Elvis Presley expert Jeff Schrembs – Elvis Collector Worldwide

In the life of Elvis Presley there is one person whose story, dating back to Elvis’ high school days in Humes High School in Memphis, about Red West entering a bathroom and finding Elvis against a wall and some students threatening to cut Elvis’ hair and then Red West said, and he was known as a tough guy and a football player, the infamous words of “if you cut his hair then you are going to have to cut mine and that will be a different story”. It is important to know that this was way before Elvis was known outside of his family but his style of dress, and his long hair, stood out. Needless to say, the boys left and Elvis thanked Red and the two became friends over three decades.

It is with a great, and eternal, sadness that we learned that Red West died on July 18, 2017 after suffering an aortic aneurysm at the Baptist Hospital in Memphis. He was 81 years old. His death occurred less than two months after the death of his cousin Sonny West whose friendship with Elvis mirrored Red’s as Sonny worked with, and was a close friend of, Elvis for three decades also.

While we strive to make this blog, along with our other blogs and our primary international award winning Elvis Presley website of http://www.ElvisCollector.info that is designated by Graceland as an Official Elvis Presley Fan Club, informative and “light” we also put a premium on facts and sadly it is a fact that Red West died.

Our hearts, prayers, and thoughts will remain with those who were related to, loved by, friends of, worked with, etc. Red West. I can’t help but pause, in sadness as I am writing this, to reflect that in the past months (i.e. in 2017) three of Elvis’ beloved friends have died being Red West, Sonny West, and Marty Lacker. The same sentiment, and prayers, go out to all of their families/loved ones as well.

1956 Elvis with Red West both cigars colorized rare ntoice Elvis plum colored jacket

BIO Elvs with Vernon and Red West under Elvis Presley youth banner

Red West with Elvis 1972 backstage Elvis on Tour

Red West with Elvis 1959 baseball gloves

We hope our next post, and others to follow, will not be of sadness.

I want to thank the (literally) thousands of visitors to the combination of this blog, http://www.ElvisCollector.info, other blogs, http://www.ElvisCollectorWorldwidefreeforums.org (100% free Elvis Presley forum in beta testing phase but we invite you to join and enjoy), emails, letters, cards, etc. pertaining to my battle with cancer these seven years. I have always said that Elvis fans are the most loyal, informed, passionate, etc. and over these past six decades I continue to see, and hear, so many kind words/posts/etc.

Lastly, I have never (nor do I plan to) monetized my relationship, collections, knowledge, friendships, etc. pertaining to Elvis. This is also true to those who are related to Elvis, worked with Elvis, close friends with Elvis, wrote about Elvis, etc.. Though for all intents and purposes I am, and have been for approximately six decades, an expert about the life of Elvis Presley onstage and off my knowledge pales when it comes to others who knew Elvis throughout his life and (thankfully) have shared their memories, photographs, audio files, recordings, firsthand accounts, videos, etc.

Take care and may God bless you and yours throughout your lives.

Jeff Schrembs