Prelude: Stanley Oberst was kind enough to include a story for our interview that was not included in the book because he was not able to confirm the story to his satisfaction. However if at some point in the future the story can be confirmed it will hopefully be included in a future edition of the book.
EB...Hello Stanley. It was a pleasure meeting you in Memphis at the record convention while you were promoting your fantastic book "Elvis in Texas". I am glad you have agreed to an interview, I think the visitors to the FECC site will definitely find it interesting.
EB...How/when did you become and Elvis fan and why?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SO... I became an Elvis fan in 1956. I was only 9 years old, but to me, Elvis was so special in his stage presentations and he seemed to this 9 year old to be a good-hearted person.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EB...When did you first get the idea for doing a book?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SO...The idea of doing a book on this early period of Elvis' career was something I thought about for 10 years at least. My wife kept urging me to do it and finally about 4 years ago, on one of my travels through small Texas towns, on my way to do archeology work on Indian sites; I made up my mind to start.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EB...When did you start researching?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SO...I started researching soon after and spent my spring, summer and winter breaks traveling the roads of Texas hunting down information and individuals. It took me 3 years doing my research, going back and forth across the state. Sometimes twice in the same direction (Texas is very large).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EB...I understand you drove many miles all over Texas to get stories and photographs; do you have any idea how many miles you drove while during the research and follow up for the book?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SO...Far, far too many but it was at least 5000 miles.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EB...Approximately how many people did you meet with during your research to get stories and information?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SO...I met at least a hundred people, if not more. Approximately, 98% of those folks were very helpful.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EB...I also understand you have very specific personal guidelines regarding the verification of the stories, could you explain what your verification process is?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SO...As with any book, I have found a few things that are not as accurate as they should be and I hope to correct them in a future edition. Despite the few mistake found, while doing my research, I would only use a story that I could verify at least 3 times by those individuals who were at the same place or event. It worked out well most of the time.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EB...From what I understand there are stories that did not meet your verification standards and so did not make it into the book. Two-part question: how many stories did not make it into the book, and of those how many do you believe very possibly are true?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SO...Approximately 15 stories and at least most of those were probably true.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EB...Is there a chance you could tell us one of those stories that you feel is very likely true, but just were not able to verify to your satisfaction?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SO... There was a story out of Stamford where Elvis was running late and the promoter threatened to withhold or not pay Elvis and the band. We all know Elvis had a temper. Elvis whipped out a pistol and in no uncertain terms, let the owner (promoter) have a piece of his mind. Was it a real pistol or a toy; we will probably never know. A DJ from Breckenridge, Texas (Mr. Sid Foster) swore it happened but I did not use the story, for I could not confirm it.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EB...Also, regarding the stories that did make it into the book, are there any particular incidents for which details were left out for whatever reason?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SO...There were a few things left out in the stories from the book due to individuals asking for me to do so because they felt it might be embarrassing.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EB...Would it be possible for you to reveal any of those edited details for any story in the book?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SO...No, In order to use the story, I had to agree to the terms in the above question.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EB...Besides the one incident in the book where an attempt was made to record an early Elvis concert, did you run into any such other "possible" recording incidents?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SO...I did not run into any other incidents where someone tried to record Elvis or film him. I'm sure this took place somewhere but up to now I have no leads. I do feel there are many pictures still out there and if I could convince the publisher to revise the book in time, I could use them.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EB...Did you acquire any pictures of Elvis that were not used in the book?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SO...I have acquired about 6 new pictures. Two are great shots. One is from Longview, Texas and the other is from Greenville, Texas. Both are from 1955. Another great shot is from Waco, Texas on stage 1956.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EB...If you could write another book on Elvis, what would it to be on?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SO...I would like to write a sequel to "Elvis in Texas."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EB...I understand that you are hoping to acquire enough information for a future book on the Big D Jamboree. Have been you able to find enough information and/or leads that would allow you to believe a book is possible?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SO...Yes, I have gathered enough material to start a book on the Big D Jamboree. I hope to start working on it in December. I am hoping, in the meantime, to find more material.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EB...Is there anything you would like to say in closing?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SO...Yes, I want to say Thank you for interviewing me and helping to make the public aware of "Elvis in Texas". Lets keep Elvis' memory and music alive.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EB...Thank you for your time very much Stanley, your book is fantastic and the amount of time and dedication that you put into it really shows!!
Ernest Boyes Jr., October 2002