Willie G. Moseley Posted July 20, 2017 Posted July 20, 2017 Elvis bodyguard and sidekick/songwriter/actor Red West died Tuesday in Memphis at the age of 81. Cause of death was reportedly an aortic aneurism. He was, at one time, the owner of what was probably Elvis' first guitar (it fit the profile of something that would have been sold at Tupelo Hardware). Red was on video showing a photo of the guitar, noting the King gave it to him. West later gave it to a juco football teammate. He may have been known for his Elvis association more than anything else, but I thought he was a decent actor (usually in a 'tough guy' casting). I thought it was typecasting when he portrayed that cigar-chompin' grunt mechanic Andy Micklin, who always complained about pilots who were "college boys" in the '70s series Bah Bah Black Sheep. IMO, Robert Conrad seemed to be typecast as Pappy Boyington in that series, as well.
cmatthes Posted July 20, 2017 Posted July 20, 2017 I've heard some stories about Red in the past, but read a very touching personal one in tribute this morning from drummer extraordinaire Ric Menck (Matthew Sweet, Velvet Crush, etc.).
crunchee Posted July 20, 2017 Posted July 20, 2017 I remember hearing about him when the book he co-wrote, Elvis: What Happened? was released only two weeks before Elvis died. I also recall the book got some publicity as a 'tell all' book before Elvis died, but it's popularity went through the roof when Elvis did pass on: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elvis:_What_Happened%3F
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