Elvis - A Lighted Candle

[ELVIS2001NET]

Wandas Interview will be up on elvis2001 tomorrow. It will be an audio file.
Joe K
www.elvis2001.net

[Blue Moon]

Thanks for the heads up Joe. I look forward to listening to it. :D

[Skylar Star]

Sounds great. Thanks!

[FairyTale]

Thanks Joe I can't wait to hear the Interview! FairyTale!

[ELVIS2001NET]

ok the interview is up. go here and click on her name.
there are two one is text and the new is two audio files.
http://www.elvis2001.net/interviews.htm
joe k
www.elvis2001.net

[FairyTale]

I really enjoyed Wanda's Interview yesterday with Joe K., she was so Natural and really told some great story's about Elvis. FairyTale!

[Amanda Viola]

Being able to hear your voice to such extension, Wanda, makes me understand Elvis had a PLUS while talking with you by phone: You have a beautiful, bright and young voice! And you are as pleasant to hear as you are to read.

WONDERFUL INTERVIEW!

[Wanda June Hill]

Thanks very much for the response! I wish I had my "young" old voice back but that was pretty close to it that day. It's the pits not be be able to yell when I want to and then sometimes to have no voice at all- 'course Jimmie appreciates those times---hee-heee... Peace and quiet! He can watch tv and not have to pause to listen etc:... wjh

[Amanda Viola]

'course Jimmie appreciates those times---hee-heee... Peace and quiet! He can watch tv and not have to pause to listen etc:... wjh

I can relate to that too!

[Blue Moon]

I just got done listening to the 2nd part of Wanda's audio interview with Joe. Great interview Wanda, and Joe is a fine interviewer.

Something new I learned from your interview was that I didn't realize Elvis wanted the black pastor he knew from his youth to do his wedding; well his ideal wedding at any rate which got usurped by the Colonel's rushed Vegas plans for his wedding. And that Elvis wanted a gospel choir from the pastor's church to sing some songs at his wedding. Yes, I can see Elvis liking that kind of wedding much more than the typical Vegas kind. I wondered if the black pastor you spoke of is the same one mentioned and who speaks a little on the He Touched Me DVD. As I recall, Elvis & Dixie used to visit his church.

[Wanda June Hill]

I think that is the one, he didn't say exactly, just that was what he wanted because he had known him "all my life" and he believed he was a man of God and practiced his faith accordingly. He also went to him when he was so torn by the things he was having to do and getting acquainted with when he went to Hollywood and was running at full speed day and night trying to keep up with all that he was expected to do and learn. He was so torn up inside, so unhappy and yet so excited and thrilled by all the "glory and glitz" and yet he felt that he was not doing what he should, that he was straying from his beliefs and having to live the life of a sinner more than one of being right with his Lord. Elvis was a lot more religious and straight down the road so, from his early years having been taught that and being the spiritual soul he was from early days. It must have blown his mind and too, he was a young, handsome guy and you know there had to have been plenty of snares and ropes thrown out his way by lots of people. He was so unhappy he went home and fell on his bed and cried he said, then he talked to his mother and then went down and talked to his pastor who had known him all his life.... The pastor told him to keep the faith in his heart and when he performed to ask God's help and to remember to thank the Lord for giving him such an opportunity to touch people's hearts and thusly their soul. He said "thusly" and I think that is probably what the man said- as it's not an "Elvis" word - that was the only time I ever heard him say that. Anyway, though I am not l00 % sure that was the pastor, I think it was- he had known him all his life etc: and took time to talk with him when he needed it. So Elvis would have strong ties to that man and his faith. Priscilla on the other hand, probably didn't know him, wasn't in to that music etc: and wanted a more traditional kind of wedding-mainly, just a wedding to get it done, I think.
And Elvis went along with it rather than cause a scene and hurt her feelings and make a mess of everything as he put it.

I know that is the one place Elvis said he took his girl friend to church-
they both liked the music and the pastor's style. And it was Dixie Locke...I'm sure. I think he took Anita once or twice too when he came back from the army and he might have taken June as well...I don't know much about her, he never spoke of her at all except to say he used to know a girl named June when he learned my name was Wanda June.
That was it. Not a word. I think he loved her- again that career got in the way.... It was a really terrible jealous "lover" fer sure... wjh

Thanks for the comments about the interview- Joe wants to do it again and I am going to make a list of what I feel I need to say, any suggestions would be appreciated. I've said and written so much I don't have it all in my head as to what I haven't made clear enough so any ideas? wjh

[Blue Moon]

Well there was also an Assembly of God church, a white church, which Elvis attended too in the 50's, and that was where he met Dixie. I thought it was the pastor of that church that Elvis poured his heart out to at the beginning of his fame when he was so troubled, but maybe I've got my stories mixed up. At any rate, he and Dixie would sometimes sneak out of the Assembly of God church and go the black church down the street because Elvis really loved the music at that church.

As for what else you could say on your next interview with Joe . . .
You've already mentioned some of Elvis' spiritual interests in your first interview. I thought it was great how you wove them into the conversation. Any chance to continue to do that w/o sounding preachy I think is good because it is his least known side.

Perhaps clearing up any common misconceptions still believed in the Elvis world be helpful. For example, I still come across Elvis fans who are sure Elvis had plastic surgergy on his nose in the early days of his career, as well as later with his eyes. If I recall right, you believe he never had plastic surgery period -- that the first one was just from the rumor mill and the 2nd one Elvis used as a cover story for a more serious condition.

Another misconception is that Elvis didn't care about being faithful to his wife. Truth is he did and only started having affairs after he found out about his wife's own affairs. I realize you'd have to tread lightly on this one because I know you do not want to smear Priscilla, yet I'm so weary of reading how Pris was a victim of playboy Elvis. She is considered the saint and Elvis is thought of as not caring about being a faithful husband. I'm not saying all the blame rests with Pris, as the situation was complicated with both sides at fault. Perhaps you could mention the lack of communication between them and give examples if you feel comfortable doing that, but maybe this is too personal a subject. Also, you could mention the lies that some of the mm and their wives fed to Pris causing her to doubt Elvis' faithfulness.

Also, about how Elvis did not die of a prescription drug overdose, but rather a heart attack. This could get rather lengthly. As I understand it Elvis did take too many pain killers & sedatives in the mid 70's but that he was down to prescribed levels at the time of his death. You could mention how you believe one of the medications he took was not the right one, causing him to have an allergic reaction. I know you'd have to be careful what you'd say here, for legal reasons. You could mention how Elvis was bloated from his illness & the medication at the time of his death; that his weight was much less than what people thought. He wouldn't have looked good in his coffin otherwise.

[Rainbow Light]

Great ideas and suggestions here, Laurie!! It's difficult to mention everything in an interview I guess but our Joe's great at putting the questions in his own way and Wanda's great at answering 'em too!

Perhaps also something to display Elvis' sense of humor, his funny side would be great too and I know Wanda would have the words needed to bring Elvis forth in the best way possible as she always does!

[FairyTale]

A BIG YEP TO THAT!

[MaryInTheMorning]

I'll definitely 2nd that YEP dear FairyTale!!