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Me and a Guy Named Elvis: My Lifelong Friendship with Elvis Presley Audiobook
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(4.00) - 230 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Ona lazy Sunday in 1954, twelve-year old Jerry Schilling wandered into a Memphis touch football game, only to discover that his team was quarterbacked by a nineteen-year old Elvis Presley, the local teenage whose first record, "That's All Right," had just debuted on Memphis radio. The two became fast friends, even as Elvis turned into the world's biggest star. In 1964, Elvis invited Jerry to work for him as part of his "Memphis Mafia," and Jerry soon found himself living with Elvis full-time in a Bel Air mansion and, later in his own room at Graceland. Over the next thirteen years Jerry would work for Elvis in various capacities—from bodyguard to photo double to co-executive producer on a karate film. But more than anything else he was Elvis's close friend and confidant: Elvis trusted Jerry with protecting his life when he received death threats, he asked Jerry to drive him and Pricilla to the hospital the day Lisa Marie was born and to accompany him during the famous "lost weekend" when he traveled to meet President Nixon at the White House.
Me and a Guy Named Elvis looks at Presley from a friend's perspective, offering readers the man rather than the icon—including insights into the creative frustrations that lead to Elvis's abuse of prescription medicine and his tragic death. Jerry offers never-before-told stories about life inside Elvis's inner circle and an emotional recounting of the great times, hard times, and unique times he and Elvis shared. These vivid memories will be priceless to Elvis's millions of fans, and the compelling story will fascinate an even wider audience.
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"Jerry is one of the good guys. He doesn't hide the "bad stuff" about Elvis , but he doesn't dwell on it either. It seems like every time I read another book on Elvis , they try to sum up his life by focusing on the last few years of the King's life & draw completely unfair conclusions. Jerry tells how things really were , from start to finish. Having briefly met Jerry about 20 years ago , you almost automatically gleen what a good-hearted & good-spirited person He is. Of the Memphis Mafia members I have met , Jerry & Joe (Esposito) are the guys that you felt didn't have hidden agendas for hanging with Elvis all those years. I was also very fond of Charlie Hodge. This book is an honest & heartfelt peek back in time at the King throughout his life & career. I pride myself on knowing everything I can about Elvis & in this book , Jerry pleasantly surprises me a number of times with new (to me) information which is rare. Jerry endears himself to the reader & makes you wish you were there with him as he speaks from the heart. Just feeling the admiration he had for Elvis draws you in. Whether your a die-hard fan or just curious about the world's best entertainer , this book is a must read! ...enjoy!"
— Bobby Trask (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Jerry had the keys to the kingdom, the keys to the King’s houses, to the King’s cars, to the heart of what made Elvis a king in the first place. Here he unlocks every door and his own heart to boot. In this book, Jerry Schilling brings grace to Graceland.”
— Bono -
William Dufris could have tried to imitate the well-recognized timbre and intonation of Elvis's voice, but he chose instead only to slightly alter his tone, making Elvis sound more like a person and less like an icon.
— AudioFile -
“This book kept me up late into the night as I turned the pages, reliving every situation and every story as if I were there all over again, until I finished. Jerry Schilling’s words brought tears to my eyes, making me smile and nod as it filled my head with things I had forgotten but thankfully he remembered. Jerry tells his story with the freshness and purity of a man who truly loved his friend. Me and a Guy Named Elvis is not only authentic, honest, and truly moving—it is a marvel.”
— Priscilla Presley -
“Schilling portrays an incredibly successful, talented, charismatic, spiritual, and moody force prone to acts of extreme generosity (he paid for Schilling’s West Hollywood Hills home) who was ultimately a tragic figure whose short life was beset by constant creative disappointment.”
— Booklist
Me and a Guy Named Elvis Listener Reviews
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" I learned a lot about Elvis and definitley shed a tear at the end. "
— Dawn, 8/19/2013 -
" Don't seek the salacious here. What you will find is an honest, warm appraisal of a complex and largely misunderstood icon but a close friend. A good read! "
— Tom, 7/5/2013 -
" I love this perspective of Elvis. "
— Pam, 4/10/2013 -
" ok book told by a friend of Elvis'. He seemed like a real nice guy in this story, which is a little different than the book written by his ex-wife. Got it at Graceland when I went with Maria. "
— Dlittle, 3/11/2013 -
" Don't seek the salacious here. What you will find is an honest, warm appraisal of a complex and largely misunderstood icon but a close friend. A good read! "
— Tom, 3/4/2013 -
" Poignant, intimate look at a lifelong friendship that goes beyond the legend. Jerry Schilling's account is the only one I've read that doesn't feel like it was about cashing in. "
— Gabrielle, 7/23/2012 -
" I love Elvis...and I like to hear what went on between him and his friends. However...Jerry Schilling is such a sap...it's hard to believe they were just "friends." (I'm just sayin') "
— Rhys, 6/24/2012 -
" It was an ok book,found it a little boring at times.Read a lot about Elvis and this was not the best. "
— Greetje-greta, 5/16/2011 -
" Hands down, this is the best book on Elvis Presley written by a member of The Memphis Mafia. Through his well-chosen words, Jerry Schilling looks past the legend and remembers Elvis, the flesh-and-blood human being. What a great read. "
— Jake, 4/10/2011 -
" This is one of the best books I've read on Elvis Presley. Jerry Schilling was so kind and so loyal to his kind-hearted and generous friend Elvis. I recommend everyone read this book. "
— Claudia, 4/3/2011 -
" A new chapter in The King's life, but only for the real fans. "
— Carter, 2/1/2011 -
" Don't seek the salacious here. What you will find is an honest, warm appraisal of a complex and largely misunderstood icon but a close friend. A good read! "
— Tom, 11/21/2010 -
" One of the best biographies on Elvis. And I swear I've read every one written over the past 20 years! :) "
— Melissa, 9/3/2010 -
" Over the years I've read many books about Elvis -- this was one of the best. Well written and down to earth more so than many others. "
— Janette, 4/19/2010 -
" I wanted to read a biography about Elvis before I went to Graceland, and chose this book. I learned a lot about Elvis the person. I thought the author did a great job of describing the kind of person Elvis was, not just all of his accomplishments. "
— Laura, 2/18/2009 -
" If you've ever fantasized about joining a superstar's entourage and having him one day buy you a house, this book is for you. Not exactly an in-depth, unbiased book about Elvis, but an interesting story from a guy who was part of the Memphis Mafia. "
— Garrett, 2/17/2009 -
" This is one of the best books I've read on Elvis Presley. Jerry Schilling was so kind and so loyal to his kind-hearted and generous friend Elvis. I recommend everyone read this book. "
— Claudia, 2/2/2009 -
" I love Elvis...and I like to hear what went on between him and his friends. However...Jerry Schilling is such a sap...it's hard to believe they were just "friends." (I'm just sayin') "
— Rhys, 11/18/2008 -
" I learned a lot about Elvis and definitley shed a tear at the end. "
— Dawn, 9/5/2008 -
" A new chapter in The King's life, but only for the real fans. "
— Carter, 7/10/2008 -
" One of the best biographies on Elvis. And I swear I've read every one written over the past 20 years! :) "
— Melissa, 7/4/2008
About the Authors
Jerry Schilling has spent forty years in the entertainment industry as an actor, a film editor, producer, and a manager for such acts as the Beach Boys, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Billy Joel. His credits as a film and television producer include Elvis: Great Performances; the ten-hour series The History of Rock ’n’ Roll; A&E biographies of Brian Wilson and Sam Phillips. He also appeared in the CBS special Elvis by the Presleys. He lives in Los Angeles in a home purchased for him by Presley.
Chuck Crisafulli is a veteran entertainment journalist and the author of Go to Hell: A Heated History of the Underworld.
About William Dufris
William Dufris attended the University of Southern Maine in Portland-Gorham before pursuing a career in voice work in London and then the United States. He has won more than twenty AudioFile Earphones Awards, was voted one of the Best Voices at the End of the Century by AudioFile magazine, and won the prestigious Audie Award in 2012 for best nonfiction narration. He lives with his family in Maine.