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Jimmy Velvet was also a successful recording artist and charting pop-star who toured the USA heavily during the heyday of Rock’n’Roll. This placed him on tours with almost all the major stars that you can imagine, as well as in the studio with his contemporaries. He toured with Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard – and ELVIS - just to name a few! The really exciting aspect was that Jimmy Velvet was also an enthusiastic photographer who always had his camera with him. Being a contemporary of these mega-stars he managed to capture thousands of candid photographs in a way that a press photographer couldn’t. The book 'Inside The Dream' - of more than 1000 photographs - is only the "Best Of" his collection of several 1000’s more! Several of his candid Elvis photographs are well-known, however these are just the tip of the iceberg. The photographic memoirs of Jimmy Velvet’s amazing life ‘Inside The Dream’ was released in 2007. EIN’s Piers Beagley recently caught up with him to chat about his amazing journey and how he managed to take so many fabulous candid photos.
Jimmy Velvet: Thank you Piers - the book took about one year to assemble. EIN: You mention in the book that your 6000 or so negatives & photos had not been in your own possession for a while. What happened there and where were they? J.V: 317 were in my car which was stolen in 1962, the majority of them were stored at my Grandmothers house. I would send photos home to her while I was on the road. EIN: have you any idea how many photographs are actually in the book and how many stars are featured? J.V: There are 1096 photos and 508 stars that I met. Plenty of photos of Elvis as I am sure you have seen.
J.V: Color film was new then and I decided to buy a 12 exposure roll to try it out.
J.V: I've always loved photography but what prompted me to carry a camera is that my Grandmother always wanted to know where I was and with whom so I would send her photos of actually places I had been and people I had met. I sent her the photos. EIN: There’s a lovely one of you and Chuck Berry looking very relaxed. And you obviously ran into Check Berry many times over the years. What can you tell me about Chuck? J.V: A most fantastic writer, performer, singer and guitarist! He always wanted cash before going on stage and he knows who he is. I love Chuck, he's great.
J.V: I don't know of any missing tapes. If there are any, what a find that would be! EIN: The Everly Brothers are one of my favourite groups and you have obviously spent a fair bit of time with them over the years. They are pretty famous for their sibling rivalry.. what stories can you tell me about them? J.V: I never saw any problems between them, if there were any, you wouldn't have noticed. They were professionals at the shows. I've heard that they are still off & on, which is sad. J.V: I always enjoyed my time with The Killer. Like Elvis, there was never a dull moment. At the show in '59 he set the piano on fire! EIN: When did you last see Jerry Lee? J.V: The last time I saw Jerry Lee was in Memphis several years back. EIN: Apart from Elvis there are so many other Super-stars that you have met. Musicians like Bill Haley, Ricky Nelson, Dean Martin, Bo Diddley, Buddy Holly, Bobby Darin, Pat Boone, Carl Perkins, The Everlys. Of all these people who stands out for you? J.V: Wow, that's a tough question because they're all my favorites. If I had to choose I suppose it would be Elvis and Dean Martin. Elvis for his great friendship and Dean who took me under his wing for a time until I was ready to fly on my own. I loved Dean's entire family.
How many stars can you spot in this mini-collage?
EIN: Of course way too many of these fabulous stars are no longer with us. Who’s too-soon-death shocked you the most? J.V: Rick Nelson. We were close. I was with him only a couple of days before the plane crash. EIN: I haven’t mentioned all the female stars you also met or hung around with - like Connie Francis, Laverne Baker, Natalie Wood, The Angels, Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, Martina McBride, Joan Jett! Of all the female stars you have met who has impressed you the most? J.V: Another tough question, they're all incredible. Dolly and I have known each other since 1964. Connie and her parents were special to me in the earlier years. Again, they're all such special women.
EIN: There are a few photographs of you at RCA’s Studio B with Elvis. In particular at the ‘His Hand In Mine’ recording sessions. What do you remember of those times? J.V: Elvis had a great sense of humor and loved to have fun at these sessions. He would send out to Burger Boy and order 100 burgers and fries! He was so fun and spirited. J.V: Yes I did. I loved Studio "B" and Bill Porter was an outstanding Engineer. EIN: How often did you work with the Jordanaires? Do you still see them around, they always seem to be working? J.V: I've worked with the Jordanaires several sessions starting in 1961. I still see Gordon and Ray every now and then.
EIN: You still stayed in touch with Elvis and had an even closer friendship with Vernon in the 1970s. How did you happen to be there to be sworn is as Deputy Sherriff along with Elvis and Vernon in 1973? J.V: Elvis and Vernon asked me if I wanted to be sworn in. Roy "Skip" Nixon who was a mutual friend to all of us, swore us in together at the same time. EIN: In the 1980s you were occupied with running the Elvis Presley museums that you had set up. How many of them were there eventually? J.V: Memphis, Nashville, Honolulu, two in Orlando and I also had two mobile museums touring as well. EIN: It is such a shame that your museum in Hawaii doesn’t continue because it was a place that Elvis loved and is also so associated with Elvis? What happened there? J.V: I opened the Honolulu museum in 1982 and the contract ran out in 1987. EIN: What was the most treasured possession of Elvis’ that you ever owned? I don’t mean the most expensivebut the most personal? J.V: Hmmm, I would say his handwritten TCB Oath.
EIN: What about the great James Brown, any stories there? J.V: James didn't allow any mistakes in his shows. He had zero tolerance for error and even fined his band members if they made a mistake. He was precise and a dynamic entertainer! EIN: Another fascinating character that you spent time with is the wonderful Sam Phillips. You were a record producer yourself. What was he like, as eccentric as he is said to be? J.V: I loved Sam. In fact I worked with Sam, Sally, Judd and Billy Sherril in building the "Sam C. Phillips Studio" in the Old Cumberland Lodge Building in Nashville. I gave him my famous Minah Bird "Inky" that Sam loved so much. It was a fun time. EIN: You have spent a lot of time with some amazing Country Music stars. What can you tell me about the great George Jones? J.V: George. What a great man and my favorite Country Star. I sold George & Nancy my farm in Franklin, TN where he still lives today. We've shared some wonderful times together.
EIN: You feature a surprising number of newer famous Country & Western stars in the book as well, do any of them talk with you about Elvis? J.V: Oh yes, Travis Tritt is a huge Elvis fan. On a visit to my Nashville Museum one day I gave Travis the TCB that Elvis gave to Red West. Tricia Yearwood, a very dear friend, is also a huge Elvis fan. I had one of Elvis's belt buckles framed in a shadowbox and gave it to her. EIN: There’s one more star to question you about, Marilyn Monroe! How incredible to have a candid colour snap of someone so elusive and famous? J.V: That photo was a once in a lifetime event! I was in the Air Force at the time, at Hempstead A.F. Base and read that Marilyn Monroe lived in the city (New York). I went into the city and wanted to see where she lived. It just so happened she was leaving her residence (Sutton Place Apartments) with her girlfriend and I was right there and met them. What perfect timing and Marilyn was such a sweetheart. The meeting was brief but the memory has lasted forever. EIN: I have to admit it that your stories are so fascinating and interesting, like how you met Marilyn, that the one negative take I have on your remarkable book is that I want to hear your personal stories about every single photo! Are you ever going to be able to publish the stories to go behind this dream life of yours? J.V: I'm asked the same question quite often. The volume would have been too large to handle if I told stories behind each photo and we were working to meet a deadline for press. I am working on an audio CD/DVD of the book. Unfortunately, our postal system eliminated their International Media Rate shipping and the shipping rates are now so expensive to send one book as it weighs 5lbs. to ship. If the books are purchased by the case then the post office ships freight and is much more cost effective. EIN: Will you be going to Elvis Week this year? Can fans get hold of any copies of your photographs that way? Can they buy other photographs they have seen them from your website or perhaps by contacting you? J.V: Absolutely! Yes! Yes! and Yes! I will be with Nella and Brian Allward at the Memphis Airport Plaza (formerly known as the Clarion). During Elvis Week this year, I am running a special on my book. The cost will be dropped from $45.00 to $30.00. That price will be good for all of the Elvis fans who visit our website and mention you read about the discount on this Elvis Information Network website. We will adjust the billing accordingly.
J.V: Thank you Piers and it's my pleasure as well. Hope to see you too, thank you and God Bless.
CLICK HERE to 'Inside The Dream' website - for more info & purchase details EIN's 'Inside The Dream' book review featuring more of Jimmy's candid photos will be published tomorrow. Interview by Piers Beagley Click to comment on this interview
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