Elvis: In the Words of Those Who Knew Him Best

Elvis: In the Words of Those Who Knew Him Best by Clayton, Rose & Dick Heard (editors). hardcover edition. ISBN: 9781852275259.

Imagine Elviss relatives, friends, musical colleagues and business associates - many speaking up for the first time gathering to remember him and swap stories about him. In this close-up and intimate oral biography, thats just what nearly 150 of them do. Dick Heard and Elviss friend Rose Clayton convey an insiders knowledge of the main protagonists in Elviss story, a presence at major events in his life and shared experience of his immediate environment. Early bandmates recall Elviss days of $50 gigs, while musicians like Faron Young and Johnny Cash reveal how tough it was just a year later to follow him on stage at the Louisiana Hayride. Girlfriends share cherished memories of moments alone with him; and his closest friends take us inside the gates of Graceland. We watch Elvis battling stage fright at the Ed Sullivan show, learn of his loneliness as an Army recruit and witness his heart-breaking grief when his adored mother died. Each chapter begins with an introduction that provides a backdrop for the colourful stories that follow. These personal accounts, highlighted by photographs, paint a unique portrait of the modest, courteous country boy turned superstar entertainer, who even today, 17 years after his death, remains the King to countless fans.