Anyone have Sonny West's book "Still Taking Care Of Business"?

[Matt Helm]

...Sonny West and Dave Hebler at the infamous ABC Press Conference 1977...complete?! I don't know, but what the heck...Matt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkzlsOnbCvA

My personal opinion:
I would never ever report badly about a FRIEND...neither in a book or some digital channels so far...

[mojo-workin]

...Sonny West and Dave Hebler at the infamous ABC Press Conference 1977...complete?! I don't know, but what the heck...Matt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkzlsOnbCvA

My personal opinion:
I would never ever report badly about a FRIEND...neither in a book or some digital channels so far...

I've read that first book "What Happened" and i don't think it's as bad as people make it out to be. I think the problem was Steve Dunleavy, the gutter tabloid journalist - sensationalised a lot of stories in the press, only concentrating on the drug taking. The actual book was a broad overview of Elvis' career.

Sonny West made some interesting points about the book in this interview from 2002:
https://www.elvis.com.au/presley/interview-sonnywest.shtml

[Sebastiano]

I was a good friend of Bill Burk... probably some of you know about him, and he arrange for me a meeting with Sonny in Memphis, after the presentation of his book. I do not remember exactly where it was (but I have write it somewhere).
We spoke for about one and an half hour... many things about Elvis… most of all his feeling, but no unreleased stories (nothing like “he told me to keep this or that secret”…). What stands out in my mind is the description of his son on the legs of Elvis and how he played with him in the backstage before the last show in Memphis!
Well, I heard many stories about Sonny and how tough he was (probably at the time he was) but I remember that at a certain point we slipped into talking about our Families and I told him about my father, how ill he was and that I suppose he would not make it... what unfortunately happened!
Suddenly I saw this man that many described with the worse words crying real tears about my father, and I found myself forced to console him: we hug each other and I still can hear him sobbing, telling that he was sure that things will get better.
We also spoke about religion and, at the end of the meeting, he gave me his home address.
When I come back in Italia I sent him a Bible in Italian.
Ciao Sonny... tell Elvis that I love him!
Sebastiano Cecere

[Mountain Mist]

I was a good friend of Bill Burk... probably some of you know about him, and he arrange for me a meeting with Sonny in Memphis, after the presentation of his book. I do not remember exactly where it was (but I have write it somewhere).
We spoke for about one and an half hour... many things about Elvis… most of all his feeling, but no unreleased stories (nothing like “he told me to keep this or that secret”…). What stands out in my mind is the description of his son on the legs of Elvis and how he played with him in the backstage before the last show in Memphis!
Well, I heard many stories about Sonny and how tough he was (probably at the time he was) but I remember that at a certain point we slipped into talking about our Families and I told him about my father, how ill he was and that I suppose he would not make it... what unfortunately happened!
Suddenly I saw this man that many described with the worse words crying real tears about my father, and I found myself forced to console him: we hug each other and I still can hear him sobbing, telling that he was sure that things will get better.
We also spoke about religion and, at the end of the meeting, he gave me his home address.
When I come back in Italia I sent him a Bible in Italian.
Ciao Sonny... tell Elvis that I love him!
Sebastiano Cecere

Thank you for sharing, Sebastiano.

Such a lovely memory, and it is wonderful to know, in detail, about Sonny's sensitivity. I am hoping that Sonny gave you some comfort?

[mojo-workin]

I was a good friend of Bill Burk... probably some of you know about him, and he arrange for me a meeting with Sonny in Memphis, after the presentation of his book. I do not remember exactly where it was (but I have write it somewhere).
We spoke for about one and an half hour... many things about Elvis… most of all his feeling, but no unreleased stories (nothing like “he told me to keep this or that secret”…). What stands out in my mind is the description of his son on the legs of Elvis and how he played with him in the backstage before the last show in Memphis!
Well, I heard many stories about Sonny and how tough he was (probably at the time he was) but I remember that at a certain point we slipped into talking about our Families and I told him about my father, how ill he was and that I suppose he would not make it... what unfortunately happened!
Suddenly I saw this man that many described with the worse words crying real tears about my father, and I found myself forced to console him: we hug each other and I still can hear him sobbing, telling that he was sure that things will get better.
We also spoke about religion and, at the end of the meeting, he gave me his home address.
When I come back in Italia I sent him a Bible in Italian.
Ciao Sonny... tell Elvis that I love him!
Sebastiano Cecere

Thanks for sharing such a heartwarming story Sebastiano. So sorry for your loss.

[Lina]

Maureen Stapleton tells a story about Elvis in Elaine Dundy's book "Elvis and Gladys", page 246:

"In the beginning of August, 1956, at a Fox sound studio in a room full of aspirants waiting to do their screen tests, Maureen Stapleton, in Hollywood for the first time and for the same reason, was waiting with her four-year-old son, Danny. "Elvis was there, too" she recalls. "He must have been going to record "Love me tender". It was around that date. Anyway, he had his guitar. I was doubled over, gripping my stomach with an attack of nerves. Suddenly there he was bending over me asking: "Is there anything wrong, ma'am?" I said I was going to take a screen test and couldn't get my stomach to stop churning. And if I wasn't surprised enough already, he said: "I feel that way every day of my life, ma'am." Then they called him in to do his song. My turn was next. When he came out, instead of leaving he came up to me and said: "Don't worry about your kid, ma'am, I'll sit with him and look after him. Go on now. Don't worry. He'll be all right with me, ma'am." I couldn't believe it. There had to be dozens of other people in the room still waiting who could have looked after Danny. When I came out of my test, there they were, the two of them. Danny was totally absorbed. Elvis was showing him how to play his guitar." When Maureen thanked Elvis, he said: "That's all right, ma'am, and good luck, ma'am" Then he went to the door and opened it. The roar from the fans outside came rolling into the room, shaking the rafters. Elvis turned to Maureen, smiled and said again: "Good luck, ma'am." And went out into the din."

Maureen Stapleton on Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maureen_Stapleton

[mojo-workin]

Maureen Stapleton tells a story about Elvis in Elaine Dundy's book "Elvis and Gladys", page 246:

"In the beginning of August, 1956, at a Fox sound studio in a room full of aspirants waiting to do their screen tests, Maureen Stapleton, in Hollywood for the first time and for the same reason, was waiting with her four-year-old son, Danny. "Elvis was there, too" she recalls. "He must have been going to record "Love me tender". It was around that date. Anyway, he had his guitar. I was doubled over, gripping my stomach with an attack of nerves. Suddenly there he was bending over me asking: "Is there anything wrong, ma'am?" I said I was going to take a screen test and couldn't get my stomach to stop churning. And if I wasn't surprised enough already, he said: "I feel that way every day of my life, ma'am." Then they called him in to do his song. My turn was next. When he came out, instead of leaving he came up to me and said: "Don't worry about your kid, ma'am, I'll sit with him and look after him. Go on now. Don't worry. He'll be all right with me, ma'am." I couldn't believe it. There had to be dozens of other people in the room still waiting who could have looked after Danny. When I came out of my test, there they were, the two of them. Danny was totally absorbed. Elvis was showing him how to play his guitar." When Maureen thanked Elvis, he said: "That's all right, ma'am, and good luck, ma'am" Then he went to the door and opened it. The roar from the fans outside came rolling into the room, shaking the rafters. Elvis turned to Maureen, smiled and said again: "Good luck, ma'am." And went out into the din."

Maureen Stapleton on Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maureen_Stapleton

Thanks for sharing Lina. Another story i wasn't familiar with.

[Lina]

mojo-workin', you're welcome:-) I didn't either until the other day. These days I am reading the book for the first time.

[N880EAP]

Some things that I didn't know (or have ever seen) ....

Elvis Stories with Sonny West: Steve Kelley (EAPSS03E23)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiBJRou4lTo


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EP paid for everything for Sonny's wedding/event. Everything, above and beyond.
Wow. What a guy. Incredible.

(Sorry. Must admit, it makes me think of the EWH? book. No wonder it tore Sonny up for the rest of his life.)

[N880EAP]

Today Vicky (Tiu) Cayetano is first lady of Hawaii. She remembers that Presley even had a way with girls as young as she. One day she was nervous and struggling with one scene that stretched into about 30 takes, and could see the director getting frustrated. She started stuttering. Finally, Elvis said, "That’s it, it’s a wrap, the little lady and I are going to have something to eat,'” she recalled.. After Elvis took her to dinner, the next day she nailed the scene immediately. “At that age, I didn’t understand the magnitude of his fame and popularity. But he was a gentleman,” said Cayetano, now in her late 40s.

LOVE this story. Thanks.