Elvis what happened this book does anyone know how much truth is in this book. Sonny west interview sonny west, cousin to red wests first met elvis at humes high play football sonny delbert west 1938 cousin to red west. After three years of writing and research, sonny west and marshall terrill have completed their tentatively titled book, elvis. West and presley became great friends at humes high school. Still taking care of business is one of the most authentic portraits ever written about one of the greatest american entertainers. Red had known presley since they had attended high school together, and had become a very close friend to him. He first met elvis in high school and went on to work for elvis as a bodyguard until 1976. In july 1976, red and sonny west, together with dave hebler, were fired by presleys father, vernon, from their jobs as bodyguards to the singer. Among the first to live, travel and play with elvis were red west, delbert b. In the end sonny and reds book only caused elvis pain and whilst money and bitterness were a large part of why it was written i do belive they also wanted to wake elvis up to what he was doing to himself and were naively led into a much more sleazy tabloid expose by steve dunleavy than they might have otherwise preferred. Elvis and red west became close friends when red volunteered to help drive elvis, scotty moore, bill black and dj fontana around the southern us states for their early tours of 19551956. Elvis what happened by sonny west, first edition abebooks.
Remembering red and sonny west, members of elvis famous. Aug 09, 2017 elvis presley pushed aside childhood friend and bodyguard red west, who tried to save the king from drugs, but was banished from his inner circle instead. Getty images thats the heartbreak red took to his grave when he died of a heart attack on july 18 at the age of 81. Still takin care of business, which was a softer look at his relationship with the king. He first met elvis in high school, where he was a year behind him.
West and his coauthors, sonny west and david hebler, said the book was an attempt to encourage elvis to give up his dangerous ways. Marine, west played football for his high school and junior college teams and was a boxer in the golden gloves championships. The volumes origin dates to july 1976, when the three men were fired, supposedly for financial reasons, by elviss father, vernon. Red sonny west dave hebler 1st 4th 1977 paperback book. On july, 1976, vernon presley, elvis father, fired west, sonny west and hebler after criticizing what he believed to be their heavyhanded tactics. I love elvis and have read 5 or 6 other books that cherry coat everything. Do read this book, but dont finish and even think you know elvis. Four months later red west, sonny west and dave hebler were sacked from presleys entourage and the trio worked with steve dunleavy on.
Red west was working on an autobiography before his death last july. Scandalous tellall book revealed elvis presleys drug addiction just. Red west, now a regular on the tv series baa baa black sheep, was on location and absent from the conference. Elvis presley with bodyguard red west on right on july 28th, 1976. Oct 09, 2017 below are some excerpts from the soontobepublished book by red and pat west on life with and often without elvis presley. West was born in memphis, tennessee, to lois and newton thomas west.
Red west was a close longtime elvis friend who penned a controversial book about the king. From sonny s account, elvis did exactly what he pleased, and you had to be totally with him. The three of them collaborated on a book about their lives as elvis bodyguards, which was published just two weeks before elvis death in 1977. Elvis presley pushed aside childhood friend and bodyguard red west, who tried to save the king from drugs, but was banished from his inner circle instead. July 5, 1938 may 24, 2017, known as sonny west, was a friend and bodyguard of the singer elvis presley along with his cousin red west for sixteen years, as part of the elvis entourage at the elvis memphis home graceland, which became known as the memphis mafia. From our archives, heres some of what sonny west told guest host jeff carruthers at the time. Sonny west first met elvis at humes high school memphis. Gary james interview with elvis bodyguard sonny west.
He became a part of presleys inner circle in 1955, acting as a driver, bodyguard, and. Published a month 1st edition prior to his death, the 332 page elvis what happened. With its faults it is one of the best copies i have had of this book. Red west, an actor and a close friend of elvis presley, died tuesday, july 18, 2017, according to multiple news sources.
Jul 21, 2017 red and sonny west, friends of elvis who spoke out about the singers drug problems, both died this year. Elvis bodyguards sonny and red west published elvis. West played football for the memphis tigers high school football team, boxed in the golden gloves and played football for the jones county junior college bobcats playing center. Now in those days many of us used to follow elvis in popping those damn amphetamines just to keep us high. The only minus is the fact that the book is poorly written with barely any structure. Marine, west played football for his high school and junior college at jones county junior college teams and was a boxer in the golden gloves championships. While attending high school in tennessee, west and sonny met with elvis presley an excellent athlete and u. Below are some excerpts from the soontobepublished book by red and pat west on life with and often without elvis presley.
Still taking care of business by marshall terrill and sonny west 2007, h. The circumstances are not clear, but apparently the man broke 3 ribs and also has some cuts, abrasions and bruises. Truly one of the nicest guys i ever interviewed, we talked about everything elvis. They did not write the book out of spite, hatred or to exploit elvis, explained.
Top sites the book elvis what happened 2019 latest the. Red west was born robert gene west in memphis, tennessee in 1936, the son of lois and newton thomas west. I believe you are talking about the firing of red west, sonny west, and i dont mention his name but his initial are d. Sonny west, coauthor of the august 1977 gossip book elvis what happened and persona non grata at most elvis events, took a fall off his daughters porch. Red west, elvis presleys boyhood bestie and longtime co. Cousins red west and sonny west had known elvis since highschool, and. From sonnys account, elvis did exactly what he pleased, and you had to be totally with him.
Dec 20, 2005 after three years of writing and research, sonny west and marshall terrill have completed their tentatively titled book, elvis. Events in the book, as detailed by former elvis employees red west, sonny west and dave hebler as told to steve dunleavy, fired up the coverage of elvis death, said reporter william. It is a balanced, respectful, and insightful look at elviss last two decades written by sonny west, a true presley insider and charter member of the infamous memphis mafia. Red west, elvis presleys boyhood bestie and longtime costar. The book was released two weeks before elvis death on aug. Jul 20, 2017 red west and two other members of thememphis mafia, sonny west and david hebler, were ultimately fired by elvis father, vernon presley, in 1976.
What happened by author steve dunleavy with input from red west, sonny west, dave hebler 1977 bantam books isbn 0345272153. Elvis legend has it that west protected presley from bullies a few times in school. The book talks about his womanizing, his need for absolute control, and his down fall from prescription drugs. Is priscilla, lisa marie, or elvis presley enterprises responsible for the demise of this book. This book was published 15 days before elvis passed away. As it happen spoke to sonny about elvis death back in 1977. The first time elvis and i hit the road, it was a rainy day and we were headed to a performance in grenada, mississippi, about 100 miles south of memphis on u. Sonny west worked a long time for elvis, but was fired in 1976. Published by balantine nonfiction 27215 three of the kings closest companions tell a shocking, bizarre story. In july 1976, red and sonny west, together with dave hebler, were fired by. What happened red west, sonny west, dave hebler, steve. Jul 16, 2017 red west, an actor and a close friend of elvis presley, died tuesday, july 18, 2017, according to multiple news sources. Red west and elvis presley were friends ever since the day in high school when red broke up a plan by some punks in the boys room to give shy outsider elvis an unwanted haircut with a pair of scissors.
Why did elvis presley fire three of his body guards answers. Aug 16, 2017 elvis bodyguards sonny and red west published elvis. The trio went on to write a controversial tellall about the kings downward spiral, titled, elvis. Sonny west died 24 may 2017, nashville, tn, billy smith, who was with elvis from the start to the end and the only original member still with elvis after 1976, charlie hodge, lamar fike, and joe esposito. He was one of the authors of the controversial book elvis, what happened. The collaboration, which started in 2002, is the long awaited followup to the 1977 book, elvis. The book came out 10 days before elvis was found dead on the toilet in graceland. The second book, tentatively titled, taking care of.
Red west, his cousin sonny, and another man named dave hebler, wrote a tellall book about elvis called elvis what happened. Robert red gene west was a close friend of elvis presley and a member of presleys inner circle, known as the memphis mafia. He and his cousin red west were fired in july of 1976, because they had tried to stop elvis from taking so many prescription drugs, and elvis didnt like this at all. Elvis pushed to edge by bodyguards tellall book mail online. Sonny and red west had known elvis since high school. Red west interview for the elvis information network.
Red west, sonny west and dave hebler, as told to steve dunleavy. It must have been a very shocking book when it was written in 1977, by 3 of his former bodyguards. His parents came from the pontotoc area of mississippi, not far from tupelo, from where elvis. Red and sonny west, friends of elvis who spoke out about the singers drug problems, both died this year.
Read it in combination w some other by those who knew him. Jul 19, 2017 red west was a close longtime elvis friend who penned a controversial book about the king. The book compiled the experiences of former presley bodyguards red west, sonny west, and dave hebler, as told to steve dunleavy. What happened is your classic tellall from a trio of body guards who had been fired by elvis. Actually vernon presley fired these men and the reasons given were. The book, which is based on the personal accounts of three of elvis former. Interview with sonny west elvis articles elvis australia. Red west and two other members of thememphis mafia, sonny west and david hebler, were ultimately fired by elvis father, vernon presley, in 1976. Elvis what happened sonny west, dave hebler as told to steve. Sonny west he was a close friend, a trusted confidant and bodyguard for elvis from 1960 until 1976.