Red West

[marijaep]

ummm....
Well, I have mixed feelings about Red and Sonny West. I bet they felt hurt when Vernon fired them, they were Elvis' friends for a long time after all.
But, I still think they shouldn't have written that book...I don't believe it was only because they wanted to get Elvis out of his drug abuse. I see it like a revenge. Elvis was very hurt after they published the book and was scared what will the fans think of him
On the others side....Where was Elvis when Vernon fired them? I mean they worked for Elvis after all...

Red is indeed a talented person and a good actor. Thanks for the pictures

[rhythmknights]

[QUOTE=KPM;123096]

Red has faults like all, but he is a talented actor. He association with Robert Conrad goes way back to his years as a stuntman on Wild Wild West tv series. He has really grown as an actor over the years and maybe at times feels he is not given enough credit for what he has done in songwriting and acting. But there is no doubt if he had not known Elvis he would have never got into show business. He was not headed that way in the slightest until he began to travel and hang out with Elvis in the 50s. But he has made a pretty good living on his own.

So, did Red ever say to Elvis or anyone in any of his interviews or quotes to journalists that he owes a debt of gratitude to Elvis for introducing him into the industry?
Was i a bit catty? so sorry!

[KPM]

[QUOTE=rhythmknights;151063]

So, did Red ever say to Elvis or anyone in any of his interviews or quotes to journalists that he owes a debt of gratitude to Elvis for introducing him into the industry?
Was i a bit catty? so sorry!

I think he has acknowledged Elvis and his getting him into the acting and the music business.

[Tony Trout]

On the others side....Where was Elvis when Vernon fired them? I mean they worked for Elvis after all...

Where was Elvis? He took the high road and flew out of town and told Vernon to sack Sonny and Red & Dave (whom we all seem to be forgetting in this whole situation....it wasn't just Sonny and Red who were so unceremoniously dumped...although I still don't understand Elvis's reasoning for dumping Dave Hebler.... ).

Frankly, I can understand them being so hurt at Elvis for the way they were released as Elvis's employees....and as I've prolly stated before, had Red and Dave and Sonny chosen another author besides Steve Dunleavey to write the book I think it would have turned out a lot like Sonny's recent book..

[marina]

Out of all the MM I think Red West was the most decent one out of them all, I think he was Elvis's truest friend, he was protecting Elvis from school days, he was there before it all began, I think Elvis's loyalty could be questioned too, why have Joe Espositio as a best man? I could never understand that, Red wasn't even invited to the wedding....You don't see Red West riding on Elvis's coat tails, that shows his character and shows he was with Elvis for the right reasons. I wish he would write another book as I would be very interested to read it, I think the truth would be told from this man, he seems to be a straight shooter and basically has a life, not like the others that are still trying to make a buck from Elvis.... Even Joe Esposito was quoted as saying that Elvis and Red were very very close like brothers....

[presley31]

Out of all the MM I think Red West was the most decent one out of them all, I think he was Elvis's truest friend, he was protecting Elvis from school days, he was there before it all began, I think Elvis's loyalty could be questioned too, why have Joe Espositio as a best man? I could never understand that, Red wasn't even invited to the wedding....You don't see Red West riding on Elvis's coat tails, that shows his character and shows he was with Elvis for the right reasons. I wish he would write another book as I would be very interested to read it, I think the truth would be told from this man, he seems to be a straight shooter and basically has a life, not like the others that are still trying to make a buck from Elvis.... Even Joe Esposito was quoted as saying that Elvis and Red were very very close like brothers....

l agree with you, red sure showed he loved elvis as a friend and a brother. l think red had all good intentions when it came to elvis.

[utmom2008]

Yeah!! he really cared for Elvis.That's why he co-wrote such a great book about him. With friends like that you don't need enemys.

Amen......Amen.....

[utmom2008]

Red wrote a very bad book and he did lie to Elvis when he said it wasn't going to be bad. The only thing I feel he's had going for him is that he found his own way into the world without poaching on Elvis' name unlike the rest of the MM.

I have felt that he regretted what he'd done after Elvis died. I thought Sonny had the same feelings but what I've read about his latest book that isn't the case. Red so far hasn't written a book on his own. If he does and it's no better than Sonny's, I'll dump him in with the rest of the lot.

Diane

What have you heard about Sonny's book? I won't buy it, but I'm interested as to what he has to say for himself during the last 30 years

[Diane]

Marina, I agree with you all in all except that I don't think Elvis had much say in who was going to be his best man at his wedding. The Colonel I think was in charge of that and decided where and when it was going to take place and who would attend and who wouldn't.

I agree that Red cared a lot for Elvis because of his long association with him stemming for their high school years together and that I think he carries the greatest feeling of guilt for the book even today. He also has good reason for having been treated the way he was but he should have thought about the consequences of being part of such a book and now has to live with it.

Diane

[presley31]

red was wrong for being part of the book, but like diane said l truly feel he's regretted to this day. I bet red himself would love to had the chance to say sorry to elvis for hurting him the way he did.

[utmom2008]

Let's let the man get on with his life. If he caused as much harm with the "bad" book as most of us think he had, he's had to live with it and I'm sure he's paid in a lot of ways we know nothing about. He doesn't look like a happy man - none of them do with the exception of Lamar, he still laughs at it all - I guess he's the one without a conscience.

Diane

Speaking of Lamar, where is he now and what is he doing?

[presley31]

Speaking of Lamar, where is he now and what is he doing?

he's coming out with a new book.

heres some stuff about sonny's book
http://www.elvisinfonet.com/sonnywestexcerpt1.html

[Tony Trout]

Speaking of Lamar, where is he now and what is he doing?

Lamar now lives in Dallas, Texas. Not sure what he does as a day-to-day job, though. He got out of the music business years ago, I believe.

[Getlo]

red was wrong for being part of the book, but like diane said l truly feel he's regretted to this day. I bet red himself would love to had the chance to say sorry to elvis for hurting him the way he did.

So why do you not extend the same courtesy to Sonny? He and Red had an equal part in What Happened.

Why, out of all the MM, is Sonny the one to cop so much flack (especially on this forum) ?

[The King's Queen]

I agree that Red cared a lot for Elvis because of his long association with him stemming for their high school years together and that I think he carries the greatest feeling of guilt for the book even today. He also has good reason for having been treated the way he was but he should have thought about the consequences of being part of such a book and now has to live with it.

Diane

I'm bowing down to you Diane......very well said!

red was wrong for being part of the book, but like diane said l truly feel he's regretted to this day. I bet red himself would love to had the chance to say sorry to elvis for hurting him the way he did.

You may be right Jen....but it is now too little, too late. And besides, the sad truth is that often times an apology falls short of compensating for a deep felt hurt. I doubt that any of them could ever make it right...no matter how hard they tried. I guess the end justifies the means...he hurt Elvis deeply, and if he lives in regret then I guess that is his own demon, eh?

[ksimms2]

I thought he was great in "Glory Road" but I think I liked him best as the mechanic in that TV Series "Black Sheep" ( I think that's the name) with William Conrad.

That used to be my favorite show, and I never knew that was Red West! Really??

[presley31]

I'm bowing down to you Diane......very well said!



You may be right Jen....but it is now too little, too late. And besides, the sad truth is that often times an apology falls short of compensating for a deep felt hurt. I doubt that any of them could ever make it right...no matter how hard they tried. I guess the end justifies the means...he hurt Elvis deeply, and if he lives in regret then I guess that is his own demon, eh?

Yep your right there, red can't turn back time and make it alright. he really should of thought of that in the beginning

[ksimms2]

Was reading about Red storming off from Elvis's wedding reception in "Careless Love" after reading in "A Life in Music" Jorgensen's comment that "Longtime friend Red West had returned to the fold (he'd left in a huff four year's earlier when he wasn't invited to Elvis's wedding)"

Just thought it was significant as he wasn't there the whole time but had exiled himself after an apparent slight.

Please let me share with you why Red and his wife left so abruptly. Joe E. (I think it was Joe) called them in California and told them Elvis and Priscilla were getting married and the guys were invited so hurry up and fly out to Vegas for their wedding. So Red and Pat dropped everything and flew out. They got hotel rooms and got all dressed up and waited and waited and waited, nobody had the decency to tell them they were "uninvited" the actual ceremony. Red happened to catch Joe out in the hallway and asked him what was going on and Joe finally told him he could not come to the ceremony after all. That really hurt their feelings, and I don't blame them. So they flew back home.

[ksimms2]

Let's let the man get on with his life. If he caused as much harm with the "bad" book as most of us think he had, he's had to live with it and I'm sure he's paid in a lot of ways we know nothing about. He doesn't look like a happy man - none of them do with the exception of Lamar, he still laughs at it all - I guess he's the one without a conscience.

Diane

I'm suprised Lamar can laugh about it - he was the butt of all of the fat jokes there were.....they all made fun of Lamar, but especially Elvis. Not very nice.

[Getlo]

I'm suprised Lamar can laugh about it - he was the butt of all of the fat jokes there were.....they all made fun of Lamar, but especially Elvis. Not very nice.

Yes.

And I'll just bet there are some fans out there (and at least one or two I can think of in here!) who hate Lamar for the part he played in What Happened and will actually take pleasure if his cancer does finally claim him.

And they will smile when Sonny, Red and the rest eventually die too.

What a world.