Elvis’ Brother To Release Book About The ‘Dark Side’ Of ‘The King’s’ Life

Impello Films via The Daily Telegraph

Although Elvis Presley was much older than his stepbrother, David Stanley, the two developed a close bond that stood strong until Elvis’ death in 1977. When David was only 16, Elvis took him under his wing to work for him on tour. As a result, David was a firsthand witness to some of the darkest moments in “The King’s” life. 

Today, David is a respected author, filmmaker, and inspirational speaker. As part of his speeches, he discusses some of the darker parts of Elvis’ history as cautionary tales to those who may find themselves going down the same path. Now, David hopes to help more people by opening up further about his brother’s struggles in a new book, called My Brother Elvis.

Set for release on August 16, David’s book is a personal story about Elvis’ final years and the battles he fought on a daily basis. By releasing the book, David is hopeful those struggling with addiction will be able to improve their lives after learning about how addiction took a toll on Elvis. David himself was formerly an addict, but managed to turn his life around after Elvis’ death, which served as a major wakeup call.

I hope that these revelations of my time with Elvis might save others from the pain I suffered during the final years of his life,” David said. “It’s my way of reaching out to those who loved Elvis in the hopes of touching their lives as much as he touched mine.

As time has passed, Elvis has become an almost mythical figure in society, but David wants people to know the real man he was. Like anyone else, Elvis had his faults, something David doesn’t try to hide in his book:

“I felt it was my responsibility to write a book about these realities of Elvis beyond the glitz, glamour and fun. He was human, and his very human frailties and vulnerabilities cost him his life. If addiction could happen to Elvis, it can happen to anyone. I wrote ‘My Brother Elvis’ to humanize him not only for longtime fans passionate about him and his music but also for young people, to make sure they realize that while life with ‘The King’ was often pretty cool, there was also a high price to pay for the party.”  

There’s no denying the intrigue that continues to surround Elvis and his life. But although he is loved and admired by millions of people around the world, David says no one ever thought more highly of “The King” than him.

Nobody loved Elvis more than I did,” he said.

What do you think about the premise of David’s upcoming book? Are you going to buy  a copy? 

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About the Author

Miranda Raye

Hello, I'm Miranda, a lifelong country music fan! There are old home videos of me in my baby swing, swinging along to Dolly Parton and Ricky Van Sheltonโ€™s โ€œRockinโ€™ Years.โ€ Being able to unite my passions for storytelling, researching, and music into my work has been a dream come true.

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