JOSEPH KREIN:. Jim was one of the many people who were behind the scenes at the Elvis shows. always willing to talk to fans about his days with Elvis and the colonel look forward to our next sit down in Vegas am glad to call him my friend.
Hi Joe,
Sorry this has taken so long to get to you but here we go.
Jim where were you born , and how did you get to work for Colonel Tom Parker?
I was born and raised in the City of Chicago and being a kid of the 50's I was a huge Elvis Presley fan.As a matter of fact in 1957 while watching Elvis on our Muntz TV I turned to my mother and told her three things that I wanted to do, #1. I would someday work for Elvis, #2. Someday I would work for Ricky Nelson and #3. Someday I would be on television.Well....... #3. came first and that is where I met Al Dvorin whom I had the pleasure of working with for years, which brings me to the time when I got a call from Al asking if I wanted to go on the road with Elvis. I had to start out as a vendor selling those Elvis Super Souvenirs but, what an experience that was until I was able to work directly under Al and the Colonel.
When we weren't on tour I stayed with the Colonel and we worked out of RCA in Hollywood, Palm Springs and the office in Las Vegas.After working with the Colonel for a while we were in Palm Springs at his house on Vespero, when the Colonel said to me,"Mr. Mydlach working with Mr. Dvorin and the Colonel, you got a million dollar education for free," with that he went into the house and came out with a pair of his shoes and he gave them to me and said,"here fill em." I still have that pair of shoes.
What did you think of Colonel Parker?
Many people have knocked the Colonel for decisions that were made but I can tell you that man was so focused on Elvis that he used to eat, sleep, breathe everything Elvis and I believe that he looked at him like his son. In our world today of everything having to have a contract because you can't trust without one it is mind boggling as when you dealt with Elvis and the Colonel their handshake was better than any contract you can put together today.
Jim it seems like everyone that worked for Elvis has written a book. is there a book in the future from you?
Will I ever write a book on Elvis or the Colonel, I doubt it as so many more have chronicled his life more aptly than I could but because of Mr. Dvorin and the Colonel I was able to go on and work for many other superstars and someone has approached me about doing a book on my life on the road to which I may think about it.Oh, because of Elvis and the Colonel I also realized my dream of working with Ricky Nelson as his road manager off and on for about 4 years.
Jim how did you hear about Elvis death?
On August 16, 1977, while at the hotel in Portland , Maine we had just had a meeting about the last few details before the tour started and we went back to our rooms. While in the room my new wife Wendy whom I had just married on August 2, 1977, called and said she had just heard that Elvis had just passed on, to which I said that's bull we just had our pre tour meeting and nothing was said in there. With this one of the guys came by the room and said that the Colonel said to stay put and that he would get back to us in a little bit. Three minutes later the phone rang and Al Dvorin said," Jimmy it's true." Needless to say my heart dropped and I just sat there with tears in my eyes and numb. The rest is history
Having had the chance to work for the King of Rock n Roll and see first hand history being made and also being able to make life long friendships with the group was one of the greatest moments of my life. Elvis, himself besides being one of my Idols was probably the nicest most giving persons that I have ever met. He changed generations and still after his untimely passing is still making new fans every day. In our life time I can't see any star coming close to the impact that Elvis had on the world. He is truly missed.
Now today living in Las Vegas for the last 28 years I am enjoying spending time with Dick Grob and Sam Thompson who also live here, having lunch and talking good times.
Jim thank you for your time.
Thanks for your time Joe and hope I didn't bore you to much.
