Radio 2 Elvis Season - The Elvis Trail - Episode 4

Michael Freedland continues his journey to mark the 75th anniversary of Elvis Presley's birth in Memphis, Tennessee, where the Presley family settled in 1948. Here Michael not only visits the world famous Graceland - how could he not?! - but he also tours the iconic Sun studios. He talks to the hit songwriter Stan Kesler; Elvis's great friend, former DJ George Klein; and movie co-star, Susanna Leigh. In the renowned Peabody Hotel, Michael meets the tailor Bernard Lansky - now 82 years old - who was responsible for Elvis's taste in sharp and original clothing at an early age. Perhaps the highlight of the Memphis trip though, is the visit to the Lauderdale Courts, the housing project where Elvis lived with his family when they were beginning to escape from the grinding poverty they had experienced in Tupelo. There Michael meets a whole bunch of Elvis's friends: Jerry and Neil Niker, Fred Frederick, bassist Bill Black's brother Ken, Blanche Jordan Scott, Gene West, Jack Berelson, and special friend Buzzy Forbess. Many of these people still meet regularly to talk over old times and keep up with each other all these years later. Other contributors include Graceland cook, Nancy Rooks, who tells of late night chats with Elvis on religious matters; Mike Freeman who talks to Michael about Elvis's first house in Audubon drive; school friend Gene Bradberry, businessman Bill Haltom whose father was Elvis's pastor; Buddy Chapman, the Memphis police director at the time of Presley's death; Elvis's secretary Becky Yancey; Elvis's very special frind and nurse, Marian Cocke; gospel singer Jimmy Blackwood; and, intriguingly in a rare interview, Dr Nichopoulos - Elvis' personal physician Dr Nick.