Elvis: Truth, Myth & Beyond: An Intimate Conversation With Lamar Fike, Elvis' Closest Friend & Confidant

by L.E. McCullough, Harold F. Eggers

Overview

NEARLY 40 YEARS after his death, Elvis Presley remains one of the most intriguing human beings of the last century. Millions of people still want to know intimate details of Elvis’ life: What did he think about his music? What did he really do behind the gates of Graceland? What were his final thoughts the day he died? We have the answers here. What will you learn from these 400 questions about Elvis answered by Lamar Fike? First, that it took guts to be Elvis. As bizarre as today’s Elvis impersonators might appear to current audiences, imagine the mental pressure cooker the Real Elvis endured as he underwent the sometimes rapturous, sometimes strained metamorphosis of an average face-in-the-crowd Memphis teenager into The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Number Two, that being Elvis required the dedicated help and support of a close circle of friends and family who believed in him. As a performer. As a person. Lamar Fike was one of those friends. Sit down here a while, and he’ll tell you about the Elvis Presley you thought you already knew. At the peak of his popularity. At the depth of his despair. You’ll also learn about that little bit of Elvis we carry around inside, each and every one of us. Elvis may have left the building, but his voice is still in our soul.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780996788908
Publisher:	BookBaby
Publication date:	08/20/2016
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	190
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

HAROLD F. EGGERS, JR. of Austin, Texas, is a music industry executive of 40 years' experience who first met Lamar Fike when he and Mr. Fike were working with legendary singer/songwriter Townes Van Zandt. Mr. Eggers worked with Van Zandt for 20 years, co-owning and co-producing eight Townes Van Zandt albums including the Nashville Nammy-nominated Road Songs album that featured a track used in the Coen Brothers' film "The Big Lebowski". Mr. Eggers also managed Whitey Shafer, a prolific singer/songwriter who wrote numerous chart hits for George Jones, Lefty Frizzell, Merle Haggard, George Strait, Lee Ann Womack, Kenny Chesney and other country stars. Co-owner of Donovan/Eggers Music Publishing & Recordings, Mr. Eggers was the literary manager of record for bringing to publication Susie Nelson's "Heartworn Memories: A Daughter's Personal Biography of Willie Nelson" (Simon & Schuster), "Stevie Ray: Soul to Soul" by Keri Leigh (Taylor) and "The Nashville Family Album" by Alan Mayor (St. Martin's).

Table of Contents

Foreword Marty Lacker 7

Introduction 8

Family Roots: The Boy in the Man 19

A Forever Friendship 27

Elvis Meets America: The 1950s 37

Elvis and the Colonel 45

Elvis and Uncle Sam 55

Elvis in Hollywood 59

Elvis and His Music 66

Elvis and Priscilla 74

Elvis and His Other Women 78

Elvis and His Main Men: The Memphis Mafia 82

Elvis and His Public 86

The Everyday Elvis 92

The Inner Elvis: Feelings, Emotions, Sorrows & Joys 103

Living on the Edge: Elvis and Danger 114

Elvis Is in the Building: The 1970s 122

Nearing the End 134

The Final Day 143

Elvis Lives: The King's Legacy 148

Afterword: Why Elvis Matters 155

Friends Recall Lamar Like 160

A Family Perspective 170

Riding in the Back Seat of a Tsunami 176

Special Thanks to Marty Lacker 185

Meeting Lamar Fike 186

The Authors 189

Acknowledgments 190