The Elvis Touch, Glasgow
Prince de Galles Hotel, Paris
Saturday 13th June 2009
Press Conference - Guest Speaker - Joe Esposito
Q. When was the first time that you visited Paris?
A. First time I came to Paris was with Elvis in January 1960. It was my first time away from base and we were chased by approx. 100 people asking for autographs. Elvis had come back to Paris to meet up with the Japanese grand master of Shotokan - Murakami Tetsuji in his club the Yoseikan. We also met The Golden Gate Quartet and Line Reynaud. We visited The Lido Show and we went out every single night!!
Q. How did you meet Elvis?
A. We were both stationed in Germany. I�m from Chicago and arrived first. I was invited to play touch football. Elvis introduced himself to me - Hi! I�m Elvis Presley (like I didn�t know who he was) and I was with him from then on. On his final visit to Paris in January 1960 I had made all the arrangements and he was impressed with my work that when we were both discharged from the services I was put to work. My first assignment was the Frank Sinatra TV gig in Miami, Florida I became Elvis� right hand man.
Q. Did you ever attend any of Elvis� recording sessions?
A. Yes I was at many of his recording sessions and I likened them to a show. It was in the days when the artist, back up singers and the band where all in attendance. Not like nowadays when they add backing tracks later and the artist shows up when they want and add in the musicians etc. We had loads of fun during the recording sessions. Elvis had such a good sense of humour.
Q. What were your duties in Hollywood when Elvis was making movies?
A. I was responsible to make sure he got up in time and rehearsed his lines with him. Hollywood was a fun time and we stayed in a nice house. Lots of movie stars would come on to the lot just to meet Elvis. I was also the middle man between Elvis and Col Tom Parker.
Q. Were you with Elvis when the Beatles paid him a visit?
Q. What made Elvis special?
A. Elvis had a God given talent, he was charismatic, good looking and a very special man.
Q. What did Elvis think of his movie career?
A. Elvis� movies made money and had many critics. Elvis signed for the movies and loved doing them but the scripts became poor. He wanted something dramatic. He was so sick of the poor scripts that he decided to go back on the road.
Q. How was your relationship with Elvis? It has been documented that there was a few arguments?
A. We were very close and yes we did get into fights and had disagreements. I did leave once for four months - I quit. Then at Christmastime he sent me a cheque as a Christmas Present I called to thank him and he asked me to come back. I came back to my same position and it was like I was never away. Elvis was tough to work for. You had to be on call 24/7, we had holidays together but it was a great experience.
Q. When was the most exciting time for Elvis?
A. I think after Lisa Marie was born late 60�s early 70�s was the most exciting time for Elvis. He loved kids and he was back on the road again with the fans that he loved.
Q. Do you think all the tours took it toll on Elvis?
A. The tours and Las Vegas shows were at a tremendous pace. One show per night with matinees every Saturday & Sunday for 14/16 days at a time but Elvis loved being on stage. The Colonel asked him to slow down but he loved his fans and loved performing so much he wanted to go on.
Q. What did Elvis think of his fans?
A. Elvis cared a lot for his fans. He would never have believed that 32 years after his passing, here we all are in Paris, France still talking about him.
Q. Joe, do you have any special stories on concert times?
A. He was so much fun to be with and on stage he loved everyone. He gave away jewellery just for the fun of it and if after a show you said to him that he shouldn�t have done that, that was the wrong thing to do you don�t tell Elvis not to do anything he would go on and do the opposite.
Q. There was a rumour that Elvis & The Colonel were splitting in 1975/76 is it true?
A. Yes it is true. The Colonel said to Elvis if you don�t want me I�ll leave. Elvis then realised he could not find anyone as good to manage him.
Q. Were you aware of Elvis� illness and his dependence on prescription drugs?
A. No-one could tell Elvis that he had an addictive personality. He did say when he was ready to stop - he�ll stop. You can�t make a 42 year old man stop if he does not want to stop. Linda Thompson was the best person to look after him. She was so upset over what he was taking she did not want to be there when he was abusing himself so she left. She is still a very nice person to this day.
Q. Do you think his problems came from his family background?
A. The Smith family were known including his mum for having alcohol abuse in their family and Elvis would have none of it. That was why Elvis did not drink alcohol. His cousin (Junior)died young of drug and alcohol abuse.
Q. Did Elvis discuss his future as a man and an artist?
A. He did when he turned 40 - especially the newspaper reports of Elvis - Fat & 40. He was depressed it really bothered him. He got back in shape then got into medication again. He was concerned for when he turned 50 or 60 would he still be performing.
Q. Why didn�t Elvis come to Europe in 1976?
A. It was not the Colonel�s influence for Elvis not to come to Europe. There was not a suitable venue to hold an Elvis concert - no big indoor stadiums. Elvis did not like to play outdoors, he did not like the sound systems from previous events. They could only find 4,000 seat arena�s which were not big enough, Elvis would have to play Wembley for 30 days straight in order to please all of the fans who would want to see him. Also if they had chose London the people of Europe would have to travel.
Q. There are some nasty stories circulating regarding Colonel Tom Parker what are your views?
A. I have nothing but respect for Colonel Tom Parker.
Q. Are you still in touch with Lisa Marie & Priscilla?
A. Yes I keep in touch with them. I speak to Priscilla about twice a month. I don�t see Lisa Marie nearly as much because she is very busy with her new twins.
Q. What about the �Memphis Mafia�?
A. I still see Jerry Schilling, Sam Thompson and George Klein.
Q. What do you feel about Red West?
A. Red was a good guy and a good friend to Elvis, he should not have got involved in the writing of the book �Elvis - What Happened�
Q. What are the future plans for Graceland?
A. There are lots of plans for Graceland but they are on hold at the moment due to the economy.
Q. What was Elvis relationship with Ann-Margret?
A. Ann-Margret was the nicest person you could possibly meet. We still keep in touch and I speak to her twice a month. One of the reasons Elvis and Ann-Margret did not get together was that Elvis was a southern gentleman and wanted a stay at home wife. Ann-Margret was at the height of her career and would not
give her career up. They remained real good friends right up to Elvis passed away.
Q. Were did you get the nickname �Diamond Joe�?
A. I am from Chicago and in the 60�s someone sent an article to Elvis with a big mafia story about a gangster �Diamond Joe Esposito� they thought it was my father and because I wore diamond rings at the time.
Q. Spiritually speaking why did Elvis turn to medication when he was so religious?
A. Elvis got hooked on medication, found it hard to come off, but he was always religious. He did not die of a drug overdose. He had High Blood Pressure and an enlarged heart he had to take medication. It was just his time.
Q. How did he get into different religions?
A. He was raised a Baptist, loved gospel and loved to read other books about various religions and the meaning of life. He remained a Baptist and stuck to his own religion.
Q. What was his future plans for Lisa Marie or any other children if he had any?
A. He did not think of Lisa Marie�s future she was only 9 years old when he passed.
Q. Why was Gladys not buried beside Elvis at Graceland?
A. Gladys� remains were returned to Graceland at a different time.
Q. When Elvis passed away where were you and what was your reaction?
A. I was at Graceland at the time. I ran upstairs and turned him over. I knew there was no hope even then. I waited for the ambulance and went to the hospital and waited for 30 minutes for confirmation. When his death was confirmed I called the Colonel in Portland, Maine and he said he would be here as soon as possible. I called Priscilla who was shocked and she asked after
Lisa Marie who was visiting her father at Graceland at that time. I knew in my heart he was gone but my head could not take it all in. I then knew I had to organise the funeral and it would be Elvis� last show. It was a very hard time.
Q. Elvis� last concert was very moving especially with his dad in the audience. What was Elvis� relationship like with Vernon?
A. Elvis loved his dad and he had a very close relationship. When Elvis was found upstairs at Graceland on 16th August 1977 Vernon came into the bathroom. I was very concerned for Vernon because he had just recovered from a recent heart attack.
Q. What about Elvis� stepbrothers?
A. They were never his stepbrothers, Vernon never adopted them.
Q. During the 1960�s was Elvis listening to music i.e. Jimmy Hendrix?
A. Yes, he was a fan of lots of different musicians.
Q. What did Elvis think about the 1960�s Human and Civil Rights?
A. Elvis believed in equality for everyone, black or white etc. He loved black people because he was raised with them.
Q. How would you sum up Elvis?
A. To me Elvis was a living, giving man.