THERE'S A HOUSE PARTY TONIGHT : FROM WES BRYAN - MY LIFE IN MUSIC ARCHIVES

Post (70) from November 13, 2007!

The first party I attended at Elvis' after moving to LA, Johnny Rivers and I drove up to Bel Air. Elvis was making the movie "Flaming Star" at 20th Century Fox. It was his 6th movie. Johnny had been over to Elvis and he said "I know he wants to see you." So we got into Johnny's car and drove up to Bel Air.

In the movie "Flaming Star," Elvis played what we referred to then as a "half breed," someone who was half Native American. It was Marlon Brando who the writers had in mind to play the part Elvis did. It wouldn't be the first or last time that a script written with James Dean or Marlon Brando in mind ended up staring Elvis Presley.

The femme fatal of the film was actress Barbara Eden, who would become known for her signature role in the television series "I Dream of Jeannie."

At the house Elvis came through the door still covered in the body makeup the studio had him wear to appear darker. (He also wore brown contact lenses to cover his naturally blue eyes.) When you look at some of the stills of the film today, you can see how unnatural it looks.

He welcomed me with a hug and told us to make ourselves at home until he got all that makeup off. It took him near an hour.

This was the beginning of my being a regular at Elvis Presley's house parties - the time of my life! Elvis' as my second home!

ELVIS SINGING AT HIS HOME ON ROCCA PLACE LOS ANGELES : IF I LOVED YOU

ELVIS loved to sing.  This video of a private recording at Rocco place appeared on YouTube and we thought you'd enjoy the informality of the occasion.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELVIS PRESLEY!

As millions of fans know, today is the birthday of the great Elvis Presley. And when I say he was great, I don't just mean that he was a great entertainer. I mean that Elvis was a great human being. So much has been said and written about Elvis, who was a friend of mine from when I met him in 1957 while on my first tour for United Artists, and performing live on the Wink Martindale show in Memphis, Tennessee. I'll never forget the one time years into our friendship when I was feeling stalled out in my career, and this is what Elvis said to me;

"You're successful as a human being and that's all that counts in my book."

We love you, Elvis!

Wes