Q : When was the first time you saw Elvis?
A : May have been Milton Berle. I’m
really not sure.
Q : Tell us how you first met Elvis.
A : I was lucky enough to first meet
Elvis at his house in Bel Air and he used to invite different artists,
singers and musicians, to come and jam with him at his house. And in the
lower room, we had a jukebox and just played records and sang together
and just had a great time.
Q : What were nights usually like?
A : Elvis was, at least the times I was
around him, Elvis was a practical joker. He was always, had some little
mischievous something going. And I know I laughed an awful lot. It was an
interesting time because he made it so interesting. He would get the
Jordanaires. He would get, again, as I say, these different people would
come up. He was extremely down to earth. He really set the standard,
Elvis set the standard as far as I’m concerned on how a star should act.
He was the first star. He will always be the king. He will always be the
biggest star there is. No one can ever take his place, and what he got
across was that spirit, that generous spirit. He was generous with the
artists that he worked with and I always felt kinda special because he’s
very picky about his singers. So I felt very honored to be there and to
be a part of that special time.
Q : Did Elvis have a nickname for you?
A : Yes, he did, and I’m thinking now.
He used to call me Jacqueline, Jacqueline Child of God. I don’t know why
but that was one of his nicknames. And I sent him a turtle once. We were
talking about turtles. He said, “Oh, I don’t have a turtle.” So I sent
him a turtle. I forgot the name of the turtle, though. Just lost it for a
moment. But just something so simple like that or I had an opening night
or I was working, he would send me a little note, very sweet.
Q : Did he introduce himself when you first met him?
A : I don’t think Elvis needed an
introduction. I have a great little story that before I went up to the
house. He said, “I’m gonna send one of the guys down to pick you up.” And
I said, “Well, I don’t think that’s gonna work because my mother.” I come
from a background where, no matter who you are, you come to the door and
you say, you know, “Is Jackie home” or whatever. And I said to my mother,
“This is Elvis Presley. He will not be coming to the door so you can
forget that and you’re making it impossible for me to go up and sing with
the Jordanaires, to sing with Elvis, have this great jam session.” And he
would call and track me down and say, “Come on up. We’re gonna sing
tonight” or so and so and I’d say, “Elvis I can’t come. My mother will
not have it.” And I was living at home and this went on for several
months.
And so finally I came home from ballet class one night and there was
Elvis talking to my mother with a huge pink dog, bigger than I was. And
that was it. And he always said to me that my mother reminded him so much
of his mother. And from then on my mother didn’t care how I got there.
Because he actually, that is the generous person that I know and that is
the person who, you know, he was so unassuming and with no airs or graces
or anything like that. He was just so real. And I think that’s why
everyone clings to him and he’s still very much a part of everybody’s
music world because of the person he was, let alone the talent that he
had. He was so special. He just had something that God gives.
Q : Did you start dating Elvis?
A : No, I never dated Elvis. I wanted
to but I wanted to have a relationship with Elvis that was more than a
one date or two dates. I wanted to be able to be with him on a level that
I could always feel comfortable calling him and saying, “Hey, let’s get
together” or “Wanna come up” or “I’m coming to Vegas” or something. And
it was a very tough decision for me to make. But I wanted to have that
long lasting kind of relationship.
Q : Did you talk about spirituality?
A : Not in, it’s just something he
carried with him and something that I carried with me and I think that
was the spark and connected us. It was a, for me it was very special and
he always treated me very special so I think there was a bond there in
many ways that just was something that you feel.
Q : Did Elvis talk about his goals or his films?
A : Yeah, I don’t remember it, you
know, it was a little while ago, but yes, he did say he wanted to tour
Europe and that he wanted to do more acting and not singing in a film but
acting and I always thought he was a fabulous actor. And had he had an
opportunity to do more dramatic parts, I think he would have gotten an
Oscar. I mean, he was so gifted and I don’t think that he was really
given an opportunity to show the kind of actor and the kind of talent. He had
so much talent and but he, you know, it was a Catch-22.
Q : Talk about the camaraderie around him and the fun.
A : Oh, Elvis’s group around him had an
amazing time. As I said, it was always such fun to be around him and the
guys. They were always doing funny things, you know. Doing karate, doing,
making jokes. It was, you know, it was really great.
Q : Were you able to go to any screenings with Elvis?
A : No, I did not go. I think it was
date night and much more of that sort of thing. No, I was mainly at the
house and jamming and, you know, just kind of riding around in the car
and singing and talking about things and kind of a buddy sort of thing.
Q : Elvis told you he appreciated your songs?
A : When I first saw Elvis in
Q : What was Elvis like as a performer?
A : I don’t think that, we haven’t had
anything like Elvis. He just had that gift and he was able to make you
feel like every performance was only for you. And you’d catch his eye or
he would take a look or something. It was very, very personal and that
generosity was given to the audience. He had that generosity and he gave
everything that he had. He did not hold back anything on stage.
Q : Was there a special buzz when Elvis was in Vegas?
A : When Elvis was in Vegas, the buzz was how do you get in? How do I get
a ticket? Who do I know? What can I do? That was the buzz and everybody
just stopped what they were doing. When Elvis was performing, you just
tried to figure out a way to get there. I think he set all the records
and anyone that has ever had the good fortune to see him, you know what
it’s like to try to get in to see Elvis. It was impossible, practically.
Q : Comment on the relationship between Elvis and his fans.
A : Well, I think that I don’t know if this is true or not but it’s a
story that I heard and it sounded so much like him I assume that it is.
It’s supposed to have taken place in
Q : Would there be a throng at the gate of Elvis’s home?
A : When I used to go to Elvis’s house
was always a nightmare trying to get into the house because of so many
fans outside the gate and he really couldn’t go anywhere without sneaking
in or doing something because people just wanted to be around him and to
be with him.
Q : Do you have a story of Elvis’s generosity?
A : Well, as an artist, I think that
Elvis’s generosity to me he always talked very highly about me, he always
spoke very highly about my work and singing and my writing. And he was
very generous with other artists. I mean, it wasn’t like, well, I’m Elvis
Presley and I’m the greatest thing. And he was always talking about how
he loved Roy Orbison or how he loved this one and he was, you know, he
was the king and he wore his crown very, very well.
Q : Did he ever talk to you about his musical roots?
A : Well, it was kind of something that
was just rather understood because we both, I believe, came out of that
same gospel pocket. And he was a great admirer of the people that were
making records and recording rhythm and blues and gospel music. I think
they were a tremendous influence on him.
Q : What do you think is the highlight of Elvis’s career?
A : I think to just single out a
highlight of Elvis’s career is pretty much impossible. As far as being a
fan of his, a lifetime fan, there were just too many highlights. And
every time that you had an opportunity to see Elvis in person was, of
course, my biggest highlight, because to watch him on stage and to know
him and there was not a lot of, there was no difference, really. That
energy and that restlessness and that kind of thing that persona, he took
that onstage and then you added the great songs and the great band and
the great music and it was a spiritual awakening every time that you had
an opportunity to see him. And I think that’s why it was so impossible to
get to see him and all the fans that did, it’s a great gift he gave us
all.
Q : If you could describe Elvis in one word, what would it be? One word
or one sentence.
A : One sentence. Well, I couldn’t do it in one word, that’s for sure. I
think, describing Elvis for me would be a very generous king. He was the king
of rock and roll, will always be. He’s what’s made it possible for
everyone to be performers and to do the things they do now. We all owe
that to Elvis. And I’m really proud to have known him and he was generous
with his spirit, generous with his talent and wore his crown very well.
Q : Do you have any memories of the 68 special?
A : Yes, I just sat down like a three
year old when I saw Elvis do his special, I just sat there mesmerized. I
didn’t get up. I didn’t move. It’s never, you know, nothing ever changed.
He always had that magic.
Q : Where were you when you found out Elvis had passed away?
A : When I heard the news that Elvis
passed away, I believe that I was here, I was in
Q : Is there a particular memory that makes you smile?
A : Yes, I think that I, my special
memory about Elvis is after he did his concert in Las Vegas and I was
going backstage, when I saw him and he saw me, I ran to him and he gave
me the biggest hug and just, you know, kind of picked me up and was so
happy to see me and that was, you know, a memory I’ll carry with me
always.
Q : Did Elvis ever tell you anything that stuck in your mind?
A : Yeah, every time in all the time
that I spent with Elvis, again, I go back to his generosity. He was
always very encouraging to me to keep going and keep doing it and, you
know, I just have the greatest memories and everything, every time that I
was with him was very wonderful and I cherish all my memories so they’re
all pretty equal.