The Boy Who Would Be King: An Intimate Portrait of Elvis Presley by His Cousin [Unabridged] [Audio Cassette]

Kathleen Tracy (Author), Earl Greenwood (Author, Narrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1993

Every fan knows about Elvis Presley's beginnings, fabulous fame, and untimely death. Here, Presley's cousin, Greenwood, presents an intimate and affectionate account of the King's life. 2 cassettes.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This sensationalized, dull "portrait," written with freelancer Tracy, claims that Elvis's turbulent life and career resulted from his unstable youth. "Glossing over his cousin's professional accomplishments, Greenwood concentrates instead on the juicy details of his bizarre personal relationships, his drug abuse and his sexual encounters," said PW. Photos. Author tour.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Having literally grown up with Elvis Presley in Tupelo and Memphis, Greenwood also served his cousin for some years as his press agent, claiming a front-row seat for the best and the worst of rock music's late king. As with so much written about him, this book is simultaneously interesting and lurid and often the former because it is the latter. But its saving grace, in addition to being well written, is Greenwood's closeness to Presley, rendering this an eyewitness account (the first ever by a blood relative) to the formative childhood years and the inner workings of the Presley family that played such a large part in the musician's personality development. Revelatory and credible in these and other areas, but never descending to either blathering idolatry or merciless crucifixion (a la Albert Goldman), this fast-paced, no-white-wash look at the rock icon will surely find an audience among the millions for whom Elvis Presley still holds fascination. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 5/15/90.
- David M. Turkalo, Social Law Lib., Boston
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Media Books Audio Publishing; Unabridged edition (August 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578150663
• ISBN-13: 978-1578150663
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 4.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,282,371 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a wonderful and sympathetic portrayl of the Rock 'n' roll, January 20, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Boy Who Would Be King (Audio Cassette)

EARL GREENWOOD PRIMARILY FOCUSES ON ELVIS' HUMBLE BEGINNINGS AND HIS TRAGIC CHILDHOOD FROM THE PERSPSCTIVE OF SOMEONE WHO KNEW THE FAMILY INTIMATLEY. HE EXPLAINS ELVIS' GUILT OVER HIS TWIN BROTHER'S DEATH AND HIS INCONSOLABLE SADNESS OVER HIS MOTHER'S DEATH. GREENWOOD TELLS OF AN ELVIS WHO NOBDY REAALY KNEW, A BOY WHO WAS BULLIED AND RIDICULED AND WHO EVENTUALLY BECAME ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS ARTISTS IN HISTORY. IN SHORT THIS BIOGRAPHY IS TOLD WONDERFULLY.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Please don't consider wasting your time, September 19, 2005

By 

Another reader - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Boy Who Would Be King: An Intimate Portrait of Elvis Presley By His Cousin (Signet) (Paperback)

Earl Greenwood was no relation to Elvis nor was he an employee or press agent - his account of himself is a fabrication from start to finish. I'm not sure what is more appalling - that Greenwood/Tracy invented this book, or that the Library Journal (and David M. Turkalo) would publicly laud such a blatantly false work.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not what I had hoped for, November 19, 2002

By 

Luzette (Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Boy Who Would Be King: An Intimate Portrait of Elvis Presley by His Cousin (Audio Cassette)

I've read many books on Elvis as I'm always trying to gain new information to help me understand his complex personality. I had high expectations for this offering because of its focus on Elvis' early life and relationship with his mother. However, I found the general tone of the book to be sensational. The sex "revelations" don't seem to be anything more than lurid details the like of which can be found in any tabloid. Everyone knows Elvis was a wonton womanizer. It's hardly news at this point. I found there to be many mistakes and inconsistancies throughout the book. One is so careless as to describe Elvis' first girlfriend, Dixie Locke, as a blond then two pages later she is in picture showing a girl with black hair. The whole thing just read like a trashy novel to me.