Elvis Presley The KingElvis Presley Home Home | Graceland | Elvis News | Elvis Biography | Elvis Interviews

FTD | Elvis Collectors Label | Classic Elvis Albums on CD

The Rebel & The King By Nick Adams


By: Elvis Australia
Source: Allyson Adams
August 14, 2012
Elvis Book News, Elvis News, Elvis Articles

The book 'The Rebel And The King' by Allyson Adams will be released in September. Nick Adams' daughter, Allyson Adams is responsible for the posthumous publishing of this book. As an editor and WaterDancer Press Publisher, she couldn't let her father's story go untold. In the book's foreword she explains: 'I have found my father's story about Elvis to be the last glimpse of innocence before the end of an era. 'The Rebel & The King' is straight from the horse's mouth, as if Nick and Elvis are speaking from the grave. As soon as I read it, I knew I needed to share it with the world'. 'Elvis Presley had just exploded on the American scene and was filming his first movie, Love Me Tender, when he introduced himself to Nick Adams on the backlot of 20th Century Fox. Nick was a struggling actor, part of the 'Rebel Without A Cause' gang and showed Elvis the town, introducing him to Natalie Wood. Nick was infamous for writing about his famous friends and now the posthumous publication of Nick Adams' raw, unedited manuscript, 'The Rebel & The King', details his close friendship and whirlwind eight days in Memphis with Elvis, during the famous singer's Tupelo Homecoming the summer of 56. 'I would rather live one day as a lion, than a thousand years as a lamb. A very great man once made that statement. And that was the first thing that came to my mind when I sat down to write this story about Elvis'. Nick Adams, 1956.

'I had no idea the extent of Nick's connection to Elvis' family and hometown. I think this is one of the most honest, touching and truthful books I've read about Elvis. And it's especially important because of Nick writing it so early in Elvis' career. They both had no way of knowing how 'big' Elvis would become and it's that period of time before he lost his ability to live almost a normal life. Nick was especially good at capturing the regular guy activities and life that Elvis had during that time in Memphis. We never hear much about his mother and father. Nick brings them to life. It's fascinating stuff'. Tom Brown : VP, Turner Classic Movies, Original Programming.

Following is an excerpt from one of the chapters of 'The Rebel & The King' called 'THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ELVIS' where Elvis is talking to Nick as they are driving along Sunset Boulevard, in Hollywood, CA, on the way to meet Natalie Wood. 'I sincerely believed that someday a miracle would happen and sure enough it did because God saw fit to let it happen. And don't think that I'm not grateful to him. God answered my prayer so fast that I still don't know where it all started. I still recall the words, 'All good things come from God'. And if more people when something good happens to them in life and makes them happy or if something is given to them if they would just stop and think and thank God for it and say, 'God, thank you for this wonderful blessing you have bestowed upon me'. Then they would have more good luck and more blessings. That's my honest, sincere, way of thinking. And if tomorrow, should all my success come to an end, I wouldn't stop thanking him. And I would go on for the rest of my life telling people what a wonderful blessing he once gave me. This is my way of thinking and the words are coming directly from my heart', Elvis Presley.

The Rebel & The King By Nick Adams
'The Rebel And The King' by Nick Adams.

© Copyright 2024 by www.elvis.com.au & www.elvispresley.com.au

This page. https://www.elvis.com.au/presley/books/book-the-rebel-the-king-by-nick-adams.shtml

No part of any article on this site may be re-printed for public display without permission.


-
Elvis Presley Video Tupelo's Own Elvis Presley DVD

Never before have we seen an Elvis Presley concert from the 1950's with sound. Until Now! The DVD Contains recently discovered unreleased film of Elvis performing 6 songs, including Heartbreak Hotel and Don't Be Cruel, live in Tupelo Mississippi 1956. Included we see a live performance of the elusive Long Tall Sally seen here for the first time ever. + Plus Bonus DVD Audio.

This is an excellent release no fan should be without it.

The 'parade' footage is good to see as it puts you in the right context with color and b&w footage. The interviews of Elvis' Parents are well worth hearing too. The afternoon show footage is wonderful and electrifying : Here is Elvis in his prime rocking and rolling in front of 11.000 people. Highly recommended.

Tupelo's Own Elvis Presley DVD Video with Sound.