“He Was My Best Friend”

[joeroberts]

There was recently a post with a magazine article from 1978 where Felton Jarvis claimed that his relationship with Elvis was the thing he cherished most in the whole world. That sounds like a “best friend” to me. I was then thinking about all of the folks who claimed Elvis was their best friend. It doesn’t really matter who was right because they were all right in the sense that we all have permission to say who our “best friend” is. I think about the 1970s Elvis in particular and how shallowly he began to live his life. It’s not a reflection on his character, just a function of extreme drug abuse and addiction. He was living from bed to bed by the end and there wasn’t much room for friendship, especially when it was Elvis who dictated the terms of each relationship and separated himself from those who made him
Uncomfortable. The rest of us have to deal with being uncomfortable sometimes with people and their needs or feelings. It is interesting to me how famous people attract a higher likelihood of being referred to as a “best friend” because the temptation is to view it cynically. I think it’s more interesting to give them all the benefit of the doubt and say “wow guy is best friend to a lotta folks.” Let’s make a list of who says Elvis was their best friend.

Felton Jarvis
Red West
Charlie Hodge
Joe Esposito
Ed Parker

[Yamaguchi.Y]

Red West, until approx. the mid-70's.
Thereafter, Billy Smith.
(They also knew both sides of EP.)

Disagree with Jarvis, Hodge, and Esposito being listed. (They might have said it, but . . .)
EP only showed one side of himself to E. Parker though.

[TheKingOfMusicEP]

Red West, until approx. the mid-70's.
Thereafter, Billy Smith.
(They also knew both sides of EP.)

Disagree with Jarvis, Hodge, and Esposito being listed. (They might have said it, but . . .)
EP only showed one side of himself to E. Parker though.

I think Ed Parker knew Elvis very well and was a very close friend.
Also J.D. Summer, Larry Geller were very close friends. And what about Jerry Shilling?
I often read that Billy Smith was the best friend he had?

[jetblack]

Billy Smith as a family member.

Charlie Hodge who was on stage with Elvis every night and worked on setlists etc. He was also there for Elvis when his mom died and stayed until the end.

Elvis-In-Paris-Hotel-Prince-de-Galles-Charlie-Hodge.jpg

Andy

[stevelecher]

I think Jerry Schilling was a lesser member of Elvis’ group whose importance has been elevated by his friendships with both Priscilla and Lisa.

[brian]

I think that Elvis was close to all the Memphis mafia guys. All of those people may have considered Elvis to be their best friend. Felton Jarvis was Elvis's producer for 10 years and probably did get pretty close to him. Felton may have felt that Elvis was his best friend. Joe Esposito and George Klein would both promote themselves as being Elvis's best friend. I don't think the others promoted themselves as being Elvis's best friend but I know that Joe Esposito and George Klein did.

[Igotstung]

There was recently a post with a magazine article from 1978 where Felton Jarvis claimed that his relationship with Elvis was the thing he cherished most in the whole world. That sounds like a “best friend” to me. I was then thinking about all of the folks who claimed Elvis was their best friend. It doesn’t really matter who was right because they were all right in the sense that we all have permission to say who our “best friend” is. I think about the 1970s Elvis in particular and how shallowly he began to live his life. It’s not a reflection on his character, just a function of extreme drug abuse and addiction. He was living from bed to bed by the end and there wasn’t much room for friendship, especially when it was Elvis who dictated the terms of each relationship and separated himself from those who made him
Uncomfortable. The rest of us have to deal with being uncomfortable sometimes with people and their needs or feelings. It is interesting to me how famous people attract a higher likelihood of being referred to as a “best friend” because the temptation is to view it cynically. I think it’s more interesting to give them all the benefit of the doubt and say “wow guy is best friend to a lotta folks.” Let’s make a list of who says Elvis was their best friend.

Felton Jarvis
Red West
Charlie Hodge
Joe Esposito
Ed Parker

I am sure most of them thought of Elvis as their best friend. Not just because of his fame, but by all accounts, he had a way of interacting with people which made them feel special, and forget his temper tantrums.

The relationships, however genuine, ultimately turned toxic, mainly because of Elvis. The ginormous fame at such an early age, the family structure, the addiction and the artistic temperament were not a good formula for healthy relationships.

[jurasic1968]

Agree.

[Jokerlola]

Sonny West said that Elvis had a way of drawing you in.

I think Marty Lacker said it best in disputing Joe Esposito’s opinion that he was Elvis’ best friend. Marty said that Elvis really didn’t have a best friend. He was closer to certain guys at different times.He said we can all consider Elvis our best friend and we would be right but Elvis was closer to different guys at different times and in different situations. But he always said that Billy was probably the closest person to Elvis in the group, especially the last year of his life.

[jurasic1968]

Yes, Billy Smith, Elvis cosin.

[jurasic1968]

Yes, Billy Smith, Elvis first cousin.

[Yamaguchi.Y]

Red West, until approx. the mid-70's.
Thereafter, Billy Smith.
(They also knew both sides of EP.)

Disagree with Jarvis, Hodge, and Esposito being listed. (They might have said it, but . . .)
EP only showed one side of himself to E. Parker though.

I think Ed Parker knew Elvis very well and was a very close friend.
Also J.D. Summer, Larry Geller were very close friends. And what about Jerry Shilling?
I often read that Billy Smith was the best friend he had?

For, TKOMEP
Elvis was sensitive to E. Parker knowing certain things. (EP respected E. Parker greatly.)
Elvis looked up to JD Sumner (from even his youngest, pre-fame days).
Geller and Hodge were kind of two sides of the same coin — they both indulged Elvis.
Schilling was a bit player in Elvis' life and story (which became inflated only after Elvis' death).

I think Billy Smith was the only one that Elvis still trusted at the time of his passing.

[jurasic1968]

Agree with you.

[TheKingOfMusicEP]

Eddie Fadal became a close personal friend

[elvis-fan]

I don't think it was possible for Elvis to have a "best friend"... (to a certain extent) he exhibited traits of narcissism... as it related to his need to be the center of attention and the fact that he surrounded himself with paid employees who were on call 24/7. Probably the closest he ever came would have been with Red West... who he respected... but Red was still an employee.
How can you call someone a best friend when you can't speak to them frankly because they don't respect your opinion or want to deal in reality. He didn't trust anybody and he couldn't handle criticism. I do believe he cared for the guys that were with him but he kept them at an arm's length and never spoke to them about his personal feelings (from what I've read). The man just couldn't relate on a "best friend" level...

[lpa]

I've always thought that here's no such a thing as a "best friend". Either you're someone's friend or you're not.
Having a "best friend" implies you also have friends that are not that good, in which case they're not friends at all. They are people you know. But that's my opinion.

[Jokerlola]

I've always thought that here's no such a thing as a "best friend". Either you're someone's friend or you're not.
Having a "best friend" implies you also have friends that are not that good, in which case they're not friends at all. They are people you know. But that's my opinion.

My definition of a best friend is a friend you become closest to. I’ve had “best friends” in my life but there were/are different ones through my life. With Elvis (as Marty said) he became closer to different guys at different times.

The biggest problem with the Memphis Mafia is that they were often also employees which throws another dynamic into it. Can you really be a friend with someone who works for you? There was a power dynamic that made it where they couldn’t be complete friends. How can you be friends with someone you can fire? This was the problem with the firing of Red, Sonny and Dave. An employer can fire an employee (for a cause) but things get really complicated when you fire a friend.

[jurasic1968]

Agree.

[drjohncarpenter]

Eddie Fadal became a close personal friend

Not really.

[jurasic1968]

No.

[T3ddy-be@r]

A lot of people felt he was their best friend but the only time I recall reading that Elvis said anyone was his best friend it he was referring to his Mother.

[jurasic1968]

Red West was his best friend. From high school onward until he was fired in July 1976 by Vernon. Charlie, Billy, Joe, Sonny, Marty, Larry and Lamar were also close friends of Elvis. Cliff Gleaves and Richard Davis also.

[TheKingOfMusicEP]

Eddie Fadal became a close personal friend

Not really.

? I met him once in Memphis and was on the same table in a club when Mike Albert and I think also Doug Church were performing. Mr. Fadal was very friendly and was talking about having Elvis at his home sometimes and became friends.
I do not know if they kept in touch after the army time?
Please let me know more, what You know about their friendship.

[jurasic1968]

No. They never meet again.