Elvis Presley’s cousin on first seeing The King record in 1958 – ‘I couldn’t believe it’
Elvis Presley shot to fame in 1956 and moved his family into Graceland a year later. One member of his Memphis Mafia inner circle was his cousin Billy Smith, who was just a boy at the time. And now over 60 years later, he’s shared his memories of first seeing Elvis record in the studio back in 1958.
Appearing on the Memphis Mafia Kid YouTube channel with his son Danny, Billy said: “When I first went to hear Elvis record was in 1958.
“He was home on leave and had to do a session because he had to have so many songs in the can before he was overseas and all.”
From 1958-60, The King did his army service in West Germany, while his manager Colonel Tom Parker rolled out some pre-recorded singles to keep the star in the public eye while he was away.
Elvis Presley’s cousin shared: “And I remember I was in the Studio B with him and all I could do was stand there and watch him.”
