For nearly twenty years, elvis presley shared his homes and his life with his personal bodyguard and friend, sonny west. Dave and sonny, at the spur of the moment elvis used to go up. This book is a must read and i only wish elvis would have listened to sonny s advice. Sonny was a member of elvis presleys entourage and met him for the first time in 1958 before elvis left for his military service in germany.
The guards, robert gene west, his cousin sonny west, and david hebler, had been fired, officially for costsaving reasons, but at the time, many suspected it was because they had been heavily critical of. Jul 19, 2017 west and his coauthors, fellow memphis mafia members and elvis bodyguards sonny west a cousin, who died march 24 and david hebler, assisted by steve dunleavy, a journalist, said the book. Now in those days many of us used to follow elvis in popping those damn amphetamines just to keep us high. Still taking care of business is arguably the most authentic, noholdsbarred depiction of the greatest entertainer who ever lived. The events between that moment and reds death in july 2018 could fill a book. Scandalous tellall book revealed elvis presleys drug. Sonny west has died in nashville after a long illness. Elvis pushed to edge by bodyguards tellall book mail online. Published a month 1st edition prior to his death, the 332 page elvis what happened. This is the book that the estate doesnt want you to readits a balanced, respectful, and insightful look by a true presley insider and carter member of the infamous memphis mafia. The book compiled the experiences of former presley bodyguards red west, sonny west, and dave hebler, as told to steve dunleavy. In the years after 1977, dave, red and sonny were eventually welcomed back into the the elvis family, at least by elvis fans, if not by the presley family and elvis presley enterprises. Sonny west was elvis presleys close friend, trusted confidant, and bodyguard for 16 years.
What happened red west, sonny west, dave hebler, steve. Sonny and red west had known elvis since high school. Still taking care of business which is a personal standpoint that focuses more on the emotional aspect elvis had on sonnys life. 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. Read it in combination w some other by those who knew him.
He is semiretired, and routinely performs an hourlongshow around the world called elvis. Memories and insights about elvis presley from his friend and bodyguard by sonny west, marshall terrill isbn 9781600781490 9781600781490. Sonny west was one of his bodyguards and head of security, until a year before elviss death. Four months later red west, sonny west and dave hebler were sacked from presleys entourage and the trio worked with steve dunleavy on.
Loved this bookcouldnt get enough of all the antidotes about elviss life. The book came out 10 days before elvis was found dead on the toilet in graceland. Remembering red and sonny west, members of elvis famous. Interview with sonny west elvis articles elvis australia. They did not write the book out of spite, hatred or to exploit elvis, explained sonny west and hebler. In numerous press conferences concerning the book elvis, what happened. It must have been a very shocking book when it was written in 1977, by 3 of his former bodyguards.
Sonny west once rode elvis presleys coattails to fame as his best friend and bodyguard, but decades later, the glitz and glamor has faded away. To crosscheck some of the book s content, remembering red and sonny had been sacked by vernon, read elvis original guitarists autobiography thats alright elvis by none other than the great scotty moore. Memories and insights about elvis presley from his friend and bodyguard by sonny west and marshall terrill overview elvis. Elvis up close and personal with sonny west duration. Elvis bodyguards sonny and red west published elvis. The guards, robert gene west, his cousin sonny west, and david hebler, had. 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.
Scandalous tellall book revealed elvis presleys drug addiction just. The book, which is based on the personal accounts of three of elvis former bodyguards, went into detail on the singers dangerous drugdependence. As it happen spoke to sonny about elvis death back in 1977. The book, which is based on the personal accounts of three of elvis former. Sonny, why have you decided to write a second book on your relationship with elvis presley, more than 25 years. Paperback january 1, 1977 by dave hebler as told to steve dunleavy red west, sonny west author.
July 5, 1938 may 24, 2017, known as sonny west, was a friend and bodyguard of the late 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. West talks about elviss generosity and his humor but also talks about his drug usage and his hard headedness with an openness that tells us they tried to. West talks about elvis s generosity and his humor but also talks about his drug usage and his hard headedness with an openness that tells us they tried to help him but also with a feel sorry for him attitude. Sonny was with elvis and jerry schilling on december 21, 1970, when elvis met with president richard nixon. Do read this book, but dont finish and even think you know elvis. Red west, sonny west and dave hebler, as told to steve dunleavy. Delbert sonny west, was among the longestserving members of elvis entourage. New sonny west book ready elvis presley news magazine.
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. He is also known as a contributor along with red and sonny west to the 1977 book elvis. Photos of the weird and wonderful gifts elvis presley gave. New sonny west book ready after three years of writing and research, sonny west and marshall terrill have completed their tentatively titled book, elvis. 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. Still taking care of business book by marshall terrill. From our archives, heres some of what sonny west told guest host jeff carruthers at the time.
West during elvis week this year and he is a classy gentleman. He was one of the authors of the controversial book elvis, what happened. Dave hebler is also an internationally recognized martial artsselfdefense instructor, lecturer and senior grandmaster and founder of american kenpo karate. Sonny west seem to write about elvis s life and his life without making it all either totally bad or totally good. They stated they hoped their book would shock elvis into seeking medical care away from the physicians who were complicit in prescribing elvis large amounts of prescription medications and fully resting and becoming clean off of these prescribed. This book is a must read and i only wish elvis would have listened to sonnys advice.
The book talks about his womanizing, his need for absolute control, and his down fall from prescription drugs. 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. Gary james interview with elvis bodyguard sonny west. A book signing at the vintage store lost in the 50s in north augusta, south carolina took place in 2007.
West and his coauthors, fellow memphis mafia members and elvis bodyguards sonny west a cousin, who died march 24 and david hebler, assisted by steve dunleavy, a. Is priscilla, lisa marie, or elvis presley enterprises responsible for the demise of this book. Elvis what happened by sonny west, first edition abebooks. Sonny west he was a close friend, a trusted confidant and bodyguard for elvis from 1960 until 1976.
Red west funeral tribute to his life and legacy elvis. The volumes origin dates to july 1976, when the three men were fired, supposedly for financial reasons, by elviss father, vernon. Sonny west worked a long time for elvis, but was fired in 1976. I love elvis and have read 5 or 6 other books that cherry coat everything. Sonny west seem to write about elviss life and his life without making it all either totally bad or totally good. 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, elvis s. The collaboration, which started in 2002, is the long awaited followup to the 1977 book, elvis. Red had known presley since they had attended high school together, and had become a very close friend to 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. Makes me wish i had the privilege of meeting sonny west. West was one of the original members of elvis presleys memphis mafia.
West wrote 2 best selling books on his life with presley and in 2011, rlf victor productions brought the film rights to his. Jul 21, 2017 red and sonny west, friends of elvis who spoke out about the singers drug problems, both died this year. This is the book that the estate doesnt want you to read its a balanced, respectful, and insightful look by a true presley insider and carter member of. Later he came to work for elvis, and he was responsible for the fleet, and bodyguard. In 2007, sonny west settherecordstraight with his book elvis. Elvis what happened red west, sonny west, dave hebler as. The guards, robert gene west, his cousin sonny west, and david hebler, had been fired, officially for costsaving reasons, but at the.
Jul 27, 2017 elvis up close and personal with sonny west duration. He resides in the middle tennessee area with judy west, his wife of 36 years. He was truthful about elvis, his live for the man and acceptance that although he was flawed he loved the guy. Dec 20, 2005 new sonny west book ready after three years of writing and research, sonny west and marshall terrill have completed their tentatively titled book, elvis. See more ideas about elvis presley photos, elvis presley and graceland. Still taking care of business is one of the most authentic portraits ever written about one of the greatest american entertainers. 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.
His death, only two weeks after the books publication in july 1977, made it highly topical and helped boost its sales to over 3 million. This book is well written and is more positive than others. Elvis what happened sonny west, dave hebler as told to steve. The books 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. There are some rumors around, trying to portray us as bloodsuckers who wrote this book to capitalize on the death of elvis presley. Red west and elvis presley were friends ever since the day in high. This book was published 15 days before elvis passed away. Sonny west first met elvis at humes high school memphis. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. West and two other members of presleys memphis mafia, sonny west and david hebler, were fired by vernon presley in 1976. West wrote 2 best selling books on his life with presley and in 2011, rlf victor productions brought the film rights to his 2007 book elvis. Below are some excerpts from the soontobepublished book by red and pat west on life with and often without elvis presley. This name was given, by a las vegas reporter, referring to an entourage of friends, family, and body guards, in which the rocknroll superstar chose to.
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. He became a part of presleys inner circle in 1955, acting as a driver, bodyguard, and. This book is a great one, it ought to be sonny west was long time body guard of elvis, along with his couisn red west, they was in school with elvis early 50s up almost until elvis died in 1977. See all 7 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Published by balantine nonfiction 27215 three of the kings closest companions tell a shocking, bizarre story. Elvis friends and bodyguards discuss elvis battle with addiction through his final years. The circumstances are not clear, but apparently the man broke 3 ribs and also has some cuts, abrasions and bruises. In this unique and intimate volume, sonny west, elvis presleys close friend.
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