Reply With QuoteI'd probably have to say J.D. Sumner. I think he was one of the very few that actually cared, and probably the only one of the whole bunch that Elvis could actually go to and have a conversation with.
Who would you say was Elvis' best friend?
I know Joe Esposito thought he was...claiming it by his title movie Elvis - His Best Friend Remembers...
I'm not saying they weren't close friends, but I'm not sure that Elvis considered him his best friend?
What do you all think?
franny
I'd probably have to say J.D. Sumner. I think he was one of the very few that actually cared, and probably the only one of the whole bunch that Elvis could actually go to and have a conversation with.
On the hills of Georgia
Across the plains of Tennessee
I've seen and I've done most everything
That a man can do or see
I suppose that each and every one of the 'Memphis Mafia' all lay claim to being Elvis' Best Friend due to the various roles and purposes that they served throughout their time on the payroll.
Elvis chose Joe Esposito and Marty Lacker for his 'Best Men' at this Wedding in Vegas, 1967 or was it the fact that it was such a 'rush-job' that the Colonel handpicked the 'Best Men' there and then?
I would probably give the title of Elvis' true Best Friend to Charlie Hodge right up until the very end. And, I would also include his First Cousin, Billy Smith at the top of that list too. Elvis and Billy spent quite a lot of time together in the last few months of his life. Also, just look back through the years since Elvis' passing and these two guys have never uttered a bad word against Elvis. I know that Charlie has probably been guilty of over-protecting EP through the years and Billy appears to be one of the more reserved members of the clan.
NEA.
"I oughta break you in half!"...
"If you do, you'll have two very short friends!"
I dont think we will ever know who Elvis considered his best friend.I agree that Joe ,Charlie and Billy Smith would be up there.I know Elvis admired J.D. and cared for him but I dont think he really had lots of contact with anybody on the stage if he wasnt touring or in Vegas.Charlie being the exception of course.
Jak
We never know ....
I think JOE, CHARLIE & LARRY GELLER(i met the man in memphis & talk to him) were among the best friends
LIOR
I think Charlie Hodge was faithful to Elvis until the day he died .
I also think that Larry Geller was also very close to Elvis. He spent hours with Elvis doing his hair and also helping Elvis spirituality. (Elvis was searching for his reason for being...." Elvis Presley" ..... and Larry always came when Elvis needed him, even though Larry knew that some people did not like his relationship with the King)
Just my opinion. Dovey
To me, Billy Smith was his best friend. They were together 24/7 at the end. Billy really looked after Elvis, and Elvis used just want Billy and none of the others before he died.
The Sun Never Sets On A Legend...
"03" You are right about Billy Smith.... Elvis trusted and loved his cousin and looked upon him as a dear friend always ... so..... I would also add him to my list for sure. Dovey
Interesting...Nobody mentioned Jerry Schilling or Red West...
I agree with 0349054...I do think Billy Smith and Elvis were very close, plus they were family...
franny
It always seemed like "Ol GK" George Klein was right up there amung them . Elvis knew he could count on him, He was there from the begining to the end ,and he was one of the few that wasn't making his sole living out of Elvis pocket as he always had the DJ and TV jobs in Memphis . I feel just as a person and GK has stated that Elvis always respected that about him.
Plus he's the only one who Elvis was the best man at his wedding as Elvis insisted on taking care of all of it. He's one of the few that seems to be in good still with both of the factions of Elvis friends (and even the Priscilla side) other then Marty Lacker who seems to have a problem with him according to a commercial Appeal article . I listen to him all the time and he is very respectful never lets anyone badmouth Elvis , and never does so himself. Best, I dunno but he was a good friend anyway.
How I wish the man himself was still around or had documented more the way some celebrities have to tell us himself.
Last edited by JDD; 04-20-2006 at 09:47 PM.
This is quite intriguing how the choices are turning out on this thread. It appears that a pattern is forming which could easily be split into about 3 sections of 'Best Friends'.
I think the likes of Charlie Hodge, Billy Smith, George Klein and Larry Geller could possibly be classed as the more Personal friends.
I feel that the friendships EP had with the likes of Joe Esposito, Jerry Schilling, Marty Lacker, and Richard Davis turned into more of business-type friendships.
You then have the 'brawn' of the bunch and the likes of The West Cousins, Dave Hebler, Lamar Fike, Ed Parker and Step-Brother, David Stanley. These guys seemed to provide the touring security that Elvis much needed by his side. Jerry Schilling also crossed-over into this group too. I think that Elvis' longest serving 'Memphis Mafia' buddy, Red West probably was considered more of a personal friend in the beginning but as the years rolled on he appeared to fit the bill more with this bunch. I think that Ed Parker could easily have moved into the Personal friend category too because it was the Martial Arts connection that made this so. Lamar Fike, another MM veteran, could easily have crossed over into every group - when Elvis felt in the mood for his company I suppose.
Interesting.
"I oughta break you in half!"...
"If you do, you'll have two very short friends!"
To me it's very hard for us to answer to this question, especially because Elvis had good and close relationships with the most part of the members of the MM.
I don't think we can easily tell who was his best friend...we can see...everyone has his idea....I think Elvis thought to all of them as best friends...maybe in some periods he was closest to someone in particular but I can't choose one of them with certainty.
Everyone of them now is sure to have been his best friend....sometimes just for opportunity but I think the main reason is that Elvis treated all of them in that way.
The real question is if all of them were disinterested as he was...if they really cared about the man...we'll never know...but to me Elvis thought to have many "best friends"...some of my favourites are Charlie Hodge, Jerry Schilling, Bill Smith and George Klein....I like less Marty Lacker, Joe Esposito and Lamar Fake...but this is just a personal fancy!!
Last edited by ForeverTheKing; 04-21-2006 at 12:56 AM.
His mother Gladys...
Let the stars fade and fall, and I won't care at all, as long as I have you.
Elvis...
http://myantiquemusicbox.wordpress.com/
http://wendy56.wordpress.com/
"You've got it all together like a lovin' machine
You're lookin' like glory and walkin' like a dream...
Mother nature's sure been good to Y-O-U"
Wendy
Originally Posted by Wendy56
His mother Gladys...
A very dear friend of mine told me once "If you have one true friend in life ... you have made a great accomplishment." I tend to believe that he was right... he was a person with much prestige in the town where I live and I thought he had so many friends.... was very surprised when he told me that most of those people were just his best friends because of his job.
So you just might me righter than you think.Dovey
Your friend is a Wise man, Dovey...nice one!
NEA.
"I oughta break you in half!"...
"If you do, you'll have two very short friends!"
Over and over again, I hear Elvis' friends, family and associates point out that he had a gift, or talent if you will, for making every person feel as if they were his "best friend", as if there was no place he'd rather be than with you at that moment. I think that comes through in alot of his performances and singing style, very personal. With that in mind, I think it is interesting that so many of the same people claim to the The best friend. I think he just made people feel that way. He once said that even in a crowd of people he still felt alone sometimes. I think he had many friends, acquaintances and associates and, wendy you may be right, maybe only one best friend, Gladys.
Got my family, my kids, my books and my music, I'm good, yeah, I'm good.....
I would say alot of them were close. I think his best friends were Joe, Charlie Hodge, JD Sumner, and Billy Smith (him and Elvis spent alot of time together the last year or so of Elvis' life).
"How do I get placed in situations like this? Ah hell, I guess it's all part of showbusiness "~ Elvis in his limo on his way to perform in Omaha, NE on June 19th 1977
Kind Regards,
Brad
I think, Joe, Charlie and Larry were his best friendsbut we?ll never now who his real best friend was
I would say, Charlie Hodge.
A friendship between men, who meet during the service, can always last a lifetime.
It's a weird thing, if one never joined the Army, but I truly feel it's a fact.
Sonny
I agree Sonny, I think overall Charlie Hodge was his best friend throughout his life, from the army years until Elvis' death in '77.
"How do I get placed in situations like this? Ah hell, I guess it's all part of showbusiness "~ Elvis in his limo on his way to perform in Omaha, NE on June 19th 1977
Kind Regards,
Brad
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