Elvis - by George Klein & Chuck Crisafulli (Paperback)

About the Book

Through Elvis's rise to fame and the wild swirl of his celebrity, Klein was a steady presence and a loyal friend until Presley's untimely death in 1977. Includes never-before-published photos from Klein's personal collection.

Book Synopsis

The touching story of thirty years of friendship between George Klein and the King that "offers an insider's view of Presley the man as opposed to Presley the singer, actor, and icon" (Associated Press).

"You capture the essence of Elvis not only in dialogue, but also in giving the reader a sense of his personality, humor, and his spirit of play."--Priscilla Presley

When George Klein was an eighth grader at Humes High, he couldn't have known how important the new kid with the guitar--the boy named Elvis--would later become in his life. But from the first time GK (as he was nicknamed by Elvis) heard this kid sing, he knew that Elvis Presley was someone extraordinary. During Elvis's rise to fame and throughout the wild swirl of his remarkable life, Klein was a steady presence and one of Elvis's closest and most loyal friends until his untimely death in 1977.

In Elvis: My Best Man, a heartfelt, entertaining, and long-awaited contribution to our understanding of Elvis Presley and the early days of rock 'n' roll, George Klein writes with great affection for the friend he knew about who the King of Rock 'n' Roll really was and how he acted when the stage lights were off. This fascinating chronicle of boundary-breaking and music-making through one of the most intriguing and dynamic stretches of American history overflows with insights and anecdotes from someone who was in the middle of it all. From the good times at Graceland to hanging out with Hollywood stars to butting heads with Elvis's iron-handed manager, Colonel Tom Parker, to making sure that Elvis's legacy is fittingly honored, GK was a true friend of the King and a trailblazer in the music industry in his own right.

Review Quotes

"George was with Elvis from the beginning. He personally knows the story."--Dick Clark

"George Klein is something else. Through the years, George has been right there. He's got the great stories and he's always talked about Elvis and presented him with great dignity."--Tom Petty

"GK was there from the beginning, and there 'til the end. This book is fact."--Jerry Lee Lewis

"George, bravo! I learned some new things about you and your life, especially the earlier years. I feel you capture the essence of Elvis not only in dialogue, but also in giving the reader a sense of his personality, humor, and his spirit of play. . . . I know that Elvis would be proud that you've remained his loyal and lifelong friend."--Priscilla Presley

"GK was one of the most important friends and confidants of Elvis Presley. This book captures all the excitement of the birth of rock 'n' roll, and reminds us of the very significant roles that Elvis and GK played as rock 'n' roll pioneers."--Jerry Schilling

"This book is as close as you will ever get to knowing what Elvis was really like."--Memphis Examiner

About the Author

GEORGE "GK" KLEIN is a Memphis native and a pioneering disc jockey and television host. He and Elvis met in eighth grade at Humes High in North Memphis, and they became lifelong friends. Today, Klein hosts a program for Sirius XM Radio's Elvis channel, Memphis Sounds for WYPL-18 TV, and the Elvis Hour for WMC radio in Memphis, where he lives with his wife, Dara. He misses Elvis every day.

CHUCK CRISAFULLI is a veteran entertainment journalist and author, most recently of Go to Hell: A Heated History of the Underworld, and Me and a Guy Named Elvis, with Jerry Schilling.