I said Allen Fortis but I meant Marty Lacker!! That’s why I pointed to him in that pic! Whoops!

“These people” didnt know the meaning of loyalty to a man who filled their pockets for so many years. ❤️🇦🇺

Ultimately if you want to love Elvis, you need to love all of him, even the bad bits.

I agree about Billy! He's a jewel in my opinion. He truly did and still loves Elvis, flaws and all, like we should.

I believe Elvis was an empath, and he felt everyone's feelings. He loved too much to intentionally hurt them to the detriment of himself.

Appreciate your content, David. I think it’s pretty disgraceful- all the airing of dirty laundry about Elvis when he did so much for all of them. They didn’t have to reveal all the embarrassing/negative things. We’ve all done or said things we are not so proud of and would hope our “friends” would not be so quick to reveal them to the world. Elvis was too loyal and trusting of a person. It was part of his downfall. It’s like a Shakespearean tragedy.

Sonny and Red said they regretted writing that book i think they should have cooled down first before writing it was written out of hurt and anger

Elvis knew the true people that loved him were his band, back up singers and the fans at his gate and in concerts.

Yes I honestly believe elvis was betrayed by his so called friends. I also believe they sold him out for money. If they were true friends then why write a book or tell all. My opinion only.

Some people are just users. They will drop you as soon as you are of no use to them. They simply move on to the next meal ticket. Elvis got used and Elvis knew it

Way too many people say this and that and the other thing... Only Elvis knew his life, He was the best of his class... Thats what we should remember !!!

Red and Sonny West justified their book as their desperate, last-ditch effort to get through to Elvis so he would get sober and healthy/back in shape. Yeah, that's bullshit. He offered to pay them, millions I believe, to shelve the book, and they refused. If their intention was truly love for him and worry for his health, they would have told him they would hold off on releasing the book, and if he went to rehab & got sober, maybe took time off touring and just prioritized his health, they would shelve it. Clearly, neither his well-being nor money was the motive. Pure revenge!

From time to time I just want to let you know how much I really love and appreciate your channel and the cool stuff you do for all of us Elvis fans! I know how much you love Elvis too. It's really awesome to have both your Elvis channels! Thank you so very much David!🙏⚡⚡

ELVISISTHEMAN CHANNEL: It's hard to believe these people really loved Elvis. We know that Elvis care for his family and friends by the way he supported them. Too bad Elvis didn't write his own book the same way he gave his all to his fans. There are so many books to read and as I haven't read any I should. Thank you for suggesting the many Elvis books. Elvis was loyal to his friends, his career and family. I truly wish Elvis could have lived a longer life. But with all that he had going on he was full speed ahead that left him trying to keep up the pace. Elvis was definitely a over achiever. Thanks for this video.❤🎉😅

Elvis gave cars, homes, jewels, Christmas gifts and money to all his inner circle guys and even to strangers. Many recognized Elvis' generosity during life, while others wanted to make more money after his death by selling souvenirs of him. Even so I believe Elvis had loyal guys in his entourage.

I have said this many times before: If Vernon had honored Elvis' wishes, "Elvis: What Happened?" would've NEVER been written.

The Faith of Elvis by Billy Stanley is an awesome book as well

Elvis by Jerry Hopkins was great when it came out in 73? It also had a special 40-hour radio version, which was terrific. Of course, Elvis was still alive, but as a fan, then, it told so many untold stories. Jerry wrote a follow-up after Elvis died. Excellent reading.

David. There isn’t a one of us who would not have tried to cash in after Elvis untimely death! Not a One! I really believe that Red and Sonny Loved Elvis and were hurt by their firings by Vernon! And not talking to them directly! I have been a fan since 1962, now 67 yrs old, I will defend Elvis til my last breath! While I am not collecting anything anymore, I will keep my Elvis collection till I die! I have read and bought just about anything and everything I could find on Elvis up until about 7-8 yrs ago. I miss him dearly. I bought all the books you mentioned and many more. All I will spend money on is if something New actually comes out. Not the constant reissues with different packaging.

The most honest book is "Careless Love" - Peter Guralnick

I respect your opinions on everything but I do disagree about destined to die young. Genes do play a heavy factor in how long you live. I come from a family that all the men die pretty young and I always believed it was due to their addictions to things like alcohol and drugs. I studied at a very young age on how to try and change my own destiny when it comes to that. I've done everything right in life aside from actually live or be loved. At the young age of 45 despite not drinking or doing drugs or crazy stuff all the health issues that plagued them in life have pretty much sunk their teeth into me I don't wanna elaborate here in the comments on what they are but if you ever want to know I'll tell you. But the ones I'll let anyone be aware of since it's important to keep up on things like this are colon and esophageal cancer, heart disease/severe high blood pressure, and diabetes. All of which are very genetic but if you catch it in time it can be treated but with lots and lots of medications unfortunately.

They all said how they loved Elvis and they all turned on him told yhese stories for money if i love someone i never would say anything bad about them😂

I will never read any book by Priscilla Presley ever My mother got me that book one year for Christmas and I almost came out and said who got me this trashy book instead I said who got me this book and my mother said I did so I kept my opinion to myself The only thing I liked about that book was those one picture in there of Elvis where he was holding up a bag of Easter eggs that is the only thing I liked The funny thing is she got the book for me and when we moved she gave a box of stuff away in that book was with it so hey that was all right with me

The first mistake to avoid about these books is thinking that it would be true because they were there

Yeah, I have to say books written post 1977 definitely beteayed Elvis. The books that always bothered me was that all the people put claims and stories in their books, and they have a right to do so, but Elvis never got a chance to write about his life and let anyone know the truth about what people have said. All that said, happy Independence Day, everyone!

Muchas gracias por compartir, siempre aprendiendo cosas sobre la vida de Elvis gracias a tu trabajo. ELVIS FOREVER ❤️

I honestly have hard feelings about all the people who knew Elvis and then, after his death, wrote books about him. I admit that without those books we would not have known much about his life and character. Many things are worthy of being told. The discussion is therefore very complex... it depends on the spirit with which those books were written and the underlying motivations. Witness the life of such a beloved artist or simply earn money thanks to that connection? Who can say... I just think that certain details that were too intimate and private should have remained so, respecting his privacy.

You always give me something to think about. New perspectives. Sometimes they make me feel uncomfortable, but...Elvis was a real human, with real flaws. That is not easy to explore because, as with our own family members, we love him and we don't want to dwell on them. But there is a lot to be learned from studying such things. For example, we can learn what not to do; or recognize the trouble signs in a loved one's behavior; or appreciating each day and filling it up with what is most important to us. Like you, I want to learn all I can so I can understand him better, and explain him better to people who don't have a clue what he was...is...all about. Thanks for your diligence in searching for the truth and presenting it to us. We remember you, Elvis, and we love you...still.

I agree with you 💯💯💯💯👏👏

I wish Estelle brown would of wrote a book

I think Elvis probably viewed these guys as friends at first but as time went by Elvis had to see their true character flaws. There are times in our lives when we have to re-evaluate our family relationships and friendships and careers and co-workers and neighborhoods and romances and marriages etc... I am wondering if Elvis either clung to them for the memories and maybe he was needy or Elvis just wanted to AVOID all of this?

the documentary "all the kings men" reunites the surviving Memphis Mafia crew, and both Sonny and Red West both expressed remorse about writing the book. in addition they subtly asked Billy Smith for forgiveness...

I have so many Elvis books from the early Jerry Hopkins ones to the Bodyguards one. I like the second Hopkins one where it goes from 1970 onward, in detail year by year. And I also like the one you mentioned 'What really Happened.' The Larry Geller one is interesting too. Wow, I could go on and on there's so many to talk about. I'm not to keen on Priscilla's book. But there's definitely some interesting ones that are really fun to read!👍⚡

I really enjoyed Sonny West book

I agree with most of what you said. But I remember Charlie quoting Elvis in his last days to the effect "Where is everybody? It's not like the old days anymore. They've all scattered."

Mystery Train is the best book ever on rock music and its final third, focusing on why Elvis was the GOAT (though it is critical of a few things), written shortly before his death when the world had forgotten why Elvis was so great. Highly recommend it

Elvis Presley surely was betrayed by all the people that mooched upon him. Firstly the Memphis Maffia, then his family and then his girlfriends.

I enjoyed this! Thank you!

Everyone jumped on the bandwagon when Elvis… a mean they were gonna have to get proper jobs 😫😫😫

Larry Gellar's book was great too...And the recent book, 'Elvis and The Colonel' is REALLY good too..

All of the books written by those who knew Elvis have value and it is up the reader to decide how much is truth, how much is exaggeration, and how much is malevolent mistruth. Look to career authors like Alanna Nash and Peter Guralnick for facts supported by documentation such as dates, places, and order of events. Understand the difference between fact and opinion and shy away from the opinions expressed by career authors as they are most likely pushing an agenda, such as Goldman in his extensive, but flawed, biography. Look to those who knew Elvis for emotional truth, what it felt like at the time, what left an impression years later, the emotional journey they traveled. Understand their opinions are the truth of how they felt and feel, even when those feelings seem to conflict with facts. My suggested reading order if you have the luxury of multiple volumes to select from is to read them in order of when each person entered his life. There are books of memories by those who knew him in Tupelo, start with these. Then Vester's book and Aunt Nash's book, who were with Elvis since birth and through his death. Then Dixie Locke's book. Then probably Red's book, even though it was written in anger. Then June's book. Then George Klein's well-written book. Then Charlie Hodges' book. Then Joe Esposito's book. Then Anita Wood's book. Then Sonny's Still Taking Care of Business. Then Marty Lacker's Portrait of a Friend. Then Alan Fortas' book written with Nash. Then Bardahl's The Lighter side of Elvis. Then Schilling's book. Then Geller's book. The list goes on and each one has its place. Remember their personal knowledge of events began when they joined the circle, so they are not authorities on what happened before or events after they left. When stories conflict, examine the subjective differences which may reveal the objective truth. As you read each person's account, try to view them as Elvis viewed them at the time. Revel in how each person was treated as a friend by Elvis and in the ways they treated Elvis as a friend. Understand all of these individuals, including Elvis, were flawed yet maintained deep ties for many years and were at times willing to die for each other. Try to mix in some magazine articles of the time as you go from book to book, tons of old articles available on the internet. Look for the patterns Elvis went through as he brought each person into his circle. Finally, see in each person's account of his passing how deeply he affected each of them, some who had not seen or heard from him in years.

Also Priscilla took him back to Court for more money after the Divorce. And basically took him for all he had! She even put a lien on Graceland! I truly never knew this. She is the real reason he couldn’t stop touring. I’ve been watching a lot of KZfaq videos about it. They go over all of the Divorce Documents. It’s so sad he let her do that and still never said a bad word about her! She never stopped using him and will do it for as long as she is alive.

Thanks David really understand what you’re saying here! My way of summing up the Elvis tragedy is Caught in a Trap! He did so much for everyone at his own personal expense and health! Yes he was better to them he wanted to share his wealth! They wrote the books in my eyes for basically money! Elvis really had no easy way out and he was exhausted thus the pills and what was his end! Peace for Elvis the sad thing I believe is he really loved being Elvis it just came at a high cost!TCB⚡️

Billys my favorite to

I randomly started reading What Happened? recently. Those guys were hurt and I get it. I'd even say I think Elvis did wrong them. However, I think this idea that they did it to try and help him is something that's been applied retrospectively and as a result of Elvis's death. Had Elvis lived a long life, would they still say they wrote it to help him?

Thanks for the podcast (Insightful)

Agree with you abouthim working too much. But believe the book Destined to die young is exactly what happened to him 😢😢😢 Think Sonny and Red West did that because they were mad😢 Think they did love him. Billy and Jo Smith truly loved him! They stood beside him thru good and bad. Now that is loyalty❤ Billy would never do that. Wish they would write a book. They knew him inside out❤❤❤❤❤

I love Elvis and the Memphis Mafia. I've read so many books. Elvis wasn't perfect thats ok! I agree with you destined to die young isn’t credible, there some to it, but had he not been an addict I'm sure his life would have been a lot longer. I don't know why people think it's so terrible that he took drugs. Addiction in itself is an illness and doesn’t make someone a bad person. We need to change that narrative.

I actually found "Destined to Die Young" very informative. I've heard Jerry Shilling and Larry Geller both say in interviews that Elvis did, in fact, have health problems normally found in "old age" that he took Rx meds for -- but he took those in addition to other Rx drugs out of dependence/addiction in larger doses than would normally be prescribed. So, I agree, his addiction likely sped up his death by more than just a few years. His autopsy by the coroner actually showed illness/disease in 9 of 11 bodily systems. His mother died young, along with many relatives on his mother's side. He also had intestinal (constipation) problems in childhood and, as he matured (and made enough money to eat whatever and whenever he wanted), he had problems with weight gain. (He was often told he needed to lose weight prior to filming movies.) The issue with bloating correlates to use/abuse of certain drugs, as well as his enlarged colon. He was also overworked and over-stressed because of Not-Colonel Andreas Von F**kface. The estate (Vernon, essentially) also had a private autopsy done which is set to be made public in 2027 (50 yrs after his death per Vernon's instructions). And let's not forget, his daughter died young from complications from weight-loss surgery years ago. Too much (and even too little) weight puts a strain on the heart that enlarges it over time. Lastly, we will never know the "God's Honest Truth" until we "Walk 'Dem Golden Stairs." But the bottom line comes down to, if you "Believe in "The Man in the Sky," only He has the power to put us on this earth and to take us Home to Him.

don't forget "Child Bride "

Red sonny and the other guy there was three.they didn't write it out of vengeance they were hoping Elvis would read it and come a realization that that he needed help and that it mite push him to get help

Just remember, it is their point of view. The situations may or may not have happened. How many times do we hear stories embellished? Or, hear a person describe an event, attended by us both, only to have a completely different recollection. The book written by his "friends", before he died, was written in anger. Remember it was Vernon who went against Elvis and only gave them a few days pay. Elvis had told Vernon to give them two months pay. The Memphis Mafia did very well out of Elvis. Joe Esposito said himself, life was one long party. Elvis was betrayed, no doubt about that.

Bruno Mars was briefly mentioned as getting his start as an Elvis impersonator. I saw him when I was 8 years old in Honolulu. As an 8 year old I expected him to sound like Elvis if he was an Elvis impersonator. I was highly disappointed 😂.. I remember being aggravated at the show because he sounded nothing like Elvis, he sounded like a 5 year old kid, which, he was, lol

I have definitely thought that certain details were flat out betrayal. No issue with people discussing his drug addiction and how it affected his mental state, but there are a lot of things that just seem like they want to embarrass and degrade the man.

Hai detto tutto giusto, hai detto tutto quello che io ho sempre pensato, Elvis era una persona molto responsabile, e cercava di andare avanti prendendo tutte quelle medicine sperando di farcela sperando di potere magari fare qualche film importante, ma non c'è la fatta ,e più nell'ultimo periodo Priscilla chiedeva ha Elvis tanti soldi che lui non aveva, e tutta quella gente anno scritto libri fatto tante interviste e video, non so se gratuitamente ose erano pagati.

Random observation - has anyone noticed just how many references there are (in What Happened?) to how tough these guys are. How good at fighting they are. How hard they are. How strong. All this macho stuff. Skilled and feared by anyone who dared take them on. Super fast handed gunslingers. It's all through the book and it's just... Weird. I thought wow these guys really fancy themselves don't they. But then I saw it was actually someone else who wrote the thing for them!

Imo, Priscilla’s book was the worst!

I believe as a fan that elvis gave to much he was a human with problems that was weighing on him i believe that tom parker did good in moulding elvis to the legend he became but he was allso the grim reaper in elvis life he was the one that held all the cards and when elvis spiraled out of control tom parker could have saved him from performing less and gave him time off to recuparate just my thought 😢

Elvis could be as mean as he could be generous and kind. Elvis said and did some mean things to them as much as he gifted them things. It worked both ways. They also had no means to earn much if a living after he died, once he's no lobger here, i don't see the issue with them sharing their truth. Its life.

Dee Stanley's book in the '90s was the only book that was clearly a sensational cash-grab full of incredible lies.

Alanna Nash's other book on Elvis, "Baby Let's Play House: Elvis Presley and the Women Who Loved Him," is also really good. Nash interviewed a lot of women with whom he had hookups, affairs, and relationships. I guess you could call it a tell-all, but it isn't done in a salacious way. It also goes into his relationship with Gladys.

The Steve Dunleavy book was done out of spite, revenge, bitterness, frustrations, getting even, as they saw it. I think they felt betrayed by Elvis. They did spend so many years by his side. Must have felt like being kicked out of your own house. Very close-knit group. But Elvis was spending money like crazy, the divorce had cost him dearly, and he had to keep performing to pay for everything, keep up the lifestyle. With a failing body. The guys got involved in costly law-suits, roughing up fans. Elvis had to settle it and Vernon convinced Elvis it was time to let some of them go, the troublemakers. But they turned against him with the three of them, with Red West being one of Elvis’ oldest and closest friends, which was very painful for Elvis. It was all very, very bad, extremely stressful for Elvis and it surely worsened his declining condition. But I don’t think that was their intention, they wanted to make him bleed, humiliate him in public… which was bad enough… but no way did they wanted to kill him… imo. But of course they spun their own tales in the decades after his death, convincing groups of new Elvis fans that they were only trying to make Elvis see the errors of his ways, and clean up his act. Which is B.S.

I totally agree with you. Thank you 🙏🏻

Your right ...Arevthey telling the truth? I loved Lamar i really did but Lamar was known to exaggerate

I do understand that yes he did put himself on the line despite his struggles. So yes, I would say to a certain extent he was betrayed. To be fair. I know he had many weaknesses, but he also overall was a pretty good dude so I don't think he necessarily deserved to have a bunch of people write books about his dirty laundry and making a bunch of money off of his flaws.

Elvis really thought he had friends,,, Those so-called friends.Those are the ones you really got to look out for.. Because friends will stab you in the back,, To me , that's why I only have acquaintances... He should have had more acquaintances, Then friends...

For the ones who wrote tell-alls after he died, I think they had lived most of their lives depending on Elvis and when he was gone, their cash cow was gone. The only thing of value they had was their time with Elvis. They took the opportunity to make one more paycheck off their old boss. Whether it was right or wrong, that was their reality. In a world that’s so far removed from anything most people can imagine, who’s to say what any of us would have done in that situation.

The biggest mistake Elvis made not saving and investing some of his money in Mutual Funds or just putting it in savings bonds. All the money he made from 1956 to just 1970 if he would've saved or invested just 15%-20% of his money after 1970 he would've never had to work again. He could've lived off the interest and met his payroll and never had to tour again. He could've only worked when he wanted to. Elvis was a Smart man and it still blows my mind how he didn't have 20-30 Million dollars in a savings account or in the safest Mutual Funds by 1975. He could've easily saved 500K-1M dollars each year and never missed the money. At the Very Least he should've had 10 Million dollars saved by 1975. The interest off that would've met his payroll and then he could tour for 2-3 months a year and had millions more. That was the Least he should've had but a Smart man such as Elvis should've had At Least 20 Million dollars saved and drawing interest, say 5% or 6% interest or more. It really makes me wonder how he didn't save ANY Money. He was Smart

Elvis could have been alive if the men around him cared enough to come together or individually seat Elvis down to advise /persuade / help him. Some of these guys said they knew earlier on if Elvis continued this way, he would die. Think one of them did say to Elvis and got berated. Point is if they truly cared for Elvis they would have persisted and done their utmost to save his life.

Speaking of books! I just got a Elvis coloring book should I color it??? Or leave it as is

Yes I think he was betrayed by people he thought were his friends nearly every one that knew has written something about him including all his girlfriends ex wife he would be heartbroken he thought he could trust these people with his inner most secrets you don’t do that to a friend but then some people would sell there souls for money every one seems to have used him for money so so sad he is never going to be able to rest in peace bless his heart.

- - - - weighing in for myself, I don't need to know ultra personal details of someone' life at the level of what's in these books, especially since they are motivated by sales or having the final word for any axe to grind. It doesn't help elvis' memory, nor bringing in newcomers to the fan base by delving into details that may or may not be true. For me it's a waste of time. The books only perpetuate more cravings for needing to know even more (most often negative details, intertwined with known fact &/or a few good deeds to make the salacious details have a ring of truth. I recognize there are people who are stimulated by this (be it true or not), and that won't change. I don't avoid these books because I'm just an Elvis apologist, but then again, there's no way of knowing if those things are true). So I disagree that hearing a story or rumor repeatedly establishes likelihood of truth. History teaches us sometimes a story is repeated to establish a truism by design.

I wish Elvis would have tooken time off for his health maybe he would still be here

Billy and Charlie Hodge were my favorite. If you saw Red West in meet and greets he was still made and snapped at fans who ask why he wrote it. Priscilla is the worst out of all who wrote books and made that awful movie. Lisa Marie sued Priscilla before she died because of the Priscilla movie. She died before the suit came to court. The book Detined to die young is based on truth and reasearch. His grandparents Were first cousins, my mothers grandparents were first cousins this was done in the south. You sell it short, its just like Queen Victoria who married her cousin it produces a double gene. Victoria's children were Hemophiliacs. You are wrong, read the book again, give Elvis credit for his valiant fight . He deserves it.

The book Elvis what happened was to get Elvis moving again it was to challenge him it wasn't done for spite it really wasn't it's easy for us all to make assumptions but unless you were there you'll never know the real story.. That's all I have to say....

I disagree. How many of Elvis’s true loyal friend’s have and will take his secrets to the grave with them. E.g. the identity of the person who stole Elvis’s naughty photos has never been revealed or the person in those photos with him.

Perhaps he was betrayed but above all He betrayed himself. There's an old saying if you don't want to do the time son then don't do the crime. It's just reality if I don't want to have a terrible reputation then I'm not going to do reputable things that make me look bad.

I'm not liking Joyce B saying she abort a baby . So sad books made by the guys . Thank you David from Sydney Australia ❤sorry I miss your live i would have said hi to ya

3:14 You highlighted Marty Lacker. Alan Fortis wasn't in that picture.

If they all loved him so much why not keep it to themselves and be completely loyal!?. Had I had any kind of relationship with him, I would have kept it to myself! He never said anything bad about anybody in public for all the world to hear!

Thats Marty Lacker not Alan Fortes. Marty Musings is on YT, he kept up for years. RIP Marty.

I believe Elvis was naive in some ways and did not want to believe some of his so called friends would betray him with that book "Elvis what Happened" Some of these guys used him I believe. I think Jerry Schilling was his true friend to him and Lisa Marie.

about Joyce Bova, how much time did she really have with Elvis ? she never lived with him and met him a few times, does it really make a relationship ?

I think it just adds to the myth and legend tbh

I am grateful for those who’ve told the truth of s legendary artist. Would we want not to know about Vincent Van Gogh’s truths? Or to know Marilyn Monroe as only a sparkling star? Divulging the humanity of an historical figure is a service to the artist. People love Elvis all the more for his humanity And vulnerability and imperfections

You have to remmber tho these books where sensationalised too especially ewh !

Less face it about making money 💰

I don't think Red and Sonny West, had the intent to hurt Elvis, I think they genuinely thought writing the book would incentivize Elvis to do what they were Not able to convince him in private to do, I do think they went about it the wrong way, in their effort to push Elvis to get cleaned up. We also have to keep in mind, that they nor doctors knew what we now know about drug addiction, Elvis was to a degree sick physically, due to working so much, but I almost bet he was depressed, so apart of his pill use was to numb the depression, and maybe some other issues he may have had going on. I do believe that even though Elvis and Priscilla were divorced, she was the one person, that I think he would have listened to, had she been more forceful, given that she is the Mother of his only child, that he loved with everything he had. Priscilla is the one person, that could have had, a heart to heart conversation with Elvis, ultimately Elvis would have had to want to get clean, and address his physical health, but Priscilla would have had the best chance at getting Elvis to that point.

I agree 100% june j book is a good read ,he wad going to make changes tho ! Fame n fortune how empty they can be ! He wud he massively hurt like he was with the book ewh.

😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢

It is a known fact from Sonny that Elvis offered him, Red, and Dave $50,000 each to not write the book. They made $1 (One Dollar) each per book that sold and over 2 million books sold in the late 70's and the 80's so they made at least 2 million dollars each off the book. Those figures I heard in an interview. Those numbers are probably a lot less than what they actually made off the book through the years anyway 2M dollars is a long way from $50,000. IMO, they wrote the book out of anger then they added the story that they wrote the book to wake Elvis up and give him a challenge to beat his addiction. The waking Elvis up story sounded better to Elvis fans than for them to admit they wrote the book out of anger and for the money to support their families. Let's be honest, a tell all book embarrasing the greatest entertainer that ever lived is not how you should go about helping your famous friend kick his addiction. I like Sonny and Red, don't know anything about Dave except that Dave had a huge ego so Im angry at Sonny & Red for weiting the book but the truth was eventually gonna come out so in a way they just capitalized on Elvis' big secret before others could. After Elvis passed away it would've been a race to who could write the tell all book the fastest. Sonny, Red, and Dave betrayed Elvis, that is fact but the public was always gonna find out the secrets of Elvis. When that much money is involved friendship and loyalty goes out the window. If Elvis only had 5 or 6 in his entourage his secrets might've been kept private but when 20 or 30 people know something that big and there is a huge amount of money to be had, the secrets are never safe.

On the way to 100 k tcb .

yeah

Elvis was especially betrayed by the book “Tell-All” released before his death!!

I would read most of the books and you get a truer picture and agree Hoedel's book is something I would not recommend.

I think most of the books written about Elvis by his friends and family were in response to the fans demands for more information about Elvis after he died. Most of them were written a few years down the track, and the authors were often quoted as saying they wanted to put the record straight. The one book you didn't mention was Elvis and Kathy by Kathy Westmoreland. She had a unique position of working closely with Elvis for seven years on stage AND being his sometime lover and friend off stage. She was with him far longer than Joyce Bova, Mindy Miller, Ginger, Sheila, and Linda. And she wrote her book ten years after Elvis died, because as she said, she was sick and tired of all the lies and rubbish that had been written about Elvis in that time. As for the books written by journalists, none of them knew Elvis in person, and some weren't even born in his time! So I take all those with a grain of salt because they are all based on hearsay and second hand information.

I never looked at the Memphis Mafia as "leeches." Elvis hired them to do a job and they did it. Elvis went from abusing prescription pills to being an "addict" and the MM went from being "friends/employees" to being "enablers," who were not only concerned for his health, but also tried to help him protect his image. It was a complicated situation. It was a different time period and you only talked about things like this in secret and not out in the open. Further, not much was known about addiction at this time. I think Red, Sonny and Dave wrote the book out of "anger" and wanted "revenge" for how they were treated. Unfortunately, Vernon did not follow Elvis' directions and things "quickly" escalated. I wished they had not written the book, but I have to say that I understand their "reaction" far better than Prissy and Linda T., who "took their time" and "planned" how they could "monetarily capitalize" off of their relationship with Elvis. Of course, it was done out of love! Really??? Of course, Billy S. was close to Elvis. They were cousins. Overall, I still think Red/Sonny really cared about Elvis. I know Jerry S. promotes nowadays that Elvis was his best friend. Jerry S. quit on him. Lisa liked him. Jerry S. has always been Prissy's "lap" dog. You have to be if you want to work in the Elvis world. Anybody around Prissy has to be a Scientologist and so is he.

Elvis certainly needed a long time off. But he could have done some gigs without the orchestra --just the band. Of course he wouldn't have been able to get the big sound, so some songs would not have been as effective. That would have reduced the overhead temporarily. He also might have focused on doing a dramatic movie role for 2 million or so. That would have required a six month investment of time, more or less.

You pointed to Marty Lacker, not Alan Fortas in the video.

With the exception of Billy, Elvis was way too good hearted and generous with all those guys. He deserved better. And who was there for him when he really needed help at the end!