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My Brother Elvis: The Final Years
In My Brother Elvis, David E. Stanley shares his harrowing experiences while on the road as a 16 year old bodyguard to the King of Rock n’ Roll. The final 5 years of Elvis Presley’s life were filled with his greatest triumphs and his toughest tribulations, as the iconic star fought a war with addiction he would tragically lose at the age of 42.
Surrounded by those who loved him and revered around the globe, Elvis battled the demons of fame, depression and loss, and those demons eventually proved too strong a foe. Despite the efforts of his family and friends, Elvis Presley eventually succumbed to his addiction on August 16, 1977, leaving a trail of devastation and loss felt worldwide to this day.
In sharing this intimate account of his stepbrother, David hopes to reach those who are also suffering from addiction—some 15 million from prescription drugs in the US alone.
Though many never knew, Elvis was famous for far more than music, as he was the ultimate giver to those around him. In this spirit of giving, David is revealing and laying bare the cold, hard realties of addiction, in the attempt to help as many addicts as possible recover successfully from this often-fatal disease.
Surrounded by those who loved him and revered around the globe, Elvis battled the demons of fame, depression and loss, and those demons eventually proved too strong a foe. Despite the efforts of his family and friends, Elvis Presley eventually succumbed to his addiction on August 16, 1977, leaving a trail of devastation and loss felt worldwide to this day.
In sharing this intimate account of his stepbrother, David hopes to reach those who are also suffering from addiction—some 15 million from prescription drugs in the US alone.
Though many never knew, Elvis was famous for far more than music, as he was the ultimate giver to those around him. In this spirit of giving, David is revealing and laying bare the cold, hard realties of addiction, in the attempt to help as many addicts as possible recover successfully from this often-fatal disease.
292 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 2, 2016
15 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
David E. Stanley
10 books4 followersDavid E. Stanley was born in Newport News, Virginia in 1955. Three years later, his parents divorced, setting the stage for an extraordinary event. In 1960, Dee Stanley married Vernon Presley, Elvis Presley’s widowed father. David was just four years old, 20 years younger than his new stepbrother, when he moved into the Graceland Mansion in Memphis, TN.
At the age of 16, David began working and touring with Elvis as a personal aide and bodyguard. From 1972 to 1977, he did hundreds of shows with his world-famous stepbrother and was part of some of the most historical concert events of the 20th century.
From his moment of glory to his tragic demise, David witnessed the Elvis phenomenon first hand. David would be among the first to discover the lifeless body Elvis Presley on August 16, 1977.
In 1980, David overcame his own battle with substance abuse and soon after began his speaking career. He effectively used his celebrity status and own personal experiences to communicate the dangers of drug abuse in hundreds of schools, collages and institutions throughout North America and Europe.
Today, David E. Stanley is a highly sought after Charismatic Speaker, Author, Filmmaker, and Founder & CEO of Impello Entertainment. His personal life story of triumph over adversity and stepping into Gods greatness continues to impact millions around the world.
His published works include the New York Times’ bestseller, Elvis We Love You Tender, The Elvis Encyclopedia, Raised on Rock, Conversations with The King: Journals of a Young Apprentice, Restoring My Father’s Honor: A Sons Crusade, and his most recent release My Brother Elvis: The Final Years. David also wrote, produced and directed the film Protecting the King in 2007.
At the age of 16, David began working and touring with Elvis as a personal aide and bodyguard. From 1972 to 1977, he did hundreds of shows with his world-famous stepbrother and was part of some of the most historical concert events of the 20th century.
From his moment of glory to his tragic demise, David witnessed the Elvis phenomenon first hand. David would be among the first to discover the lifeless body Elvis Presley on August 16, 1977.
In 1980, David overcame his own battle with substance abuse and soon after began his speaking career. He effectively used his celebrity status and own personal experiences to communicate the dangers of drug abuse in hundreds of schools, collages and institutions throughout North America and Europe.
Today, David E. Stanley is a highly sought after Charismatic Speaker, Author, Filmmaker, and Founder & CEO of Impello Entertainment. His personal life story of triumph over adversity and stepping into Gods greatness continues to impact millions around the world.
His published works include the New York Times’ bestseller, Elvis We Love You Tender, The Elvis Encyclopedia, Raised on Rock, Conversations with The King: Journals of a Young Apprentice, Restoring My Father’s Honor: A Sons Crusade, and his most recent release My Brother Elvis: The Final Years. David also wrote, produced and directed the film Protecting the King in 2007.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 21, 2016
I was not going to read this book because I have read David's two other books on Elvis. I figured there would be at least a little something that would make the book worth buying and reading. I was wrong.
This is one of the worst books I have read on Elvis and I have read over 400 of them. Elvis' name appears multiple times in the book, but he is really there. He is secondary character and there is no substance, just words on a page. I don't doubt that David cares for Elvis in his own way. However, to suggest that Elvis committed suicide is just insane. However, that is his belief, even he gives no evidence to back it up.
The book also has a number of typos, factual errors, and supposed dialogue. The dialogue is awful and preposterous.
Don't waste your time or money on this book.
This is one of the worst books I have read on Elvis and I have read over 400 of them. Elvis' name appears multiple times in the book, but he is really there. He is secondary character and there is no substance, just words on a page. I don't doubt that David cares for Elvis in his own way. However, to suggest that Elvis committed suicide is just insane. However, that is his belief, even he gives no evidence to back it up.
The book also has a number of typos, factual errors, and supposed dialogue. The dialogue is awful and preposterous.
Don't waste your time or money on this book.
December 28, 2020
Must-read insight for Elvis fans
I've read a number of books by Elvis' entourage but found this an interesting addition from of one of Elvis' step-brothers.
It is not a pretty story but David manages to convey the sense of helplessness of someone close who can't really help.
There is a hint that David might believe Elvis' death was deliberate and I would have liked to have read more about his thoughts on that but would recommend this to any Elvis fan.
I've read a number of books by Elvis' entourage but found this an interesting addition from of one of Elvis' step-brothers.
It is not a pretty story but David manages to convey the sense of helplessness of someone close who can't really help.
There is a hint that David might believe Elvis' death was deliberate and I would have liked to have read more about his thoughts on that but would recommend this to any Elvis fan.
April 1, 2019
Started out,just like I expected to, somehow the ideal I was experiencing suddenly went south, stood toe to toe with the outcome,made wonderful fruit loops ,then hurried thru....finally a book I could honestly say I did not like.
November 7, 2023
David Stanley presents a sincere and faithful potrait of his step brother Elvis and how it was on the road when I first read this book I was hesitant but actually it's not a bad reading experience and I would recommend it to Elvis fans
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2017
Good read
While trying not to put Elvis down David tells of what happens with addiction to prescription drugs. Wonder if he could have been helped?
While trying not to put Elvis down David tells of what happens with addiction to prescription drugs. Wonder if he could have been helped?
August 19, 2017
I'm not going to lie: this is one of the most difficult and poignant memoirs I've ever read.
David Stanley was four years old when his mother married Vernon Presley, Elvis' father. David's father had been a sergeant in Elvis' Army unit, and Dee left him for Vernon. She brought three young sons with her (Ricky, Billy, and David) to Graceland. Elvis immediately became a father figure for David in particular.
At age 16, David dropped out of high school to become one of Elvis' bodyguards. As a result, he was intimately acquainted with what happened on tour, how many prescription medications Elvis took (despite Elvis' hatred of street drugs, he took quite a few scrips and believed that if the doctors gave them to you nothing could go wrong)., and how much womanizing went on among the crew -- including Elvis and Vernon.
As a very young man, David lacked the life experience to adequately make decisions about whether this was really acceptable ... and so he went along with it. He enjoyed the social cachet of being Elvis' brother, and rationalized the bad parts of the life right up until the time Elvis died. After that, he focused on kicking his own recently-realized addictions and getting his messed-up life together.
One of the most poignant and painful scenes in the book is when an increasingly paranoid Elvis threatens David with a gun -- because David is gathering up the huge pile of medications from Elvis' bedside table and is going to dispose of them. David describes Elvis as looking like a parody of the handsome man he'd once been, horribly overweight and losing his grasp on reality. Twenty-four hours later, Elvis tells him that he loves him and the next time they see each other it will be on a higher plane. Twelve hours later, Elvis Presley was dead.
Part of the reason David Stanley wrote this book, by his own admission, was to raise awareness that prescription medication addiction is not something that happens just to the underprivileged. There are resources listed at the end of the book for anyone who may be struggling with addiction and wants help.
David Stanley was four years old when his mother married Vernon Presley, Elvis' father. David's father had been a sergeant in Elvis' Army unit, and Dee left him for Vernon. She brought three young sons with her (Ricky, Billy, and David) to Graceland. Elvis immediately became a father figure for David in particular.
At age 16, David dropped out of high school to become one of Elvis' bodyguards. As a result, he was intimately acquainted with what happened on tour, how many prescription medications Elvis took (despite Elvis' hatred of street drugs, he took quite a few scrips and believed that if the doctors gave them to you nothing could go wrong)., and how much womanizing went on among the crew -- including Elvis and Vernon.
As a very young man, David lacked the life experience to adequately make decisions about whether this was really acceptable ... and so he went along with it. He enjoyed the social cachet of being Elvis' brother, and rationalized the bad parts of the life right up until the time Elvis died. After that, he focused on kicking his own recently-realized addictions and getting his messed-up life together.
One of the most poignant and painful scenes in the book is when an increasingly paranoid Elvis threatens David with a gun -- because David is gathering up the huge pile of medications from Elvis' bedside table and is going to dispose of them. David describes Elvis as looking like a parody of the handsome man he'd once been, horribly overweight and losing his grasp on reality. Twenty-four hours later, Elvis tells him that he loves him and the next time they see each other it will be on a higher plane. Twelve hours later, Elvis Presley was dead.
Part of the reason David Stanley wrote this book, by his own admission, was to raise awareness that prescription medication addiction is not something that happens just to the underprivileged. There are resources listed at the end of the book for anyone who may be struggling with addiction and wants help.
January 25, 2018
I've read many Elvis books having been a fan from a young age. I was nervous about starting this. Would it bring up new things? How would Elvis be represented in this book?
I felt like Elvis was done justice in this book. It was real, hard to read sometimes and very frustrating. Even though we all know the ending I wanted someone to grab their ***** and tell Elvis what for! It added a different spin on the life of Elvis. I enjoyed it and also appreciated the honesty from Stanley's point of view. An interesting read for an Elvis fan!
I felt like Elvis was done justice in this book. It was real, hard to read sometimes and very frustrating. Even though we all know the ending I wanted someone to grab their ***** and tell Elvis what for! It added a different spin on the life of Elvis. I enjoyed it and also appreciated the honesty from Stanley's point of view. An interesting read for an Elvis fan!
May 6, 2024
Oh my word! What an insight this book was I knew Elvis had an addiction but on the level as depicted in this book has changed my view but nothing will change the fact that I'm still a massive Elvis fan, plus I've learnt quite a few things about his health & lifestyle
November 26, 2016
Great Book
This book really tells David and Elvis story well. It lets you understand what it was like with elvis and what his friends and family had to go through. It seems like it was such a difficult time.
This book really tells David and Elvis story well. It lets you understand what it was like with elvis and what his friends and family had to go through. It seems like it was such a difficult time.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews