Elvis: Still Taking Care of Business: Memories and Insights About Elvis Presley From His Friend and Bodyguard

Good book, written with love by his bodyguard. Real truth but no bashing

Entertaining and kept me engaged. I don’t fully believe everything as truth, not because I think Sonny is lying but bc it is from his memory and perspective. He only knew a part of Elvis just like each of his MM did and others in his orbit. You can’t know all of him unless you were each member of the MM, married to him, dated him, was a mistress, gate girl, maid, his mom, dad, cousin, uncle, Minnie Mae, Aunt Delta, movie executives, leading ladies, Colonel Parker and others along the way ALL AT ONCE including the man himself. Otherwise, each person has only a tiny piece of him and their memories with him to tell. This was another book about a tiny piece and I did enjoy their piece and view. However, I do believe it is what Sonny saw, felt and experienced and his reality of it. He did have some great stories, and I agreed with some of his opinions on things. I do not like the putting some down due to being hurt by them, but many of the MM and people around Elvis seem to do that. Overall it was good and I am glad he wrote it. Also I do appreciate him explaining about Albert Sachs book sounding like Albert didn’t like Elvis. I always felt the same thing and thought maybe I was making that up. Maybe I read it wrong. Do read the book.

I think one should read Peter Guralnick's 2 volume book to get an overview on Elvis. This book gives more of an insiders view of the good and the bad. Another reviewer talked about how Sonny talked about himself a bit too much but I think differently. Sonny wanted to show that he tried to be an individual and have his own life and wife. Elvis did some pretty crummy things like moving in on other guys' girls but there were moments of extreme charity that no one ever heard about. I will not read Ginger Alden's book because I think if she checked on Elvis after 2 hours of him being in bathroom, maybe he'd still be alive. I read Nancy Rook's book which was good but limited. This book was a page turner and am glad I read it.

West's second book about Elvis Presley is the view of "someone who was there" that is more muted from the more famous book he was associated with that was written thirty-eight years ago. This book is somewhat better because Mr. West chose a better ghost writer than Levy. West is probably one of the four persons who truly know what living with and working for Elvis Presley was like and the book provides a balance view of Presley. While it is not on the level of the two volume biography of Presley by Peter Guralnick, it does provide a slice of Presley's life. Since so many books have been written by former lovers, friends, ex-wives, and people who met Elvis once, this book is lost in the total volume of books published since Presley's death, in 1977. West's loyalty to Tom Parker is to be admired but Parker was the primary reason that Presley got stuck in the endless musicals that ruined his reputation as an actor. Presley performances in such films as "Kid Galahad", "Follow That Dream" and "King Creole" illustrate that he could have built an acting career along the lines of Steve McQueen or James Garner. Parker short-changed his acting career because every movie meant over a half-million dollars to Parker, who was a gambling addict always in need of cash. What is amazing is the number of reviewers who still refuse to believe Elvis Presley "killed himself" with no help from anybody other than doctors providing him with prescription drugs. Every item printed in West's first book, which seems to still bring out pure hatred for West, has been documented by the above-mentioned Guralnick biographies. The remaining "haters because West dared to write another book and profit from knowing Presley" should realize Presley is probably the most famous icon of the 20th century and that status will generate books by persons that touched his life. Recently, Rivera aired a special "Elvis at 80" which provided another hour about how Elvis killed himself with massive numbers of prescription drugs. Anyone that believes a person can take 200 q-lutes a month and live a long life is in denial. That drug was banned by the DEA, in 1986, because 1 at a time knocked you out for hours and Presley was taking 10-12 a day along with the numerous pain killers like peradan, Mr. West's book is a positive reflection of Elvis Presley's life.

Elvis is still of great interest to those of us who remember him

Backstabbing Sonny is back. I gave it a quick read, then gave it away. My advice? Simply stay away. He tries to underplay his sleazy " Elvis: What Happened?" contributions and replace them with newer, more pleasant memories of his days with Elvis. Too little, too late. These Memphis Mafia guys were there through it all, lived it with Elvis -- the good, the bad, the ugly. Once their connection with the boss (which is what they called him, not 'King') was over they cashed in. Oh, they were all innocents looking back, of course, and old weird Elvis was the crazed bad guy leading them astray. I've no doubt that had they sucked it up (it was really all about lawsuits over violence done to fans) and waited it out, Elvis would have brought them back into the fold, despite Vernon Presley's protestations. RIP, Sonny, I hope you've found the forgiveness you craved later in life in the next one. Three fallen flaming stars.

I think this is very enlightening and very tragic. It tells the real story of Elvis' death. Couldn't put it down.

LOVED this book and hated when it was done. Tells the behind-the-scenes world from one who experienced it all!

Se puede leer en Ingles aunque no tengas un nivel alto

Livre intéressant. J'aime bien apprendre à connaître l'homme qu'il a été en-dehors des projecteurs. Ses bons et ses mauvais côtés. Personne n'est parfait. Elvis je t'aimerais toujours.

It showed how he was as a person. Not just a performer

Its hard to summarise this book, but what I will say is, if you are afraid of hearing cold, hard facts from Sonnys perspective then it may not be for you, still I would highly recommend reading this with fresh eyes and lose all pre-conceptions. I enjoyed it thoroughly but found it hard when it comes to the removal of Sonny, Red and Dave from Elvis life, such a sad time in Elvis life and particularly for Red and Sonny to risk their friendship with Elvis. I have moved on from Elvis What Happened as I assume most fans have, as we know now much more than we were prepared to accept first time around and what comes through in this book is the love and devotion that they had for each other, in spite of the last few years.

Great read, so interesting, I may read it again.