Elvis and the Memphis Mafia [Paperback]

Alanna Nash (Author), Billy Smith (Author), Marty Lacker (Author), Lamar Fike (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2005

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. These were the men closest to Elvis, the ones who knew him best—Billy Smith, Elvis’ first cousin; Marty Lacker, foreman of the Memphis Mafia; and Lamar Fike, who joined the army with Elvis. Together, they offer rare insights into the greatest legend of them all, from the phenomenal successes to the long, devastating decline. It is a uniquely revealing portrait of a tragic figure whose immense talent changed the course of American music and culture.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"'You don't need to be an Elvis fan to be awed by this book. It is so detailed, gossipy, far-ranging, and coherent that it becomes a clear window on an entire era. The book's genius is in the volume of fresh and flowing information... Nash is one of the finest, most perceptive chroniclers and appraisers of pop music in America.' Billboard magazine"

From the Publisher

Elvis Aaron Presley is as close as anybody's gotten to a psychological profile of Elvis, based on family information from Billy Smith, Elvis's first cousin, who lived with him throughout his life. The book also examines the larger human aspects of an unparalleled social phenomenon. Twenty years after Elvis's death, he still mystifies and thrills. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 792 pages
• Publisher: Aurum Press (September 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1845131282
• ISBN-13: 978-1845131289
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.1 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #365,464 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Sad Revelations Indeed--I feel sorry for Elvis!, July 27, 2007

By 

Charlotte Drobnicki "jolliedd" (NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Elvis Aaron Presley: Revelations from the Memphis Mafia (Hardcover)

It's no wonder Elvis called what the Memphis Mafia did 'the worst betrayal.' Men who supposedly cared for him turned against him and the contents of this book are unbelievable or perhaps in-credible. A reader learns so much about Elvis that he/she is left in a state of shock. and not only that, but the reader is left confused.
Here is the private Elvis none of us knew. Lisa Marie even credits the Memphis Mafia for raking her father's reputation over the coals for the past thirty years and it's true. This book is a compilation of years of interviews by men who were with Elvis at every given hour of the day. The book shows a side of Elvis who tried to be in control but couldn't be his own person, was volatile, expressed his anger, fears, and tears. It showed his likes, dislikes, deepest desires, hopes, dreams, emotions, and even his weaknesses. In other words, we see Elvis as a human. It's obvious in this book as well as others I have read, that Elvis' life was never HIS. Still, though he surrounded himself with these men who were to protect him, he kept a private part of himself from even his closest friends, and his mafia.
Billy Smith, Elvis' first cousin, was far more sympathetic in his revelations than Lamar Fike and Marty Lacker, and it was good that where Fike and Lacker's details were either sketchy or in half truth and sometimes untrue, Billy elaborated on the truth about the real Elvis we all know and love.
To think that Colonel Parker who took 50% of his earnings at one point! To Elvis, I say, Mister Presley, I would have been mad too.' If you are an enemy of Elvis, you will enjoy this book, but if you are a die-hard Elvis fan like myself, you will be offended. The book is in many ways is heartbreaking. Elvis led a sad life and, it left me wondering: Yes, these men perhaps loved Elvis, but sometimes isn't it better to leave the past in the past and let Elvis' life remain the icon that he is (with a bit of mystery that adds to his mystique. Why not let him have his dignity, and let him Rest In Peace?

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The inside story of Elvis Presley, May 27, 2006

By 

tgfabthunderbird (York, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Elvis and the Memphis Mafia (Paperback)

Alanna Nash let the tape roll on three members of the "Memphis Mafia," the coterie of friends and relations that were closest to the King of Rock n Roll. There are a number of other recollections from family and friends as well, which blows the lid off the real life of Elvis, and what he turned into.

The stories seem a bit disjointed as the boys think back, but Nash has done well to assemble them and take us through a timeline of Elvis' early life, his career false starts, the rocket ride to superstardom and the tragic crash landing.

Elvis was indeed a talent, a great singer and performer and was indeed one of the pioneers of rock. Unfortunately he was also all too human; a small town Mississippi boy who never got rid of some of his prejudices, his love of southern food (and its odd combinations), his spiritual quest, and his descent into drug abuse.

Elvis like many great artists was an addictive personality--when he was into something, he threw himself into it, good and bad. The insiders followed Elvis through his varied vices (many wondering how they lived through it), and all the other things.

There were indeed moments of great generosity and giving, but Elvis could also be notoriously mean, controlling, and violent. His shooting out televisions was nothing, as readers will find.

Priscilla does not come off well; she is depicted as an ambitious, conniving creature who cared little for Elvis, but lusted after his money and anything else she could get out of him. Many relatives sponged off him, too, as did Colonel Tom Parker, the manager who enriched himself with what seems to be little caring for Presley's addictions and downward spiral.

The highs and lows are all here; believe it or not, the stories tend to ring true of many who achieve stardom and are not ready to deal with it.

23 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars The Court Jesters behead the King, October 11, 2003

By 

Manford Porter (Marblehead, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Elvis Aaron Presley: Revelations from the Memphis Mafia (Paperback)

Why any author would take the time to commit the moronic insights of these men about the most complex of people onto paper, is beyond me. Hey guess what everyone, Elvis abused drugs. I have now encapsulated this novel in one sentence. Why did it take Nash nearly 1000 pages? Every story is as boring as it could be and then it ends in Elvis using drugs. For those of you who have never walked past a checkout stand in the last 25 years I guess this is sensational. It is some kind of endless diary more than a novel. *Elvis went to the movies, ate a whole pizza then went home and did drugs.* Elvis lost his temper because the lowlifes around him were stealing everything they could get their hands on.* Elvis cheated on his wife with every foxy star and starlet that could get their hands on him . . . Other than Bily Smith, who should've never associated himself with this book considering how good Elvis was to him and his whole dirt scratching family, the contributors of this book were the people Elvis abused the most. Marty Lacker was the class bafoon at Humes and Lamar was Elvis' human toilet for 20 years. They never miss an opportunity to pay "The Boss" back with tales from the toilet. Without Elvis these guys are a bunch of dung shovelers and this book is nothing but road kill. Fortunately the real Elvis has finally been chronicled this year in the novel AROUND ELVIS by fan club president Thorne Peters.