(102) ELVIS'S MEN, HIS GUYS, THE ENTOURAGE

The men Elvis surrounded himself with were called "his guys," or "the crew," or "the entourage." The whole idea of this entourage of ever changing men being a "mafia" came later, and in my opinion was an unfortunate connotation. Elvis wasn't the only celebrity with his own people surrounding him for security or for companionship either. Frank Sinatra was known for his "Rat Pack," and aviation pioneer and filmmaker Howard Hughes, known for keeping starlets as mistresses, had his "Mormon Mafia."

Well, in any case, some of these men started out as friends of Elvis Presley and other were hired in, and they were considered in some way to be "family," because of the many hours they were around Elvis in his employ. They were on payroll and they were there to make the busy and complicated professional and personal life of a superstar easier and more secure. They were there to do things Elvis' way. And he was very much in charge.

As his companions, they benefited, living the life of a millionaire with Elvis, not because their pay was high, not at all. It was because of the benefits - including women, beautiful women.