route. Following their 1973 split, and Elvis' untimely death in 1977, things only slid further downhill for Priscilla and Lisa Marie. Benjamin died on July 12, 2020 at 27 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He also had caps on his teeth and got specialists to remove his facial blemishes. Billy Smith was Elvis' first cousin, the son of Gladys Presley's oldest brother. "Hound Dog" is an antique in 2020, but when it first premiered, it was a revolution. Nobody living spent more time with Elvis but Billy says he and his family have no contact now with the Presleys. In November 1976, Elvis split with his girlfriend of four years Linda Thompson, according to The Wrap. She said, Yes he is, yes he is. Fox NFL Reporter Jay Glazar is committed to girlfriend Rosie Tenison, Bachelor alum Peter Weber split with girlfriend Kelley Flanaganafter three years of on-and-off dating, MasterChef Australia judge Jock Zonfrillo dies a day ahead of the new season premiere, Shaquil Barretts 2-years-old daughter dies after drowning in swimming pool. Sounds like that urban legend has yet to be confirmed or denied! Residents in Texas were hit by a shocking weather phenomenon on Wednesday as severe thunderstorms dropped massive hailstones that pelted down from the sky. Linda had been a stabilizing force in the singer's world, but she eventually left him because she wanted a more normal life. Joe Esposito on Geraldo, Elvis/Jesses Hair, rings and note Christmas 2000. His excuse for throwing all these high-octane drugs around? Billy Smith was Elvis' first cousin, the son of Gladys Presley's oldest brother. 1980 ELVIS Country Music Magazine Jesses Comin, DNA PROOF THAT JESSE IS ELVIS ARON PRESLEY, AUTHENTICITY DOCUMENT PROVES JESSES AUTOGRAPH WAS WRITTEN BY ELVIS, Jesses letter to the Attorney General of Missouri written Dec. 2002, Jesses letter to the Attorney General of Missouri and graphologist Shirley Mason, Shirley Mason Handwriting Authenticated Video of FOX 8 report interview Jesses letter to the Attorney General of Missouri, WANDA JUNE HILL HAS ENDORSED MY WEBSITE AND JESSE, PHOTO OF ELVIS/JESSE WITH HIS GRANDSON BENJAMIN IN 1994, PHOTO OF ELVIS/JESSE WITH HIS GRANDSON BENJAMIN IN 1994 continued, PROOF THAT THE PHOTO OF JESSE ACTUALLY IS THAT OF ELVISWITH HIS GRANDSON, Elvis was still alive on June 18, 1990 without a doubt. Several members filled practical roles; for instance, they were employed to work for Presley as bodyguards or on tour logistics and . Elvis's grandson, Benjamin Keough, was also laid to rest there last July after he took his own life in a tragic accident. And I even got up and got Jo up too. 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. I knew he was dead.". The Smith parents, Billy and Jo, according to Stallings, were the last people to hear Elvis sing before he passed away in 1977. 6. Four people have made these cancer claims. Mirror.co.uk. 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. Moving away didn't help much because soon after Elvis Sr.'s death, rumors about his infidelities and love children started going around in the media. Vernon Presley was born on April 10, 1916, in Fulton, Mississippi. "A few speculated and began telling untruths regarding Elvis and me which were completely unwarranted, mean spirited and wrong.". And yet, the darkness and desperation surrounding Elvis' final months and death have made him an imperfect icon idolized by subcultures your average Graceland-bound tourist might not expect punks, goths, and modern-day rockabillies, who appreciate the mismatched sides of the singer's life. Also buried next to Elvis and Gladys are his father Vernon, grandmother Minnie and grandson Benjamin. They married in 1933 after lying about their ages to create a family. Gladys Smith, Elvis' mother, was only 17 years old when she married Vernon. 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. While this is a cruel and derogatory way to describe someone dealing with personal health problems, it's undeniable that Elvis' eating and weight issues colored his last year on Earth. [5], Smith was one of Elvis' closest friends and confidantes, and the two would talk for hours up in Elvis' bedroom at Graceland, even acting out Monty Python scenes. Heres what you want to know about Rosie Tenison, Engaged! I'm sick and tired of my life," the note read. ", What The Final 12 Months Of Elvis' Life Were Like, a 2019 interview with Elvis' Australian fan club. Elvis Presley died at lunchtime on August 16, 1977 and spent his last evening (in the early hours of that morning) with his cousin Billy Smith. [10] Besides Ginger Alden, Smith and his wife Jo had been the last people to see Elvis alive. When Elvis was targeted for surveillance and harassment by Hoover's FBI, Gene. But by 1976, Elvis wasn't just getting his uppers and downers from his manager. "We did crazy, crazy things. 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. Im sure theres some way they could sort that out. But how true are these rumors? I know youll do everything you can to make it as good as you can, Billy stated. A veteran policeman turned deceased rock star investigator has spoken of a mysterious photo that convinced him Elvis Presley is not dead. Elvis was scheduled to fly to Portland, Maine that evening to perform at a string of concerts. There were rumors afloat that Elvis had resorted to cosmetic surgery to have some great exceptional looks of his time. 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. "You always think there was something you could have done, that he might still be alive today. "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. Elvis appeared excited about the latest shows, and Billy was quick to support his cousin. According to Rolling Stone, that was when producer Felton Jarvis had a game-changing idea: If Elvis wouldn't go to the studio, they'd bring the studio to Elvis. 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. Elvis Presley died on August 16, 1977, at the age of just 42. He had gone through a tragedy in 2019 when his girlfriend Petara Cordero was killed in a horrific accident, hit by a car while .