Things like this are really cool. Elvis is one of those people who I love as if he was family. I've grown up on him, studied him, and just tried to be as much like him as I could. I'm 19 years old and he's like a hero of mine and I try to keep the image of him away because like he even said an image is one thing a human being is another. He was a normal person put into a world that no one had ever been in before. He was literally the king and no one had been that famous before. I mean even Michael Jackson had that level of fame and the same things happened to him. Normal people being put into a world not meant for them and they make good and bad decisions. Elvis wasn't perfect and made some pretty bad decisions in life but I think all the good he did out ways the bad. Spending millions of dollars on charity that no one will ever know about, giving away soo much without recognition, wanting so badly to make his fans happy that he'll physically destroy and exhaust himself just so he can put on a show for you like you've never seen before. Giving credit to God when people will literally take the time to Pray to Elvis as if he was God himself. He was put into impossible situations but in the end he faced the challenges and came out of it a king and a hero. TCB⚡
Yeh how positive he sounds, to bad that he was asked to leave along with Red, they almost destroyed him just to get revenge so because they were no longer on the gravy train it did,nt take long to betray Elvis after they were fired, he was absolutely distraught when he found out about what they had done, so I don,t really think west boy,s gave a toss about what they did, so no they don,t deserve to still making money of Elvis.
For sure! So he must need money so he wrote another book about Elvis. He just needs to be quiet. Im sure Lisa Marie wants nothing to do with red & sonny west
I believe the West's had Elvis's best interest at heart. I lost my kid brother to substance abuse, and the more I tried to intervene and help him at the end, the more he pushed away...sometimes you can't save a loved one from themselves
Sonny and RED west both loved ELVIS and did what they could to keep him from taking the pills, the rest were there to bleed ELVIS for the money and the girls they could get, JOE[ THE BLOW ] ESPOSITO was a greedy little bastard and wanted ELVIS to fire everyone except him and then he would have complete control of Elvis and his money,
I am from Memphis and was looking for Kid Galahad because I think that was his best movie but couldn’t find it so I just watched the doc about the memphis mafia and I have to say that it was Sonny’s story about being in California with the horse when he learned of Elvis’ death that made me cry...I could really tell that he was genuinely torn to pieces over what happened to Elvis...he was a TRUE friend to him...and I agree with Larry Elvis was addicted...he was a victim...and when you think about someone’s life BEFORE addiction set in so deep it breaks your heart
Someone should have asked Sonny about his nasty tell all book written right before Elvis died. Sonny and the other milked him until and after his death.
@@gracieg7601 I got to meet Sonny at an Elvis fans gathering in Florida years ago, and got to talk with him one on one a few minutes while he was setting up his booth. Something I will never forget. I still believe he and Red were trying to help Elvis realize his problem.
Its a shame that when sonny and some of the guys wrote that book about elvis they drifted away from from elvis and when elvis died some of the guys wasnt allowed to attend elvis s funeral so sad ❤❤ ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Yeah he was a great guy, he sold him out for a book and some $$$$!! The sadder thing is they even recorded Elvis when he called and they game it out to the world to hear!! So how do you explain that lets say the book was done to save him why was the recording of there talk released to the public something Elvis I am sure that was private!! I am sure for a few extra dollars. He fed them for so many years and then they sold him out thats the truth
chris Krist, I answered your ignorance on another video, but I'll do it here as well.... It was Vernon that caused all that, he never liked the boys, even though he watched them grow up and Elvis told him many times he NEEDED them, In Vernons eyes if they weren't making Elvis money they were useless. Anyway, according to Marty Lacker who was inside at the time, Elvis told Vernon to give them $5,000 each and assure them they would be hired back in 2-3 months, Vernon gave them a weeks pay and told them they are out forever this time, so Sonny and Red felt hurt after all those years. Sonny and Red had every right to tell their side of the story they warned Elvis over and over what he was doing to himself, and what happened a few weeks after the book was released Elvis proved THEY were right!
bukowskispen they only thing I find ignorant is when the other person who commented he is suppose to go with what your reply is!! I grew up being taught being loyal respectful to my friends , family and to others who earned and deserved it!!! But they shouldn't act after his death that they were his brothers loved and cared for him!! The bottom line is everything they had in life even there underwear the wore was from Elvis!! They wrote the book to make money and I am curious why was the conversation by phone he had was it recorded and put out there was that also to help him? They at the end of it all showed they where in it for the ride, yes Elvis had serious problems but who knows maybe if that book was not written he may have lived!! Many close to him say that book really depressed him a lot more then he was!! Years after they go on shows and try to show how much they loved and cared for him, maybe they did when they had the free ride but they really sold him out at the end!! Book tv interviews the recording of him on the phone hmmm really loved the guy!! So I am replying back to your ignorance!!!! The luckiest red knecks in the world that they where blessed to live in Elvis Presleys life, until the end they lived of Presleys name!!!!
I would like to have asked if he thought the way Parker took advantage of Elvis, overworked him, and kept him from going outside the country played a part in his use of medication, deteriorating health, and untimely passing. I understand that one time when Elvis was very ill, he told one of the entourage "that man needs to be on stage tonight, nothing else matter". I also think his gambling caused Elvis to have to work much more than was healthy for him. I'm sure he made some good business decisions but I also think he made detrimental decisions that were harmful.
Как грустно до слёз становится ,когда слушаешь эти воспоминания людей намного переживших Элвиса. Среди них не нашлось ни одного , кто бы помог ему.Полковник Паркер,сильная личность,имел влияние на Элвиса.Почему он не повлиял на него ??? Плевать ему было на Элвиса, он выжимал из него все силы!!!
I wonder how Sonny dealt with the guilt of the tell-all book he wrote filled with every horrid tale on Elvis. He had to know that book contributed to his death. I think he must have had a love/hate relationship with Elvis to write such a sleazy tell-all. And, with time passing you forget the bad and he could make some money off his Elvis memories. RIP Sonny.
have to give sonny major props for this - it's not easy praising Col Parker, especially in front of modern Elvis fans. i totally disagree with him, but have to respect him for expressing an unpopular opinion, with such conviction. RIP.
It’s funny,Sonny and Jerry Schilling both said they started doing Indian Wrestling with Elvis prior to his shows..I met Jerry in Vegas and we talked for a good while,great guy and IMO he’s more believable since he never trashed the King publicly.
How true did Elvis remain to Sonny and Red? Elvis let his father do something he apparently didn't have the guts to do. And because he let Vernon do something he himself should have done, Vernon did it his way and not according to what Elvis told him to do. As Elvis himself use to say, "Understanding solves all problems."
I SPENT 4 EVENINGS WITH HIM AND HIS WIFE JUDY, THEY ARE BOTH SUPER NICE, AND VERY KIND TO ME!! MAY THEY BOTH REST IN PEACE!! THEY BOTH LOVED ELVIS VERY MUCH!!
I’m a huge fan of elvis Presley’s and I love 💕 elviss music and flims too elvis will always be the king 👑 of rock and roll 🎸 my dream is to visit Graceland and communicate with elvis 2:27pm
Why not, now sunny is a liar because you knew elvis you spoke to him he told you parker was a jerk, well I don't know much but I know who the jerk is, you just can't take it elvis died an someone has got to get the blame
I believe the west brothers betrayal of elvis caused him such upset, he no longer cared what happened. I believe he took all three doses of the meds together. Just as his step brother claims. If not to kill himself, then as a way to get out of the tour. He couldn't face his fans and what they would think of him.
He wrote a note to Billy Stanley several months prior that his life was all screwed up and it was hard to go on. I think the book by Red and Sonny West was the final blow that destroyed Elvis. It's entirely possible that he deliberately took all those meds to either kill himself or get out of the tour.
Everyone gets a bad rap from crazy fans, they always want to blame everyone else except Elvis, Like he's their child who could do no wrong, This guy seems pretty honest and isn't really slating anyone, just giving facts. Many Fans don't like to hear the truth, they'd sooner believe in lies and Fantasy. Some fans will say They all sponged off of him, the other side of that is, He had no friends so had to pay them to hang out with him, or the truth is somewhere in the middle. If Elvis wanted drugs he'd have got someone to get them for him, Sure he could have fired everyone he employed and it wouldn't have made any difference to the outcome, he wanted to do what he wanted in private and make work as easy as possible, Like turning down better film roles, or doing a world tour, his love of guns would have made it near impossible for him to tour most of Europe where you can't walk around with loaded weapons
How many real friends do we have besides our family? When you are a famous Superstar and rich, most of the people around you are there for money and personal use, a star has few real friends! about drugs, no one likes to lose his health deliberately.Elvis had diseases that had genetic roots. He could not do anything for them. He was insomnia, walking in sleep and in the three illnesses he received from his mother, I think we can not easily judge anyone, but we can ask why Sonny and Red and Dave after they were fired by Elvis's father wrote a story against him and Elvis' heart was broken?
Yes that's right i definitely believe that elvis was the type of guy that wouldn't do something he didn't think he'd do well, some so called 'fans ' just can't see reality they have convinced themselves it was everyone else's fault and not Elvis!..
People referred to The Memphis Mafia as "hangers on" or "users"...but it was Elvis who sewed-up and occupied these guys lives for fear of being alone. He paid a heavy price for his fame...but so did they. You say no to Elvis...see how that goes over.
From the very beginning after Elvis became a phenomenom and sensation he would of continued same in concerts all over the globe with no movie deals to hinder.
Him and others were wrong to put out a Hit piece book about Elvis in 1977.Elvis fires them, they retaliated with a Hit piece book about Elvis Life for $$$$$$
Yes... And the book was sad to read. I still love Elvis and adore his music, his generosity, his charisma. But it was unbelievable some of the stuff I read. However, what Sonny and Red (and the Stanleys) etc. wrote about Elvis, it's quite convenient NOBODY wrote the same filth about THEM. They point out Elvis's weaknesses and slimy behaviors, but curiously, THEY LEAVE THEIRS OUT. Yet these guys were all dogs. And now making $$$ off a dead guy. 🙄🙄🙄
What I don`t understand is they were coming to him with many opportunities for great acting parts for great movie`s and he did want to be a great actor so why he didn`t take one movie I really don`t understand this, they say Elvis did need a challenge he didn`t want to loss weight for a movie but he did loss weight for concert aloha from Hawaii
Elvis was lucky to have Sonny and Red as friends for they told him the truth about his drug dependency when no one else was. Ironically they were hated for it. Everyone else around Elvis preferred to pretend he wasn't really dying.
Larry is a story teller unfortunately he tends to imagine things, and the boys didn't like him for that reason, I mean if he had a run in with parker for whatever reason well he's going to make out parker was horrible towards elvis, however Larry can't supply any proof or witnesses as I say Larry is a wacko bigtime
Thats good to know the real story about A Star is born. Also I've never understood why the Presley family was so angry with Sonny and Red. I was a teen when the book came out, and I thought that was there way of trying to save him, shame Lisa Maria never realized that while they were alive so the guys could have closure, they deserved that.
Oh please , Far too many praises here for Sonny West . He is not being entirely honest here at all. Tom Parker was a degenerate gambler who worked Elvis to death . Parker owed those casinos in Vegas millions in debt . In addition to that , where did that bastard get off taking 50 percent of Elvis's earnings as his manager when the industry standard was 10 to 15 percent max at the time . No manager to this day takes that kind of percentage . Sonny knew what was going on . Lets not forget that nasty book he and his cousin Red West wrote about Elvis which was released just a few weeks before Elvis's death , supposedly written to "help Elvis " give up his prescription drugs . Yeah right , nobody believed him then when he made that claim and few if any believed him in the many decades that followed . I believe Sonny personally did love Elvis and that he later may have regretted writing that horrid book , we will never know for sure , but you are not getting the entire truth from Sonny here in this video. His praise for Tom Parker is way out of line . If any of you want the truth about Parker listen to others who knew Elvis as well , especially Larry Geller . None of us can know with certainty whether any of the so called Memphis Mafia really loved Elvis for himself . His manager worked him like a dog especially in the latter years of Elvis's life . In the earlier years of Elvis's career Parker had him committed to one silly movie after another much to Elvis's displeasure and constant worry . All the Memphis Mafia crowd that were with Elvis for years have all had their stories to tell and they did not think much of Parker at all . As stated we can not know if anyone of them truly cared for and loved Elvis . Elvis certainly loved and cared for them both financially and emotional as a friend When Elvis died Joe Esposito said "it was as if a train had stopped ".. I'LL BET.....the gravy train ! Anyway I'm going to end by saying I will choose to believe they did love Elvis and in thus doing , give them all the benefit of the doubt .
I've been reading the book by the Stanleys ("Elvis We Love You Tender") and it's also not exactly kind to the guy. Basically telling the ugly things that went on while the mafia worked for Elvis. Hookers, drugs, groupies, etc you name it, all on those tours. While Elvis never went with the hookers, the "guys" did, and they all enjoyed the hell out of it. No doubt they "loved" (?) Elvis, but he was their gravy train. He made people money while he lived, and he's making them money after death.
Just before Elvis's career took off, Col. Parker told him this. If, you allow me to be your personal Manager, I'll make you a Millionaire by the time you reach the age of 21. But, I get a 50% cut of all money raised by your career. Elvis agreed. He had no idea he would become the legend he became.
it was never too big a challenge for elvis to do a star is born , elvis would have rose to it , he became a sergeant in the army and rose to that challenge and passed , he wanted so much to be a serious actor and he would have slimmed down and got himself ready , he did it before , i hate it when sonny backs parker , he deffinatley had influenced wat elvis wanted to do he controlled his every move stopped him talking to other writers When parker first started as Elvis's Manager 1955/56 he made a deal he said "you take care of the singing and i'll take care of the business and one will not interfere with the other"! and for a while it worked that way until the latter stages and parker started getting involved with everything till he was telling Elvis wat to do about everything he became a control Freak. Once Parker had his claws in elvis he never let go he hated not having complete control over him Elvis wanted to do other things and would tell Parker his ideas but that was a near impossible as it only served him to shut it down Elvis always resented that & he got very discouraged he had pretty much no say in anything anymore he dreamed of going to the UK but he never got there because Parker was not an American citizen he was an illegal Immigrant a Dutchman even the name Colonel he took from somewhere Everything was about money to Parker he always pushed deals to make more money he sacrificed Elvis's career & happiness for Money! But once Elvis realised he outgrew parker he saw him as a promoter Parker didn't know his artist, the drive wat they needed for their own satisfaction creatively he would say your making movies why do you want to make other kinds of movies your making money! Elvis was thirsty for the arts he wanted to do movies with substance but parker didn't get it
My personal opinion is that the What happened book really was a last ditch tough love effort to beg their man/child friend to please get it together and clean up for his and his daughters sake. Sunny was one of the very few guys in Elvis's life to stand up to him because he genuinely loved the guy. I can't imagine how crushed he must have been 2 weeks after the book was released. I've never heard him say a bad thing about his friend .
Sonny and red, were let go, because they told Elvis, the drugs are killing you, things are not the same, because of the drugs, Red said what happened to the good old days Elvis, Elvis said there gone red, this was the END
Its funny he free loaded so many years of Elvis, then sold him out with a book that caused Elvis into a bigger down spiral, and now years later he still is making his bread of Elvis name and acting like he was his buddy to the end!! He even recorded Elvis didnt he? Great Friend !!!
You still don't get it do you, all parker's fault all the Security mafia dr nick elvis dentist doctors ect ect elvis the saint yea? You can't get get into your head elvis was a nut job drugged up author of his own making, crazy thing is elvis has some nut job fans that for sure
Chris Krist you are just a troll, like going on youtube pages and starting arguments with people. Why dont you keep your negative views to yourself. Nobody cares what you think. You werent there, you werent around Elvis, so you dont know diddly squat.
Still making money off of his knowledge of Elvis to the very end! They were fired for roughing up the fans and other reasons. Interesting. Where was there loyalty? I wonder what Elvis would have to say today? Given what we know about his heart and humanity he probably say nothing about them! Differences in people says it all! Truth will win out. Love to all.
You are wrong Sonny West, you wasn’t even around, and the fans do like her you did not do your research. And yes, I believe he was going to marry her, he was making changes that’s why he got rid of you three first, but he wasn’t finished and he didn’t get to live long enough to do it
If Elvis had challenged himself and his art he more than likely would have lived a long life. He in my opinion was bored and never grew or was allowed to in spite of what Sonny says.I think if he would have taken the Star is born it would have taken him in a whole new direction. You just can't sing the same songs over and over wearing a jumpsuit. I love him him but he didn't allow himself that gift, or the gift of his home being his and his once wife's home. Too many people meddling and keeping from him being even more. I think that's why he died to young, just bored.
Wingsong tell a man the truth to his face wild he is lavishing gifts to while high....don't wait to a man realize he is being used by you, and fired your rear! and then decides to write a tell all book behind his back, with a lot of very private and personal intimate things about stuff that has nothing to do with his dependencies on drugs. They betrayed him when he was sick and vulnerable. bastards! They lived with regrets for the rest of their lives, because Elvis died before they could makeup... PS . yes Priscilla is a wonderful woman who was young and loved Elvis, but couldn't take it anymore, the cheating and drugs...she did, and is doing a great job with his legacy..God bless her!.
Things like this are really cool. Elvis is one of those people who I love as if he was family. I've grown up on him, studied him, and just tried to be as much like him as I could. I'm 19 years old and he's like a hero of mine and I try to keep the image of him away because like he even said an image is one thing a human being is another. He was a normal person put into a world that no one had ever been in before. He was literally the king and no one had been that famous before. I mean even Michael Jackson had that level of fame and the same things happened to him. Normal people being put into a world not meant for them and they make good and bad decisions. Elvis wasn't perfect and made some pretty bad decisions in life but I think all the good he did out ways the bad. Spending millions of dollars on charity that no one will ever know about, giving away soo much without recognition, wanting so badly to make his fans happy that he'll physically destroy and exhaust himself just so he can put on a show for you like you've never seen before. Giving credit to God when people will literally take the time to Pray to Elvis as if he was God himself. He was put into impossible situations but in the end he faced the challenges and came out of it a king and a hero. TCB⚡
People from the south sure know how to tell a story..I love it.
And most of it is probably bullshit.
Sonny passed away suffering from cancer and was totally broke. His wife passed a few years later basically homeless, if were not for their son.
Yes l felt so bad i bought his necklace that he loved so much
@@kennethclaar922 He said he would NEVER sell it in previous interviews. Did you give it a good home?
@@SideMoneyGarage well he kind of kept his word because his wife sold it .
@@SideMoneyGarage I paid way more than I wanted to .
@@kennethclaar922 I think I read 38k. But, that's between you and God. LOL
My favourite elvis movie was king creol when he played danny fisher he was brilliant in the movie ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Yeh how positive he sounds, to bad that he was asked to leave along with Red, they
almost destroyed him just to get revenge so because they were no longer on the
gravy train it did,nt take long to betray Elvis after they were fired, he was absolutely
distraught when he found out about what they had done, so I don,t really think
west boy,s gave a toss about what they did, so no they don,t deserve to still making
money of Elvis.
I can't judge anyone else . I love Elvis Presley Music
That was a very funny movie. Stay away Joe. Elvis Presley was amazing actor a had a great a funny scence of humor.
One of the ones who threw Elvis under the bus
For sure! So he must need money so he wrote another book about Elvis. He just needs to be quiet. Im sure Lisa Marie wants nothing to do with red & sonny west
One of the few to call elvis out on his drug use
This guy sonny was there he knew the man
Great video! Thanks for sharing this video with us Elvis fans!
RIP...Mr. West. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for the one on one conversation you had with this fan.
Sonny was one of the luckiest men alive to be with the King for so many years
And they were all so humble and down to earth
They WERE GROSS!!!
@@marywilson1341 you’re gross
THEY WERE NOT HUMBLE.
I love these stories. I doubt if he would be married again, either. Especially, ginger.
I agree
Ginger didn’t seem like she was a sincere to me. She was too young.
Ginger? OMH! She was and is a total hottie!!
That was good it's very interesting to hear some of the inside stuff.
I believe the West's had Elvis's best interest at heart. I lost my kid brother to substance abuse, and the more I tried to intervene and help him at the end, the more he pushed away...sometimes you can't save a loved one from themselves
Sonny and RED west both loved ELVIS and did what they could to keep him from taking the pills, the rest were there to bleed ELVIS for the money and the girls they could get, JOE[ THE BLOW ] ESPOSITO was a greedy little bastard and wanted ELVIS to fire everyone except him and then he would have complete control of Elvis and his money,
Was there when this was recorded at Sony In Nashville. We all had a great time.
What year was this filmed?
Sonny was a verry special friend to elvis ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
I am from Memphis and was looking for Kid Galahad because I think that was his best movie but couldn’t find it so I just watched the doc about the memphis mafia and I have to say that it was Sonny’s story about being in California with the horse when he learned of Elvis’ death that made me cry...I could really tell that he was genuinely torn to pieces over what happened to Elvis...he was a TRUE friend to him...and I agree with Larry Elvis was addicted...he was a victim...and when you think about someone’s life BEFORE addiction set in so deep it breaks your heart
He wasn't a victim. No one forces anyone to abuse drugs or alcohol. Addiction is the consequence of your actions.
@@TheJpep2424 I disagree
Someone should have asked Sonny about his nasty tell all book written right before Elvis died. Sonny and the other milked him until and after his death.
Can’t believe sonny is gone and red
I know ! I hate that. I love sonny!
@@gracieg7601 I got to meet Sonny at an Elvis fans gathering in Florida years ago, and got to talk with him one on one a few minutes while he was setting up his booth. Something I will never forget. I still believe he and Red were trying to help Elvis realize his problem.
I know they were Awesome. They loved Him. So did he loved them. So different time's. God Bless them All.❤❤❤🙏🙏🙏
That kid at 7 mins looks a young Elvis.
I was thinking the exact same thing
Wow! Elvis was really dedicated to his fans!
Thanks for this video ! Beautiful!
Its a shame that when sonny and some of the guys wrote that book about elvis they drifted away from from elvis and when elvis died some of the guys wasnt allowed to attend elvis s funeral so sad ❤❤ ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
sonny west was a good guy it was a pleasure to have known him .R.I.P a fan from england
Yeah he was a great guy, he sold him out for a book and some $$$$!! The sadder thing is they even recorded Elvis when he called and they game it out to the world to hear!! So how do you explain that lets say the book was done to save him why was the recording of there talk released to the public something Elvis I am sure that was private!! I am sure for a few extra dollars. He fed them for so many years and then they sold him out thats the truth
chris Krist, I answered your ignorance on another video, but I'll do it here as well....
It was Vernon that caused all that, he never liked the boys, even though he watched them grow up and Elvis told him many times he NEEDED them, In Vernons eyes if they weren't making Elvis money they were useless.
Anyway, according to Marty Lacker who was inside at the time, Elvis told Vernon to give them $5,000 each and assure them they would be hired back in 2-3 months, Vernon gave them a weeks pay and told them they are out forever this time, so Sonny and Red felt hurt after all those years.
Sonny and Red had every right to tell their side of the story they warned Elvis over and over what he was doing to himself, and what happened a few weeks after the book was released Elvis proved THEY were right!
bukowskispen they only thing I find ignorant is when the other person who commented he is suppose to go with what your reply is!! I grew up being taught being loyal respectful to my friends , family and to others who earned and deserved it!!! But they shouldn't act after his death that they were his brothers loved and cared for him!! The bottom line is everything they had in life even there underwear the wore was from Elvis!! They wrote the book to make money and I am curious why was the conversation by phone he had was it recorded and put out there was that also to help him? They at the end of it all showed they where in it for the ride, yes Elvis had serious problems but who knows maybe if that book was not written he may have lived!! Many close to him say that book really depressed him a lot more then he was!! Years after they go on shows and try to show how much they loved and cared for him, maybe they did when they had the free ride but they really sold him out at the end!! Book tv interviews the recording of him on the phone hmmm really loved the guy!! So I am replying back to your ignorance!!!! The luckiest red knecks in the world that they where blessed to live in Elvis Presleys life, until the end they lived of Presleys name!!!!
betrayal is treason, no matter the reason
When did he die?
hi good on sunny west he has some good memories of elvis. and he was elvis friend and bodyguard. he cared about him.
I would like to have asked if he thought the way Parker took advantage of Elvis, overworked him, and kept him from going outside the country played a part in his use of medication, deteriorating health, and untimely passing.
I understand that one time when Elvis was very ill, he told one of the entourage "that man needs to be on stage tonight, nothing else matter". I also think his gambling caused Elvis to have to work much more than was healthy for him. I'm sure he made some good business decisions but I also think he made detrimental decisions that were harmful.
Как грустно до слёз становится ,когда слушаешь эти воспоминания людей намного переживших Элвиса.
Среди них не нашлось ни одного , кто бы помог ему.Полковник Паркер,сильная личность,имел влияние
на Элвиса.Почему он не повлиял на него ??? Плевать ему было на Элвиса, он выжимал из него все силы!!!
Never close your account new Elvis fans and old ones need this information
So interesting...........Thanks to Sonny.
I believe Sonny a Red west knew more about Elvis Presley more then Priscilla ever did his dad to.
Alex Swindle at the top of his game.
I wonder how Sonny dealt with the guilt of the tell-all book he wrote filled with every horrid tale on Elvis. He had to know that book contributed to his death. I think he must have had a love/hate relationship with Elvis to write such a sleazy tell-all. And, with time passing you forget the bad and he could make some money off his Elvis memories. RIP Sonny.
Jesus , the book didn't contribute to his death. His lifestyle and drug addiction sadly did that.
@@paulsidaway4014 your 100 percent right paul
IT BROKE ELVIS HEART THE MONTH BEFORE HE DIED.@@paulsidaway4014
The young boy wearing the red jacket will be the spittin' image of Elvis when he gets a little older.
REALLY? LOL
have to give sonny major props for this - it's not easy praising Col Parker, especially in front of modern Elvis fans. i totally disagree with him, but have to respect him for expressing an unpopular opinion, with such conviction. RIP.
It’s funny,Sonny and Jerry Schilling both said they started doing Indian Wrestling with Elvis prior to his shows..I met Jerry in Vegas and we talked for a good while,great guy and IMO he’s more believable since he never trashed the King publicly.
It's Charlie Hodge and Jerry who remained to true to Elvis. God Bless them for that.
Telling the truth is not necessarily "trashing" anyone. It's just telling the truth.
Truth can seem hateful, to those who hate the truth.
How true did Elvis remain to Sonny and Red? Elvis let his father do something he apparently didn't have the guts to do. And because he let Vernon do something he himself should have done, Vernon did it his way and not according to what Elvis told him to do. As Elvis himself use to say, "Understanding solves all problems."
Sivle Aaron - They both probably did. Whoever was around at the time.
Sivle Aaron YOU'RE WRONG!
I SPENT 4 EVENINGS WITH HIM AND HIS WIFE JUDY, THEY ARE BOTH SUPER NICE, AND VERY KIND TO ME!! MAY THEY BOTH REST IN PEACE!! THEY BOTH LOVED ELVIS VERY MUCH!!
pro trick: you can watch movies on flixzone. I've been using it for watching a lot of movies lately.
@Yousef Taylor Yup, have been watching on Flixzone} for years myself :)
@Yousef Taylor Definitely, I've been using Flixzone} for years myself :)
Excellent !
I’m a huge fan of elvis Presley’s and I love 💕 elviss music and flims too elvis will always be the king 👑 of rock and roll 🎸 my dream is to visit Graceland and communicate with elvis 2:27pm
I enjoyed this
That bald guy asking about Col. Parker looks like Elvis on disguise.
Col.Parker had Elvis's best interest? I don't buy that one
Why not, now sunny is a liar because you knew elvis you spoke to him he told you parker was a jerk, well I don't know much but I know who the jerk is, you just can't take it elvis died an someone has got to get the blame
Sonny West was a class act.
I believe the west brothers betrayal of elvis caused him such upset, he no longer cared what happened. I believe he took all three doses of the meds together. Just as his step brother claims. If not to kill himself, then as a way to get out of the tour. He couldn't face his fans and what they would think of him.
He wrote a note to Billy Stanley several months prior that his life was all screwed up and it was hard to go on. I think the book by Red and Sonny West was the final blow that destroyed Elvis. It's entirely possible that he deliberately took all those meds to either kill himself or get out of the tour.
He was his worse enemy. . the west boys tired to help him . But his dad and the Colonel told him what to do and he was drugged out of his head
Everyone gets a bad rap from crazy fans, they always want to blame everyone else except Elvis, Like he's their child who could do no wrong, This guy seems pretty honest and isn't really slating anyone, just giving facts.
Many Fans don't like to hear the truth, they'd sooner believe in lies and Fantasy.
Some fans will say They all sponged off of him, the other side of that is, He had no friends so had to pay them to hang out with him, or the truth is somewhere in the middle.
If Elvis wanted drugs he'd have got someone to get them for him, Sure he could have fired everyone he employed and it wouldn't have made any difference to the outcome, he wanted to do what he wanted in private and make work as easy as possible, Like turning down better film roles, or doing a world tour, his love of guns would have made it near impossible for him to tour most of Europe where you can't walk around with loaded weapons
@@astragreen LOL Yar right
Sonny and Red turned into snitches when they were fired.
How many real friends do we have besides our family? When you are a famous Superstar and rich, most of the people around you are there for money and personal use, a star has few real friends! about drugs, no one likes to lose his health deliberately.Elvis had diseases that had genetic roots. He could not do anything for them. He was insomnia, walking in sleep and in the three illnesses he received from his mother, I think we can not easily judge anyone, but we can ask why Sonny and Red and Dave after they were fired by Elvis's father wrote a story against him and Elvis' heart was broken?
Yes that's right i definitely believe that elvis was the type of guy that wouldn't do something he didn't think he'd do well, some so called 'fans ' just can't see reality they have convinced themselves it was everyone else's fault and not Elvis!..
@@rosehoary8906 well said. Betrayal at it's worst. From South Africa
Wow, thank you so much ! I hope you have more !
Sonny west Loved Elvis TCB ⚡️⚡️GodBless ❤️🙏
Sonny west was a Good man for Elvis from a fan in Sweden 🌹
People referred to The Memphis Mafia as "hangers on" or "users"...but it was Elvis who sewed-up and occupied these guys lives for fear of being alone. He paid a heavy price for his fame...but so did they. You say no to Elvis...see how that goes over.
From the very beginning after Elvis became a phenomenom and sensation he would of continued same in concerts all over the globe with no movie deals to hinder.
Elvis could act good
What year was this from? Great video
Him and others were wrong to put out a Hit piece book about Elvis in 1977.Elvis fires them, they retaliated with a Hit piece book about Elvis Life for $$$$$$
Yes... And the book was sad to read. I still love Elvis and adore his music, his generosity, his charisma. But it was unbelievable some of the stuff I read. However, what Sonny and Red (and the Stanleys) etc. wrote about Elvis, it's quite convenient NOBODY wrote the same filth about THEM. They point out Elvis's weaknesses and slimy behaviors, but curiously, THEY LEAVE THEIRS OUT. Yet these guys were all dogs. And now making $$$ off a dead guy. 🙄🙄🙄
Not bad.
What I don`t understand is they were coming to him with many opportunities for great acting parts for great movie`s and he did want to be a great actor so why he didn`t take one movie I really don`t understand this, they say Elvis did need a challenge he didn`t want to loss weight for a movie but he did loss weight for concert aloha from Hawaii
Rip Sonny ❤️ #tandolls757
Elvis was never the same after his mom gladys died if she had lived things would of been so diffrent and he.would of lived longer ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
That boy looks like Elvis in the red jacket..?mmm
Coloquem legendas em português por favor. É tão importante sabermos o quê de fato aconteceu. O que de fato levou esse amigo a fazer o que fez.
O que você quer saber
He wanted money so he wrote 2 books. If he loved Elvis so much, they wouldn’t have wrote a book. They could’ve done it behind closed doors
They all mad money 💰 off of Elvis .
REST IN PEACE SONNY AND RED. YOU GUYS WERE THE BEST. YOU ARE NOW WITH ELVIS AGAIN
LIKE HELL THEY ARE,
Why does this have a funeral type feel to it
They all look like they're dressed for a funeral.
Sonny & Red were Elvis great friends who got the dirty end of the stick because they wrote the book to try and save him from hisself RIP
Elvis was lucky to have Sonny and Red as friends for they told him the truth about his drug dependency when no one else was. Ironically they were hated for it. Everyone else around Elvis preferred to pretend he wasn't really dying.
Windsong1a what utter rubbish
Explain 🤔
5:52 interesting.... Elvis never said this according to Larry Geller
Larry is a story teller unfortunately he tends to imagine things, and the boys didn't like him for that reason, I mean if he had a run in with parker for whatever reason well he's going to make out parker was horrible towards elvis, however Larry can't supply any proof or witnesses as I say Larry is a wacko bigtime
Somethings should be kept between friends they lost Elvis trust
Thats good to know the real story about A Star is born. Also I've never understood why the Presley family was so angry with Sonny and Red. I was a teen when the book came out, and I thought that was there way of trying to save him, shame Lisa Maria never realized that while they were alive so the guys could have closure, they deserved that.
NO they did not!
I would have loved going to hear Sonny speak.
Sonny is very handsome
Now he is in front of a Higher Judge, and I can't say anything,but only that he should have kept his mouth shut.
About Tom Parker suuuuuuuurrrrre
Oh please , Far too many praises here for Sonny West . He is not being entirely honest here at all. Tom Parker was a degenerate gambler who worked Elvis to death . Parker owed those casinos in Vegas millions in debt . In addition to that , where did that bastard get off taking 50 percent of Elvis's earnings as his manager when the industry standard was 10 to 15 percent max at the time . No manager to this day takes that kind of percentage .
Sonny knew what was going on .
Lets not forget that nasty book he and his cousin Red West wrote about Elvis which was released just a few weeks before Elvis's death , supposedly written to "help Elvis " give up his prescription drugs . Yeah right , nobody believed him then when he made that claim and few if any believed him in the many decades that followed . I believe Sonny personally did love Elvis and that he later may have regretted writing that horrid book , we will never know for sure , but you are not getting the entire truth from Sonny here in this video. His praise for Tom Parker is way out of line . If any of you want the truth about Parker listen to others who knew Elvis as well , especially Larry Geller .
None of us can know with certainty whether any of the so called Memphis Mafia really loved Elvis for himself . His manager worked him like a dog especially in the latter years of Elvis's life . In the earlier years of Elvis's career Parker had him committed to one silly movie after another much to Elvis's displeasure and constant worry . All the Memphis Mafia crowd that were with Elvis for years have all had their stories to tell and they did not think much of Parker at all .
As stated we can not know if anyone of them truly cared for and loved Elvis . Elvis certainly loved and cared for them both financially and emotional as a friend
When Elvis died Joe Esposito said "it was as if a train had stopped ".. I'LL BET.....the gravy train !
Anyway I'm going to end by saying I will choose to believe they did love Elvis and in thus doing , give them all the benefit of the doubt .
I've been reading the book by the Stanleys ("Elvis We Love You Tender") and it's also not exactly kind to the guy. Basically telling the ugly things that went on while the mafia worked for Elvis. Hookers, drugs, groupies, etc you name it, all on those tours. While Elvis never went with the hookers, the "guys" did, and they all enjoyed the hell out of it. No doubt they "loved" (?) Elvis, but he was their gravy train. He made people money while he lived, and he's making them money after death.
The impossible dream had to end!
Elvis was a man who was pushed by a psychopath in front of the bus. The candle burned both ends.
no matter what I think of Priscilla I do believe she was his true love!
He hadn’t true love. He had homen that he spent more time.
Satnin 2.0
I think Ann Margaret was his true love
I don't understand how a manager can take so much money.
Just before Elvis's career took off, Col. Parker told him this. If, you allow me to be your personal Manager, I'll make you a Millionaire by the time you reach the age of 21. But, I get a 50% cut of all money raised by your career. Elvis agreed. He had no idea he would become the legend he became.
@@rockbay79 FYI. Parker did not take a 50% cut in the beginning.
Highway robbery
it was never too big a challenge for elvis to do a star is born , elvis would have rose to it , he became a sergeant in the army and rose to that challenge and passed , he wanted so much to be a serious actor and he would have slimmed down and got himself ready , he did it before , i hate it when sonny backs parker , he deffinatley had influenced wat elvis wanted to do he controlled his every move stopped him talking to other writers When parker first started as Elvis's Manager 1955/56 he made a deal he said "you take care of the singing and i'll take care of the business and one will not interfere with the other"! and for a while it worked that way until the latter stages and parker started getting involved with everything till he was telling Elvis wat to do about everything he became a control Freak. Once Parker had his claws in elvis he never let go he hated not having complete control over him Elvis wanted to do other things and would tell Parker his ideas but that was a near impossible as it only served him to shut it down Elvis always resented that & he got very discouraged he had pretty much no say in anything anymore he dreamed of going to the UK but he never got there because Parker was not an American citizen he was an illegal Immigrant a Dutchman even the name Colonel he took from somewhere Everything was about money to Parker he always pushed deals to make more money he sacrificed Elvis's career & happiness for Money!
But once Elvis realised he outgrew parker he saw him as a promoter Parker didn't know his artist, the drive wat they needed for their own satisfaction creatively he would say your making movies why do you want to make other kinds of movies your making money! Elvis was thirsty for the arts he wanted to do movies with substance but parker didn't get it
My personal opinion is that the What happened book really was a last ditch tough love effort to beg their man/child friend to please get it together and clean up for his and his daughters sake. Sunny was one of the very few guys in Elvis's life to stand up to him because he genuinely loved the guy. I can't imagine how crushed he must have been 2 weeks after the book was released. I've never heard him say a bad thing about his friend .
You can't help a friend and profit from it at the same time
@@no288 sure you can. Seems. a little narrow minded
bunch of yes men allowing drug related self-destructive behavior
Elvis was a grown man responsible for his own actions. Sonny and Red didn't force Elvis to take the drugs. He chose to !!!
Sonny nice man loved elvis
Sorry, I can't watch this video
So many difference of opinions from all the Memphis mafia regarding colonel. Sonny’s version so different from Lamar and billy..confused
Elvis Presley should never married nobody Sonny says.
WOW; doesn't even look like Red. Surgery is so unforgiving.
Its not Red its Sonny
Sonny and red, were let go, because they told Elvis, the drugs are killing you, things are not the same, because of the drugs, Red said what happened to the good old days Elvis, Elvis said there gone red, this was the END
Well there was a bit more to it than that
Sonny was a class act. He could have spoken ill of Ginger, Priscilla, or the Colonel and he didn’t do so in any way.
Leo Gambadoro
You tube
When was this created?
Candid White i believe 2006
October 2007 Nasville, was there.
Candid White wasttellaaroñthankyouforpattybaby501968
Hi Austinpatwrright said ep
Its funny he free loaded so many years of Elvis, then sold him out with a book that caused Elvis into a bigger down spiral, and now years later he still is making his bread of Elvis name and acting like he was his buddy to the end!! He even recorded Elvis didnt he? Great Friend !!!
That was Red West who recorded a phone call between Red and Elvis. It wasn't Sonny.
You still don't get it do you, all parker's fault all the Security mafia dr nick elvis dentist doctors ect ect elvis the saint yea? You can't get get into your head elvis was a nut job drugged up author of his own making, crazy thing is elvis has some nut job fans that for sure
Chris Krist you are just a troll, like going on youtube pages and starting arguments with people. Why dont you keep your negative views to yourself. Nobody cares what you think. You werent there, you werent around Elvis, so you dont know diddly squat.
@@TomSmith-dt4tj He's right!!!
Judas
''Elvis what happened'' the book they wrote , broke Elvis' heart and they live with GUILT, THE NASTY OLD FARTS.
DON'T LET THEM FOOL YOU. PRISCILLA TOO,
Still making money off of his knowledge of Elvis to the very end! They were fired for roughing up the fans and other reasons. Interesting. Where was there loyalty? I wonder what Elvis would have to say today? Given what we know about his heart and humanity he probably say nothing about them! Differences in people says it all! Truth will win out. Love to all.
He betrayed Elvis
I wonder how much he got paid to do this Q&A. And how much he made off both books. He betrayed Elvis . Simple as that.
Sonny gets a bad rap from some fans. They just don't get it.
You are wrong Sonny West, you wasn’t even around, and the fans do like her you did not do your research. And yes, I believe he was going to marry her, he was making changes that’s why he got rid of you three first, but he wasn’t finished and he didn’t get to live long enough to do it
Question =did elvis ever streak a toiletbowl
If Elvis had challenged himself and his art he more than likely would have lived a long life. He in my opinion was bored and never grew or was allowed to in spite of what Sonny says.I think if he would have taken the Star is born it would have taken him in a whole new direction. You just can't sing the same songs over and over wearing a jumpsuit. I love him him but he didn't allow himself that gift, or the gift of his home being his and his once wife's home. Too many people meddling and keeping from him being even more. I think that's why he died to young, just bored.
Drugs not being bored.
shigsho Drugs are the result of boredom is his case, feeling trapped, unchallenged! Numbing his emotional pain. Just my opinion.
red a user
Traitor!
they killed the king
Steve Taylor As LMP would say, YOU'RE AN IDIOT.
Steve Taylor, No the drugs did. Elvis did so much damage to himself by taken them. And the doctors were also to blame as they gave it to him
Elvis killed Elvis.
Well Elvis could had fired Parker, problem solved.
@@no288 he was loyal to the coronal Parker
Sorry
Ist he died 😟🤐😒😕😣☇🕯➕🕇🕇♫♪♬😣
Wingsong tell a man the truth to his face wild he is lavishing gifts to while high....don't wait to a man realize he is being used by you, and fired your rear! and then decides to write a tell all book behind his back, with a lot of very private and personal intimate things about stuff that has nothing to do with his dependencies on drugs. They betrayed him when he was sick and vulnerable. bastards! They lived with regrets for the rest of their lives, because Elvis died before they could makeup... PS . yes Priscilla is a wonderful woman who was young and loved Elvis, but couldn't take it anymore, the cheating and drugs...she did, and is doing a great job with his legacy..God bless her!.