Elvis, You Are A Friend Of Mine

by Samuel T Griffis

Celeste Tribune

I like music. Rock, gospel, blues, jazz or country, it makes no difference to me as long as it is good. I have CDs by The Eagles, Dwight Yoakum, Nora Jones, Charlie Daniels and ABBA to name a few. Of course, I like all of those, but there is only one singer I have almost every recording he ever made. I am talking about, yep, you guessed it . . . Elvis!

Not only do I have CDs, I have thirty-three and a third albums, forty-fives singles, cassette tapes and video discs of him. I even have “The Elvis Channel” on the radio in our car. I know, I know, I’m a little obsessed, but I have been listening to him for over fifty years (can that be right?) and I just never tire of his songs. To me, he is the best singer/entertainer there ever was or ever will be.

I first saw him on The Ed Sullivan Show when I was nine or ten years old. I had heard him on the radio, but to see him, well, that was something else! He had his dark hair combed back and with those long sideburns, I tell you, he was one cool cat! I sat there mesmerized as he sang his song and the girls went wild. From that day forward, I was hooked.

I sang his songs everywhere I went. The woods and pastures, the cotton patches and corn fields were alive with the sound of his music. I serenaded the rabbits, squirrels and coyotes with Heartbreak Hotel and I’m All Shook Up. Everything from rats to chickens were being exposed to the music of “The King.” I even gave a concert to the cows and pigs. Singing from the loft of the barn with an ear of corn as a microphone, the non-canine bovines and porcines seemed somewhat confused as I belted out You Ain’t Nothing But A Houndog. Still, the cows looked at me all moo-moo eyed and the pigs squealed with delight when I swiveled my hip and curled my lip while running my fingers through my greased-back hair, being very careful not to touch and smear the long sideburns I had drawn on with mama’s eyebrow pencil.

As I got older, I continued being a fan. The more I learned about him, the more I liked him. In fact, I always thought if I could have met him and got to know him, we would have been buddies, maybe even best friends. I’ll give you a minute to quit laughing. Through? Okay, here’s why.

Elvis and I have a lot in common. For instance, he was raised in rather poor circumstances. One example I read was when he was a boy in Mississippi his folks moved from ramshackle house to ramshackle house before the rent was due because they couldn’t pay it. Likewise, I was brought up in such squalor that once a thief broke into our house, took one look around and instead of stealing anything, LEFT US ten dollars.

There are other similarities. He sang a song named, Little Sister. I HAVE a little sister. He was tall and good-looking. I am tall and, well, I am tall. Elvis’ daughter’s middle name is Marie, my mama’s middle name is Marie. One of his closest friends was nicknamed, “Red.”. “ Red” was my daddy’s nickname. At one time Elvis earned a living driving trucks. I used to make a living loading trucks. He was in the Army and was stationed at Ft. Hood, Texas for a while. I was in the Army and was also stationed at Ft. Hood. He was an E-5 in the 3rd Armored Division. I was an E-5 in the 1st Armored Division.

So, you see, he and I are practically the same. I hope I don’t sound egotistical when I point out that except for his fame, fortune, good looks and talent, it would be hard to tell us apart. As I think about it, I could have easily been one of his running buddies in the “Memphis Mafia” or even been a part of his concerts. On one of his live albums, he introduced his band and his back-up singers. He even included the guy who handed him his towels, scarves and water during the show. I could have been that guy! I know how to hand out towels and carry water.

One of my regrets in life is that I never saw Elvis in person. Every time he was in concert in Dallas, I meant to go, but never did. My opportunity ended on August 16, 1977 when he was found dead at age forty-two at Graceland in Memphis. I will say this , though. Elvis may have left, but his music will live forever.

It’s a shame we never got to meet, because he has been such a big part of my life. But, who knows? Maybe someday we will. If that ever happens, I know exactly what I will say. I’ll say, “Elvis, for all the songs we sang and all the good times we shared; Thank you. Thankyouverymuch.”