| Members of M.M. changed trough times. They were Elvis' bodyguards and Took Care of his Buiseness. They also Took Care of Babies and provided Elvis with girls. Some of them even lived in Graceland. Elvis designed a logo which he gave to all M.M. members a lightning and three letters TCB
which meant Takin' Care of Business. Elvis had that logo on his plane too.
The influence of M.M. is mostly negative. Although some of the members were his true friends and helped him a lot, most of them used his money and isolated Elvis from the world. M.M. played its role in Elvis' death.
Here are the Memphis Mafia members. (this list is not full)
Elvis A. Presley
He was the creator, the Don, the spirit and the center of Memphis Mafia.
Marty Lacker
He was one of the members that remained till the end. Marty Lacker met Elvis in Humes Junior High school. He was Best man at Elvis’ wedding.
Billy Smith , Elvis' cousin was more like the kid brother of the group. He and
his family moved from Tupelo when the Presley's did to come to Memphis . His
family lived around Elvis all his life after that. There was a bonding
between them till the end of Elvis' life and Billy was the last one of the
guys to see Elvis alive that fateful morning.
His brother Gene Smith traveled on the road with them more than Billy in the
beginning because Billy was too young. Gene and Billy were about as close to
Elvis as any two individuals could ever be.
He was Elvis' cousin on his mother's line probably that was the reason Elvis loved him that much. Although Elvis was careful to all his relatives. On my opinion Billy Smith was the truest to Elvis. In the 70's Elvis asked him and his wife to move to Graceland. Smith went to tours for Elvis and was the person Elvis trusted most of all.
Lamar Fike has to be known as the one who spent most time with Elvis from
1957 - 1977. He was the only one of the group to stay with Elvis for the two
years that Elvis was stationed in German. He was completely devoted to him and took all the jokes goodheartedly that were directed at him because of his weight. In between he built his own married life and interests and he is still involved with the Nashville music industry. In the 1970's he handled the lights in Elvis shows. Though closly associated with the hated Goldman book his connection was only on the reseach side to supply discussions with
the right people for Goldman to interview. 1996 he co-wrote a book
"Revelations from The Memphis Mafia" with Billy Smith and Marty Lacker .
Lamar Fike was the director of all concerts and tours.Realy a close person to Elvis. I think he was one of the most faithful members. He spent many hours with Elvis until his death. He even tried to go to the army with Elvis but couldn't.
Sonny West Red's cousin , another deep friend and original bodyguard. He too
was one of the five original Memphis Mafia. He didn't meet Elvis till 1958
when he was discharged from the Air Force. His job in the group included
taking care of the cars and being there for Elvis. Sonny and Red remained
very close friends with Elvis till they were abruptly fired by Vernon.
Their very frank book " Elvis what Happened " was released a year later in 1977 at
the same time as Elvis' passing.
Sonny West was his personal bodyguardand was responsible for all security at Elvis concerts. He also appeared in many of the Elvis movies. And was one of the traitors who tried to destroy Elvis by writing a book "Elvis:What Happened?"
Red West was an original Bodyguard , Elvis never forgot how he had rescued
him from a group of bullies at Humes High where they first met. After being
discharged from the Marines he traveled to Hollywood with Elvis and the guys
and he became interested in being an actor. He was a stuntman in numerous
movies not associated with the ones that he was in that starred Elvis. He
married and soon was operating a Karate School. A man of many talents he also
wrote songs , some of which were recorded by Elvis. When not traveling the
concert roads with Elvis he also starred in TV shows. To this day he is
involved in acting and runs an Acting School.
Red West met Elvis at Humes Junior High school in 1949. Red was in the football team and in certain way protected Elvis from other team members who didn't like Elvis' hair. That was something Elvis never forgot. Red began working for Elvis while still in high school, He was a driver for Elvis, Scotty and Bill when they started out. Red West also wrote some songs for Elvis If Everyday Was Like Christmas, and Separate Ways. And he wrote the beautiful That’s Someone You Never Forget wit Elvis. Despite of all this he was also one of the traitors authors of "Elvis:What Happened?"
Charlie Hodge met Elvis in 1958 when each was inducted into the army.
They formed a friendship while on the ship headed to Germany as Charlie helped
Elvis thru the deep hurt caused by the recent loss of his mother.
After being discharged Charlie joined the entourage going to Hollywood where
he also appeared in a one or two bit parts in Elvis movies. In the mid-sixties he moved into Graceland, and when the concert tours started Charlie was always there on stage with Elvis. He played guitar , sang harmony with him, and was known as Elvis always introduced him "the guy who gives me my water and my scarves."
Charlie's book "Me and Elvis" tells warm and humerous stories of his friendship with Elvis.
Although some sources insist Elvis met Charlie Hodge in early 50s Elvis himself said they met in the army. Hodge was a gospel singer an it became a reason of their frienship.In 1958 Elvis met him at Fort Hood, Texas. After the army Charlie helped Elvis in creating his gospel albums. In 70's he played a guitar at Elvis' concerts, sang harmony with him. gave him scarves and water and also caught Elvis' guitar when he threw it.
Joe Esposito also met Elvis while in the army in 1959 although they were not
stationed together . They became friends and Joe came often to the house in
Germany . After being discharged he was the third one to move into Graceland as did Billy and Lamar. He was put in charge as road manager and foreman of
the group for a while and and he worked closely with Vernon and Colonel
Parker. After Elvis' death he stayed close to them both, and to Priscilla.
He has appeared as EPE spokesman, authored a book and has released videos
Elvis met him in Germany and they became friends. Elvis even took him to his short visit to Paris. After the army Joe became Elvis' right hand. He took care of almost everything. Their relationship wasn't always that good. Elvis fired him somewhere in the 70's but shortly after it hired him back. There's also chance that Joe was spying on Elvis for the Colonel.
Cliff Gleaves He met Elvis in 1957 when he was working as a DJ in Tenn. Shortly
after that first meeting he met Scotty Moore, D.J. Fontana and Bill Black, at
Dewey Phillip's place. Elvis invited him to NY for his appearance on the
Milton Berle show and to tour with him and the band . He had to turn down the offer to tour with them permantly because of his work. Later Elvis had him move into Audubon Drive and then into Graceland with his parents. After
Elvis was drafted into the army, Cliff went to West Germany to be with with
him. They stayed close friends till 1972. He had established his own career
at the radio station and had to devote his time to it.
In 2001, he passed away.
Cliff was a disc jockey in Tennessee he met Elvis in Memphis after one of his first concerts. He told Elvis that he would be the greatest artist show business had ever known an he was a prophet I should say. Elvis offered him a job travelling with himself and the band. He first turned it down but then agreed and moved to Elvis' house. Gleaves left Graceland when Elvis went into the army but made it clear he would forever be available “on call”to Elvis.
Richard Davis He first met Elvis in 1963 playing football together. They soon
became friends and Elvis asked him to join the group. The responsibilities he
was given included being wardrobe assistant, valet, and one of the
bodyguards. Davis doubled for Elvis in 23 movies had a bit part in Clambake.
In 1969 he was fired by Elvis' father Vernon for the same reason he always
used-- cutting costs . Richard was often with Elvis after that but as a
friend and no longer as a salaried employee.
He is now working as a security supervisor in Tunica , Miss. at the Horseshoe
Casino. He and his wife was the proud parents of triplets, born to them in 2001.
Davis doubled Elvis in most of his movies. Davis was with Elvis when he met The Beatles in 1965. He sadly passed away on August 2004 , five days after I see him at Alfred´s Pub in Memphis, at Elvis event of Elvis Week. He was a nice man and very kind.
Alan Fortas
He was a football player and also a bodyguard for Elvis from 1958 to 1969. One of Elvis’ closest friends and confidants. And played tambourine for Elvis from time to time. Marty Lacker moved from New York to Memphis but soon was drafted and didn't
get to know Elvis till he came out of the army in 1957. Elvis brought him to
Graceland and a deep lasting friendship was formed. Marty's brother-in-law
became the one responsible for the renovations there and the planning of
building the Meditation Garden.
Marty was one of the original Memphis Mafia that traveled with Elvis . He
served as Elvis' bookeeper and secretary and he traveled with him . He was
co-best man at Elvis' wedding. Although Marty left to go into his
successful music publishing business which he still is connected to now,
and he was no longer on the payroll after 1967, Marty still did not stay
away long from Elvis' side.
He wrote a book called Elvis : Portrait of a Friend and co- wrote another. Dick Grob in 1969 was a sergeant in the Palm Springs police dept when he and
Elvis became friends . Elvis had always been interested in having
connections with police work and Dick filled that need. He was hired and put
in charge of Graceland security. Soon he was made Security Chief on the
tours, traveling ahead of them to secure safety. Larry Geller was hired in 1964 to do Elvis' hair for the movies after Elvis
lost his hairdresser. They became friends and Larry got Elvis interested in
books about different religions and eventually he was bringing Elvis more
and more books to read. Priscilla eventually put a stop to it and had the
books burned . Larry and Elvis stayed in touch and he occasionally still did
Elvis' hair. "If I Could Dream" and "Elvis' Search for God" were two Elvis books
written by Larry. He now has a successful Hair Products business. George Klein was a local DJ who met Elvis in Humes High school and they
became good friends. He had bit parts in two Elvis movies. Although he was
too busy he sometimes was able to go along on some vacations with them and
to go on a few of the tours . When George got married, Elvis was his best
man. George is still involved in the music business. Colonel Tom Parker in the 1940's was a dog catcher and worked in carnivals.
He worked his way up to become manager of Hank Snow and Eddie Arnold.
Seeing a great future in Elvis by 1955 he arranged to take over Elvis' contract from
Bob Neal . From then on the Colonel managed Elvis' career completely touring
all over the south. Soon he got him onto the biggest most popular TV shows,
and into the movies. Elvis was drafted into the army and when he was
discharged he found that the films he was given to act in were class B movies
although big money makers for the box office.
Elvis wanted to be a serious actor and he was unhappy about these parts.
In 1968 Elvis finally refused to follow the Colonels wishes for his first
TV appearance in 8 years and was not going to let it be a christmas show. It
was so succesful that the Colonel set about getting a contract for Elvis in
Las Vegas for as soon as his movie contract ended. Many blame him for not
letting Elvis tour overseas , being as he was an illegal dutch alien and he
was afraid he'd be exposed. When Elvis died in 1977 the Colonel continued to
work for EPE until he was sued by them and a judges decision declared that
the 50% that he was taking as his share was unheard of and illegal. The judge
ruled him to get nothing more, and to pay back what was owed to EPE. Now
they got 100% instead of only 50% because the Colonel would be no longer
taking half as he did when Elvis was alive.
Tom Parker died in 1996 at 87 years of age.
He is now infamous as a shrewd money making business manager. Pictures: George Klein, Bardhal, Mark James and me Paula and me with Bill Black Children
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