Gary James' Interview With Elvis Presley's Friend
Eddie Fadal



What would it have been like to travel on the road with Elvis Presley in 1956? Can you even begin to imagine such an experience? Eddie Fadal doesn't have to imagine, he was there when Presleymania was at its peak. Eddie spoke with us about the life of Elvis Presley.

Q - Eddie, how did you come to know Elvis?

A - First, back in Dallas, Texas, when I was a disc jockey in 1956. I had already been a great admirer of his records. I just happened to be at the right place at the right time, when he came up to the studio, promoting some records. We met and I was getting off duty that day and he asked if I would like to finish out the Texas tour with him. I said "Sure." He said "What about your job here?" I said "That's no problem. I was looking for one when I found this one and I'll look for another one." And that's what I did. I went in and resigned immediately and went on tour with him.

Q - Is it true you were his belt maker?

A - No. I don't know how that got out there. I don't know how that got started. I have no idea. Someone else asked me once if I was his belt maker. That's the farthest removed thing from my life.

Q - When then, did you work for Elvis?

A - I worked for him in '55 and '56. That was about it. After I quit there and got back in business, after I left Elvis, I got back into the theatre business and the restaurant business.

Q - What about Elvis impressed you the most?

A - His humility impressed me more than anything. He was very humble, even though he was climbing rapidly day by day, hour by hour. His fame was spreading across the country. He was so humble about it all. He didn't believe he was as loved as he was. He thought it would just fade real quick. He didn't think that it would last. He was very unsure of himself at the time. Several times he said "It's all over Ed. This is it. I'm just a passing thing. It's hot right now, but it'll cool off tomorrow." And that's really what he thought. He thought when he went overseas to Germany, it was over with. He thought when he got back, they wouldn't remember him. I assured him they would and he came back stronger than ever.

Q - What was Elvis to you?

A - He was a friend. He was a true friend. He would do anything that I would want him to do or ask him to do or get me anything that I would want. But, I never asked him for anything. That's what made our relationship unique in that I never asked him for anything. He tried many times, but I wouldn't accept anything from him.

Q - Did you ever meet Colonel Parker? What kind of guy was he?

A - Yes. I met him several times. He was in our home. The Colonel was strictly a businessman. He didn't care about the artistic side of Elvis. He as out for that dollar. For many years there was only a handshake between the Colonel and Elvis. There was never a written contract until Elvis became real big during the early '70s, or rather the late '60s. But, for many years, Elvis told me personally, "We only have a handshake agreement." I think that's very honorable. The Colonel made the contracts and the best deals he could get.

Q - Tell me about the Elvis Presley Memorial Library, Museum and Research Center you run in Texas.

A - Well, it's very unique. It's the largest Elvis Presley collection of memorabilia and artifacts this side of the Mississippi. I'm very proud of that fact, that I have some of the things Elvis has given me that he wanted me to have. Fans send me a lot of things. We have fans all over the world. There are 425 fan clubs and I've spoken to many of them. They're continuously sending me things. Almost every other item in here is sent by the fans. They want it preserved in the museum. We have an extensive collection. I'd say it's worth over a million dollars. Some things I wouldn't take a million dollars for. Fans enjoy seeing these. I have some of Elvis' guns. I have several diamond rings, a TCB necklace, a beautiful gold wristwatch, some of his clothes and some of the clothes he insisted on buying for me, some suits and things. But I don't show those to the general public. We also have an extensive library and research center. We have students from the University Of Texas and the community college here in Waco, that have been here and done research papers on Elvis. I assist them in telling them some stories along with it. So far, I've never heard one fail a course because of the theme they did on Elvis. I'm proud of that statistic.

Q - Is your museum associated with the Presley Estate?

A - No. We're independent of the Presley Estate. They have sanctioned us though. They have not ever, ever said we could not do this. So, we're on their good side.

Q - Why put your museum in Waco, Texas?

A - Let me tell you why. That's an easy one. Waco was one of his favorite spots. He called it his home away from home. His mother and father came with him and stayed in our home with us. He brought all of his relatives to our home. He knew Texas like the palm of his hand. He knew Texas very well. He always claimed that Texas was the state that gave him his best start. He liked Waco in particular 'cause it was in the heart of Texas. He said he crossed it many times going to our other concert dates. We have an oak tree planted in the memory of Elvis and his mother on the property of the home we used to live in and that Elvis came to during that era of his life. I was very close to him during that time and was with him during the funeral (of his mother) and helped make the funeral arrangements. I stayed with him in Memphis at Graceland for thirty days when he got leave from the base. So, we got to know him like family. It wasn't a fan or star relationship or looking up at him in awe. He came in whenever he would come in from the base. He went straight to his room or went to the living room and put on some records and played the piano also with the records and sang. It was no surprise to find him in our house when we'd come home. He said many times that our home was his home away from home. We even built a room onto that house just for him. We decorated it in pink and black, which were his early trademarks, his early colors. Later, we redecorated it in another color.

Q - What days and what time is your museum open?

A - It's open to the public, but only by appointment. There's no admission. We don't sell anything. We don't sell souvenirs. Everything is gratis. They also get to hear my stories. I enjoy the fans. I love the fans.

Q - Mr. Fadal, did Elvis fake his death?

A - You know, this question comes up everywhere I go. Is Elvis alive? I hate to correct people's conception that he still might be alive, but it is true, the man is dead. I was at the funeral. I sat with the body one whole evening. I touched his forehead. I touched his hand. It wasn't a wax dummy in the casket, as many of these people believe. It wasn't an air-conditioned casket where the wax dummy wouldn't melt, as many people believe. I hate to dispel all those beautiful thoughts they have that he might be living. But it's not so. He is only living in our hearts and not in his body.

Q - What are we to make then of all these Elvis sightings? Are the impersonators that good?

A - Some of 'em are. I know some of 'em that look like him very much. I know one in particular. The rumor started at the back door of Graceland. There was an impersonator taking the tour and he stopped to rest and between their and the outside public, they were in the backyard, they had finished the tour. They saw this image of Elvis in there in his jumpsuit. They saw him sitting down resting, through a glass and screen door. So, they left the tour saying "Elvis is in the house. I saw him." Well, sure they saw an impersonator. They didn't see Elvis.

Q - Do you know Major Bill Smith? He claims that Elvis is alive and that he is presently Elvis' manager.

A - I know Bill Smith. I have his book and his intentions are very good. But, he too is wrong. Elvis is not alive.

© Gary James. All rights reserved.

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