When Elvis Presley was on stage in Las Vegas, he would introduce Charlie Hodge as "the little guy who sings harmony with me and gives me my water and my scarves". Hodge was one of the so-called Memphis Mafia, a gang of friends, wholly devoted to Presley, who carried out his every wish.
Charlie Hodge(1934-2006)
He befriended him in the Army and would continue working for Elvis for 17 years until Elvis's death. In his time working with Elvis he became Elvis's closest friend, confidant, sideman, vocal coach, member of the Memphis Mafia, he sang harmony for Elvis, and was his stage manager.
Charles Franklin Hodge (December 14, 1934 – March 3, 2006), better known as Charlie Hodge, was an American singer, vocal coach and musician who was a confidant and best friend of Elvis Presley, and lived at Graceland.
While guitarist Charlie Hodge held a microphone, Elvis poured everything into the song. His body may have been on the brink, but his voice was still there. Watch the full performance above. Elvis died less than two months later.
Now Jerry Schilling, one of the legendary singer's closest friends, is telling PEOPLE how he hopes to see the rock and roll star's legacy unfold in the wake of his only child's death. For him, preserving Elvis's Memphis home, Graceland, is key.
Dolores Hart and Elvis Presley in “Loving You” — her first film and his second. Hart, who later would veer from her path as an up-and-coming starlet, purportedly gave Elvis his first onscreen kiss in the film, although that is a matter of some dispute.
Thankfully that famous footage came through and we were able to use it, and that's the real Elvis. It's so interesting that a lot of people don't realize we cut to the real Elvis because it punches me in the heart every time I see that scene and you see Elvis' face.”
After a performance at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry, Elvis was told by the concert hall manager that he was better off as a truck driver because he would never make it as a singer. Elvis didn't quit though.
"We appreciate the love from all of the fans." According to TMZ, her request was not granted in a Tuesday settlement she reached with granddaughter Riley Keough. Elvis was buried at his beloved Graceland estate upon his death in 1977, and his grave sits beside those of his mother Gladys and father Vernon.
Family members continued to live at Graceland after Elvis' death, including Vernon Presley, who died in 1979, and Minnie Mae Presley, who died in 1980.
About 200 family members, friends and close associates attended the private service at Graceland, a star-studded event that brought John Wayne, Burt Reynolds, George Hamilton, Ann-Margret and Caroline Kennedy.
In a 1978 interview with Playboy Magazine, Parton discussed the parallels drawn between herself and Elvis. She explained that, while she sadly never had the chance to meet Elvis, “There was nobody that [she] ever related to more. I always felt that we were kin.”
The most iconic of his partners was undoubtedly Priscilla Presley, who he shared a daughter Lisa-Marie with and was married from 1967-1973. Then after their split, Elvis spent the next four and a half years with beauty pageant winner and model/actress Linda Thompson.
Parker picks it up off the table, it reads "Elvis Presley remains in residence." When he drops it backstage, it reads "as long as Elvis Presley remains in residence." The words "as long as" weren't there the first time.
Presley Did Not Fire Parker on Stage
Presley never fired Parker publicly, but he did have an on-stage meltdown at a Vegas show over the firing of a kitchen employee he liked.
In 1993, Graceland purchased the property. Today, all shops and attractions in what is now known as Graceland Plaza are owned and operated by EPE.
Miles Teller was a top fan choice for the role of Elvis.
Mary Tyler Moore revealed in her 1995 autobiography, After All, that Elvis, The King of Rock and Roll, had a crush on her. At her first meeting with Elvis, “He confessed right from the start that he'd had a crush on me since The Dick Van Dyke Show,” Moore explained.
The future rock 'n' roll superstar was a young unknown when his debut single, 'That's All Right,' came out July 19, 1954.
The reveal was made by Elvis' cousin Billy Smith, the last surviving original Memphis Mafia member, and his wife Jo. Speaking on their YouTube channel Elvis Fans Matter, they were asked if it was true that The King slapped Hodge, who died in 2006 aged 71. Jo confessed: “Yep that's true, he did once.
"Unfortunately, I wasn't with him in the end," said Schilling who left Presley in 1974 to manage the Beach Boys, Jerry Lee Lewis and Billy Joel.
Billy Smith was Elvis' first cousin, the son of Gladys Presley's oldest brother. Billy was 8 years younger than Elvis and grew up with him in Tupelo. Billy's family also went with the Presleys when they first moved to Memphis.