JEANNIE LAMAY DUMAS

THE FOLLOWING WAS A TAPED PHONE INTERVIWITH JEANNIE LAMAY DUMAS ON APRIL 5 2007

joe krein : CAN YOU TELL ME WHERE YOU WERE BORN AND RAISED?

JEANNIE LAMAY DUMAS: I WAS PROVIDENCE AND I WAS BROUGHT UP IN RODE ISLAND FOR MOST OF MY LIFE UNTIL I MOVED TO MEMPHIS. IN THE 1970,S.

WHAT DID YOUR PARENTS DO?

MY MOTHER WAS A HOUSE WIFE AND MY DAD WORKED FOR A NAVEL BASE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE DID IN THE NAVY . BUT MY MOM WORKED VERY LITTLE BUT WAS MOSTLY A HOUSE WIFE.

WHEN DID YOU GET INTO THE PAGEANTS?

THE PAGEANT WAS DONE IN 1972 , I WAS REALLY IN IT TWO YEARS BEFORE THAT BUT I DON'T THINK I WAS REALLY READY . BUT I GOT FIRST RUNNER UP AND MISS PHOTOGENIC . A FEW YEARS LATER MY FRIEND SAID SHE WAS GOING TO BE IN IT AGAIN , WHY DON'T YOU DO IT WE CAN HAVE A GOOD TIME. SO I WON , I GOT MISS CONGENIALITY  . THEN I WENT TO THE MISS USA PAGEANT AND I WAS TEAMED WITH MISS LINDA THOMPSON AND THE REST IS HISTORY. IT WAS THE BEST EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE BECAUSE WE BECAME INSTANT FRIENDS AND LIKE SISTERS. I HAVE A SISTER AND TO BE HONEST WITH YOU I WAS JUST AS CLOSE TO HER THEN I WAS MY OWN TWIN. IT WAS A NICE DIFFERENCE OF CULTURES ,IT WAS LIKE THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH AND I JUST LOVED IT. IT WAS JUST SO MUCH FUN , SHE IS A GREAT GIRL.

SHE SEEMS LIKE SHE IS VERY BUBBLY.

OH YES, WE BOTH GOT MISS CONGENIALITY IN OUR PAGEANTS , WHICH WAS IRONIC AND WHAT I HEARD I ALMOST GOT THE MISS CONGENIALITY AWARD IN THE USA PAGEANT BUT MISS UTAH GOT IT THAT YEAR. I THINK LINDA WAS ALSO UP IN THE RUNNING . SOMEONE HAD TOLD ME THAT , I DON'T KNOW HOW TRUE IT IS. WE BOTH HAVE A BUBBLY PERSONALITY , BUT LINDA HAS WIT. SHE IS A LOT WITTIER THEN I AM. I THINK THAT'S WHY SHE GOT ALONG SO WELL WITH ELVIS BECAUSE HE HAD THE SAME QUALITY. SHE COULD JUST COME UP WITH THINGS , SHE IS ALSO A SONG WRITER AND SHE CAN WRITE THINGS LIKE THAT SO I THINK IT CAME TO HER VERY NATURALLY.

CAN YOU TELL ME HOW IT CAME ABOUT THAT YOU AND LINDA MET ELVIS?

WELL WE WERE INVITED BY BILL BROWDER WHO BECAME T G SHEPARD A RECORDING ARTIST WHO DID DEVIL IN A BOTTLE. WE WENT TO LUNCH AT A FRIDAYS RESTAURANT  ,. HE HAD ASKED ME IF I WANTED TO GO TO LAFAYETTE'S OR TO FRIDAYS , SO I SAID THAT FRIDAYS SOUNDED FUNKY LETS GO THERE. EVERYTHING WAS FATED AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED AND EVEN MEETING LINDA IN THAT PAGEANT . HAVING ALL THE STATES THAT YOU COULD HAVE BEEN ROOM MATES WITH AND THEY PUT ME WITH MISS TENNESSEE. BUT HE WAS THERE AND HE KNEW LINDA , HE INVITED US TO GO TO THE MEMPHIAN THEATER THAT NIGHT .ELVIS HAD RENTED THE THEATER , BUT I THOUGHT THAT HE WAS JUST KIDDING AND THAT HE WAS INTERESTED IN LINDA AS A WOMAN. I JUST ASSUMED IT , MY SISTER AND I HAD MET TOM JONES A YEAR TO THE DAY . I JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT I WAS GOING TO BE THIS LUCKY . MEETING THESE TWO SEX SYMBOLS ESPECIALLY ELVIS. I WANTED TO MEET ELVIS MORE THEN ANYBODY. WHEN WE WENT TO THE THEATER THAT NIGHT BILL WASN'T GOING TO GO , I SAID TO MYSELF WOW THAT STRAIGHTEN THAT RIGHT OUT. SO WE ARE STANDING IN THE LOBBY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY COME CRASHING THOUGHT THE DOORS WITH HIS BODY GUARDS. I THOUGHT I WAS SEEING THINGS I JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE IT, HE WAS DRESSED VERY FLAMBOYANT HE HAD ON A CAPE. HE LOOKED LIKE DRACULA . WE WENT AND SAT DOWN , BUT BEFORE WE DID ELVIS SAT DOWN FIRST. HE ALWAYS HAD TO SIT DOWN FIRST AND HE ALWAYS SAT AHEAD OF EVERYBODY IN THE THEATER. HE WAS ALWAYS TEN ROWS A HEAD OF EVERYONE. BILL THEN INTRODUCED US , THIS IS MISS RODE ISLAND AND THIS IS MISS TENNESSEE. LINDA SAID TO ELVIS OH MY AUNT SAID TO SAY HI BECAUSE SHE LIVED AT THE LAUDERDALE COURTS AND SHE CANT BLAME YOU FOR GETTING OUT OF THERE. I THOUGHT OH MY GOD SHE IS SO BEYOND CONFIDENT . SHE WASN'T A BIT INTIMIDATED. SHE WAS LAUGHING AND HE WAS INTRIGUED . HE WAS SMITTEN FROM THE GET GO. YOU COULD TELL. I THINK HE WAS THINKING WOW THIS GIRL HAS SOMETHING SPECIAL , SHE LOOKED GORGEOUS , SHE WAS TANNED AND HAD ON THIS LITTLE DRESS , THE CLEAVAGE WAS SHOWING. SHE WAS JUST A KNOCKOUT. SO WE SET DOWN TEN ROWS IN BACK AT THE END OF THE ISLE. THERE WAS ONE SEAT THAT WAS VACANT , SO THERE WAS ONE SEAT BETWEEN ME AND LINDA . BUT GEORGE KLEIN WAS SITTING WITH US AND TALKING TO LINDA. ELVIS KEPT TURNING AROUND WHEN THE MOVIE STARTED , TURNING AROUND AND AROUND. THAT'S WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN ELVIS CAME OUT OF THE CHAIR AND GEORGE FLEW OUT OF THE CHAIR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CONVERSATION. HE DIDN'T EVEN FINISH IT , WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON. LITTLE DID WE KNOW THAT THEY HAD THERE HAND SIGNALS ,SO INSTEAD OF GEORGE COMING BACK IT WAS ELVIS. HE SET DOWN IN THE SEAT NEXT TO LINDA , I MEAN REALLY PLOPPED , REALLY HEARD. LINDA DIDN'T BAT AN EYE, I ALMOST PASSED OUT ,I REALLY DID. SHE JUST SAID VERY CONFIDENTLY , AND WHAT DO WE OWE THIS HONOR? I MUST HAVE GABBED HER IN THE RIBS SO BAD , SHE EVEN SAID SHE HAD BRUISES TO PROVE IT. I JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE SHE WAS SAYING THIS TO HIM. HE STARTED TO STUTTER , I JUST THOUGHT I WOULD SIT DOWN. FROM THEN ON THAT WAS IT , THEY JUST HIT IT OFF . LINDA THOUGHT HE WAS STILL MARRIED , WE BOTH DID. ELVIS SAID HE WAS SEPARATED THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE IN THE PAPER. SO THEN LINDA RELAXED A LITTLE. ELVIS WAS TRYING TO KISS HER AND HIS ARM WENT UP AROUND HER SHOULDER. HIS ARM JUST BRUSHED MY SHOULDER AND I SWORE I WAS NEVER GOING TO WASH IT AGAIN. I COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT ELVIS WAS SITTING THERE NEXT TO MY FRIEND AND WAS TRYING TO KISS HER.

SHE WAS HOLDING BACK?

YES, UNTIL WE FOUND OUT HE WAS SEPARATED SHE WAS VERY STIFF. THEN SHE RELAXED A LITTLE BIT. HE WAS STILL TECHNICALLY MARRIED AND LINDA IS VERY OLD FASHION. SHE WAS THE SWEETISH MOST INNOCENT THING YOU COULD IMAGINE, 22 YEARS OLD AND THIS WAS HER FIRST SEROUS RELATIONSHIP. THAT INTRIGUED HIM, WHEN HE FOUND OUT JUST HOW PURE THIS LITTLE GIRL WAS. THEN SHE HAD ALL THE OTHER QUALITIES , THE CHARM , WIT , EVERYTHING. LINDA HAD IT ALL. A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK SHE WAS THE BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ELVIS. SHE NOT ONLY SAVED HIS LIFE A COUPLE OF TIMES BUT SHE TOOK CARE OF HIM LIKE A NURSE WOULD. SHE WAS A BEST FRIEND ,CONFIDANT , MOTHER, LOVER AND A SISTER TO HIM. THE BODY GUARDS HAVE SAID THIS MANNY TIMES AND I ALSO THINK ITS TRUE. SHE WAS THE BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ELVIS. SO PEOPLE EVEN THINK HE WOULD STILL BE ALIVE IF SHE HAD BEEN WITH HIM. I THINK ITS GODS WILL , I WISH HE WAS STILL WITH US BUT I KNOW THAT HE IS UP IN HEAVEN AND HE IS TOTALLY DELIGHTED AND HE IS LOOKING DOWN AT US LAUGHING. IT WAS A SHAME THAT LINDA AND HE HAD BROKEN UP , BUT ELVIS HAD HIS FAULTS , HIS PROBLEMS WITH PILLS . I THINK IT GOT TO BE TO MUCH WITH THE LADIES AND SHE JUST HAD TO LEAVE. FOR WHAT EVER THE REASON GOD WANTED HIM AND I JUST THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE LUCKY THAT WE HAD HIM AS LONG AS WE DID. THAT WE SHOULD NOT WORSHIP HIM , I KNOW THAT SOME FANS DID, AND HE WASN'T A GOD. HE SHOULD BE ADMIRED FOR HIS LOVE , HIS TALENT. HIS GOD GIVEN BEAUTY, OH HE WAS THE MOST GORGEOUS MAN AND IN PERSON HE WAS SO BEAUTIFUL.

EVEN MEN SAY THAT HE WAS BEAUTIFUL

YOU COULDN'T EVEN IMAGINE , I COULDN'T LOOK AT HIM WITH OUT LOOKING AWAY BECAUSE OF HIS AURA AROUND HIM. HE WAS JUST SO GORGEOUS , HE HAD THIS CHEWABLE MOUTH. I DID GET A KISS , BUT THAT'S ALL , AND THAT'S ALL I EVER WANTED. BECAUSE THERE WAS NO WAY I WOULD EVER MAKE A PASS AT HIM AND HE NEVER MADE A PASS AT ME. BECAUSE HE HAD TO MUCH RESPECT FOR LINDA. I WAS A DEVOTED FRIEND TO LINDA. I KNOW SOME WOMAN WHO PRETENDED TO BE FRIENDS MADE PASSES AT HIM. THAT WAS NOT RIGHT. WHEN WE DID GET INVITED TO GRACELAND, AFTER THE FIRST MEETING. WE WERE TAKING PICTURES IN FRONT OF THE DOORWAY . I SAID TO MYSELF THESE PICTURES ARE GOING TO BE UNBELIEVABLE  BUT THEY NEVER CAME OUT. I THOUGHT MAYBE RED EXPOSED THE FILM , I DON'T KNOW. ITS JUST ODD THAT THEY WERE OVER EXPOSED WHEN I GOT THE FILM. THEN WHEN I POSED WITH HIM , RED WAS TAKING THE PICTURE . HE GRABBED ME AND KISSED ME. I KNOW IT WASN'T BECAUSE HE WAS BEING DISRESPECTFUL TO LINDA BECAUSE SHE WAS WITH HIM ALL NIGHT. HE WAS KIDDING AROUND.

SO HOW WAS IT KISSING ELVIS PRESLEY?

HE LIKED TO SHOCK YOU. THAT'S WHY SOMETIMES HE WOULD COME OUT WITH THIS LANGUAGE THAT YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE. HE WAS SO CUTE. BUT HE WOULD DO IT TO SHOCK YOU. SO BELIEVE ME I ALMOST PASSED OUT. HE WAS THE BEST KISSER BUT HE WAS WITH MY FRIEND. SO I HAD TO PRETEND THAT I WASN'T GOING TO DROP ON THE GROUND , SO I HAD TO CALM DOWN.

 SO YOUR KNEES GOT A LITTLE WOBBLY?

OH DID THEY EVER ! DID THEY EVER JOE ! WE WERE IN THE CAR AND HE KEPT KISSING HER AND KISSING HER , NOT WANTING TO LET HER GO . THEN HE GAVE ME A KISS TOO. IT WAS MY SECOND KISS , JUST A LITTLE ONE . WHEN WE WERE GOING HOME THAT NIGHT I WAS  SCREAMING! ALL THE WAY FROM HIS DRIVEWAY. BECAUSE HE WAS WITH HER UPSTAIRS FOR HOURS , I THOUGHT HE HAD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HER AND I KEPT CALLING UP THERE SAYING ELVIS WE HAVE TO GO. BECAUSE HE FAMILY WAS EXPECTING US TO GO ON VACATION WITH THEM TO ALABAMA AND IT WAS LIKE 4 OCLOCK IN THE MORNING. WE HAD TO LEAVE AT FIVE , SO WHEN SHE CAME BACK DOWN SHE DIDN'T LOOK FLUSTERED TO ME. SO I FIGURED MAYBE SHE IS INTACT.

YOU WERE WORRIED ABOUT HER BEING UP STAIRS WITH THE KING OF ROCK AND ROLL?

YEAH ,  WELL I NEW SHE WAS OLD FASHION AND I KNEW SHE WAS VERY PURE. SO I REALLY DIDN'T THINK SHE WOULD SUBMIT TO THIS AT ALL AND I DIDN'T THINK HE WAS CAPABLE OF RAPING HER. BUT I JUST THOUGHT OH GOD THERE IS A POSSIBILITY HERE. WHEN I ASKED HER SHE SAID YOUR NOT GOING TO BELIEVE ME BUT HE READ TO ME FROM THE BIBLE AND ALL THESE RELIGIOUS BOOKS. WE TALKED AND CUDDLED , HE WONDERFUL AND CONSIDERATE AND KIND. I WENT TO MYSELF , OH MY GOD HE'S PERFECT! HE'S THE PERFECT MAN , SO THAT WAS OUR FIRST MEETING.

SO WHAT DID YOU THINK OF GRACELAND WHEN YOU FIRST SAW IT?

WE DIDN'T THINK IT WAS VERY FLAMBOYANT AT THE TIME , THIS WAS BEFORE HE RENOVATED IT INTO THE RED STAGE. SO IT WAS STILL KIND OF CONSERVATIVE TO ME. IT WAS BIGGER THEN A LOT OF HOUSES I HAVE BEEN IN , I HAD NOT BEEN UP STAIRS IN THE BEDROOM YET. BUT WHEN I HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY  , I HAVE TO TELL YOU HOW I ENDED UP WORKING THERE. I MOVED BACK TO MEMPHIS IN 1974 , I WAS WORKING AT A RESTAURANT AS A WAITRESS. I GOT A CALL FROM LINDA ONE DAY AND SHE SAID ELVIS WANTS TO KNOW IF YOU WANT A JOB? I SAID WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?  SHE SAID BECKY YANCEY QUIT AFTER LIKE TWENTY YEARS , SHE WANTED MORE MONEY AND VERNON WAS VERY FRUGAL. ELVIS ASKED LINDA TO CALL ME , THAT WAS AN OFFER I COULD NOT REFUSE.

WHAT WAS YOUR JOB WHEN YOU WORKED FOR ELVIS

FAN MAIL SECRETARY , BECKY HAD DONE ALL THE EXECUTIVE WORK SO PATSY GAMBEL TOOK OVER THAT POSITION AND I TOOK OVER BECKY'S. I HANDLED THE FAN MAIL .

WELL I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU. SINCE YOU HANDLED THE FAN MAIL , DID THE LADIES THERE SIGN ELVIS'S NAME ON PHOTOS LIKE IT WOULD BE HIS AUTOGRAPH?

EVERYBODY ASKS THAT , I PERSONALLY DIDN'T SIGN ANYTHING WITH ELVIS'S NAME . ALL I WITNESSED PATSY HAD TO SIGN CERTAIN LEGAL PAPERS . THEY WASN'T GOING TO WAKE UP ELVIS FOR EVERYTHING THAT NEEDED TO BE SIGNED. SO I KNOW SHE HAD TO DO THAT , BUT I NEVER WITNESSED HER SIGNING PHOTO'S AND LETTERS AS ELVIS. THAT'S ALL I KNOW , ITS A SHAME THAT EVERYBODY QUESTIONS THERE AUTOGRAPH.

WELL WAS IT VERY COMMON FOR ELVIS TO SEND OUT LETTERS TO PEOPLE?

NO I DON'T THINK HE DID A LOT OF IT, I KNOW THAT THERE WERE SOME THINGS THEY DID SEND TO THE HOUSE. BUT I DON'T KNOW ALL THE DETAILS ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I DIDN'T WITNESS IT. BUT I KNOW THEY DID HAVE TO BRING CERTAIN THINGS INTO THE HOUSE FOR ELVIS TO SIGN. BUT I KNOW PATSY SIGNED THINGS A LITTLE LESS IMPORTANT I'M SURE HE SIGNED SOME OF THE AUTOGRAPHS.

THEY ALMOST MAKE IT SOUND LIKE IT WAS DONE ON A LARGE SCALE. FAKE ELVIS SIGNATURES. THAT THE SECRETARIES WERE DOING IT ALL THE TIME.  BUT IT WASN'T LIKE THAT?

NOT AT ALL.

HOW WAS VERNON PRESLEY?

VERNON WAS TOUGH , I FOUND HIM WONDERFUL IN THE BEGINNING THERE. WHEN ELVIS'S HEALTH DECLINED  , LIKE WHEN HE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL IN 1975. THE FAN MAIL WAS OUTRAGEOUS , THERE WERE BOXES AND BOXES. THERE WERE ONLY TWO OF US DOING THIS. THERE IS A PICTURE IN MY BOOK , YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE BOX AND IT REACHES THE TABLE WHERE MY TYPE WRITER WAS. JUST TO SHOW HOW HIGH THE BOXES WERE. VERNON STARTED TO GET NERVOUS BECAUSE THERE WAS TROUBLE WITH THE COLONEL AND A LOT OF THINGS. WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE DRUGS BACK THEN . I VAGUELY KNEW FROM LINDA , SHE SAID THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH ELVIS . BUT I DIDN'T KNOW HE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR THAT REASON. NOBODY REALLY SAID AND I DIDN'T ASK. BUT VERNON WAS AWFUL TOWARD THE END , I ENDED UP QUITTING BECAUSE HE WAS SO BAD. YOU COULD TELL HE WAS TOTALLY STRESSED OUT . BUT WE WERE ALL STRESSED OUT TOO. I SAID TO VERNON , YOU CAN'T TALK LIKE THAT TO US. HE WAS HARSH , AND LINDA TOLD ELVIS THAT . SHE TOLD HIM THAT I HAD QUIT . ELVIS SAID SHE CANT DO THAT. YOU JUST DON'T QUIT WORKING FOR ELVIS PRESLEY. ELVIS ALWAYS TOOK IT AS AN INSULT.

DID HE ASK FOR YOU TO COME BACK?

LINDA EXPLAINED TO ELVIS WHAT THE SITUATION WAS , SHE SAID TO HIM "YOU KNOW HOW HARSH YOUR FATHER CAN BE". WHAT I DECIDED TO DO WAS THAT I WAS GOING TO BE TRAVELING WITH LINDA. SO I DID A LITTLE TRAVELING AND I WAS THINKING ABOUT MOVING TO CALIFORNIA. SO I DIDN'T WANT TO GO BACK .

WERE YOU STILL OK WITH VERNON EVEN AFTER YOU QUIT?

OH YES , I NEEDED TO GET TO MY SISTERS WEDDING SO THEY LET ME HITCH A RIDE ON THE LISA MARIE. VERNON WAS ON THE PLANE AND HE WAS FINE WITH ME. YOU KNOW VERY FEW PEOPLE TELL VERNON OFF , AND I GUESS I WAS ONE OF THEM . I TOLD HIM BASICALLY JUST BECAUSE YOUR ELVIS'S DAD DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN TALK TO US THAT WAY. THE OTHER TWO GIRLS SAT THERE , YOU COULD HAVE HEARD A PIN DROP. PATSY'S MOUTH JUST DROPPED WIDE OPEN , BUT IT HAD TO BE DONE.

HE PROBABLY RESPECTED YOU MORE.

I THINK SO , I WASN'T A LITTLE WIMP.

YOU HAVE TO TELL ME ABOUT ELVIS'S BEDROOM.

BASICALLY HOW THAT ALL HAPPENED WAS , I GOT TO STAY WITH LINDA WHEN ELVIS WENT OUT OF TOWN. PEOPLE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT I DID NOT STAY THERE WHEN HE WAS THERE. EXCEPT FOR CHRISTMAS IN 1973  AND I STAYED IN THE ANNEX AREA. I GOT TO PLAY WITH LISA MARIE. THAT WAS THE MOST EXCITING TIME IN MY WHOLE LIFE. HOW MANY PEOPLE GET TO SPEND CHRISTMAS AT GRACELAND. WHEN I FIRST WENT IN THE BEDROOM I THOUGHT I T WAS SMALL , REMEMBER THERE WAS A NINE BY NINE BED IN THERE. THAT TOOK UP THE WHOLE ROOM , BUT FOR ELVIS PRESLEY'S BEDROOM . I EXPECTED THIS HUMONGOUS ROOM. THE BATHROOM WAS A GOOD SIZE. THE BATHROOM WAS GEORGIOU'S THAT'S WHY I TOOK A PICTURE OF IT. ACTUALLY I TOOK PHOTOS SO MY FAMILY COULD SEE IT. I THINK I'M THE ONLY PERSON THAT EVER TOOK PHOTOS OF HIS BEDROOM.

YOU HAD LINDA'S PERMISSION TO DO SO?

ABSOLUTELY AND ELVIS NEW ABOUT IT . EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT THE UPSTAIRS IS OFF LIMITS UNLESS YOUR LIVING UNDER A ROCK. I TOOK THESE PICTURES BECAUSE I WAS SO INTRIGUED THAT I WAS UP THERE. I TOOK THESE SHOTS WHEN ELVIS AND PRISCILLA WAS GETTING A DIVORCE AND ELVIS WAS IN L.A. LINDA ASKED ME IF I WANTED TO COME STAY WITH HER. SO WE HAD A SLEEP OVER. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT LINDA TOOK A PICTURE OF ME SLEEPING IN THE BED WITH HER COUSIN.

HOW WAS THE BED ? WAS IT SOFT OR ROCK HARD?

IT WAS SOFT , I DON'T THINK IT WAS ROCK HARD . BACK THEN I DON'T THINK THEY HAD PILLOW TOPS. (LAUGHING) THERE WERE TWO TVS IN THE CEILING , NOT THAT WE WATCHED IT A WHOLE LOT. WE WATCHED THE OTHER ONE. BUT IT DEFINITELY A COMFORTABLE BED.

THERE WAS A TV AT EYE LEVEL TOO ?

IF YOU WERE SITTING THERE WAS ONE RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU. IT WAS THIS GREAT BIG RCA , AND A MATTER OF FACT PROBABLY ONE OF THE ONES HE SHOT. IF HE DIDN'T LIKE SOMEBODY ON THE TV HE JUST SHOT THE TV. BECAUSE THE ROOM WAS SO SMALL , IT REALLY WASN'T THAT FAR FROM THE BED. THE TV WAS HUGE , AND DOWNSTAIRS THEY HAD ONE OF THOSE BIG SCREEN TVS IN THE JUNGLE ROOM. SO WE MOSTLY WATCHED TV ON THE HUGE RCA IN THE BEDROOM.

WAS HIS ROOM COLD?

YES IT WAS ALWAYS COLD , AND IT WAS ALWAYS DARK BECAUSE HE COULDN'T SLEEP ANY OTHER WAY. WHEN HE STAYED AT THE BAPTIST HOSPITAL THEY TIN FOILED THE WINDOWS . HE HAD SENSITIVE EYES . EVERYBODY IS SO FASCINATED BY THESE PICTURES , WHEN I HAD A WEBSITE BACK IN 2002 . I TOOK IT DOWN BECAUSE OF ALL THE SUPPORT I GOT TO WRITE THIS BOOK. I KNOW THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE SENSITIVE ABOUT THESE PICTURES .

I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU THAT.

YES SO PEOPLE ARE SENSITIVE , I GUESS ONCE YOU SEE IT THAT NOW ITS JUST ANOTHER BEDROOM. REMEMBER THIS IS A HUMAN BEING. HE WAS AN EXTRADINARY  HUMAN BEING. BUT HE WAS ONLY HUMAN . ELVIS DID KNOW ABOUT IT , AND NO BODY HAS ANY RIGHT TO SAY THAT ELVIS WOULD NOT WANT THIS. FIRST OF ALL ELVIS'S SENSE OF HUMOR WAS HYSTERICAL . ITS NOT LIKE ANY THING DIRTY WAS GOING ON. IT WAS AN INNOCENT SLEEP OVER. I HAVE ROLLERS IN MY HAIR FOR GOODNESS SAKE.

DO SOME OF THEM GET ANGRY?

YES I HAVE HAD SOME EMAILS FROM PEOPLE THAT ARE. BUT I KNOW PEOPLE WHO HAVE WRITTEN BOOKS WHO DIDN'T KNOW ELVIS VERY WELL.  OR SOME WHO DID, AND THEY GET KNOCKED. THEY SAY ALL YOUR TRYING TO DO IS MAKE MONEY. THE MAIN REASON I DID THIS WAS FOR THE FANS. YES I MAY MAKE SOME MONEY ON THIS BOOK .I HAVE GOTTEN MORE POSITIVE RESPONSES THEN NEGATIVE. LOOK AT THE CRITICISM THAT ELVIS GOT WHEN HE FIRST CAME OUT. THEY WERE AGAINST HIS STYLE AND HIS HAIR , CLOTHING. YOU CAN'T LET ALL OF THAT BOTHER YOU.

ARE THERE MORE PICTURES IN THE SECOND BOOK?

YES , THE NEW ONE IS A HARD COVER AND IT HAS 70 PHOTOS IN IT .

CAN YOU TELL ME HOW YOU GOT YOUR RING?

IT WAS ON AUGUST THE 29 IN ATLANTA , LINDA CALLED ME FROM MY ROOM. SHE ASKED ME TO COME TO ELVIS'S SUITE. LINDA COMES OUT AND ASKED ME TO COME IN TO THE BEDROOM. ELVIS WALKED UP TO THE DOOR TO GREET ME. HE HAD ON A BLUE ROBE , LINDA WAS SITTING IN ONE CHAIR AND JOE WAS IN ANOTHER. ELVIS HANDED ME THIS WHITE BOX WITH MY NAME ON IT. HE SAID HONEY I WANT YOU TO HAVE THIS. I SAID FOR WHAT ? I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING. HE SAID I WANT YOU TO HAVE IT FOR BEING SUCH A GOOD FRIEND WITH LINDA. SIT DOWN AND OPEN UP THE BOX. SO I SIT DOWN AND I'M SHAKING . I NEW IT WAS A RING BOX ,SO I OPENED IT UP AND THERE WAS THIS GREEN VELVET BOX AND I OPENED IT AND THERE WAS THIS THREE AND A HALF CARET CROSS. IT WAS A CLUSTERED DIAMOND RING , I COULD NOT BELIEVE HOW BIG IT WAS. I JUST LOOKED AT IT AND CLOSED THE BOX AND JUST STARTED CRYING. ELVIS HAS THIS ADORABLE CROOKED GRIN , THE JOY ON HIS FACE , HE TOLD ME TO CALM DOWN . HE WANTED TO PUT IT ON MY FINGER. HE THEN TOLD ME IT WAS IN THE SHAPE OF A CROSS. I SAID OH MY GOD IT IS! HE WENT TO PUT IT ON MY FINGER AND IT GOT STUCK ,. SO I TOOK A LITTLE SALIVA AND IT SLID RIGHT ON. I LOOK ED AT IT AND LOOKED AT HIM , I THEN KISSED HIM AND THANKED HIM. YOU JUST HAD TO SEE THE JOY ON HIS FACE. SO WE ALL FELT LIKE WE WERE ALL ENGAGED TO ELVIS BECAUSE HE GAVE OUT LIKE FIFTEEN RINGS THAT DAY. BUT MINE WAS THE BEST EXCEPT FOR LINDA'S. LINDA GOT LIKE FOUR RINGS. YEARS LATER I'M AT GRACELAND AND HE GRABS MY HAND AND SAYS HONEY DID I GIVE YOU THAT RING? I SAID NO THE TOOTH FAIRY DID! OF COURSE YOU DID! ELVIS SAID THAT'S THE DAINTIEST MOTHA! I HAVE EVER SEEN!

DID YOU GET A TLC?

NO , HE WENT CRAZY WITH THE TLCS PRIER TO ME WORKING THERE. THIS RING IS FAR GREATER THEN ANY TLC.

CAN YOU TELL ME THE CAR STORY?

ELVIS WAS GOING CRAZY BUYING PONTIACS AT THE DEALERSHIPS. WE ALL JUMPED IN ONE OF THE  CARS FOR A RIDE , ELVIS AND LINDA WAS IN THE FRONT SEAT AND I WAS IN THE BACK WITH ONE OF THE BODY GUARDS. ELVIS SAID HONEY I'M GOING TO BUY YOU THIS CAR , ITS A LITTLE DIFFERENT BUT YOUR GOING TO HAVE TO DRIVE IT. I LOOKED AT LINDA AND I SAID WHAT THE HECK! WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? SO WE GOT TO THE DEALERSHIP , ELVIS HAS ALL RHINESTONES ON AND WAS IN A GREAT MOOD THAT DAY. HE WAS ON A HIGH , HE WASN'T HALF A SLEEP THAT DAY . SO HE SAID HEY YOU OVER THERE, BRING THAT CAR OVER HERE FOR THIS YOUNG LADY. I'M GOING TO BUY IT FOR HER . MY MOUTH DROPPED , IT WAS YELLOW WITH A LEOPARD TOP. I SAID WHAT? ELVIS SAID I KNOW YOU LIKE LEOPARD. LINDA WAS LAUGHING BECAUSE SHE MUST HAD TOLD HIM. THE CAR HAD A STICK SHIFT  I TOLD ELVIS I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO DRIVE A STICK. ELVIS SAID ITS EASY! SO ELVIS GETS IN THE CAR , LINDA'S IN THE MIDDLE. HE SHOWING HOW TO DRIVE THIS CAR , I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT . WELL ALL THESE PEOPLE IN THE OTHER CARS ARE WATCHING , FIRST OFF IT WAS YELLOW AND SECOND ELVIS PRESLEY ID DRIVING IT! SO EVERYONE IS STARING! ELVIS SAYS LOOK HONEY ! EVERY ONES LOOKING AT YOUR CAR! LOOK AT EVERYONE LOOKING! I LOOKED AT ELVIS AND I SAID , DID YOU EVER THINK THEY WERE LOOKING AT YOU? HE GOES , OH YEAH I FORGOT ABOUT THAT! (LAUGHING)

DID ELVIS HAVE A TEMPER?

OH YEAH I WAS THERE WHEN HE SHOT THE PANTERA. THE CAR WOULD NOT START . SO HE GETS OUT OF THE CAR AND REACHES INTO HIS COAT POCKET. HE PULLS OUT A GUN AND SHOT IT! I WAS GOING TO RUN FOR THE HILLS. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. HE THEN HAD TO HAVE IT FIXED. ANOTHER DAY IT WOULDN'T START AND HE DID IT AGAIN. WHEN HE DID THINGS LIKE THAT IT WOULD SCARE YOU . I WAS THERE ANOTHER TIME THAT HE HAD A TANTRUM . HE WAS MAD AT THE BODY GUARDS BECAUSE OF SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED IN VEGAS. HE THREW A SCARF AT A WOMAN AND SHE THREW IT BACK . HE TOSSED IT TO HER AGAIN , AND AGAIN SHE TOSSED IT BACK. HE WAS MAD AT THE BODY GUARDS FOR NOT BREAKING IT UP. SHE WAS EITHER PLAYING GAMES OR WAS TRYING TO GET ATTENTION. BOB HOPE WAS IN THE SUITE THAT NIGHT , HE WAS THE GREATEST. I WANTED TO SAY TO HIM " THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES" BUT I COULDN'T SPEAK. HERE I WAS IN ELVIS PRESLEY'S SUITE AND I'M INTRIGUED BY BOB HOPE. SO AFTER HE LEFT  I WAS WITH LINDA IN HER BATHROOM AND SHE WAS SHOWING ME THE WHOLE WERE ELVIS WAS HAVING GUN PRACTICE THE YEAR BEFORE. SO NO SOONER AFTER SHE TELLS ME THAT STORY ELVIS COMES INTO THE SUITE CUSSING AT THE GUYS AND FIRING EVERYBODY. I WAS PETRIFIED , HE WAS SO ANGRY , AND I SAID TO LINDA GET ME THE HELL OUT OF HERE. I DIDN'T KNOW IF HE WAS GOING TO TAKE OUT HIS GUN. I WANTED OUT AND LINDA'S LAUGHING , SHE NEW HE WASN'T GOING TO DO THAT. SHE WAS USED TO THIS BY NOW.

THIS WAS ALL OVER THE PERSON AND THE SCARF?

YES

I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY HE WOULD BE UPSET AT THE BODY GUARDS?

I THINK BECAUSE HE WANTED THEM TO BREAK IT UP. I THINK HE WAS EMBARRASSED. HERE IS A FAN THAT DOES NOT WANT WHAT EVERYONE ELSE IS SCREAMING FOR. SHE FINALLY KEPT IT BUT IT WAS EMBARRASSING. I WAS FOR HIM , I THINK THE BODY GUARDS THOUGHT HE WAS PLAYING. ELVIS HAD PRIDE AND HE DIDN'T LIKE IT. BUT HE LATER FORGAVE THEM AND HIRED THEM ALL BACK.

DID HE DO THAT A LOT ? FIRE THEM AND HIRE THEM?

YES HE DID. HE FIRED ALL OF US. HE FIRED LINDA. (LAUGHING) BUT NOT ME , I QUIT.

DID ELVIS DECORATE THE INSIDE OF GRACELAND DURING CHRISTMAS?

YES THERE WERE TREES AND HOLLY. ONE YEAR AFTER ELVIS HAD PASSED MY MOTHER GAVE ME A GRACELAND NATIVITY SCENE. THE DECORATION ON IT WAS THE SAME AS ELVIS HAD.

OK ONE DAY LINDA CALLS ME AND ASKS ME IF I WANTED TO SPEND CHRISTMAS AT GRACELAND?

AND YOU SAID NO.

I FLEW THERE WITH BELLS ON!  ONE OF THE GREAT STORIES IS WHEN HE WAS PUTTING LISA TO BED , LINDA AND I WENT UP WITH HIM. HE STARTED TO SING HER A LULLABY . I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT ONE. JUST PICTURE THIS , HERE WAS ELVIS SINGING TO HIS LITTLE GIRL. I HAD HER POSE ON HER PRESENT WHICH WAS HER HAMBURGER BED. IT HAD A MIRRORED TOP AND LIGHTS . SHE HAD ELVIS'S DOG POSE WITH HER. SHE HAD A LITTLE RING ON.

ELVIS LOVED HER

OH HE ADORED HER. GAVE HER ANYTHING SHE WANTED. THIS WAS ALSO A STORM AND THERE WAS ICE ON THE LAWN . WE WENT SLEDDING LISA MARIE AND I . SHE WAS AFRAID AT FIRST BUT SHE LATER WAS DOING IT ALL BY HERSELF. LATER ON THAT NIGHT . ELVIS ,LINDA AND I WENT FOR A WALK. YOU HAVE TO PICTURE THIS JOE. ALL THE TREES WERE FULL OF ICE. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. I SAID TO MYSELF. THIS ISN'T HAPPENING. IM WALKING AT GRACELAND WITH ELVIS AND LINDA IN THIS WINTER WONDER LAND. I WILL NEVER FORGET IT. I REMEMBER LOOKING UP AND THANKING GOD.

I NEVER GOT TO ASK YOU, WERE YOU AN ELVIS FAN?

OH YES . I WAS OF THOSE IN THE SIXTIES THAT WENT TO THE THEATER AND DROOLED OVER ELVIS. I REMEMBER THE MOVIE SPINOUT. I WAS ON A DOUBLE DATE AND MY DATE WAS TRYING TO KISS ME. ELVIS WAS ON THE SCREEN KISSING THE GIRLS. I SAID TO MY DATE , YOU SEE THAT GUY UP THERE? ONE OF THESE DAYS I'M GOING TO KISS THAT GUY. SURE ENOUGH I DID!

WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE FIRST CONCERT YOU SAW?

IT WAS LIKE THE SECOND COMING, ALL THE LIGHTS AND YOU CAN'T BREATH. THE NOISE WAS MIND BOGGLING. WE WERE AT NEW YORK. WE WERE SITTING OUT FRONT , SHE HAD FOUR RINGS ON EACH FINGER AND EVERYBODY NEW WHO SHE WAS. BUT I COULD NOT BREATH , I SAID WOW! IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE. IN VEGAS IN WAS DIFFERENT IT WAS A LITTLE MORE CALMER. BUT ALSO A LOT OF FUN AND THE FANS JUST WENT CRAZY. HE HAD HIS FANS IN THE PALM OF HIS HANDS.

SO HE SUCKED THE AIR OUT OF THE ROOM?

YES HE DID. JOE IF YOU WERE LOOKING THE OTHER WAY AND HE CAME INTO THE ROOM . YOU KNEW IT. IT WAS JUST HIS AURA.

DO YOU THINK ELVIS WAS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING WITH ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT RELIGIONS?

JOE HE WOULD SIT AND TALK TO US ABOUT GOD , HE WOULD READ TO US. HE WAS VERY FRIENDLY WITH LARRY GELLER AND HE WAS ALWAYS SEARCHING FOR NEW BOOKS. LARRY WAS VERY KIND AND I UNDERSTAND WHY ELVIS LIKED HIM . BUT I THINK IT SCARED EVERYBODY , AND THE COLONEL AND VERNON. I KNOW LINDA HAD MENTIONED IT THAT THE COLONEL DIDN'T WANT HIM TO GET INTO THIS RELIGIOUS KICK . BECAUSE HE WOULDN'T BE CONCENTRATING ON THE TOURS IF HE DID. I KNOW HE BELIEVED IN JESUS , SO I DON'T THINK HE WAS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING NEW. I JUST THINK THAT HE WANTED TO FIND OUT WHY HE WAS GIVEN THIS GIFT. THE CLASSIC WHY ME. SO HE WAS SEARCHING AND I THINK HE FOUND IT. I THINK JESUS TOOK HIM HOME.

DID YOU EVER GET A CHANCE TO SIT AND TALK TO HIM ONE ON ONE.

OH YEAS , IT WAS THAT CHRISTMAS AND LINDA WAS IN THE BATHROOM. ELVIS WAS SITTING ON HIS BED. SOMEONE SENT HIM THE PHOTO OF HIM AND HIM MOM WHEN HE WAS LIKE THREE YEARS OLD. I SAID HI TO ELVIS AND I LOOKED AT THE PICTURE AND HE SAID WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS PICTURE? I TOLD HIM I LIKED IT , I SAID YOU MUST REALLY MISS YOUR MOTHER? HE SAID YES . HE STARTED TO TELL ME THE STORY OF WHEN SHE DIED . HE SAID HE WAS IN THE SERVICE IN GERMANY. HE CAME HOME AND SAW HER BEFORE SHE DIED. HE GOT A CALL LATER THAT SHE PASSED IN THE NIGHT . HE SAID HE HAD GONE BACK TO GERMANY AND HE WAS IN HIS JEEP IN THE MOUNTAINS AND HE YELLED MA MA ! WHEN HE SAID IT JOE THE LIGHTS IN THE ROOM FLICKERED . I JUST LOOKED AT HIM AND THEN LOOKED AROUND. I SAID WHAT THE HECK , LINDA CAME RUNNING IN AND ASKED WHAT WAS GOING ON? JOE I'M TELLING YOU GRACELAND WAS HAUNTED. I ALWAYS FELT IT HAD HIS MOTHERS PRESENCE IN IT. WHEN I TRIED TO GO TO SLEEP AND ELVIS WAS OUT OF TOWN. I WOULD STAY WITH LINDA AT GRACELAND. I WANTED TO GET TO SLEEP AT AN EARLY HOUR. SO I WOULD GO UP AND TRY TO GO TO SLEEP BY MYSELF UP STAIRS . I HEARD THIS SWISHING NOISE LIKE WATER , AND NOISES AND I COULDN'T SLEEP. I SAID NO WAY , I WENT BACK DOWNSTAIRS AND FELL ASLEEP ON THE COUCH  UNTIL LINDA WAS READY TO COME UP. THERE WAS NO WAY I WAS GOING TO SLEEP UP THERE BY MYSELF IT JUST GAVE ME THE CREEPS. SO WHEN LINDA CAME OUT AND ASKED WHAT WAS GOING ON . I FELT THAT IT WAS HIS MOTHER.

DID ELVIS EVER SAY THAT?

NO BUT HE DIDN'T BLINK AN EYE LASH. HE KNEW THAT HIS MOM WAS THERE.

NANCY ROOKS SAYS THE SAME THING.

YES SHE DID.

THE MAIDS TOLD ME , YOU KNOW HIS MOTHER WALKS AROUND HERE. HE LOOKED SO SAD JOE WHEN HE WAS TALKING ABOUT HIS MOTHER , YOU COULD TELL HE REALLY MISSED HER. I MEAN THE LOVE THAT HE HAD FOR HIS MOTHER WAS AMAZING.

you could see something was going on with elvis , what did you think was going on? or did you know what was going on?

oh yeah you could see it , its in my book and the movie that was done. elvis and the beauty queen. she tells me that elvis is taking pills and she doesn't know how to handle it. dr nick did try and help , the guys did try , she told me all this. but elvis was going to get these pills by hook or crook. he had the power , he was conning , he could get what ever he wanted. look how he dropped in on the president. no body else could do that and get away with it.

did any body try to help him stop?

i know linda did , and she told me how dr nick gave him placebos and tried to fool him . but he knew he even had his own book that had all the drugs names in it and what they looked like. i know the guys tried to help and some people would say not enough .

i know he took sleeping pills because he never slept well right?

right , he was addicted to them from the service they say. elvis used to sleep walk , .

did he?

yes as a kid.

did he ever sleep walk as an adult?

no because of the pills. could you picture elvis presley sleep walking.

he took other pills because a dr said he needed them. so what was wrong with elvis?

i know he had the sleep problems, and the pressure he was under. i am sure he took something for that , and then he couldn't wake up in the morning so he took something to wake up. i think he liked the feeling of some of these drugs and he would read about it. he would say well if a dr writes me a rx for it , its legal.  it's so sad , i think about him almost everyday. i miss him.

how did you hear that he passed ?

i was working , i was a supervisor at a restaurant in rode island , my sister called me and said did you see on the news? so i figured something happened to someone in my family. i said what? she said elvis is dead! i said what! yes its all over the news ! i asked her how did it happen? she said she did not know. i couldn't speak , i dropped the phone. a waiter came over and asked me what was wrong , i said elvis is dead. they called the manager who new my relationship with elvis  , they told them to get me in the back room. so i went in the back , i couldn't cry , i couldn't speak. someone told the news about me and they called me at 12 midnight and i was on the air talking to fans to 3 o'clock in the morning talking to fans.

did linda call you?

no linda did not call me. i called her a few days later. she told me how lisa marie called her. linda also told me how the lights had went out while lisa marie was talking to her. saying that my daddy's dead!

i have only a few more questions. what did you think of the colonel?

i met him briefly on tour , they introduced him to me, i was not yet working for elvis. he said hello to me. that's all. i never new him personally , i know a lot of people liked him and a lot didn't.

what did elvis think of him?

toward the end they had there differences because of the star is born movie. elvis thought that was his only shot to really do a good movie. linda told me how upset he was about not being able to do that movie.  i know that made him very depressed. i think that was one of the reasons for his decline in health , that and the tours. he was pushed to do these things , but he was spending money like crazy. i know vernon tried to tell him from what linda said. but he didn't care , i think he felt you can't take it with you.

do you remember any threats on his life?

not while i was there no.

what do you think of the everlasting popularity of elvis presley?

I'm not surprised, what intrigues me is the little kids , 9 years old that email me. how there grand parents got me hooked on elvis. but I'm not surprised.

so what are you doing now?

I'm married , i have a home in long island. i will be in memphis for the 30th anniversary selling and signing my books.

thank you for doing this for me .

your very welcome joe.