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Jim and Elvis...

Posted by Mike Slater <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Mike+Slater' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 5, 2014, 2:03 pm

Larry, I was wondering if there might be anything more about Jim's relationship with Elvis during the brief time they worked together on the Louisiana Hayride that we've never heard before. I always wondered just how close they were to each other, and if Elvis appreciated Jim as a singer. In your book, you mention that Jim didn't really appreciate Elvis' kind of music, but that he liked him as a person. However, I've never read anything about what Elvis thought of Jim's music. Is there anything else that you might know about Jim and Elvis that maybe didn't make it into the book?

Re: Jim and Elvis...

Posted by Larry Jordan <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Larry+Jordan' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 5, 2014, 2:44 pm, in reply to "Jim and Elvis..."

I believe I already reported that Elvis sent a note of thanks to Jim for "covering" for him and pretending to book a recording session for himself when it was actually to be Elvis' first session after discharge from the military. In the note Presley complimented Reeves and was humble that an artist of Jim's stature would help him.

Col. Tom Parker first tried to sign Reeves to a management contract (as I reported in my book), before he latched onto Elvis.

Of course, Jim and Elvis worked shows together, especially in the early days, and Elvis was a hungry young man like so many performers were in those days. He would occasionally eat at Tom and Billie Perryman's home (and they were of course close friends of Jim and Mary Reeves).

Jim and Elvis also would run into each other at RCA and Jim recounts one such episode in a taped interview.

Ted Staples, one of Jim's closest friends in Texas, tells me of the day they were out walking and chatting and Ted made a comment about Elvis which Reeves thought was not accurate. He asked Ted "Have you ever met him? You need to get to know him. He's not at all like his public image. That's all an act." (I'm paraphrasing).

When they were looking at ranch land together, Jim also remarked to Ted that one particular piece of property was large enough to accommodate a runway, and that this would also please Elvis.

There are references to Presley on 50 pages in my book, "Jim Reeves: His Untold Story."

Re: Jim and Elvis...

Posted by Mike Slater <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Mike+Slater' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 5, 2014, 7:12 pm, in reply to "Re: Jim and Elvis..."

Thanks for your reply, Larry. I enjoyed reading it. Yes, there are many references to Elvis in your book, but there are a few things you mentioned that I didn't recall or haven't heard before. I knew about Elvis' first post-army session being booked under Jim's name, but I didn't recall Elvis sending him a note of thanks. I always thought to myself how lucky some people were back in the day to be fortunate enough to see both Jim and Elvis at the Hayride shows!

Re: Jim and Elvis...

Posted by Doris Gath <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Doris+Gath' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 5, 2014, 8:59 pm, in reply to "Re: Jim and Elvis..."

Mike, Jim told Elmer and I the story about how at the LA. Hayride one night an elderly couple had a flat tire on their car in the parking lot. Jim said Elvis went out and changed their tire in his white show suit! Quite a gentleman!
Always for Jim, Doris

Re: Jim and Elvis...

Posted by Mike Slater <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Mike+Slater' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 6, 2014, 12:49 pm, in reply to "Re: Jim and Elvis..."

Doris, that's a great little story that I never heard before. Yes, Jim certainly earned the name "Gentleman Jim", but Elvis was quite a gentleman himself. I saw Elvis in concert about 5 or six times in the '70's, but I never got to see Jim. I was only 12 years old when he died. If only I had been born a little earlier, I might have had that chance. Thanks, Doris! It's always good to hear from you!

Re: Jim and Elvis...

Posted by Doris Gath <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Doris+Gath' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 6, 2014, 1:38 pm, in reply to "Re: Jim and Elvis..."

Hi Mike: I never saw Elvis in person, but I did see and know Jim and Mary pretty well. Great people, great memories! Just think, though, if you had been older to see Jim you would be my age! No fun! Ha.
Doris

Re: Jim and Elvis...

Posted by Mike Slater <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Mike+Slater' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 6, 2014, 1:44 pm, in reply to "Re: Jim and Elvis..."

Hi Doris! Yes, I would be a bit older now if I had been old enough to see Jim, ha! ha! I've always envied you and Elmer for knowing Jim and Mary so well, and being such close friends with them. As I said, I never got to see Jim in person, buy my Mom and older brother were lucky enough to see Jim though. They were at the big Carnegie Hall concert in 1961. I would have given anything to be at that show!

Re: Jim and Elvis...

Posted by Paul <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Paul+Bertils' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 6, 2014, 4:38 pm, in reply to "Re: Jim and Elvis..."

Afternoon Mike,
Unlike both you and Doris I never did see Elvis or Jim Reeves perform but I did meet Mary Reeves and therein lies my Elvis/Jim story.Back in the mid 80s I was in Nashville for a few days during the month of March.While there I made plans to visit the Museum and check out the JR displays etc. However, upon my arrival I discovered that the museum was closed for the season.Consequently,I went to the Reeves Enterprises office to check just when it might re-open.I believe that I met Joyce and she in turn introduced me to Mary who was in her office at the time.We chatted for awhile and she asked me where I had traveled from.Once she learned this information she suggested that if I met her at the museum the following morning she would give me a personal tour of the complex and answer all my questions about Jim which she did.It lasted close to an hour if I remember correctly.One of the displays caught me right off guard in that 99 percent of the various displays etc. dealt with Jim and/or Jim and the Blue Boys or Mary receiving awards on behalf of Jim.However,the one display that seemed somewhat out of synch with the rest of the memorabilia was a jump suit owned by Elvis, and it was prominently displayed in a glass case right next to the model of the plane Jim had been flying on that fateful afternoon.In that Mary did most of the talking about each and every item in the museum I was curious what she would have to say about this specific item.She was very brief and to the point in that she simply noted that the suit was on loan to the museum because Elvis had been a good friend /colleague of Jim and he wanted to pay tribute to Jim in this manner.Whether that was actually the case I had no way of knowing and I certainly did not press the issue.However, she did ask me whether I thought it belonged there or not? I mumbled and stumbled somewhat and said that it was not my call but that if she felt comfortable with the display that was all that mattered I guess.I often wondered whether that question was asked of others and what actually happened with the suit such as it was.I left the museum shortly before lunch with an autographed photo of Mary and various other mementos but more important with a very positive memory of Mary and all the time she seemingly had for me on this occasion.From all that I have read about Mary as a follow-up to my visit she seemed to treat all of Jim's fans in a similar fashion.Merely first class !! Cheers!

Re: Jim and Elvis...

Posted by Mike Slater <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Mike+Slater' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 6, 2014, 5:45 pm, in reply to "Re: Jim and Elvis..."

Paul, thank you for the story. I always enjoy reading anything about Jim and Elvis. That was great that you were lucky enough to get a personal tour of the museum from Mary herself! You were very fortunate. However, Mary's story about Elvis loaning one of his jumpsuits to the museum to pay tribute to Jim doesn't seem likely. I believe the Jim Reeves Museum didn't even open until sometime in the '80's, and Elvis died in 1977. I don't see how Elvis could have had his jumpsuit on loan to the museum if it hadn't opened yet. I can't remember the exact year it did open, but I'm almost certain it didn't even exist in the '70's. Maybe Larry can help with this one...

Re: Jim and Elvis...

Mary announced plans in December 1980 to open the Jim Reeves Museum at Evergreen Place, a historic mansion that dated back to 1794.

Re: Jim and Elvis...

Posted by Even Bjerkelien <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Even+Bjerkelien' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 7, 2014, 4:14 am, in reply to "Re: Jim and Elvis..."

Elvis had several Jim Reeves records in his collection.
I've seen a picture of some of Elvis' albums which are on dispaly at Graceland.
I could see from the pic that he owned "The Intimate Jim Reeves".
Would've been interesting getting hold of the whole list of Elvis' record collection which Graceland and EPE has made.

Re: Jim and Elvis...

Posted by Paul <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Paul+Bertils' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 7, 2014, 10:00 am, in reply to "Re: Jim and Elvis..."

Hey Michael,
Thanks for your thoughts re the Elvis jumpsuit at the museum.As Larry noted the museum opened after 1980( I believe it was in 1981 and I think it was closed down in 1995 give or take a few months) and was taken down in about 2005 for a future Home Depot site.As for the death of Elvis I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing in 1977 when the death of Elvis was announced(not unlike my memories of the death of JFK).Full disclosure-I was not a particularly great Elvis fan at the time (my musical hero at the time for pop music was Pat Boone).However,I was somewhat puzzled by the Elvis display at the museum but I really did not say all that much or ask any questions out of courtesy for Mary.And I guess the bottom line was that I really did not care !Given that my visit to the museum was not in season I often wondered whether that was a permanent display or not.However,if memory serves me correctly I have seen a You-Tube video over the years where it was mentioned that it was still on display.How Mary came to receive this article of clothing I haven't got a clue given the timing of the death of Elvis and the actual opening of the museum.In fact, I saw something on the internet dated 2012 where the jumpsuit was noted as well.I would think that Joyce would know the whole story but I do not know whether she would want to comment on this issue or not either publicly or privately.Cheers PS. I do listen to Elvis on satellite radio from time to time (he has his own channel) and I do appreciate his many talents more so now than when he was alive.

Re: Jim and Elvis...

Posted by Mike Slater <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Mike+Slater' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 7, 2014, 7:05 pm, in reply to "Re: Jim and Elvis..."

Larry, Even and Paul, thanks for the replies. Even, this is the first time I ever heard that Elvis had any of Jim's records in his personal collection. "The Intimate Jim Reeves" is one of my favorite's of Jim. I wonder if Elvis had any others. Paul, I would have done the same thing as far as not questioning Mary about the jumpsuit. Maybe she just made an honest mistake and got her facts wrong. I remember where I was when Elvis died too, as well as the day JFK died. I'm afraid I'm old enough to remember that too. I can also remember the day Jim died, which was only nine months after JFK's death. I had a ticket to see Elvis on August 22, but he passed away on the 16th.

Re: Jim and Elvis...

There was definitely an Elvis item in the Reeves museum, I can vouch for that, and I think it was included just because Jim and Mr. Presley were friends.

As for what Mary may have told a visitor, that became less dependable as the years went on and her memory started to fail for reasons of health.

Re: Jim and Elvis...

If I'm not mistaken, the last home recording Elvis made was "He'll Have To Go." Someone correct me if I'm wrong on that...

Re: Jim and Elvis...

Posted by Mike Slater <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Mike+Slater' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 7, 2014, 7:56 pm, in reply to "Re: Jim and Elvis..."

Yes, Larry, "He'll Have To Go" was Elvis' very last recording at his last session on October 30, 1976. His last few sessions were recorded at Graceland because he just wasn't interested in recording anymore. RCA needed some new material for an album, so the studio brought in a truck and set the recording studio up in the jungle room at Graceland. Elvis' recording of "He'll Have To Go" was done in a slow blues style, very unlike Jim's arrangement. Elvis also left out a few of the verses.

Re: Jim and Elvis...

Posted by Ron McBride <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Ron+McBride' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 8, 2014, 7:13 pm, in reply to "Re: Jim and Elvis..."

I do like a lot of Elvis' songs but I must say, I thought his version of "He'll Have To Go' was awful.

Re: Jim and Elvis...

Posted by Mike Slater <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Mike+Slater' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 11, 2014, 1:22 pm, in reply to "Re: Jim and Elvis..."

Ron, I didn't think Elvis' version of "He'll Have To Go" was exactly awful, but I will agree that it's not one of his best performances by any means. Elvis was not really interested in recording during the last months of his life, and unfortunately, some of the recordings reflect that in his performance, "He'll Have To Go" being one of them.

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