A newspaper reporter tagged the group with this name during the time Elvis
required them to wear dark, Mohair suits to give a respectable appearance. The
guys never objected to the name, the 'Memphis Mafia', Elvis thought it was quite
funny, because among themselves they referred to the group as the Guys.
New men would become part of the operation, and through the years some of
those who had been around would leave and do something else. It was a changing
group, but the group would remain loyal to Elvis all his life. For a brief
description of those who spent a portion of their lives as employees and friends
of
Elvis Presley:
Gene Smith - Elvis' cousin, they grew up together and had a
close friendship. Elvis would turn to Gene for a traveling companion, Gene went
everywhere with Elvis. Gene was probably the closest to Elvis for the first few
years, 1962, Elvis and Gene had a misunderstanding and parted company, but in
later years, Gene would visit
Elvis at Graceland.
Junior Smith - Also Elvis' cousin who was disabled during
the Korean War, one morning Elvis got a call that Junior had died. Elvis who was
extremely fond of Junior took the news quite badly.
Billy Smith - Another cousin, Bill was the youngest of the
boys. Billy was Elvis' favorite. Elvis would never let Billy be taken advantage
of, Elvis would often say he wanted to be sure Billy grew up to be a good man.
Elvis was not disappointed, Billy was Elvis' constant companion and his
affection and loyalty was obviously right to the end of Elvis' life.
George Klein - Elvis and George graduated at Humes High
School in 1953. George was always nice to Elvis and Elvis never forgot a friend,
very early in Elvis' career he asked George to travel with him. Later George
went into radio and became one of Memphis’ most popular Disc Jockeys. George
remained very close to Elvis until the end. Elvis once said, 'George will be my
friend forever'.
Bobby 'Red' West - he was a School mate at Humes where he
was a All-Memphis football player. Red helped Elvis out of a few situations with
the so-called tough guys in high school. Elvis never forgetting Reds kindness,
he asked Red to travel with him. Red not only went along as a friend, but a
driver and Elvis' security man. Red also worked as a stuntman and actor in
Elvis' pictures. Red developed a talent for songwriting and wrote songs which
Elvis and other artists recorded.
Lamar Fike - 1957 left Texas and showed up at Elvis' home
Graceland. He followed Elvis and the guys to Los Angeles and has been with them
ever since. Elvis and Lamar got along with one another, they had their jokes and
got mad at one another a lot, but the madness would last at most a
day-and-a-half and then they would be back to the jokes. Lamar left Elvis in
1962 and become road manager for Brenda Lee for awhile, later he became manager
of the Nashville office of Hill and Range music, then he returned to work for
Elvis and at the same time he became manager of two country singers. Lamar was
with Elvis until the end.
George Klein introduced Alan Fortas to Elvis in 1957. Alan
began working for Elvis just before he went into the army and continued with
Elvis after his discharge. Alan was in charge of transportation before becoming
foreman of the ranch in Mississippi, he remained there until the ranch was sold.
In 1968 Alan left Elvis, but remained close friends.
Joe Esposito - from Chicago, Elvis met Joe while in the
army, Elvis asked Joe to work for him after they were discharged. Joe would soon
become foreman of the guys. Joe worked with the books, paid personal bills and
coordinated activities between Elvis and Colonel Parkers office. Joe was Elvis'
right-hand man until he left for a brief time in 1964. When Joe returned the
duties and responsibilities were also shared with Marty Lacker. Marty and Joe
also shared the joy and honor of being Elvis' best man when he was married.
Charlie Hodge also met Elvis in the army days, their common
interest in music brought Elvis and Charlie together. Charlie worked on stage
with Elvis and remained with him all of his life.
Sonny West, cousin of Red, met Elvis in 1958 and joined the
group in 1960 and became part of the security force. Sonny being a big man could
always take care of himself, he also became a stuntman in Elvis' movies, as did
Red, he did fight scenes with Elvis, Sonny also starred in two of his own
pictures, and while on Elvis' tours he did advance work with
Colonel Parker by going into
each city a day ahead of the group and set-up security.
Ray 'Chief' Sitton was apart of the group for a few years.
Ray would often be at the gates of Graceland, before he was hired by Elvis. Ray
is a huge man, not one to be missed in the crowd among the fans, always at the
gates of Graceland. Elvis became accustomed to seeing Ray at the gates and would
say 'hi Chief how’s it going to-day?' Elvis would call everyone he didn't know
'Chief'. One night Chief stopped one of the guys and asked if he could come up
to the house and see Elvis. When it was mentioned to Elvis, Elvis said, 'who the
hell is Chief?' Chief was brought to the house,
that’s how Ray got a job and all
the guys called from then on Ray Chief.
Richard Davis in 1962 went to Seattle where Elvis was
filming, 'It
Happened At The Worlds Fair'. Elvis liked Richard and asked him to stay
on, during that time Richard was in charge of Elvis' wardrobe. In the early
seventies Richard left and went into promotion in the music business.
Mike Keeton in 1964 briefly worked for Elvis. Elvis and Mike
attended the same church, Elvis always retained a strong feeling for the
Assembly of God church.
Jerry Schilling, a young man who first met Elvis in 1964,
Jerry began working for Elvis that year and soon became a good friend. Jerry had
a manner Elvis liked, but at times Jerry’s liberal views got him into miner
disagreements with Elvis, however; Jerry and Elvis remained close friends until
the end. Jerry left Elvis' payroll to become an actor, but soon become road
manager for various recording artists, including Billy Joel. Currently Jerry is
road manger for the Beach Boys.
Marvin 'Gee Gee' Gambill began working for Elvis about
twelve months after he married Elvis’s favorite female cousin, Patsy Presley.
'Gee Gee' a happy-go-lucky guy easily made friends with Elvis. Marvin was in
charge of Elvis' wardrobe while he worked with the group. After a few more years
on the road, 'Gee Gee' settled in Memphis with wife Patsy and their two
children
Dick Grob, a sergeant in the Palm Springs police force in
1969, Dick began accompanying Elvis as a member of the security force. Three
years later, Dick quit the police force and worked full time for Elvis, Dick was
with Elvis until the end. Dick lives in Memphis with his wife and three
children.
Rick, David and Bill Stanley, are the three sons of Dee
Presley, former wife of Vernon Presley. In 1960 they arrived at Graceland, the
boys were only little, as they grew older they would be with Elvis on his tours
as his personal aides. Ricky and David Stanley were with Elvis until he died.
Al Strada came on the scene in 1972 in California. Elvis
hired him to guard the house at night while Priscilla and Lisa Marie were there,
and Elvis and the guys were on the road. Elvis liked Al and put him in charge of
his wardrobe on tours.
Dave Hebler was an expert in karate and a teacher when he
first met Elvis in 1972, soon after, Dave joined Elvis' payroll and became part
of the security force.
Sam Thompson met Elvis through his sister Linda, Elvis' long
time girlfriend. Sam was a former Sheriff's Deputy in Memphis when he went to
work for Elvis also as part of the security force. Sam remained until the end,
and now he is with the Shelby County Sheriff's Department.
Throughout the years, Elvis, for brief periods of time had a personal
hairdresser travel with him, Larry Geller and Sal Orifice would
fill that role. When Elvis was in Los Angeles, Pat Parry Gerson, a long time
friend and talented hair stylist, was called to do the job. Pat was often a
guest at Graceland and a good friend to Elvis and the guys. Pat today remains a
hair stylist in Beverly Hills.
Other people who briefly worked for Elvis were Arthur Hooten, Cliff Gleaves,
Louis Harris, Bobby Smith, Jimmy Kingsley, Dean Nichopolous, Steve Smith and
James Caughley. Its incredible that the more than twenty men who worked for Elvis, who also
ate together, lived together and played together, no one was seriously hurt, as
they would have their moments with one another, but also being a large group
they would often keep things to themselves to avoid an argument.
Elvis wouldn't tolerate a troublemaker, he would get rid of him fast, equally
Elvis couldn’t stand, and even hated any one who would lie or steal.
Patti Parry was the only female in this group.
Sinatra had his Rat Pack, Elvis had his Memphis Mafia.
Sinatra's group had it's only female member: actress
Angie Dickenson. Presley's mafia also had one female
member. The lucky gal was hairstylist Patti Parry who,
at age 17, met Elvis in Beverly Hills when he was
driving down the street. They clicked immediately and
soon she became a member of the Memphis gang.
Elvis nicknamed Patti his "little sister." Patti styled
his hair for the Aloha from Hawaii Special.
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