Interview: Jerry Schilling; Producer, Music Industry Professional, and Friend of Elvis - Page 2

Did you ever think when you first met Elvis that you’d still be talking about him in 2010? What was that meeting like?

I don’t think either of us did! I was a big fan of James Dean and Brando and Elvis had that sense about him that you wanted to know him.

Will you be involved in any of the "Elvis 75" celebrations?

On August 15, Elvis On Tour is gonna have a European premiere in Brussels, and I’ll be a guest speaker. He has worldwide appeal, not just America. I find the further away you get, the more intense are the fans.

What was a day in the life of Jerry Schilling like when you were working for Elvis?

I was friends with him for 23 years and I worked and lived and traveled with him for 10 years of that. There were times when you were really busy and then there was quiet time.

How did you get into managing Billy Joel and the Beach Boys?

Elvis had a promoter, Tommy Hewlett with Concerts West and I asked Tom if he could help me and he mentioned this lady in New York who asked a bunch of questions, basically to see if I’d have trouble working for a woman. I went out to Colorado to meet his band. He was recording the Turnstiles album. We were in Detroit opening for the Beach Boys and that’s how I met the Beach Boys tour manager. I was their manager for 10 years, from 76 to 86. After 82, it was co-managed. I worked out their deal at CBS records. I also managed Jerry Lee Lewis at this time.

Elvis On Tour is part of the Elvis 75^th Anniversary DVD Collection.

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