In 2007, sonny west settherecordstraight with his book elvis. 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. 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. Of all of the books that i have read on elvis presley this one seem to be the most genuine. Truly one of the nicest guys i ever interviewed, we talked about everything elvis. Red had known presley since they had attended high school together, and had become a very close friend to him. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. Read it in combination w some other by those who knew him.
Sonny west worked a long time for elvis, but was fired in 1976. Elvis what happened sonny west, dave hebler as told to steve. Photos of the weird and wonderful gifts elvis presley gave. I met sonny west in memphis last august, and just as i expected, he is a bag of sht. Red went to humes high school with elvis and worked with him from the beginning of his career. There are some rumors around, trying to portray us as bloodsuckers who wrote this book to capitalize on the death of elvis presley. Still defending his poor self, still describing elvis as a junkie, and o yes. Elvis presleys beloved friend sonny west has died elvis facts. Sonny was also present with elvis and jerry schilling on december 21, 1970, when elvis met president richard nixon in the white house. Still taking care of business book by marshall terrill. West was one of the original members of elvis presleys memphis mafia. 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.
God chose to give life to elvis presley on january 8, 1935 and to take him from this earth on august 16, 1977. West was introduced to elvis presley by his cousin, red west in 1958, just before presley was to be stationed in germany during his time in the u. He is also known as a contributor along with red and sonny west to the 1977 book elvis. See more ideas about elvis presley, memphis mafia and graceland. Elvis presley pushed aside childhood friend and bodyguard red west, who tried to save the king from drugs, but was banished from his inner circle instead. 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. Elvis bodyguards sonny and red west published elvis.
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. The book, which is based on the personal accounts of three of elvis former bodyguards, went into detail on the singers dangerous drugdependence. I believe that ginger alden, as any human would, and her family have at times been subjected to terrible commentsthreatsname calling about her relationship with elvis and that is sad. The guards, robert gene west, his cousin sonny west, and david hebler, had been fired. Later he came to work for elvis, and he was responsible for the fleet, and bodyguard. The volumes origin dates to july 1976, when the three men were fired, supposedly for financial reasons, by elviss father, vernon. Jul 16, 2017 west and two other members of presleys memphis mafia, sonny west and david hebler, were fired by vernon presley in 1976. Sonny west was elvis presleys close friend, trusted confidant, and bodyguard for 16 years. Elvis what happened red west, sonny west, dave hebler as. Aug 16, 2017 elvis bodyguards sonny and red west published elvis. Elvis what happened by sonny west, first edition abebooks. Published a month 1st edition prior to his death, the 332 page elvis what happened.
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. They did not write the book out of spite, hatred or to exploit elvis, explained sonny west and hebler. Elvis friends and bodyguards discuss elvis battle with addiction through his final years. Sonny was with elvis and jerry schilling on december 21, 1970, when elvis met with president richard nixon. 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.
Delbert sonny west, was among the longestserving members of elvis entourage. Sonny west he was a close friend, a trusted confidant and bodyguard for elvis from 1960 until 1976. Dave heblers new book, the elvis experience, is a nicely written and entertaining account of his time working for elvis. Elvis pushed to edge by bodyguards tellall book mail online. He became a part of presleys inner circle in 1955, acting as a driver, bodyguard, and. The book, which is based on the personal accounts of three of elvis former. What happened red west, sonny west, dave hebler, steve. Still taking care of business is arguably the most authentic, noholdsbarred depiction of the greatest entertainer who ever lived. After presleys military discharge in march 1960, west began visiting presley at his graceland home in memphis and it was. Sonny west a priceless asset to the elvis presley community. Remembering red and sonny west, members of elvis famous. Red went to humes high school with elvis and worked with him from the beginning.
Sonny west has died in nashville after a long illness. After presleys military discharge in march 1960, west began visiting presley at his graceland home in memphis and it was during this time, the two men became fast friends. Dave hebler is best known to elvis presley fans as being part of the memphis mafia and elvis bodyguard in the midseventies. West became close with elvis thanks, in part, to his cousin, red west. Sonny west worked for elvis up until 1976 when he, along with cousin red and bodyguard dave hebler were fired. He was truthful about elvis, his live for the man and acceptance that although he was flawed he loved the guy. I just spent a month reading 35 books on elvis for yet another book. 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 help him but also with a feel sorry for him attitude. I love elvis and have read 5 or 6 other books that cherry coat everything. Sonny west seem to write about elvis s life and his life without making it all either totally bad or totally good. Now in those days many of us used to follow elvis in popping those damn amphetamines just to keep us high.
Jul 21, 2017 red and sonny west, friends of elvis who spoke out about the singers drug problems, both died this year. Elvis what happened this book does anyone know how much truth is in this book. The book came out 10 days before elvis was found dead on the toilet in graceland. He resides in the middle tennessee area with judy west, his wife of 36 years. Elvis presleys beloved friend sonny west has died elvis. 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.
Is priscilla, lisa marie, or elvis presley enterprises responsible for the demise of this book. Also, i interviewed 10 people ive previously met who knew him inside graceland. As an integral part of elvis personal and professional life, heblers primary responsibility was the personal safety of elvis at home as well as at recording sessions, personal appearances, concert tours and various recreations. 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. 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. 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. Do read this book, but dont finish and even think you know elvis. 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.
I, and elvis esposed as much, believe in forgiveness and a mans opportunity to redeem himself and to be forgiven with grace. The circumstances are not clear, but apparently the man broke 3 ribs and also has some cuts, abrasions and bruises. It was through red west that sonny west came to know elvis and eventually become a member of elvis close circle of friend known as the memphis mafia. 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. It is a balanced, respectful, and insightful look at elvis s last two decades written by sonny west, a true presley insider and charter member of the infamous memphis mafia. This book was published 15 days before elvis passed away.
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. Sonny west another elvis story about humanity youtube. Scandalous tellall book revealed elvis presleys drug. From our archives, heres some of what sonny west told guest host jeff carruthers at the time. Makes me wish i had the privilege of meeting sonny west. Aug 09, 2017 elvis presley pushed aside childhood friend and bodyguard red west, who tried to save the king from drugs, but was banished from his inner circle instead. West and two other members of presleys memphis mafia, sonny west and david hebler, were fired by vernon presley in 1976.
On july, 1976, vernon presley, elvis father, fired west, sonny west and hebler after criticizing what he believed to be their heavyhanded tactics. Still takin care of business, which was a softer look at his relationship with the king. He was one of the authors of the controversial book elvis, what happened. Dave and sonny, at the spur of the moment elvis used to go up. Elvis thanked red and there began their friendship.
The book compiled the experiences of former presley bodyguards red west, sonny west, and dave hebler, as told to steve dunleavy. Equally as sad are the vitriol hatred blaming red and sonny west for elvis death. Gary james interview with elvis bodyguard sonny west. His parents came from the pontotoc area of mississippi, not far from tupelo, from where elvis. Elvis w as also the best man at sonny and judys wedding on december 28, 1970.
The guards, robert gene west, his cousin sonny west, and david hebler, had. Still taking care of business which is a personal standpoint that focuses more on the emotional aspect elvis had on sonnys life. Red and sonny west, friends of elvis who spoke out about the singers drug problems, both died this year. Here is an interesting link about the passing of sonny west elvis friend, and body guard, sonny west has died. He is semiretired, and routinely performs an hourlongshow around the world called elvis. Sonny, why have you decided to write a second book on your relationship with elvis presley, more than 25 years. Getty images thats the heartbreak red took to his grave when. Interview with sonny west elvis articles elvis australia. Getty images thats the heartbreak red took to his grave when he died of a heart attack on july 18 at the age of 81. 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 the infamous memphis mafia. Dave hebler is also an internationally recognized martial artsselfdefense instructor, lecturer and senior grandmaster and founder of american kenpo karate. Del bryant sonny west, jr 19382017 find a grave memorial. See all 7 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. This book is well written and is more positive than others.
The bodyguards, the cousins red west and sonny west and dave. Sonny west is a priceless asset to the elvis presley community and thus has earned respect and appreciation. The book talks about his womanizing, his need for absolute control, and his down fall from prescription drugs. Sonny and red west had known elvis since high school. Cousins red west and sonny west had known elvis since highschool, and. As it happen spoke to sonny about elvis death back in 1977. 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.
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. It must have been a very shocking book when it was written in 1977, by 3 of his former bodyguards. Still taking care of business is one of the most authentic portraits ever written about one of the greatest american entertainers. 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. Aug 16, 2017 delbert sonny west, was among the longestserving members of elvis entourage. Dunleavy told me the assignment to do the elvis book came from the very. 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.
May 28, 2017 elvis thanked red and there began their friendship. The three of them collaborated on a book about their lives as elvis bodyguards, which was. 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 west seem to write about elviss life and his life without making it all either totally bad or totally good. The volumes origin dates to july 1976, when the three men were fired, supposedly for financial reasons, by elvis s father, vernon. Sonny west first met elvis at humes high school memphis. A book signing at the vintage store lost in the 50s in north augusta, south carolina took place in 2007.