Patti Perry

PATTI PARRY INTERVIEW

THE FOLLOWING IS A PHONE INTERVIEW.

Patti Parry:  FIRST OFF JOE ,I WANT YOU TO KNOW , THAT I NEVER HAD MY PICTURE TAKEN WITH ELVIS. A FAN CAME UP LATER ON AND GAVE ME ONE OF ELVIS AND  LINDA THOMPSON AND I.

 THEN SOMEONE GAVE ME THE PHOTO OF WHEN I WAS AT THE ELVIS  SINGER SPECIAL IN 1968.THE ONE TIME I DID  ASK TO HAVE A PHOTO TAKEN WITH HIM, ELVIS SAID HE DID NOT LIKE THE WAY HE LOOKED IN THE PHOTO SO HE RIPPED IT UP. I JUST NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT MUCH, TO HAVE PHOTOS TAKEN WITH HIM. I JUST ALWAYS FIGURED THERE WOULD BE TIME. I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD LOSE HIM

Joe Krein: PATTY , YOU ARE ORIGINALLY FROM ENGLAND?
 
WE MOVED  FROM ENGLAND IN 1954  TO BUFFALO and LIVED THERE FOR A YEAR.  THEN TO CHICAGO WHEN I WAS 10 YEARS OLD. I MET ELVIS IN CALIFORNIA WHEN I WAS 17.

YOU FIRST SAW HIM DRIVING HIS ROLLS?

YES, I WAS DRIVING THIS OLD CLUNKER. MY GIRLFRIEND SAID ,"WHO IS THAT?' I SAID, " THAT WAS ELVIS PRESLEY!" SO WE DECIDED TO STOP HIM AND SAY HELLO. I PRETENDED I DIDN'T KNOW WHO HE WAS. SO HE ROLLS DOWN THE WINDOW. I SAID, " GEE YOU LOOK FAMILIAR. DO I KNOW YOU FROM SOMEWHERE?" HE STARTED LAUGHING BECAUSE HE KNEW THAT WE KNEW WHO HE WAS. MY GOODNESS, HOW COULD YOU NOT KNOW WHO ELVIS PRESLEY WAS. HE SAID, "PULL OVER." HE WAS GOING TO RECORD THE MOVIE SOUNDTRACK TO "FLAMING STAR" THAT DAY AT RADIO RECORDERS ON SANTA MONICA BLVD. WE JUST BONDED. I MADE HIM LAUGH . HE INVITED ME UP TO THE HOUSE' AND I NEVER LEFT. {LAUGHING}

YOU KNOW YOU WERE SMART. THAT'S WHY YOU GOT IN CLOSE BY REFERRING TO NOT KNOWING HIM AND NOT WANTING ANYTHING FROM HIM. IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYONE WANTED SOMETHING.

YES, I NEVER TOOK ANYTHING FROM THE MAN. I NEVER TOOK ANY MONEY. THE FIRST TIME I CUT HIS HAIR. HE GAVE ME $750.00 DOLLARS. I THREW IT BACK IN HIS FACE. I SAID I EAT HERE EVERYDAY. HE BOUGHT US BEAUTIFUL GIFTS. WE ALL LIVED THERE FOR NOTHING. WE GOT TO LIVE LIKE MILLIONAIRES. WE HAD IT MADE. WE DROVE IN LIMOUSINES. I WOULDN'T USE A LIMO ,UNLESS I WAS WITH HIM.
YOU KNOW HE DIDN'T HAVE A MOM OR A SISTER, SO I BECAME HIS JEWISH MOTHER. I WAS VERY HONEST WITH HIM. I WOULD ALWAYS TELL HIM THE TRUTH  AND THAT IS WHY I WAS CLOSE WITH HIM. HE RESPECTED ME BECAUSE OF THAT. HE TREATED ME LIKE HIS LITTLE SISTER.

SO THAT HAS TO BE YOUR FAVORITE SONG THEN.
 
YES, IT IS. (LAUGHING)

 
SO YOU WERE SEVENTEEN WHEN YOU MET HIM. WHERE YOU A FAN OF HIS MUSIC?

I WAS NEVER A FAN. NEVER.

REALLY?

I WAS NEVER A FAN. BUT I BECAME A FAN OF THE MAN!
 HE WAS SUCH A WONDERFUL BOY.
HE WAS A YOUNG MAN. HE WAS 25 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME.
HE WAS A WONDERFUL SON AND HE WAS A INCREDIBLE FRIEND. HE WAS SUCH A GOOD GUY. YOU KNOW YOU HAVE TO REALIZE THIS 19 YEAR OLD TRUCK DRIVER BECAME THE WORLD'S FIRST SUPERSTAR OVER NIGHT. MANY CALLED HIM A SUPER STUD, BUT HE WASN'T. HE WAS LIKE A BABY. VERY SHY.
HE CAME INTO THIS LIFE STYLE AND THAT'S WHY HE HAD ALL THE GUYS AROUND HIM. HE WAS A PRISONER OF HIS OWN FAME.

 
I THOUGHT THE SAME THING, THAT HE COULD NOT LIVE WITH OWN MONSTER OR HIS OWN FAME.

 
YOU KNOW HE WAS VERY POOR WHEN HE WAS A KID. IF YOU WERE SITTING NEXT TO HIM EATING, HE WOULD PICK AT THE FOOD ON YOUR PLATE. BUT YOU COULD NOT PICK AT HIS. HE WOULD BREAK YOUR ARM. WELL NOT BREAK YOUR ARM. YOU UNDERSTAND HOW I MEAN IT. YOU KNOW HIS COUSINS USED TO COME WHEN HE WAS YOUNG AND EAT HIS FOOD.

 
DO YOU THINK HE WOULD HAVE BEEN HAPPY NOT TO BE A STAR?

 
HE LIKED BEING ELVIS PRESLEY. WE ALL CAME FROM NOTHING. HE BECAME FAMOUS AND WEALTHY AND HE SHARED WITH US EVERYTHING THAT HE HAD.
 
HE LIKED BEING ELVIS. YOU KNOW THE GUYS KNEW HIM DIFFERENTLY THEN THE WOMEN. HE RELATED TO US DIFFERENTLY. YOU KNOW HE WOULD ALWAYS TALK "BABY TALK " TO ME. HE WAS A SWEET SWEET BOY AND A WONDERFUL MAN.

 
ITS SAID THAT HE WAS ALWAYS A GENTLEMAN AROUND WOMAN.

OH, ABSOLUTELY! HE LOVED HIS  MOTHER, YOU KNOW. SO HE ALWAYS TREATED ME AND ALL THE WOMEN IN HIS LIFE SPECIAL.
HE  ALWAYS TREATED ME WELL, BUT I ALWAYS GAVE HIM HELL . {LAUGHING{

 
DID YOU?

 
HELL ,YEAH. I STILL DO WITH THE GUYS. THEY KNOW I HAVE A MOUTH ON ME. YOU SEE I ALWAYS TOLD ELVIS THE TRUTH. I ALWAYS TELL THE FANS THE TRUTH ABOUT ELVIS. I DON'T CARE IF IT ANGERS OTHER PEOPLE. ELVIS WAS MY FRIEND.
I SAW A LITTLE WHILE BACK, AN ELVIS TRIBUTE ARTIST. HE ACTED MORE LIKE A STRIPPER. I TOLD HIM, ELVIS WOULD NEVER ACT LIKE THAT. PLUS I TOLD HIM NOT TO DO IT AGAIN.
 ELVIS  WAS MY FRIEND AND  I STILL PROTECT HIM.

 
.
SO YOU WERE AT THE 68 COMEBACK SPECIAL?

 
I WENT THERE WITH PRISCILLA AND JOE'S WIFE  AND JERRY  SHILLING'S WIFE.  . THEY SAID GO SIT NEXT TO ELVIS. HE NEEDS TO SEE A FAMILIAR FACE.  HE WAS REALLY NERVOUS, SO I WENT DOWN STAGE AND SAT NEAR HIM. SO EVERY TIME ELVIS LOOKED OVER ,HE WOULD SMILE AT ME. GOODNESS THAT WAS A LONG TIME AGO.

 
IT MUST HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLE TO  BE THERE.

 
OH, IT WAS FUN.

 
YOU KNOW I ALWAYS TRY TO PICK OUT PRISCILLA WHEN I WATCH THE VIDEO.

 
SHE WAS UP IN THE STANDS. BUT YOU CAN PICK ME OUT, IF YOU HAVE THE DVD.

 
SO YOU WERE ALWAYS JUST FRIENDS? NOT A GIRL FRIEND?

ALWAYS JUST A FRIEND. WE NEVER DATED. I WAS LIKE HIS SISTER.

 
ALL THE GIRLS WOULD COME UP AND HE WOULD SAY. THIS IS PATTY. SHE IS APART OF THE FAMILY. YOU KNOW HE WOULD NOT LET ANYONE NEAR ME. I WAS LIKE IN MY THIRTIES AND GUYS WOULD TRY TO HIT ON ME. ELVIS WOULD SAY, 'PATTY'S FAMILY. LEAVE HER ALONE.'
 
I SAID, ' ELVIS CUT IT OUT. LET THEM COME !'  [LAUGHING}

 
SO HE WAS LIKE A BIG BROTHER TO YOU?

 
ALL THOSE GUYS, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THEM DON'T LIKE EACH OTHER NOW. FOR SOME STUPID REASON. BUT THEY ARE ALL STILL MY BOYS. WE WERE ALL JUST LIKE...  FAMILY.

 
YOU MUST HAVE WENT THROUGH A LOT TOGETHER?

WE DID A LOT OF LAUGHING JOE  AND A LOT OF CRYING.

 
I AM SURE YOU ARE GOING TO SAY HE WAS. BUT WAS ELVIS A NICE MAN?

 
YOU KIDDING. I CANT EXPLAIN IT TO YOU. HE WAS BEYOND NICE TO PEOPLE.
 
THEY WERE ALL MY BOYS. WE ALL WERE DIFFERENT.... JEWISH AND SOME WERE ITALIAN. HE RESPECTED US ALL. HE MADE SURE WE ALL RESPECTED EACH AND OTHER. YOU KNOW WHEN HE WOULD BUY SOMETHING, HE MADE SURE EVERYONE ONE OF US GOT THE SAME. HE WAS SO GOOD TO EVERYBODY.
ALL HE WANTED IN RETURN WAS YOUR LOYALTY , LOVE AND RESPECT. SO THAT'S WHAT I GAVE HIM. I WAS NEVER ON THE PAYROLL. HE WANTED TO PUT ME ON, BUT I SAID,' NO.' THAT I WANTED TO HAVE MY OWN LIFE. I WOULD LEAVE WORK EVERYDAY AND GO TO HIS HOUSE. HE WAS IN LOS ANGELES THEN DOING ALL THE MOVIES. I WOULD SHOW UP THERE AND HAVE DINNER, STAY LATE INTO THE NIGHT. WHEN I SAID I NEED TO LEAVE, HE  WOULD SAY, 'STAY JUST A LITTLE LONGER.' IF HE WAS PERFORMING IN VEGAS, HE WOULD SEND A CAR TO PICK ME UP.
 
I USED TO LOVE WATCH HIM SING. I MUST BE THE ONLY JEWISH GIRL THAT KNOWS ALL THE WORDS TO HIS GOSPEL HITS.
 
MY FAVORITE MEMORY IS WHEN THEY WOULD ALL STAND AROUND THE PIANO AND SING GOSPEL MUSIC. I WOULD WALK INTO MY HAIR DRESSING STORE SINGING "LEAD ME, GUIDE ME". MY FRIENDS WOULD LAUGH AND SAY WHAT ARE YOU SINGING? YOU'RE JEWISH !

 
THEY SAY HE LOVED GOSPEL

 
HE LOVED IT. YOU KNOW THEY ASK ME IF HE WAS ALIVE TODAY, WHAT DO YOU THINK HE WOULD BE DOING? I WOULD SAY, HE WOULD BE PERFORMING JUST GOSPEL.
 
 
 
BUT ELVIS LOVED GIVING. HE LIKED TO SEE YOUR FACE WHEN HE GAVE YOU SOMETHING. HE DIDN'T WANT ANYTHING IN RETURN.
HE COULD BE SUCH A NUT SOMETIMES. YOU KNOW HIS NICKNAME WAS "CRAZY". SOMETIMES TO BE FUNNY, HE WOULD SIT AND WATCH FOOTBALL ON TV WITH A HELMET ON. THEN OTHER TIMES ,LIKE WHEN HE SHOT THE TV WHEN ROBERT GOULAE WAS SINGING.

I HAVE HEARD THAT STORY. BUT WHY WOULD HE DO THAT ?

 
BECAUSE HE HAD NO VIBRATO, SO HE HATED HIS VOICE. SO LETS JUST SHOOT THE TV!

LAUGHING!

 

 

 
DID ELVIS HAVE A BAD TEMPER?

 
NO WORSE THEN ANYONE ELSE. IF HE WAS UPSET ABOUT SOMETHING ,HE WOULD GET OVER IT FAST. BUT SOMETIMES HE WOULD GET FRUSTRATED. I MEAN THE MAN COULD NOT GO ANYWHERE. ONE TIME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WE WENT OUT TO A DRUG STORE. JUST BECAUSE THERE WOULD BE NOBODY THERE. IT WAS JUST GOOD FOR HIM TO WALK AROUND IN A PLACE WHERE HE COULD BE NORMAL.
 
WHEN HE DID 'HAREM SCAREM'. WE WENT OUT TO FIND VALENTINO'S GRAVE. WE FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS A GOOD PLACE TO WALK AROUND ,BECAUSE THERE WAS NO ONE THERE. HE COULD WALK AROUND DURING THE DAYTIME. ITS VERY SAD. HE COULDN'T GO OUT.

 
SO HE MISSED JUST BEING ABLE TO GO OUT AND TAKE A WALK.

 
HONEY, IF YOU SAW ONE OF THE "BACK STREET BOYS" WALKING DOWN THE STREET, YOU WOULD NOT KNOW WHO HE WAS. BUT YOU CAN'T MISS ELVIS PRESLEY!
 
THEN THERE WAS THE TIME HE CALLED ME UP AND SAID I WANT TO SHOW YOU SOMETHING. SO I WENT WITH HIM. HE HAD RENTED FRANK SINATRA'S JET FOR US. HE LOVED TO SEE OUR EXPRESSIONS WHEN HE DID THINGS LIKE THAT.

 
I FIGURED HE WOULD GET INTO PRODUCING.

 
WELL ,YOU KNOW ELVIS WAS INTO KARATE. BEFORE HE PASSED, HE WAS WORKING ON A MOVIE ABOUT KARATE. BUT HE NEVER HAD THE CHANCE TO FINISH IT.
 
IT'S FUNNY YOU MENTIONED THAT PATTY. I WAS TALKING TO DAVE HEBLER LAST NIGHT AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT PROJECT. IT'S A SHAME IT WILL NEVER BE RELEASED.
 
WAS ELVIS THAT GOOD AT KARATE?

 
HE LOVED IT AND WAS VERY GOOD AT IT. HE WOULD BRAKE BOARDS AND BRICKS. HERE I AM A HAIR DRESSER. HE WOULD SAY. YOU CAN DO IT. JUST PUT YOUR BODY INTO IT. PUT YOUR HAND JUST RIGHT.
I BROKE A BOARD. I JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE IT!
 

HOW WAS VERNON PRESLEY?

VERNON WAS OK. HE DID NOT HANG OUT WITH US A LOT. HE WAS MOSTLY IN THE OFFICE AT Graceland.

 
SO YOU WENT TO Graceland A LOT?

 
I WAS THERE FOR CHRISTMAS.

 
DO YOU HAVE A CHRISTMAS STORY FOR ME?

 
I REMEMBER THE YEAR HE SURPRISED EVERYONE WITH MC DONALD CERTIFICATES FOR MEALS. EVERYONE WAS SHOCKED! ELVIS LAUGHED SO HARD! THAT WAS SO MUCH FUN. AFTER EVERYONE STOPPED LAUGHING, HE HANDED OUT HIS REAL GIFTS.
HE LOVED BEING AT Graceland FOR CHRISTMAS. HE WOULD HAVE ALL HIS MOM'S FAMILY COME FOR THE HOLIDAYS. IT WAS GREAT AND IT MADE HIM SO HAPPY. THAT'S WHEN Graceland WAS GORGEOUS.  IT WAS HIS HOME THEN, NOW IT'S A CORPORATE OFFICE.
 
LAST TIME I WENT TO Graceland ,IT BROKE MY HEART. I JUST CRIED SO. BESIDES JUST THE EMOTION, BUT TO SEE WHAT THEY HAVE DONE TO IT.
 
HAVE YOU BEEN TO Graceland?
 
YES A FEW TIMES.

 
WELL, I USED TO FALL A SLEEP IN THAT BIG WHITE FURRY BED.

 
WHEN DID YOU FIND OUT ELVIS HAD PASSED.

 
I WAS RIGHT HERE IN THIS BED AND I GOT A PHONE CALL.
 OH, YOUR GOING TO MAKE ME CRY NOW.

 
OH IM SORRY.

 
WELL ,I GOT A CALL FROM MEMPHIS .   I CALLED JERRY SHILLING. I WAS JUST SHAKING.  JERRY WAS NOT WITH ELVIS AT THE TIME, BUT I NEW HE WOULD KNOW. HE TOLD ME THAT ELVIS HAD DIED. I FREAKED OUT. 
 
I RAN OVER TO LINDA THOMPSON'S HOUSE. SHE WAS TRYING TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS. WE COULDN'T GET A FLIGHT OUT.
 JOE ESPOSITO SAID JUST GET HERE AND WE WILL FIND A PLACE FOR YOU TO STAY.  MY HUSBAND GOT UPSET AND HE SAID, "YOU'RE NOT GOING." BUT YOU KNOW SOMETHING, I'D RATHER REMEMBER HIM IN LIFE THAN IN DEATH.

 
SO YOU DIDN'T GO TO THE FUNERAL.

 
NO, I DID NOT. YOU KNOW THAT KILLS ME , BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN CLOSURE FOR ME. BUT MY MEMORIES ARE MORE IMPORTANT. I COULDN'T LOOK AT HIM DEAD.
BUT I STILL DREAM ABOUT HIM TO THIS DAY. I MISS HIM.

 
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU HAD SEEN HIM

 
WELL, WHEN HE WAS IN MEMPHIS ,I  TALKED TO HIM ON THE PHONE SEVERAL TIMES A MONTH.  BUT BEFORE I WAS MARRIED, I WAS WITH HIM EVERYDAY.
 
THOSE TIMES WERE SO MUCH FUN. YOU KNOW THOSE GUYS WERE FUNNY. THE PERSONALITIES WOULD ALL CLICK. WE USED TO LAUGH OUR BUTTS OFF. EVERYBODY KNEW WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE WAS THINKING.
 
 
 
CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT YOUR TLC NECKLACE THAT ELVIS GAVE YOU , AND WHEN DID YOU GET IT?

IT WAS GIVEN TO ME RIGHT AFTER HE HAD THEM MADE IN BEVERLY HILLS.  It was the early seventies and we got it at Sol Schwartz's . Some people are really surprised that it is an original, but I can tell you that this has never been off my neck! I've never taken it off and I never will. When i leave this world ,it will go with me.
I WENT TO A PHYSIC ONE TIME, AND SHE SAID ELVIS WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU. YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS NEVER TAKEN IT OFF.
IT MADE MY HAIR STAND UP ON MY ARM WHEN HE SAID THAT.

ARE YOU A BELIEVER IN THAT PATTY?

 
YES, VERY MUCH. THEN SHE SAID TO ME, "YOU'RE GOING TO GO ON A RIVER." WELL ,I WAS GOING TO GO TO LOUISIANA WITH Dave Hebler to see Sandi Pichon. I DID NOT KNOW THAT THEY HAD IT PLANNED TO GO ON A RIVER BOAT RIDE. 
 
YOU KNOW PEOPLE KEEP BUGGING ME TO WRITE A BOOK.

 
YOU SHOULD. I AM SURPRISED YOU HAVEN'T. SEEMS LIKE EVERYBODY HAS WRITTEN A BOOK ON ELVIS. EVEN PEOPLE WHO NEVER NEW HIM.

 
 
YOU KNOW WHY. THANK GOD. I AM FINANCIALLY OK. I DON'T MAKE A LIVING OFF OF ELVIS. PUBLISHERS WANT TO HEAR NASTY STUFF ABOUT ELVIS. I WON'T DO THAT. NOTHING BUT POSITIVE MEMORIES FROM ME. PLUS I WOULD RATHER GO AROUND AND TELL MY STORIES FOR CHARITIES .I TELL MY STORIES TO PEOPLE WHO TRULY LOVED HIM.
 
HERE'S A FUNNY STORY ABOUT ELVIS. WE WERE IN PALM SPRINGS.  YOU KNOW THERE WOULD ALWAYS BE OTHER GIRLS AROUND. BUT THIS NIGHT WE DECIDED NOT TO DO THAT. SO HERE WE ARE, LOUNGING AROUND IN OUR PAJAMAS. ELVIS HAD A SILK PAIR ON AND I WAS WEARING A PAIR OF HIS PAJAMAS. BUT I HAD THE TOP TO HIS BOTTOMS. SO ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS A KNOCK AT THE DOOR. SOME GIRLS WERE COMING FOR A VISIT. ELVIS SAID," QUICK, LET ME HAVE THE TOP TO MY BOTTOMS." HE WAS FUNNY THAT WAY. LIKE WHO WOULD CARE IF HIS PAJAMAS DID NOT MATCH.

 
I WAS TOLD BY LARRY GELLER THAT YOU DID HIS HAIR FOR THE "ALOHA SPECIAL"

 
THAT'S TRUE. ELVIS DID NOT LIKE THE WAY HIS HAIR LOOKED FOR THE FIRST TAPING OF THAT SHOW. SO HE ASKED ME TO RESTYLE IT. BUT YOU KNOW I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE LARRY GELLER WAS THE PERSON WHO REALLY CUT ELVIS'S HAIR. I JUST CUT IT FOR THE "ALOHA SPECIAL." AND I MUST SAY  HE NEVER LOOKED BETTER.
LAUGHING!

 
DO YOU SEE ANY OF THE OTHER GUYS?

 
I DO SEE SOME OF THEM, NOW THAT I AM MORE INVOLVED IN THE ELVIS WORLD. YOU KNOW FOR THE LONGEST TIME, I STAYED IN THE BACK GROUND. WELL, I WENT OUT TO A ELVIS FESTIVAL WITH MYRNA SMITH. THEY WERE DOING A QUESTION AND ANSWER. WELL, SOMEONE ASKED A QUESTION AND I SAID TO MYSELF I KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT ONE. SO I STARTED TO ENJOY IT, BUT I DO IT FOR CHARITY, I NEVER WANTED ANYTHING FROM ELVIS AND I AM NOT GOING TO START NOW.
 
YOU KNOW I WAS WITH AL DEVORIN THE NIGHT THAT HE HAD PASSED WHEN HE WAS KILLED IN THE CAR ACCIDENT.
 

I WAS IN VEGAS WITH AL THE NIGHT BEFORE. HE WAS A WONDERFUL MAN
 
 
 
 
YES, HE WAS ON HIS WAY BACK TO PALM DESERT AS WE WERE IN LAS VEGAS FOR THE PAUL CASEY SHOW. BUT HE WORKED FOR THE COLONEL AND HE NEVER REALLY HUNG OUT WITH US.

 
HOW WERE YOU WITH THE COLONEL?

 
ANOTHER ONE WHO WAS NOT AROUND WITH US. ELVIS HAD HIS PRIVATE LIFE WITH US AND THEN THERE WAS ELVIS THE ENTERTAINER. I MEAN I WOULD SEE THE COLONEL IN VEGAS  AND HE WOULD ALWAYS SAY HELLO. BUT HE DIDN'T HANG OUT AT THE HOUSE WITH US.

 
ITS BEEN SAID THAT YOU ARE THE ONLY FEMALE "MEMPHIS MAFIA " MEMBER.?

 
YEAH, THAT'S WHAT THEY SAY. BUT SOMEONE  TOLD ME I CAN'T SAY THAT. I SAID TO THAT PERSON, "WHAT EVER MAKES YOU HAPPY!" GIVE ME A BREAK!
 
DID YOU EVER GET INTO COLLECTING?
YOU KNOW ELVIS BROUGHT ME BACK BEADS WHEN HE DID "PARADISE HAWAIIAN STYLE " AND A SARI . I HAD LOADS OF JEWELRY, BUT WHEN I WENT TO PALM SPRINGS ONE WEEKEND, SOMEONE BROKE IN  AND TOOK MY SAFE. THEY KNEW THAT ELVIS HAD GIVEN ME A BUNCH OF STUFF. BUT I HAVE MY "TLC " THAT'S NEVER BEEN OFF. I HAVE A DIAMOND RING AND EARRINGS. THAT'S ALL I HAVE LEFT. BUT I DO HAVE MY MEMORIES AND THAT'S MORE IMPORTANT.

 
YOUR MEMORIES MUST BE SO COOL. ABOUT HOW MANY CONCERTS DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE SEEN?

 
HUNDREDS

 
AND YOU NEVER GOT TIRED OF WATCHING?

 
NEVER. IT WAS DIFFERENT EVERY NIGHT. HE WAS A DIFFERENT GUY ON STAGE. THAT'S WHAT HE LOVED TO DO.

 
SOME OF HIS BODY GUARDS TOLD ME THAT THERE WERE THREATS MADE ON ELVIS. DID YOU KNOW ANY OF THAT WAS GOING ON?

 
I WAS THERE WHEN THAT THREAT WAS MADE ON HIS LIFE. WE WERE AT THE HILTON AND ON ONE OF THE MENUS, THEY HAD A HOLE IN HIS HEART WITH A MESSAGE SAYING THAT THEY WERE GOING TO KILL HIM. SO THEY CALLED THE FBI.
WE WERE ALL FREAKING OUT, TELLING HIM NOT TO GO ON! THEY HAD An AMBULANCE IN THE BACK. HE WAS KISSING EVERYBODY GOOD BYE JUST IN CASE.  HE WAS VERY UP SET, CRYING, SAYING, "WHY WOULD ANYBODY WANT TO HURT ME?" THEY HAD THE FBI IN THE ORCHESTRA AND IN THE CROWD.
BUT HE WAS FUNNY, HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO STAND SIDEWAYS, SO NOT TO GIVE THEM A BIG TARGET!!!

LAUGHING!

I SWEAR TO GOD, IT WAS HORRIBLE. THEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SHOW, SOMEONE YELLS OUT "ELVIS! ELVIS !"
SO ELVIS TURNS FAST AND HE YELLS  "SING "LOVE ME TENDER!"
SCARED THE HELL OUT OF US.
 
THERE WAS ANOTHER TIME WHEN THERE WAS A BUNCH OF KARATE GUYS WHO WERE GOING TO JUMP UP AND GET HIM TO SEE HOW GOOD HE REALLY WAS. BUT RED AND THOSE GUYS TOOK CARE OF THAT FAST.

 
DID YOU EVER THINK ELVIS WOULD STILL BE SO POPULAR?

 
ELVIS WAS A PHENOMENON  AND THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER LIKE HIM AGAIN. 

 
IT SEEMED LIKE ELVIS WAS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING AT THE END OF HIS LIFE.

 
HE WANTED TO KNOW WHY HE WAS WHO HE WAS. WHY HIM? HE COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT.

 
BUT IT SEEMED LIKE HE WAS LONELY.

 
YES, HE WAS LONELY. YOU HAVE TO REALIZE. HERE WAS A MAN THAT WAS LOCKED IN HIS HOUSE. 24 / 7 .

 
SO WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW?

I WORKED 2 DAYS A WEEK IN BEVERLY HILLS AND I STILL CUT HAIR. MY CLIENTS SAY I CAN'T RETIRE  UNTIL THEY DIE.
LAUGHING.
I DO BIG PEOPLE, LIKE PRODUCERS AND DIRECTORS. I HAVE PEOPLE THAT I HAVE BEEN DOING HAIR FOR 30 YEARS. PLUS I DO SOME ELVIS STUFF. I TRAVEL.
 
THANK YOU VERY MUCH PATTI.

JOE, YOU KEEP IN TOUCH. STAY WELL.

https://www.elvis2001.net/patty_parry_interview.htm

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

https://www.elvis.com.au/presley/tcb/hold/Patti-Perry-1531.shtml

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