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Me 'n Elvis
The intimate memiors of Charlie Hodge who shared Elvis' home and his stage life for 17 years. Illustrated.
- GenresNonfiction
204 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 1988
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 5, 2021
this is a great book you can feel the love they had as friends for each other
March 13, 2023
I met Charlie Hodge at an Elvis show and got to chat with him a little bit. It was great to hear his stories. This is nice intimate portrayal of Elvis from someone close to him. A good read.
We talked Elvis in the first episode of But Have You Tried. https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-xnryk-1...
We talked Elvis in the first episode of But Have You Tried. https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-xnryk-1...
July 13, 2024
It was cute. Not a bad thing was written about Elvis in here. You can clearly tell how much Charlie loved Elvis. Definitely a book I would recommend for any Elvis fan to read
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November 15, 2022i am trying to find this book Me'n Elvis at a good price i n good condition
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 9, 2025
Of all the books written about Elvis Presley, Charlie Hodge's Me 'n Elvis stands apart—not for scandal or spectacle, but for its warmth, honesty, and the quiet intimacy of a friendship that lasted nearly two decades.
Charlie Hodge was Elvis's right-hand man in the truest sense. They met during Elvis's army service in Germany, where a bond formed that would endure until the very end. Charlie was a diminutive man with sharp comic timing, and he often used his height as a source of humour—something that could lift Elvis's spirits, particularly during the darker moods that followed the death of his beloved mother, Gladys.
But what truly cemented their friendship was a shared devotion to music. Charlie had sung in a gospel quartet with its own following, and Elvis valued his ear. He leaned on Charlie for input on song choices and arrangements, trusting his judgment in ways he didn't with many others. On stage, Charlie became indispensable: handing out scarves to fans, holding guitars between numbers, even carrying cue cards when Elvis grew weary or forgot lyrics. Charlie had studied Elvis's voice so closely that he could mimic it flawlessly—occasionally filling in lines mid-performance without the audience ever noticing.
Charlie's background in impersonation and comedy gave him a unique role in Elvis's world. He wasn't just a performer or a sideman—he was a buffer, a fixer, and a friend. Behind the scenes, he helped organise backing singers and quartets, ensuring the machinery of Elvis's live shows ran smoothly, even when chaos threatened.
What makes Me 'n Elvis such a pleasure to read is the intimacy of the stories—funny, heartfelt, and never cruel. Charlie doesn't romanticise Elvis or ignore his flaws. He acknowledges the King's struggles, his mood swings, and his sometimes overbearing personality. But he tells it all with affection and honesty, never bitterness. Published in 1988—eleven years after Elvis's death—the book felt like a revelation. Story after story I'd never heard before. Nothing recycled, nothing tabloid. It was like discovering Elvis all over again, through the eyes of someone who truly knew him.
If you're a fan of Elvis, or simply fascinated by the lives lived in the shadows of fame, Charlie Hodge's memoir is essential reading. It's a backstage pass to a friendship that held one of the world's most famous men together—and a testament to loyalty, humour, and love.
Charlie Hodge was Elvis's right-hand man in the truest sense. They met during Elvis's army service in Germany, where a bond formed that would endure until the very end. Charlie was a diminutive man with sharp comic timing, and he often used his height as a source of humour—something that could lift Elvis's spirits, particularly during the darker moods that followed the death of his beloved mother, Gladys.
But what truly cemented their friendship was a shared devotion to music. Charlie had sung in a gospel quartet with its own following, and Elvis valued his ear. He leaned on Charlie for input on song choices and arrangements, trusting his judgment in ways he didn't with many others. On stage, Charlie became indispensable: handing out scarves to fans, holding guitars between numbers, even carrying cue cards when Elvis grew weary or forgot lyrics. Charlie had studied Elvis's voice so closely that he could mimic it flawlessly—occasionally filling in lines mid-performance without the audience ever noticing.
Charlie's background in impersonation and comedy gave him a unique role in Elvis's world. He wasn't just a performer or a sideman—he was a buffer, a fixer, and a friend. Behind the scenes, he helped organise backing singers and quartets, ensuring the machinery of Elvis's live shows ran smoothly, even when chaos threatened.
What makes Me 'n Elvis such a pleasure to read is the intimacy of the stories—funny, heartfelt, and never cruel. Charlie doesn't romanticise Elvis or ignore his flaws. He acknowledges the King's struggles, his mood swings, and his sometimes overbearing personality. But he tells it all with affection and honesty, never bitterness. Published in 1988—eleven years after Elvis's death—the book felt like a revelation. Story after story I'd never heard before. Nothing recycled, nothing tabloid. It was like discovering Elvis all over again, through the eyes of someone who truly knew him.
If you're a fan of Elvis, or simply fascinated by the lives lived in the shadows of fame, Charlie Hodge's memoir is essential reading. It's a backstage pass to a friendship that held one of the world's most famous men together—and a testament to loyalty, humour, and love.
April 17, 2023
Charlie Hodge was a loyal friend to Elvis actually one of his true friends and he gives a very respectful account of his friendship with Elvis finally a decent Elvis book that shows Elvis the respect he deserves written by a true friend I highly recommend this book if your an Elvis fan.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 13, 2023
A beautiful tribute to Elvis by a friend who clearly loved him dearly. I don’t buy into the ‘Elvis had cancer’ story but apart from that, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and enjoyed seeing yet another side of the complex and many faceted man that Elvis was.
November 13, 2025
⭐⭐½ Not well written and doesn't really have any substance to it. A few anecdotes and that's about it. He was with Elvis for 17 years and lived at Graceland... I'm sure there were a million more interesting stories he could've told while still protecting his privacy and dignity. Disappointing.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews