About the Author

Jerry Schilling is a lifelong friend and associate of Elvis Presley who has spent forty years in the entertainment industry as an actor, film editor, producer, and manager for such acts as the Beach Boys, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Billy Joel. His credits as a film and television producer include Disney's Elvis- The Great Performances; the ten-hour series History of Rock 'n' Roll; A&E biographies of Brian Wilson and Sam Phillips; and the CBS special Elvis by the Presleys.

Chuck Crisafulli is a veteran entertainment journalist and the author of several books.

Reviews

Schilling has the goodsuwhere else can you read about the King giving karate lessons to Liza Minnelli in a hotel room while Chubby Checker and porn star Linda Lovelace looked on? ("Entertainment Weekly")

More than anything, this moving and elegantly told memoir resonates with the spirit of true friendship. ("The Washington Post")

In 1954, Schilling had a chance meeting with Elvis Presley at a Memphis pickup football game. It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship, which eventually led to Schilling's entry into the strange and exciting Presley entourage in 1964. Here, the author vividly describes meeting the Beatles, Eric Clapton, Richard Nixon, and basketball great Wilt Chamberlain; tripping on LSD with the King; and sitting in shock with Elvis as they watched the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. on television. Throughout, Schilling treats Elvis evenhandedly, focusing on their friendship but not ignoring the drug problems, isolation, and creative vacuum that killed Presley. The King comes alive once again as a romantic, sensitive, caring, and sometimes childish and moody man in a bubble. Refreshingly, the author reveals as much about himself as Elvis, showing how the tinsel lifestyle transformed him from a well-meaning, wide-eyed, obedient kid to a divorced adult wanting freedom and a career. Schilling has captured the aura and grim realities of life with one of the most important American icons of the 20th century. One can only hope that he will follow with a book about his post-1977 life as a manager of the Beach Boys, Jerry Lee Lewis, Rick Nelson, and Billy Joel. Highly recommended for all types of readers.-David P. Szatmary, Univ. of Washington, Seattle Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.