Page 61 - The Westerner Magazine Halloween 2018
P. 61
IT? Do you notice how fast they are used to work with the Colonel when I
playing? They copy that from records was the regional guy in Los Angeles. He
that have been sped up. They don’t was a character. He was a guy who
know any different!” I’m saying to liked to make people crawl. I used to
myself, “Why isn’t there someone here have to go to his house in Palm Springs
to authenticate what I’m seeing!” Just and play nicely. I only did it once
crazy. I miss that business to this day. because I didn’t like the way he talked
You remember the series Mad Men? This to me and let him know about it. He
was Mad Men on steroids! could have fired me – but he didn’t. I
think he respected that I had some self-
You must have woken up wondering
respect. When we were at the Hilton
what would happen every single day--
when Elvis opened, I am telling you that
I didn’t even know how much money I everyone who ever played Vegas was at
made! I thought it was much, much that show—Sinatra, Dean Martin, all the
better than working—you kidding me! comedians and so on. They were so sure
that this Rock and Roll guy was going to
fail. It was a festive atmosphere. I’m not
gay, but you can’t take your eyes off this
guy Presley—he was really that good
looking and when they announced his
name “Ladies and gentlemen, ELVIS
PRESLEY,” and the lights are flashing
but he didn’t come onto the stage. He
came from the rear. Mouths were
gaping open. They witnessed something
they’d never seen before. This guy was
the KING of Rock and Roll. They saw it
for the first time and he wasted them
You must have really seen some
with his performance. He was one of the
interesting things that went on behind
great singers of our time. The women
the scenes.
would lose it.
I witnessed moments of history. When
The next day Colonel made everyone
Elvis made his comeback in Vegas—
stay over—a ploy to show his power—
they flew the whole staff in for that. I
he went to one of those quick printers
