Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Elvis presleys sex secrets exposed daily mail online. He had known lamar fike for many years, and they went around to i. Nearly 40 years after his death, elvis presley remains one of the most intriguing human beings of the last century. Elvis and the memphis mafia by alanna nash, billy smith. Lamar is probably best known to most fans as the big guy of the.
Jan 21, 2011 memphis mafia member lamar fike passes lamar fike, an enduring member of elvis presleys socalled memphis mafia, as well as a music row businessman, has died in arlington, texas. Memphis mafia charter member lamar fikes connection with elvis dated from early 1954 just before elvis first historymaking sun records until the day elvis died in 1977. Fikes tales were a mainstay of the controversial 1981 book elvis by albert goldman. The complete and definitive reference book on the king of rock and roll new ed by stanley, david e. The book chiefly consists of interviews with the late lamar fike.
Throughout the years, several members of the memphis mafia left elvis employment, either due to falling out with vernon presley or for personal reasons, only to return at later dates. Fike, an uncommon journey book elvis presley ezine. Lamar gives a brief summary of an uncommon journey, the forthcoming book by him and mark bego about his life with elvis presley. Beginning in 1954, shortly before elvis first recordings for sun studios, fike. Published on aug 24, 2008 lamar talks about the gangho lifestyle that accompanied him during the memphis mafia days. Revelations from the memphis mafia new edition by alanna nash, billy smith, marty lacker, lamar fike isbn. Lamar fike was born on november 11, 1935 in cleveland, mississippi, usa. Elvis and the memphis mafia by alanna nash booksamillion. Marty lacker, lamar fike, and billy smith, who was elvis cousin. Elvis aaron presley revelations from the memphis mafia by alanna nash with billy smith, marty lacker and lamar fike elvis aaron presley revelations from the memphis mafia by alanna nash with billy smith, marty lacker and lamar fike. Money when lamar fike, for many years a member of the memphis mafia, elvis presleys stable of paid friends and gofers, decided to sell his story, he spawned a small industry. Furthermore, fike was grossly overweight for his whole life, and often the butt of elvis jokes. Lamar first met elvis in 1954 and began working for him in 1957. The book consists mainly of conversations conducted by mccullough and eggers with lamar fike, an original member of the memphis mafia who worked with elvis presley from 1954 to 1977, when.
Ive been an elvis fan for thirtyfive years, and ive read many nooks about the man, but this one, hands down, is the best. In this photo from august th 1958, elvis and his close friends, alan fortas, lamar fike, george klein, bily smith and louis harris all wait at the memphis hospital for the doctors update about elvis mothers health. Lamar fike was a close friend and part of elvis inner circle. Maybe there was a revenge feeling from the book elvis what happened. Renowned as a straight shooter, lamar fike was a permanent part of elvis. Lamar fike commented about how his mother and gladys presley had similar characteristics. Consider the downright toxic comments aimed at ginger by some of the good ol boys who had been close to elvis for years. Lot detail gold ring with 26 diamonds given to memphis. Revelations from the memphis mafia by alanna nash, billy smith, marty lacker, lamar fike and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Dallas ap lamar fike, a member of elvis presleys famed inner circle called the memphis mafia who had a long career in the music industry, has died. After meeting elvis in the 1950s, lamar served in a variety of capacities for elvis over the years, as many of his entourage did, including tour manager, lighting director, bodyguard and more. Dallas lamar fike, a member of elvis presleys famed inner circle called the memphis mafia who had a long career in the music industry, has died. Elvis aaron presley revelations from the memphis mafia by. Elvis presley and lamar fike at the carpark observation lookout high above hanauma bay, hawaii, may 1969.
As i read and the memories became vivid once again, i had to pause and wipe my eyes. Bad nauheims new elvis crosswalk signals honor the king who once lived in the town. Lamar gives a brief summary of an uncommon journey. In the last years of his life, lamar fike lived in dallas, texas. Lamar fike, the presley insider and former member of the memphis mafia, who introduced goldman to many of his sources, recalled. Millions of people still want to know intimate details of elvis life. Nick, tish henley, bill porter, sonny west, dick grob, lamar fike and countless elvis fans. Lamar fike interview part one an ein exclusive interview. The memphis mafia was the nickname given by rock n roll icon elvis presley to a group of. This book contains the recollections of three memphis mafia members. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. Aug 14, 2008 lamar gives a brief summary of an uncommon journey, the forthcoming book by him and mark bego about his life with elvis presley. Nearly 40 years after his death, elvis presley remains one of the most intriguing hu. The result of those discussions have been released in the book, elvis.
Lamar stayed a close friend of elvis throughout the years, often providing the humour that helped elvis and the gang get through the tough days. When elvis died, four years ago last august, this guy got the idea of doing a really big book on elvis, mr. After elvis death and the factioning of the memphis mafia, fike was one of those who contributed to the albert goldman book, peak of the trash trilogy bodyguard book, anything by the stanleys and goldmans alanna nash also drew on fike, marty lacker and billy smith. At other times it makes you think or elicits a smile as you come face to face with the wonderfully wry and dry lamar fike sense of humor. After he was fired in 1976, he helped coauthor a book that revealed elviss chronic drug use. Pawn shop we are the largest dealer for elvis presley memorabilia and artifacts in memphis. He worked for the king from 1957 to 1977 and even traveled to germany with him in 1958. Lamar fike decadeslong member of the memphis mafia. Under the title fike, an uncommon journey a book by the former longterm friend and memphis maffia member lamar fike has been announced.
Fike was the coauthor of the 2005 book elvis and the memphis mafia. Fike has admitted that he was deep into debt from a gambling addiction when he met goldman, and pretty much told goldman what he wanted to hear. Outside of graceland, sonny was one of elviss bodyguards. When lamar fike, for many years a member of the memphis mafia, elvis presleys stable of paid friends and gofers, decided to sell his story, he spawned a small industry. The book was published in august 1977 depicting elvis as a dr. An agreement was not reached, and when elvis received a copy of the book entitled elvis, what. Agent kevin eggers brought fike together with albert goldman, a fiftyfouryearold pop critic and former college professor. At the end of january, something like nine weeks after they met, elvis gave her an elevenandahalfkarat diamond ring.
Hyde who was brooding, violent, obsessed with death. He also appeared in the documentaries the elvis mob 2004 and all the kings men 1997. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading elvis. The fact is that somehow inherent in elvis great fame as an american ideal and idol is a contradiction that was the seed of destruction. Oct 07, 2016 the book consists mainly of conversations conducted by mccullough and eggers with lamar fike, an original member of the memphis mafia who worked with elvis presley from 1954 to 1977, when. Fike, unable to join the army, followed elvis to paris and was a loyal flunky through the hollywood years. We have assisted in the sale of the following collections colonel parker, dr. Feb 01, 2012 billy smith elvis s first cousin and the person he reputedly loved most after his own mother marty lacker best man at his wedding and foreman of the memphis mafia, the king s handpicked group of gatekeepers and confidants and lamar fike the touring crew member who accompanied him into the army were with. His detailed account of seeing and photographing elvis in las vegas, and fascinating observations from elvis musicians about the vegas years,fill the book, with. Jan 23, 2011 lamar fike one of elvis very best friends has passed away at age 75. More recently, fike himself published elvis and the memphis mafia 2005 and, helped by the writer mark bego. Elvis presley, the paragon of cool or of something, whose motto was taking care of. Lamar fike was one of elvis presleys careerlong entourage who became the singers friends, foils, scapegoats, bodyguards, road managers, lighting technicians, punchbags, babysitters for the.
Elvis nearly 40 years after his death, elvis presley remains one of the most intriguing human beings of the last century. Elvis cronies red west, lamar fike, joe esposito, and sonny west have all accused sidney of giving annmargret favorable camera angles at elvis s expense. Billy smith elvis s first cousin and the person he reputedly loved most after his own mother marty lacker best man at his wedding and foreman of the memphis mafia, the kings handpicked group of gatekeepers and confidants and lamar fike the touring crew member who accompanied him into the army were with elvis. Mccullough and eggers book is a compilation of 400 questions and answers that provide a multilensed window into lamar rielly fikes forthright and candid perspective on the king. Lamar is probably best known to most fans as the big guy of the former memphis mafia. Annmargret admitted she had one, and no one would deny elvis did as well. Alanna nash billy smith marty lacker lamar fike abebooks. Sonny was the type of guy who would talk forever on different subjects, noted lamar fike.
Lamar fike one of elvis very best friends has passed away at age 75. In this photo from august th 1958, elvis and his close friends, alan fortas, lamar fike, george klein, bily smith and louis harris all wait at the memphis hospital for the doctors update about elvis. Jan 08, 2020 lamar fike was a close friend and part of elvis inner circle. These unique elvis presley photos were taken by renowned dutch rock photographer laurens van houten, and the majority of them have never been published.
This book is cowritten with music writer marc bego who also collaborated on david stanleys 1996 book raised on rock as well as on books with micky dolenz and martha reeves. This vivid oral biography of elvis presley is based on the recollections of three members of the memphis mafia, the entourage who accompanied elvis every day, from 1956 to his death in 1977. Nearly 40 years after his death, elvis presley remains one of the most. The photo above is a promo still from the 2005 cbs miniseries elvis, starring jonathan rhysmeyers as elvis. A case in point is the favoritism director george sidney allegedly gave annmargret during filming. Posted on september 10, 2018 by deena deenasdays dietrich in books 0 comments. Lamar fike is the author of elvis and the memphis mafia 4. We specialize in original elvis memorabilia, collectibles and elvis owned items. Elvis presley, the paragon of cool or of something, whose motto was taking care of business, who turned. Lamar eventually married, and moved out of graceland, but continued in elvis entourage until 1977. Beginning in 1954, shortly before elvis first recordings for sun studios, fike was an original member of the memphis mafia. An intimate conversation with lamar fike, elvis closest. Billy smith elvis s first cousin and the person he reputedly loved most after his own mother marty lacker best man at his wedding and foreman of the memphis mafia, the kings handpicked group of gatekeepers and confidants and lamar fike the touring crew member who accompanied him into the army were with elvis from his teens to his.
As a read this book about the bond shared between elvis and lamar, i returned to a previous time in my life when lamar allowed tommy mcdonald and i, the exciting adventure of a lifetime, to spend time with the gentle and talented king of rock and roll. Sep 30, 2008 lamar talks about elvis mother and the sad tragedy of her death. Whenever there was an elvis anniversary date, lamar would be on the radio, or interviewed on larry king. Born in cleveland, mississippi on november 11, 1935, he was briefly a radio disc jockey at kebe in. Book awards book club selections books by author books by series coming soon kids books new releases teens books this.
Millions of people still want to know intimate details of elvis. Lamar reilly buddha, birdy fike 19352011 find a grave. Goldman got most of his inside dirt from lamar fike, elvis longtime friend. In the time since elvis died in 1977, lamar became the prime contributor to the new york times bestselling book on the king, albert goldmans blockbuster elvis. He worked lighting while elvis appeared in vegas and took care of the king s transport needs. Lamar fike memphis mafia member lamar fike was largerthanlife figure member of the elvis entourage. Marty lacker the best man at elvis s wedding and foreman of the famed memphis mafia, the handpicked group of gatekeepers and confidants who formed presleys entourage. Jan 29, 2011 elvis, jerry schilling, lamar fike, joe esposito. At the time of his death, he was reportedly writing his memoir, fike. For a time in 1962 fike left the elvis inner circle to become the manager foe singer brenda lee only to return a few years later lamar fike became infamous three memphis mafia members when he was accredited in the albert goldman book elvis. We are the largest dealer for elvis presley memorabilia and artifacts in memphis.
Memphis mafia charter member lamar fike s connection with elvis dated from early 1954 just before elvis first historymaking sun records until the day elvis died in 1977. Nov 04, 2016 lamar fike joined elvis inner circle in the 1950s. These were the men closest to elvis, the ones who knew him bestbilly smith, elvis first cousin. This included marty lacker, jerry schilling, and lamar fike.
386 1391 1437 946 1402 1060 511 654 1140 1123 1211 55 1261 849 869 1414 691 569 403 185 186 487 370 679 594 1005 1183 479 593 1421 1048 129 772 171 1241 1013 255 95 1096 1178 151 517 815 214 86 371 957 129