What you might not know about the American author
Elvis Presley remains one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. And even today, nearly fifty years after his passing, Presley's influence on music is considerable. Throughout his life, he surrounded himself with a coterie of friends and associates, an inner circle of confidants that became known as the Memphis Mafia. Some of these buddies were people the singer had known since high school; others he'd met in the army. Several could best be described as "hangers-on."
As Presley's fame grew, so did the influence the group wielded over their famous employer. They went everywhere with him, and Elvis was rarely seen alone. In time, the Memphis Mafia was regarded as having an unhealthy hold over Elvis. And it only got worse.
To learn more about the friends Elvis would later accuse of betraying him, click through the gallery.
The Memphis Mafia was a close-knit circle of friends, associates, and employees of Elvis Presley. Pictured with Elvis are core members of the group: Billy Smith, Lamar Fike, Jerry Schilling, Elvis' father Vernon Presley, Charlie Hodge, Sonny West, George Klein, and Marty Lacker. Seated are Dr. George Nichopoulos, Elvis, and Red West. Also pictured are sheriffs Bill Morris and Roy Nixon. The group had just been presented with honorary law enforcement badges.
At the beginning of his career in 1954, Elvis surrounded himself with people he felt he felt were trustworthy, loyal, and deferential. The group began with Elvis' first cousins, Junior and Gene Smith, who accompanied him everywhere, along with his high school friend Red West.
In those early days, there wasn't a crowd, just a few guys that the rising young star would hang out with to share jokes and conversation. But as his fame grew, Elvis was surrounded by the first wave of what would become known as the Memphis Mafia.
Exhausted after a concert in Minneapolis in June 1956, Presley fell to his knees and received a neck rub from an old hometown buddy, Edward Thornton of Tupelo, Mississippi.
Among Presley's closest friends was George Kline. He met Elvis Presley in the eighth grade at Humes High School in Memphis, and they remained friends until Presley's death in 1977. Klein had a long and successful career as a Memphis radio DJ and TV personality.
By the late 1950s, Elvis Presley was a worldwide musical phenomenon. His entourage grew but was still modest, comprising just a handful of trusted confidants to ward off over-eager fans clamoring for autographs.
Elvis Presley was drafted into the United States Army in 1958. He served in the military as an active duty soldier for two years. Here, Presley is being sworn into the ranks on March 24, 1958, at Fort Chaffee.
While doing his bit for Uncle Sam, Elvis met Joe Esposito at an army base in Friedberg, West Germany. They quickly became lifelong friends, with Esposito becoming Presley's road manager.
While in the army, Elvis also got reacquainted with Charlie Hodge. The two first met in 1955 while Hodge, a musician, performed in a gospel quartet. Hodge would later be the stage manager and a musician of 'The Elvis Presley Show' when Presley returned to live performances in 1969.
In March 1960, Elvis Presley was officially discharged from the army. Red West had been working for the singer as a companion, driver, and bodyguard from 1955 onwards. With Elvis back in the fold, Red West was very much part of the Memphis Mafia's second incarnation.
The 1960s saw Elvis Presley abandon live concert appearances for Hollywood. His principal bodyguards were often photographed surrounding the singer wearing dark glasses as fans converged on film sets. It's during this time that the media began to call Presley's cohorts the "Memphis Mafia." Their use of black limos with smoked glass windows further promoted the nickname.
Joe Esposito served as co-best man, with Marty Lacker, at Elvis's wedding to Priscilla Beaulieu in Las Vegas on May 1, 1967. Esposito's wife, Joanie, was matron of honor while the bride's sister, Michelle Beaulieu, acted as maid of honor.
Both Sonny and Red West acted in a number of Elvis movies. They were also hired as stuntmen. In addition, Red West composed songs for Elvis, including 'That's Someone You Never Forget,' which appeared on the 1962 album 'Pot Luck with Elvis,' and 'You'll Be Gone,' a track co-written with Charlie Hodge that appeared on 1965's 'Girl Happy' soundtrack LP.
After the success of the ''68 Comeback Special' television concert, Elvis Presley announced a return to live performances. He did so at a press conference in Las Vegas in August 1969, flanked by Joe Esposito, his father Vernon, Lamar Fike, and Sonny West.
Throughout the 1970s, Memphis Mafia regulars Red West, Sonny West, Charlie Hodge, and Joe Esposito were joined on the payroll by Alan Fortas, Lamar Fike, Richard Davis, Marty Lacker, Jimmy Kingsley, "Chief" Ray Sitton, Jerry Schilling, Mike Keeton, Dave Hebler, Sam Thompson, and numerous others.
The Memphis Mafia was at the height of its power and influence. Charlie Hodge was now a fully paid-up member of Presley's band. He played guitar, harmonized with Elvis, and gave him scarves and beverages during concerts.
Other members also had specific duties. Lamar Fike handled Elvis' stage lighting while Marty Lacker was essentially a foreman, keeping everybody in check. Jerry Schilling, meanwhile, offered advice about what other groups were using for audio equipment, and Billy Smith was a gofer, a "Jack of All Trades."
Elvis' celebrity clout was such that he requested, and was granted, an audience with US President Richard Nixon in December 1972. Accompanying the singer to the White House were Sonny West and Jerry Schilling.
The Memphis Mafia had become almost as well-known around town as Frank Sinatra's "Rat Pack." Its members partied, rubbed shoulders with celebrities, and protected Elvis from unwanted intrusion. To many outsiders, however, the Memphis Mafia wielded an unhealthy influence over its lord and master.
At one point, more than twenty men worked for Elvis. They lived together and ate together, with some enjoying the benefit of even being under the same roof as Elvis, provided as they were with accommodation at the singer's famous mansion, Graceland.
By the mid-1970s, Elvis' international popularity had begun to wane. He still commanded a loyal fan base, but the music world was moving on. Presley's cultural significance was being questioned as his record sales slumped.
Elvis' rapid financial deterioration after 1973 was partly a result of his divorce from Priscilla. His manager Tom Parker's exorbitant percentage of Presley's earnings also emptied the coffers. Cuts in expenditure had to be made, and Vernon Presley, who'd often expressed a dislike towards certain members of his son's entourage, was seeking cuts in the security force payroll.
Presley's health was also cause for concern. His weight ballooned and rumors were rife about an increasing dependence on prescription medication.
In July 1976, with expenses going through the roof, Vernon Presley made the decision to unceremoniously fire Sonny and Red West. Another bodyguard, Dave Hebler, was also dismissed.
The Wests, together with Hebler, subsequently wrote a "tell-all book" about Elvis called 'Elvis: What Happened?' It detailed the singer's relationship with the three men and also told of incidents relating to his private life, drug use, and musical career. Elvis Presley died on August 16, 1977, feeling hurt and betrayed by those he had previously called friends.
The King of Rock 'n Roll was laid to rest on August 18. Pallbearers at his funeral included Memphis Mafia members Billy Smith, Gene Smith, Joe Esposito, Lamar Fike, George Nichopoulos, Charlie Hodge, Jerry Schilling, and George Klein.
Loyal to the end, Joe Esposito assisted a grieving Vernon Presley from the crypt after the service. Elvis' body was later reinterred in the grounds of 'Graceland.'
After Elvis' death, Red West pursued his acting career with some degree of success. He died on July 18, 2017, aged 81.
After 1977, Sonny West appeared in a number of documentaries, wrote several books, and made public appearances at Elvis related conventions and gatherings, speaking out about his time working for Presley and their relationship. He passed away on May 27, 2017.
Charlie Hodge's post-Elvis Presley life and career were subsequently dedicated to the deceased music legend, traveling the world annually to speak at Elvis Presley events and sometimes perform music. He succumbed to cancer on March 3, 2006.
Dr. George C. Nichopoulos, Elvis' personal physician, confirmed the death of the singer at a hospital news conference on August 16, 1977. Nichopoulos was later indicted on 14 counts of overprescribing drugs to Elvis Presley. In 1980, the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners found him guilty of overprescription and imposed three months' suspension of his license and three years' probation. He died on February 24, 2016.
Joe Esposito spent the rest of his life as an author and publisher of several Elvis books. One of the most respected former members of the Memphis Mafia, Esposito was a consultant on multiple Elvis projects and was considered one of the most trusted sources on Elvis. He died on November 23, 2016.
Jerry Schilling is today a talent manager. His clients have included Elvis' daughter, the late Lisa Marie Presley. Jerry Schilling, too, has authored books about his time as a member of the Memphis Mafia in the court of the King of Rock 'n' Roll.
Sources: (History-of-Rock) (Elvis History Blog) (Graceland) (The New York Times)
See also: Elvis Presley: the untold story of the King.
The Memphis Mafia and its hold on Elvis Presley
The core group that surrounded Elvis throughout his career
CELEBRITY Music
Elvis Presley remains one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. And even today, nearly fifty years after his passing, Presley's influence on music is considerable. Throughout his life, he surrounded himself with a coterie of friends and associates, an inner circle of confidants that became known as the Memphis Mafia. Some of these buddies were people the singer had known since high school; others he'd met in the army. Several could best be described as "hangers-on."
As Presley's fame grew, so did the influence the group wielded over their famous employer. They went everywhere with him, and Elvis was rarely seen alone. In time, the Memphis Mafia was regarded as having an unhealthy hold over Elvis. And it only got worse.
To learn more about the friends Elvis would later accuse of betraying him, click through the gallery.