Sonny West In Hospital

Never liked the guy, i even hate him, alll can be thanked on the worst elvis book in history: Elvis What Happened!? He was a betrayer,stays a betrayer,he was one of a few who made elvis go down hill because of their jealousy.

The only one who made Elvis go downhill was Elvis himself (with a little help from the Colonel) and it started long before that stupid book came out.

In ultimate sense it is always our own doing, that's right. Yet, SW's contribution was not a way to help him to get over it. This is something a well-doer does not do. Whatever their arguments. That's my view at least. Anyway, still I wish him all the best, as we should wish all beings.

Get well sonny as unlike many others in Elvis s inner circle you were never spineless. At the end of the day we know what you wrote was pretty much the truth. The blame for what happened ( no pun intended ) was Elvis. At the end of the day only he could make the changes he needed in his life and that's fact. Things might have been a whole lot better if he had dumped that money grabbing lazy colonel and followed closely by his record company!!!

I met Sonny West, a few times in Memphis, and he was always very friendly with all the fans. So sorry, to hear, of his misfortune. I hope his surgery goes extremely well. And, regarding the "Elvis-What Happened" book, I wish the guys had never written it, but it is, what it is.

I met most of the MM, Sonny was by far the most fan friendly, the true genuine article. I am sorry to hear of this. He served Elvis faithfully for many years and truly cared for him. The book was a mistake but as someone said, Elvis' troubles started long before that book. Many years of bad career decisions, personal bad habits, etc. which only Elvis could have corrected and didnt care enough for himself to want to. Sonny never gave Elvis a packet of pills to take (like the Stanleys did), quite the opposite.

I think Elvis would have had forgiven him by now and would have paid for the surgery too if he was still with us! I wish him all the best.

We should certainly be praying that West finally gets everything that is due to him..

I am Buffalo-Horn, Are you wishing death to Sonny by your ridiculous comment? Its almost like you were saying he killed Elvis and he should die also if you read between the lines. How insane. I'm sure you would wish the same for Red West also. Elvis would be so proud of you.

We shouldn't kick Sonny when he's down. That's not right. There's nothing worse than kicking a man when he's down. Of course Sonny knows all about that... Let's be honest. We can forgive Sonny and Red and Dave for writing the book 35 years ago. But their intentions were to hurt Elvis. Period. They weren't trying to issue him a challenge. That's total BS. They were trying to get back at him. It was a book based in revenge. They wanted to hurt Elvis. And from what I can gather they were successful in doing just that. Sonny has to live with the fact that his friend died after the book came out. The book may not have killed Elvis but it certainly didn't help him out.

I see the most desperate post of any in the Elvis world has raised its head again 'Elvis would have been so proud of you'. Why do people keep trying to ascribe emotions and feelings to someone they don't know - be it Elvis or someone else? How exactly do you know what he would have felt? And what does it matter anyway? People are entitled to their own opinions. What is clear is that Elvis felt betrayed and hurt and some people suggest there was even thought given to having the Wests 'taken care of'. Certainly, there appears truth in the suggestion Elvis sought out the advice of Frank Sinatra in dealing wth the 'problem' and since they don't appear to have become best mates since 1960, I doubt it was emotional support he was looking for. Everyone is entitled to their opinion on the Wests. Personally I see Sonny's and Red's efforts since 1977, not as contrition, not as righting a wrong but out of desperation to keep the money rolling in. There are few people I would wish ill upon, and Sonny isn't one of them. But possibly uninterest and apathy is more damning then even the strongest feeling, whichever end of the love-hate spectrum that might be. And, frankly, Sonny has done nothing to deserve my respect or me to really care what happens to him. It and he are a total inconsequence in my life other than that he terribly hurt and betrayed (not just the book but in transcribing the phone call to Red) someone who I not only respect and admire more than anyone else but someone he described as 'his brother'. Treachery and betrayal especially borne out of greed and revenge are not traits that anyone should admire or excuse. Time does not and should heal such wounds. Elvis does not appear to forgive people who 'hurt' him easily, and was known to bear grudges against certain people indefinitely completely cutting off all contact and ostracising them Johnny Rivers, Hamburger James, the cousin who stole money at Christmas etc etc. What Elvis may or may nothave done or felt, I simply don't know and is irrelevant anyway. I will make up my own mind.

LonElvis : the best and most senceful posting on this topic so far IMO. I agree with you from the first to the last word you wrote. Difficult to describe it better I think . Well said ! Always El.

LonElvis, I applaude, and agree, with you. The book "Elvis-What happened, should never have been written. As pointed out, Red, Sonny, and Dave (because they were fired, from the inner circle) were out to hurt Elvis, and they succeded. The book, was on Elvis' mind constantly, in the summer of 1977 and he worried about, how he would face, his family, and fans, once the book was released. If the guys wanted to really help Elvis, they should have helped Elvis, quietly, and not hung the dirty Laundry in public, sorta speak.

I always thought the most sincere and REAL friends were Elvis's badn members, back up singers plus Joe. That's all.

Joe? The Colonel's snitch? Yeah a real friend NOT!

For Sonny - I met him at Heathrow airport and he was so friendly and told some cracking stories to me and my colleagues and he kept in loose touch after. Sonny I wish you a speedy recovery because I have no ill feeling towards anyone lest I be judged too. For the book - I've read it and modern stars get up to a heck of alot worse. It was no big deal. It caused him embarrassment, true, but it didn't kill him.

All one has to do is look at Elvis's deterioration over the last year of his life to know what happened. It was his lifestyle not the book. Remember his mother also died very young.

oldscudder. More than the last year. I'd say since 1973. The MM had to save Elvis on more than one occassion (yes it was Sonny also). From pulling food out of his mouth so he wouldnt choke to death while nodding out and also another time they thought he stopped breathing and they went crazy trying to revive him with ice water, etc. The book hurt his ego, but kill him? Elvis guilty. It was a matter of time.

Elvis knew about this book since late 1976 and he could have made the whole thing a laughing stock by appearing in top notch shape in the CBS TV Special and announce a world tour. Who would have cared about that unrealistic book about the most popular and handsome entertainer in world history? There were other, real issues.

Why is it that, some of the fans on this board, continiously "knock Elvis" on almost every post? They will say,that, they are just being, "honest". Well, honesty, is one thing, but to continiously knock the man, is a bit much. Elvis Presley, was human, and yes, he made some mistakes, and made some poor decesions, which is why he is not with us in human form, anymore, but I would rather think of the amazing accomplishments, he achieved and the great entertainment that he gave us. And, "honestly" Elvis, accomplished more in his 42 years of Life than most people do, in a lifetime.

George makes a great point. Let's not forget Elvis was medically sick and had medical issues. And as Scudder noted, his mother died early, too. Elvis worked a frantic schedule and tried hard to live up to his image. There were a ton of demands on Elvis. Sometimes the fans on this board act like he was just a lazy guy who didn't give a flip about anything when in reality Elvis gave almost all he had to his family, friends, and the fans. He had HUGE demands on him as the world's biggest superstar entertainer. I think we need to give him the benefit of the doubt. Who among us has ever had the scrutiny or demands or challenges of Elvis? As I said earlier about Sonny...Elvis was down when they wrote that book. They kicked the poor guy when he was down and not in the shape to fight back. They didn't write this book in 1970 - 1974 when Elvis had a chance to fight back. They wrote it when he was down. That's what always bothered me about it. Only bullies kick a man when he's already down.

All the West uh I mean Best, Sonny!..

Well written LonElvis. I second that, especially the last lines. I can't get it that people think crusifying ELVIS (or any other person for that matter) in public can be justified as he only hurt himself!

Nathan, unfortunately it is quite simple. Encomium and hagiography been displaced by the current fashion for obloquy in the belief it adds credibility and perception – of course, it does nothing of the sort as without context and understanding such censure merely results in misrepresentation and distortion through gross ignorance and paucity of thought and analysis with the corollary a far more damning indictment of the author than the subject - not only the primary failing of the West’s original book, and others such as Goldman’s but considerably more reprehensible than even the most panegyrical musings of Kathy Westmoreland, Larry Geller et al. The ‘Elvis has only himself to blame’ rhetoric is simply the ignominious and contemptible consequence of a complete lack of understanding of (and empathy for) Elvis himself and the causes and effects of mental (and physical) health problems. Equally shocking and sickening.

Although I adore Elvis, I also admit that he was a weak person and not a good husband.. Cmon guys... Thoese guys were not really good friends of him we must accepot that, but also we must know that he should have takend care of himself more and said NO to his manager and other pushing circumstances.

Sirbalkan, Elvis was far from a"weak person". He accomplished and lived up to every obligation and more. The only semi weakness, I see, is that he couldn't beat his drug dependancy, which sadly did him in.

Somebody needs the sausageech!

As I stated, ULTIMATELY and not ONLY. He got entangled within and entangled without and that part is our own. There so many conditions that play a role in our lives. Yet at some point he gave in and got caught in a trap. My empathy for Elvis and (all other sentiments I feel towards him) combined with my understanding of life I am a fervent defender of Elvis and I second the point LonElvis made. It was hard to be on the top of it all. We cannot fathom the strain that it must have had in his life. So who are we to judge, let alone be so harsh. To find fault with another is easy to do, yet to focus on one's own and work on improving oneself is harder.

Natha. Of all the comments made on this topic your's are the most eloquent. I don't think any of us on this site really has full knowledge of Sonny's reasons for writing the book. Was it to help him hurt him or just make a buck? Maybe a little of all of these things. Whatever the reason Sonny is sick & that should be the focus of this topic.

oldscudder : agreed about Natha's comments . But don't forget LonElvis' ! part of his posting of April 18, quote "We shouldn't kick Sonny when he's down. That's not right. There's nothing worse than kicking a man when he's down." Always El.

Benny, Yes of course LonElvis comment also showed me the goodness in some of the people on this site. That's what I admire. And Benny from your previous comments I also include you as one of the good guys on this site. I don't always agree with you guys & thats ok by me. I do however respect all of you.

Let us pray for Sonny. Come praise the Lord for He is good Mmm come join in love and brotherhood We'll hear the word and bring our gifts of bread and wine And we'll be blessed beneath the sign So let us pray together, pray together Pray with the one mighty voice (heavenly voice) And let us sing together, sing together Pray and we'll rejoice (we'll rejoice) When strangers reach out for your hand (for your hand) Respond to them and understand (heaven obeyed to understand) We'll rise as one to calm the storm outside the gate (calm the storm) With faith in Him we'll never leave (never leave) So let us pray together, pray together Pray with the one mighty voice (heavenly voice) And let us sing together, sing together Pray and we'll rejoice (we'll rejoice) (We'll rejoice) The love of God is on our side (love is, love is on our side) We have the strength to move the tide (we'll move the tide) The world will say so, there'll be peace and love for all (love for all) And we must give our brothers love So let us pray together, pray together Pray with the one mighty voice (heavenly voice) And let us sing together, sing together Pray and we'll rejoice (we'll rejoice) Love for all, love for all to the Lord We'll rejoice love for all to the Lord We'll rejoice love for all to the Lord We'll rejoice for the Lord

I agree with the oldscudder about the sausageech! Its overdue.

I remember the scene in This Is Elvis where Sonny, Red, and Dave Hebler are giving a press conference. Sonny breaks down after describing the types of drugs Elvis was ingesting. The reporter asks, "If you loved him so much, why couldn't you protect him?" Hebler gets it right when he says, "Of course protect him. How do you protect a man from himself?" In my opinion, Elvis was ultimately responsible for his own choices. The sensational book that was written about him doesn't change that. As far as Sonny goes, I wish him the best. He is part of the Elvis story, and I personally don't have anything against the man.

The question really is "How do you protect a man from manipulative people like the Wests & Hebler?"

And just to say something about the topic. I don't care about Sonny West. I wish him a fast recovery, though.

I understand most opinions here but in my opnion had Elvis fired these guys in the 60's. Including the colonel. But in music buisiness is today the same. You can better do things for yourself instead asking bloodhounds to help. In these day's all those socalled friends coming to meetings,because they earned money in the name of Elvis. Asking money for autgraphs (and pictures). Once i had a meeting in Holland and we have Al Dvornin. What a bastard was that Sells items and autographs for high prices. So not only Sonny is a bad person. They are all assH. But wish people the dead is completely wrong. So have respect for opions of others

Hi Orion, in connection with the book Elvis What Happened, could you pls check your inbox , I have a personal question. Thanks in advance! Always El.

From another source it appears Sonny is doing well. It's obvious there are still a lot of emotions associated with Elvis - What Happened? I think Red showed class at least after Elvis died by not promoting the book since Elvis couldn't defend himself after he died. I'm sure Elvis' death had to really hurt Red. Sonny and Dave on the other hand kept right on plugging the book and doing sensational interviews. But, again, Sonny has to live with that. He was able to a part of Elvis' inner-circle and it still defines him today. Sonny has to live with what he did with the book. Of all people, Sonny and Red knew Elvis was a private person and they knew what exposing Elvis to the world would do to his psyche. Elvis died knowing Sonny, Red, and Dave betrayed him. Again, they have to live with that. I just wish Elvis had a way of knowing that we all loved him and still love him. Long live the king!

I have a feeling that Elvis wherever he is would find all this very amusing.

What could have been the real reason(s) the Wests were fired ? Seems it was cutting on expences , but were there also not rumours they had been involved in (too much) fighting, even hitting fans ? Someone pls ? Always El.

Benny, I think it was both finances & the problem you mentioned with the fans. There were probably other reasons we will never know about. All this happened 35 years ago so what relevance does it have today? I think the main point to focus on is Sonny's health. I for one wish him only the best.

oldscudder, you're right ! Indeed it all happened such a long time ago, and as LonElvis wrote : Sonny'll have to live with it . Probably very few know the real reason(s). Sonny, Red and Dave have to question their own conscience. As for Sonny's health I hope he recovers, wish him well, after all he's a human being, but in all honesty : I think the 3 of them never should have written that book. Agreed Elvis' lifestyle was a real special one, and I agree the book didn't kill him, but without any doubt it must have hurt him violently. Just my opinion. P.S. Pls check your inbox in a couple of days. I have a private message for you. Best regards. Always El.