The book talks about his womanizing, his need for absolute control, and his down fall from prescription drugs. Sonny west first met elvis at humes high school memphis. Red west, sonny west, dave hebler, steve dunleavy on. 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 decided to write a book and expose the dark side of the king. This book is in good condition with some minor wear to the spine andor cover. The book s origins can be traced to july 1976 when presleys three bodyguards school friend red west, his cousin sonny west and karate expert david hebler were fired by vernon presley, elviss. Ill never forget the incredible coincidence that this book was originally published the month the king passed allegedly. Elvis what happened red west, sonny west, dave hebler as.
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. There was the overall tone of regret on both sides, and elvis speech patterns indicted extreme stress, distress. His death comes two months after the death of his cousin, sonny west, may 2017. Elvis presley with bodyguard red west on right on july 28th, 1976. Elviss father, vernon presley, who hated the members of his sons entourage, fired west, his cousin sonny, and. What happened red west, sonny west, dave hebler, steve. Red west was a close longtime elvis friend who penned a controversial book about the king. American and french nato soldiers who fled east while serving in west germany during the cold war. The relationship between elvis and kathy was physical for a. Born robert gene west, he was a wellrounded athlete during his youth and participated in high school football and later was a golden gloves boxer and karate instructor. I was working in a bookstore, before i worked at ballantine, but this tale spun by red west was the first insider glimpses we.
Red west, a boyhood friend and member of elvis presleys memphis mafia who appeared in many of the singers movies as well as in road house, black sheep squadron and goodbye solo, has died. Scandalous tellall book revealed elvis presleys drug. West died july 18, 2017 after suffering an aortic aneurysm at the baptist hospital in memphis. In 2007 elvis presley fans took special note of the thirtieth anniversary of their idols death. Elvis what happened sonny west, dave hebler as told to steve. Marine, west played football for his high school and junior. Red west is also a talented composer who wrote some very fine songs for elvis as well as others including separate ways, thats someone youll never forget, if you talk in your sleep and if every day was like christmas. See more ideas about elvis presley, memphis mafia and elvis presley photos. Red and sonny west, friends of elvis who spoke out about the singers drug problems, both died this year. The first part is a conversation between todd and red, the last part consists of audiencequestions to red. Red west interview for the elvis information network. Cousins red west and sonny west had known elvis since highschool, and dave hebler was a part of elvis entourage from 19721976.
Elvis did not repeat the offensive behaviour and seemed to improve, despite what red and sonny west and dave hebler wrote in elvis. Word for word, by jerry osborne we thought it was a good idea of posting it here and share it with you a portuguese version. Elvis 100% phone conversation between elvis and red west. Do read this book, but dont finish and even think you know elvis. This book was published 15 days before elvis passed away.
Red west rw one of elviss greatest wishes was to do a european tour and to come to england. Sonny west worked a long time for elvis, but was fired in 1976. Elvis bodyguards sonny and red west published elvis. He was one of the authors of the controversial book elvis, what happened. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published.
Robert gene red west march 8, 1936 july 18, 2017 was an american actor, film stuntman and songwriter. Some would say later that i was excited because elvis died on the very day my 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. Yes, we all know that the book hurt elvis deeply, especially because red and sonny were involved. Red west plays ross moore, trainer and spiritual advisor, for the old texas western basketball team that became the first team to win the usa.
Sparks has opened up on a few details with the book to be release later this year. Elvis presley with red west wish red would have continued being a friend. Until peter guralnick came out with last train to memphis in 1994, most biographies of elvis presleyespecially those written by people with varying degrees of. Red, a burly athlete standing 61, told the bullies, youre gonna have to give me one first. Elvis presley friend red west on saving the king from. October 12, 1976 elvis returned the call from red west and for the first time after the firing they had a long talk. The book compiled the experiences of former presley bodyguards red west, sonny west, and dave hebler, as told to steve dunleavy. Red and sonny west, friends of elvis who spoke out about the singers drug problems, both. Services have been set for red west, the longtime elvis presley associate and actor visitation for mr. Luckily i intervened elvis presleys close pal red west, who was one of the his so. Interview with red west elvis articles elvis australia. Elvis presleys sex secrets exposed daily mail online.
Gary james interview with elvis bodyguard sonny west. He began his association with elvis presley as a driver and following service with the united states marine corps, west expanded on his friendship with presley. Red west member of elvis presley memphis mafia red west the longtime confidante and bodyguard of elvis presley who became a successful film and television actor. The trio went on to write a controversial tellall about the kings downward spiral, titled, elvis. What happened has split fans for 40 years and will continue to do so for years to come. The book came out 10 days before elvis was found dead. The book was released two weeks before elvis death on aug. Elvis presleys friend on saving the king from beating. The true story of the love between priscilla presley and the king. Red west, an actor and a close friend of elvis presley, died tuesday, july 18, 2017, according to multiple news sources. In 1960 following elvis army discharge red west went to work for elvis fulltime primarily as a bodyguard. Red west originally did my babe and if every day was like christmas. The book, which is based on the personal accounts of three of elvis former bodyguards, went into detail on the singers dangerous drugdependence. Red west wrote if you talk in your sleep, im a fool and separate ways.
In my opinion, the most useful books on elvis are by jerry schilling, billy stanley, dr. Elvis presley met red west in high school, where red saved elvis from a bathroom beating and forced hair cut by other jocks. Tanned pages and age spots, however, this will not interfere with reading. As a young fan, my opinion was always that red west, sonny west and dave hebler were horrible for what they did and it was as simple as. Red west, sonny west, dave hebler as told to steve dunleavy on. Red elvises have performed for large festivals, private parties, and played on massive stages such as 2005s live 8 benefit concert. Red roof inn west memphis this rating is a reflection of how the property compares to the industry standard when it comes to price, facilities and services available. The songwriterturnedactor, known for his 20 role in safe haven and for his role in road house 1989, passed away. Upon his firing, west wrote the controversial elvis. Red west, the longtime and sometimes critical confidant and bodyguard of elvis presley. 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. Scandalous tellall book revealed elvis presleys drug addiction just. Red west was working on an autobiography before his death last july. The interview is done by done by todd slaughter, president of the oepfc, at an english fanclub convention november 3, 1999.
Red west, elvis presleys boyhood bestie and longtime co. West was probably best known to american film audiences for his role as red in road house, alongside patrick swayze. Red and sonny west published this tellall book about elvis entitled. Sonny west he was a close friend, a trusted confidant and bodyguard for elvis from 1960 until 1976. Elvis presleys ducktail and long sideburns werent cool at his high school in memphis, tenn. For more biographical information about red elvises, order or download the book igor and the red elvises by marla j.
Passing completely unnoticed in the same year was the thirtieth anniversary of the most shocking and influential elvis biography ever written elvis. Sonny and red west had known elvis since high school. It must have been a very shocking book when it was written in 1977, by 3 of his former bodyguards. His death, only two weeks after the book s publication in july 1977, made it highly topical and helped boost its. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. 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. Red west, elvis friend and actor, is dead the commercial appeal. A new book about elvis presley dubs him the king of foreplay.
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