Priscilla Presley and Don
Wilson
Hi Don, it's an honour to have an exclusive interview with you , can you tell our Ep.Gold readers when and where you were borned?
I WAS BORN IN GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS WHICH IS IN BETWEEN FORT WORTH AND DALLAS IN 1961.
On what way did you became an Elvis Fan ?
I BECAME AN ELVIS FAN AFTER I MET HIM AT THE HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO WHEN I WAS 9 YEARS OLD,WHEN MY FATHER ARRANGED FOR ME TO MEET
HIM. MY PARENTS AND SISTER WERE KILLED IN NOVEMBER 1971 AFTER A SOUTHERN PACIFFIC TRAIN HIT THE LINCOLN CONTINENTAL THAT THEY WERE RIDING IN.THERE WERE NO CROSSING SIGNALS OR LIGHTS,THEY WERE EN ROUTE TO PICK ME UP AT MY GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE.I WAS 10.
Ohh, my God, how did you survive as a human being and were able to accept this, it must have taken years to heal yourself physcical and mental.
I WENT TO PSYCOLOGISTS AND THEY REALLY DIDN'T HELP ME...PEOPLE CARING IN MY LIFE DID...NAMELY ELVIS AND THE GUYS, MY GRANDMOTHER WAS A WRECK LOSING HER SON ESPECIALLY...
We are both spiritual grown in this life, both at a young age, I know Elvis helped you a lot to tell you about this and later Larry Geller, can you tell in what way Elvis and Larry helped you to grow and become a strong spiritual person in this world, Don?
A LOT HAS TO DO WITH LOOKING WITHIN YOURSELF, ALWAYS LOOKING TOWARD GOD AND HIS TEACHINGS, PEACE , COMPASSION, CARING AND FOLLOW THE RIGHT ROAD LAID BEFORE YOU AS THERE ARE REASONS FOR EVERYTHING....MIND OVER MATTER IN MANY RESEPCTS...TO ACHIEVE.
Nancy Sinatra and Don Wilson
How did you started to become really active in the Elvis World?
THAT'S HARD TO PINPOINT A YEAR, I WAS A FAN CLUB PRESIDENT FOR ELVIS IN 1977, I HAD A SMALL GROUP CALLED "ELVIS FRIENDS". EDDIE FADAL AND GEORGE KLEIN BROUGHT ME OUT OF MY SHELL...
IN 1989, I MET WITH PRISCILLA PRESLEY AND SHE ENCOURAGE ME WITH AN IDEA THAT GEORGE KLEIN AND I HAD TO FORM "THE ELVIS PRESLEY NETWORK", AN ORGANIZATION TO FIGHT SLANDER AND DEFAMATION OF ELVIS' CHARACTER. WE HIT THE TV AND RADIO SHOWS THAT MADE LIGHT OF ELVIS...WHERE IT HURTS...IN THEIR POCKETBOOK! WE STARTED BOYCOTS ON PRODUCTS THAT SPONSORED PROGRAMS THAT MADE FUN OF ELVIS OR WERE DEGRADING TO HIM.GEORGE KLEIN SERVES AS CONSULTANT AND RICHARD DAVIS IS THE VICE PRESIDENT, SHERRIE RICHARDSON IS IN COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE EPN.
IN 1992 I BEGAN A RADIO SHOW FOR WEVL FM 90 IN MEMPHIS, CALLED "MYSTERY TRAIN" WHERE I PLAYED ELVIS RARITIES AND INTERVIEWED ELVIS' FRIENDS. I ASSISTED ON THE BOOKS, THE BEST OF ELVIS BY MIKE FREEMAN AND CINDY HAZEN AND DOWN AT THE END OF LONELY STREET BY PAT H. BROESKE AND PETER HARRY BROWN.
IN JANUARY 2000 I BEGAN PRODUCTION O"N THE DEFINITIVE ELVIS" AND I AM PROUD IT IS IN THE GUINNESS BOOK OF RECORDS NOW AS THE LONGEST DOCUMENTARY...
When did you started to appear on stage yourself?
1980 AT THE INSISTENCE OF MY FRIEND AND ELVIS' EDDIE FADAL.HE THOUGHT I HAD A GOOD VOICE AND PRESENCE.THE FIRST TIME I PERFORMED WAS FOR HIM AND SOME OF HIS FRIENDS AT A PARTY, THEN THE VFW AND GILLEY'S, WHERE I WON A CONTEST SING 2 COUNTRY SONGS AND A ELVIS TUNE, "BLUE SUEDE SHOES".
Tony Curtis and Don
Made any recordings yourself?
YES, ONE WITH SUN ROCKABILLLY LEGEND, BILLY LEE RILEY, A REMAKE OF HIS 1957 HIT "RED HOT", IT'S CALLED :"MY GAL'S ALRIGHT" AND IT WAS RECORDED AT SUN STUDIO ON UNION AND OVERDUBS WERE DONE AT SAM PHILLIPS' RECORDING STUDIO.THE CD IS AVAILABLE IN EUROPE.
What about your private life, are you married or having a relation?
NOT AT THE MOMENT
Are some of your stories used for TV and film companies?
BESIDES BEING THE PRODUCTION CONSULTANT FOR "THE DEFINITIVE ELVIS" I WAS A CONSULTANT FOR "LEGENDS; JOHNNY CASH" FOR VH1 AND ASSISTED A&E ON THEIR BIOGRAPHY ON SHARON TATE.
Your Favorite single-album-film and why?
MY FAVORITE SINGLE IS "KENTUCKY RAIN", BECAUSE IT WAS THE CURRENT HIT FOR ELVIS WHEN I MET HIM ON FEBRUARY 27,1970.
MY FAVORITE ALBUM IS: : "FROM ELVIS PRESEY BLVD., MEMPHIS,TENNESEE" FOR PERSONAL REASONS, I SANG A FEW LINES OF "THE LAST FAREWELL" WITH ELVIS ONCE AFTER I TOLD HIM I LOVED HIS VERSION., I LOVE "DANNY BOY" TOO, AS DOES JOHNNY CASH WHO RECENTLY SAID HE REPEATEDLY LISTENED TO ELVIS' VERSION BEFORE HE CUT A VERSION FOR HIS NEW CD,"THE MAN COMES AROUND".
MY FAVORITE FILM IS: "LIVE A LITTLE, LOVE A LITTLE" BECAUSE IT WAS A DEPARTURE FOR ELVIS., IT ALSO HAS MY FRIEND CELESTE YARNALL CO-STARRING IN IT. SOME OF THE FILM WAS SHOT IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD IN HOLLYWOOD. I LOVE MAC DAVIS' "A LITTLE LESS CONVERSATION" AND "EDGE OF REALITY".
Your Favorite Elvis Website and why?
WWW.EPGOLD.COM OF COURSE, YOUR SITE IS GREAT AND I ENJOY KEEPING UP TO DATE WITH EVERYTHING ELVIS!! I ALSO LIKE READING LEA FRYDMAN'S ELVIS PRESLEY NEWS.
Robert Blake and Don
Why did you decided to become an exclusive Columnist for Ep.Gold? Any reason for it?
I LOVE THE SITE AND I FEEL IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR FANS TO KEEP ABREAST OF ELVIS NEWS AND YOU DO A FANTASTIC JOB!! I AM ALSO PRIVY TO LOTS OF INFORMATION THAT MOST AREN'T.
Are you a 50's 60's or 70's Elvis Fan explain...
I KNEW ELVIS IN THE 1970'S, I LOVE ELVIS' VOCAL RANGE THAT HE HAD THEN AND HAVE MY FAVORITE TUNES FROM THAT TIME.I LOVE ALL OF HIS STUFF REALLY.
Are you more into live-shows recordings and / or Studio recordings. Is your interest only Elvis,i f not explain why you like other artists?
I HAVE COLLECTED A GREAT DEAL OF AUDIO / VIDEO OF ELVIS., ELVIS WAS THE GREATEST!! THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER LIKE HIM, HE WAS TRULY ONE OF A KIND...HE WAS SUCH A PERFECTIONIST HE DID EVERYTHING FROM THE HEART. I DO HAVE OTHER INTERESTS THAN ELVIS AS WELL.ELVIS ENJOYED OTHER ARTISTS AS WELL.SOME OF MY FAVORITE ARTISTS HAVE BECOME FRIENDS AND THEY LOVE ELVIS AS MUCH AS I DO, PEOPLE LIKE GLEN CAMPBELL WHO I INTERVIEWED FOR THE ELVIS SERIES FOR EXAMPLE., I LOVE ALL KINDS OF MUSIC EXCEPT HIP-HOP / RAP. I DON'T CARE FOR ANY OF THAT STUFF...I COLLECT MY FAVORITE MUSIC AND MOVIES.
Kirk Douglas and Don
Is there any wish that you want accomplish in your life?
I JUST WANT TO MAKE PEOPLE HAPPY AND LEAVE SOMETHING BEHIND THAT CHEERS AND BRIGHTENS LIVES...WHETHER IT IS A DOCUMENTARY, A FILM, RECORDING, BOOK OR WHAT, . I WANT TO BRING SOME LIGHT INTO THE WORLD IN SOME WAY...
Who do you think we should interview next for Ep.Gold, Don?
LARRY GELLER, LET ME THINK, I ALSO HAVE UNUSED INTERVIEWS - OVER 200....
Any message for the Ep.Gold readers, Don.
KEEP UP TO DATE HERE AT ANDYLON'S EP GOLD THE TRUE SOURCE FOR ALL THE NEWS THAT IS NEWS ABOUT OUR FAVORITE...ELVIS!
2002/12/21 Don Wilson / Andylon Lensen / Ep.Gold.Com.