Elvis Presley called his close friends the "Memphis Mafia", a media-dubbed name for his inner circle of pals, bodyguards, and associates, though among themselves they often just called themselves "the Guys". He also gave many individual friends and family members unique, affectionate nicknames like "Guru" (Larry Geller), "Milk" (Jerry Schilling), or funny names based on appearance or personality.
The Memphis Mafia was the nickname given in the '60s by the media to the group of Elvis Presley's friends, associates, employees and cousins whose main functions were to accompany, protect, and serve Presley.
The Memphis Mafia was the nickname for Elvis Presley's tight-knit inner circle—friends, bodyguards, and aides who traveled with him, handled daily affairs, and kept the King entertained. Formed in the late 1950s, the group included names like Joe Esposito, Red West, and Jerry Schilling.
The Memphis Mafia and other male friends
Among them were Joe Esposito, Sonny West, Red West, Billy Smith, Marty Lacker and Lamar Fike. Gerald Marzorati says that Elvis "couldn't go anywhere else without a phalanx of boyhood friends."
Dolly Parton said no to Elvis Presley recording "I Will Always Love You" because his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, demanded half of the publishing rights, which Parton refused to give up, as she wanted to keep ownership and the future earnings for her family. Despite her heartbreak at the missed opportunity, she held firm to her business principle, understanding that retaining the copyright was crucial for her financial security and legacy, a decision that paid off immensely after Whitney Houston's cover became a global phenomenon.
Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe apparently had a clandestine affair. Tons of tabloids and biographers have claimed that the two icons engaged in a secret romantic relationship in their time. According to these accounts, it was an on-and-off thing that continued sporadically over the years.
For months, Elvis had suffered from severe constipation 🚫💩 — some reports say he hadn't had a proper bowel movement in over four months. This intense strain, combined with long-term prescription drug abuse 💊 (painkillers, sedatives, and more), took a devastating toll on his body.
Elvis Presley wiggled because his strong connection to the music naturally made him move his hips and legs, influenced by gospel and blues, combined with stage fright that he channeled into his movements, and amplified by the overwhelmingly positive, screaming reaction from his young female fans. He initially didn't intend it but leaned into it as audiences clearly desired the "sexual" and "primitive" display, making it his iconic, rebellious signature style.
Dolores Hart was “the new Grace Kelly,” Elvis Presley's “love” in his two best films, giving him his first passionate onscreen kiss. Kelly and Hart had a similar “look,” beauty, style, and grace. Each left Hollywood for a leading role in a greater kingdom. Kelly became the princess of Monaco.
I can even remember what I was wearing: a red knit 70s jumpsuit ...' 'And in walks this guy, and he was soooo beautiful, that it just took my breath away, everybody's breath away. And he walked up to me, and he tussled my hair, and he said 'you look like a chicken that's just been hatched'.
The Commercial Appeal later reported that lab reports indicated that 14 drugs were found in Presley's blood at the time of his death, including "near toxic levels" of codeine, morphine, Placidyl and other prescription drugs.
Fun Fact: Oprah Winfrey and Elvis Presley are distant cousins. Oprah's grandmother's last name is Presley.
TCB most, if not all Elvis fans know what this is. The letters appear as a logo or emblem, along with a lightning bolt, which means "taking care of business in a flash".
Goodfella
“We always called each other good fellas,” Henry Hill says. “Like you said to somebody ... he's all right. He's a goodfella.
Jerry Schilling's tender friendship with the King is a core component of his identity, but his story wouldn't mean much if he wasn't a fascinating character in his own right.
The two legends bonded over their love of music and similar backgrounds, with Elvis' rockabilly style and Cash's country sound influencing each other throughout their careers. Their meeting in 1956 remains a milestone in the history of American music.
Dolly Parton refused to let Elvis Presley record her song, "I Will Always Love You," because his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, demanded half the publishing rights, which Parton would not give up, believing the song was her most important copyright and retirement fund. Although Elvis loved the song and sang it to Priscilla Presley after their divorce, the deal fell through due to Parker's insistence on the publishing cut, a decision Parton later recognized as prescient when Whitney Houston made the song a global phenomenon.
The most prominent actor known for refusing on-screen kisses is Neal McDonough, who honors his wife by having a "no kissing" clause in his contracts, leading to him being blacklisted from Hollywood for a time but later working in projects like Yellowstone and Tulsa King, sometimes even kissing his actual wife on screen. Other actors, like Kirk Cameron, Fawad Khan, and some Bollywood stars, have also refused kisses for religious or personal reasons, while some actresses like Tisha Campbell refused due to workplace issues.
When Elvis died, Frank Sinatra honored him as a "wonderful fellow," a "gentle, good man," and a generous friend, acknowledging his immense contribution to American music and his kindness to children's hospitals, despite their earlier artistic differences. Sinatra's comments, made in a 1977 performance, highlighted Elvis's graciousness and impact, showing a personal respect for the man behind the legend.
Elvis Presley suffered from severe, chronic constipation, with autopsy findings revealing up to four to five months' worth of impacted fecal matter in his colon, a condition exacerbated by prescription medications and poor bowel motility, contributing significantly to his overall decline and eventual heart failure while straining on the toilet.
It's a debate with no single answer, as Elvis Presley was bigger in US chart dominance (114 Top 40 hits vs. MJ's 36) and pioneering rock, while Michael Jackson achieved greater global reach, international tours, and broader multimedia influence (music videos, dance). Both are among the biggest artists ever, selling over a billion records, but Elvis was the original King of Rock, while Jackson became the King of Pop with unparalleled global cultural saturation.
It was so indulgent it became part of his public image—decadent, Southern, over-the-top. But his last meal was quiet. A bowl of ice cream. Some cookies.
Although he was aware of the problem in the early 1970s, Elvis was reluctant to undergo a colostomy, which involves removing part of the colon. "He thought he was really a man's man. ... He thought that this was a sign of weakness, and he wasn't going to be weak," Nichopoulos said.
The reason given for his death was a cardiac arrhythmia suspected to be due to an interaction of an antihistamine, codeine, and Demerol (a painkiller), as well as Valium and several other tranquilizers. Prescription drug use sometimes results in fatal reactions.