Elvis Presley’s stepbrother, David E Stanley, recently shared the heartbreaking words that Lisa Marie Presley uttered upon learning about her father’s passing. This deeply emotional moment has resurfaced as we mourn the tragic loss of Lisa Marie Presley at the age of 54, who suffered a cardiac arrest in her California home. Stanley, who served as Elvis’s bodyguard and tour manager, reveals the heart-wrenching conversation that occurred on August 16, 1977, the day Elvis died.
Stanley was at Graceland, playing pool with a friend, when Lisa Marie, only nine years old at the time, anxiously approached him along with Ginger’s niece. With tears in her eyes, Lisa Marie uttered the words that would forever change their lives: “Daddy is sick… we cannot wake him up.” It was then that David realized the severity of the situation.
Elvis had collapsed on the toilet at his Graceland mansion in Memphis, Tennessee, just hours before he was set to embark on a new tour. Despite witnessing many similar situations in the past, David remained calm. Lisa Marie informed him that people were with her father, so David quickly made arrangements to take care of his friend before heading back to Graceland.
As he returned to the gates of Graceland, an ambulance arrived just moments before him, intensifying his anxiety. David rushed to Elvis’s room, finding him in the bathroom, lying in a fetal position with his face buried in the carpet. Vernon, Elvis’s father, was at his feet, devastated and moaning, “My son is dead.”
Paramedics swiftly transported Elvis to the hospital, but their efforts were in vain. The King of Rock and Roll had passed away, leaving the world in mourning. For Lisa Marie, this tragic event would forever change her life.
In previous interviews, Lisa Marie recalled the night before her father’s death. Elvis had kissed her goodnight and tucked her into bed. Little did she know that it would be their last moment together. Waking up to the commotion, Lisa Marie sensed that something was terribly wrong. Overwhelmed with grief and confusion, she struggled to come to terms with her father’s untimely demise.
Elvis’s struggle with drug addiction was widely known, and it played a significant role in his health decline. Post-mortem tests revealed that his blood contained numerous drugs including sleeping pills, injections, amphetamines, codeine, morphine, diazepam, and more. Additionally, he was suffering from advanced cardiovascular disease, emphysema, and bowel disorders.
David E Stanley believes that Elvis’s addiction escalated due to his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, who pushed him relentlessly while dashing his dreams of Hollywood stardom and touring Europe. Although David doesn’t place the blame solely on Parker, he acknowledges his contribution to Elvis’s downward spiral.
Elvis needed new challenges and creative projects, such as the opportunity to work on a movie alongside Barbra Streisand. Unfortunately, Parker turned down these opportunities, thereby confining Elvis to never-ending cycles of US tours. Despite voicing his opinions as a child, David witnessed no change in their circumstances.
The narrative surrounding Elvis’s final years remains complex and intriguing. David E Stanley penned a book titled “My Brother Elvis: The Final Years,” which offers insights into their lives together. He also directed a film, “Protecting the King,” which explores Elvis’s last five years alive.
As we mourn the loss of Lisa Marie Presley, let us remember the immense impact her father had on music and popular culture. Elvis will forever be remembered as a legendary figure, whose untimely death left a void in the hearts of millions around the world.
