AboutBeverly Taylor Expertise I can answer questions pertaining to his spiritual beliefs,his childhood,his parents,his marriage and reasons for breakup, his relationships and the woment he dated,his life as father to Lisa Marie,his personal struggles, his benevolent side,and the people who he took care of financially over the years, as well as his uncompleted dreams.
Experience I am a psychotherapist by training who has studied and analyzed the life and death of the greatest entertainer of all time.
Organizations Several Elvis organizations and many professional organizations.
Publications Several local and regional
Education/Credentials I have a Masters degree,2 licensures and multiple certifications in my field. I am also a free lance writer.
Question What was the real relationship between Elvis and that man named Red?
Answer Hi Belinda! Well I suppose a book could be written about Elvis and Red West! Elvis and Red went to Humes High School together. To Red's early credit; he protected Elvis somewhat there. For some reason Red took a liking to the boy that was ridiculed and bullied for his pretty voice, lacy shirts, and SIDEBURNS!!! Red was the biggest bully there its been told; so once he stepped in nobody messed with the boy from Tupelo with the long greasy sideburns! Perhaps it was a mutual love of music? REd served as Elvis' driver around 1955; and often drove again for him.
Though he was a Marine; Red did not join the army with Elvis; but he did spend alot of time in Germany when Elvis was stationed there partying with Elvis and the boys, Charlie, Joe, and others. His role from high school paved the way to be Elvis' bodyguard in life during times of his celebrity status later.
I hesitate to put in print what my personal opinion is of Red because I have never met him and he does have a family. He is still alive and does some pretty poor speeches about Elvis. I will say Red is probably where he is because of Elvis. He also followed Elvis to Hollywood during the seven year movie hiatus there.
In the end Red recorded a seedy telephone conversation he had with Elvis unbeknownst to Elvis. He tried to make Elvis look bad, but really he made himself look raunchy. He talks about getting fired by Elvis'father Vernon in the taped conversation and Elvis references Red bullying so many fans and killing someone's "lab".
Like I said I have never met Red West though I would love to meet him and talk to him candidly. he of course, has his own story. I believe that allinvolved in writing the book owe Lisa Marie a public apology which could be delivered in a press conference. While this is history; it is ever present in the life Lisa has led; and in the hearts and minds of Elvis' fans. It is crucial to honoring Elvis' memory. Elvis was good enough to let Red bring his cousin Sonny into the entourage. This was Elvis' way....he never turned away anyone and wanted to help all. In the end the "West Boys" as they came to be called; were not friends to Elvis. Many think they nailed the final nails in Elvis' coffin. They tried to say they wrote the book "as a wake up call" because of Elvis' prescripton drug dependence. It is true that someone should have helped Elvis properly, not enabled him as most did. However, as a former substance abuse counselor I can tell you writing a book for the whole world to read was not a caring intervention. It appeared to be done out of vengence; retaliation; and vindictiveness and with no care whatsoever of Elvis' feelings. The thing that upset Elvis more than the fans being upset was "what will my little daughter think when she is old enough to read this?" This haunted Elvis in the followint two weeks before his death.
Why? they were members of the infamous "Memphis Mafia" which supposedly protected Elvis. In the end; these "boys" did just the opposite. They betrayed Elvis as no one else could have. As Lisa Marie has implied, they stole Elvis's dignity. They exposed the worst things about Elvis to the public....all Elvis ever wanted was privacy. They disrespected his feelings and his privacy with this book that was full of half truths and exaggerated stories. And of course it was all out of context.....not in context with Elvis' whole life and his generosity. Elvis and the Mafia all did alot of partying and drug experimentation. Elvis was hooked on prescription pills at the hands of his personal physician during a time when he was medically ill and overwhelmed with exhaustion and stress....That is another question!
Elvis read the book two weeks before his death; so perhaps you can come to your own conclusions about the REAL relationship between Red and Elvis....and who destroyed it.
Thank you Belinda. Just remember there were many individuals who profitted from Elvis.There are many fans who believed some of them killed Elvis. I dont know if I will go that far; but I will say they killed his heart, his hope, his spirit. And perhaps in doing so; this killed him.
If you want to know a bit more about the other authors of the book that effectively excluded "protecting" the King, his daughter and his father from suffering; and assaulted Elvis' spirit of hope, please let me know.
