Elvis - A Lighted Candle

[Rainbow Light]

When I went down for the first rehearsal for Elvis Presley, I had never liked Elvis Presley. I told my wife, 'I'm just going to go down and check this guy out, but I don't think I'm going to do it' When I got there and heard him, it changed my life. He literally took me to school musically. I came home and told my wife. She didn't believe me. I said 'come with me tomorrow night'. She came down the next night and was a fan from that moment on. Elvis wore his heart on his sleeve.

[Barbara Lea]

I JUST THOUGHT OF JERRY SCHEFF TODAY, AND WONDERED WHY HE AS NEVER SAID MUCH ABOUT HIS TIME WITH ELVIS, BUT I SEEN THIS. JERRY SEEMED TO ME TO BE A LITTLE SHY, I KNOW HE SURE COULD PLAY THAT BAS GUITAR. FOR THE LOVE OF ELVIS! BARB!

[Rainbow Light]

HE CAME OVER TO ENGLAND SEVERAL YEARS AGO WITH GLENN HARDIN TO DO AN INTERVIEW WITH THE UK FANS AT A WEEK LONG ELVIS FESTIVAL EVENT WHICH I ATTENDED.

THEY ARE SUCH LOVELY GUYS, AND SHARED WITH US ABOUT ELVIS BUT I THINK THEY CAN BE CONSIDERED MORE FRIENDS THAN MM ETC WERE, MAYBE IT'S JUST THEY ARE ARTISTS/MUSICIANS IN THEIR OWN RIGHT AND HAVE MORE RESPECT FOR ELVIS AS A SINGER/HUMAN BEING.

ONE THING JERRY MENTIONED IS HE WANTED ELVIS TO DO THE VOCAL ON A SONG CALLED "FIRE DOWN BELOW" IN A GRACELAND SESSION: THERE WERE LYRICS/VOCAL AVAILABLE BUT ELVIS FOR SOME REASON DIDN'T GET TO DO THE SONG SO JERRY DID A BASS INSTRUMENTAL WITH IT - CAN BE FOUND ON THE CD: ELVIS PRESLEY: THE JUNGLE ROOM SESSIONS, LAST TRACK, FUNKY LITTLE NUMBER BUT OH HOW I WISH ELVIS HAD DECIDED TO DO THE VOCAL - CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD HAVE SOUNDED LIKE!!

[Barbara Lea]

YES I BET ELVIS WOULD HAVE DONE A FANTASTIC JOB WITH THAT SONG, SUCH A REAL SHAME HE DIDN'T GET TO DO IT. BARB!

[Rainbow Light]

It is indeed, Barb. Have tracked down a bit extra from Jerry from his website:

Song writing has been my main passion over the last few years. I’ve been attempting to write a good song and I think I might be sneaking up on a couple. In the past I wrote a song that was the last song Elvis Presley ever worked on in a recording situation. It is called, "Fire Down Below" We were at Graceland and spent an hour or so working it up when Elvis got real pale and went upstairs to lie down. An hour later he called me up to his bedroom and said he was sending everyone home. He said to cut the track and he would finish it. He never did. One of those things! I sat on this song for 25 years, but I have a new version on CD that the TCB band (James Burton, Ronnie Tutt, Glen D Harden, and myself) played on.

[Barbara Lea]

THANKS SUE, FOR THE INFORMATION ABOUT JERRY! SEE LIKE JERRY SAID THERE WAS SOMETHING BAD WRONG WITH ELVVIS THEN, I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW BLIND SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE WERE! BARB!

[Rainbow Light]

YOU KNOW, I LISTENED TO THIS CD AS WAS RECORDED IN JUNGLE DEN IN, I BELIEVE, 1976 AND QUITE A BIT OF HUMOROUS CHAT SPECIALLY WHEN THE PHONE RINGS THEN THE DOGS START BARKING - SOUNDS LIKE CHAOS!

HOWEVER, I DID NOTE THAT THERE WAS SOMEONE WITH A PRETTY BAD COUGH ON THOSE SESSIONS AND AM JUST WONDERING IF THAT COULD HAVE BEEN ELVIS - QUITE POSSIBLY IF HE WAS NOT ILL AS JERRY MENTIONED? OBVIOUSLY ON CD, WITHOUT FILM FOOTAGE IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL FOR SURE BUT MOST PROBABLY WAS?

[Amanda Viola]

I keep on wondering about how much courage Elvis had in his life time, being sickly from childhood to the day he died and yet, being able to accomplish so much, in so many fields.

We all can imagine where his strengh came from... All those angels and guides busy around him, all day long.

[Barbara Lea]

I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU EVER HEAR WHEN ELVIS, SINGING SOME OF THEM SONGS RIGHT BEFORE HE LEFT US, BUT I HAVE HEARD HIM WIZZING VERY BAD. LIKE SOME ONE WITH LUNG PROBLEMS, I HAVE ALSO SEEN HIM USE BREATHING INHALERS TO. BARB!

[Wanda June Hill]

You're right, he was having breathing problems, he used inhalers quite often and even used them in On Tour-he had algeries to evergreen trees etc; and some chemicals as well. But with that transverse colon that cross right beneath the lungs and under the ribs, being blocked up and enlarged, it crowded his lungs and also he was having heart probelms but wasn't being treated for that apparently, since no one has come forth to say that he was seen for heart failure. What ever it all was, he knew and he chose to keep it quiet. So he became "pale and went upstairs to lie down" in the midst of a recording session. He HAD to have felt horrible to leave his music and the guys, the thing he loved to do most, and said was "more fun that sex" most of the time, and go up to lie down because he felt so bad. Right, where were those 24-7 guys? No body noticed...Lisa is right on. wjh

[Barbara Lea]

I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT EITHER, LIKE CHARLIE IF HE WAS SO ATTENTIVE TO ELVIS. WHY DIDN'T HE REALISE SOMETHING BAD WAS WRONG? BARB!

[Wanda June Hill]

Charlie did notice, but Elvis wouldn't listen. Charlie wanted to believe him, he didn't want to even think that Elvis might die... Charlie would have died in his place gladly... he may be the only one who actually did try to be a help to Elvis for Elvis' sake alone. wjh

[Rainbow Light]

As far as someone in Elvis' group that tried to help for Elvis' sake alone - yes, certainly Charlie did do his very best but it must have been so hard and I guess, devastating really to see your friend die and at least be aware of much of the real truth without being able to say anything?

Obviously, as far as you were able to help Elvis you did do so, Wanda - we know that. Sure: know, appreciate and understand too that your own family came first and that's how it should be. Still at the same time know you were a great true friend to Elvis as far as you could possibly be and it means one hec of a lot, please believe me?!

Of course, it goes without saying I'd have loved to have known Elvis like yourself but being as time, fate and whatever else rules I was not able to be, it's a sense of blessing, comfort and reassurance he was able to know and trust you as a friend in his life so much more than many of those who claimed to be around 24/7!! but then that's not for me to throw stones at or 'see fit to judge' either so I'm not going to!

Thank you so much from my heart and spirit!

[Amanda Viola]

"ONE HECK OF A LOT" indeed.

I agree totally with you, Sue.

Those who are able to help others, I feel they are honored by God. Elvis and Wanda for sure are.

[Rainbow Light]

Thank you so much, Amanda! but you know you sure do have a way with words!, and I am sure you have helped uplift many spirits, including mine, with all your truly profound and inspired posts!