I’ve always loved music. I took my first guitar lesson when I was about 6 years old. My youth failed me. I was too young.
Then as I grew older I learned to play the trombone, and although even today, I cannot read music, I managed to become a member of the High School Marching Band for a few years, really neat uniform, but marching at football game half times, quit appealing to me.
In college, after meeting a cowboy studying to become a veterinarian and who played guitar, he offered to teach me the basics of guitar, in exchange for a case of beer, and I immediately accepted his offer, drank at least a six pack of the beer I gave him in exchange for the lesson, and went to the local music instrument store, traded my trombone in on a guitar, and for the next few years practiced the 4 chords in the key of C, over and over again, hour after hour, and learned more and more songs, usually Johnny Cash songs, although I began to move into other artists that were becoming so prominent in the early and mid 60’s, Eric Burton and the Animals, The Rolling Stones, and started enjoying the blues presented by Jimmy Reed and Lightning Hopkins. I met Lightning at a concert in Denver and he signed one of my guitars which I still have today.
In 1966, after receiving my commission as a 2nd Lt. in the Marine Corps, I was off to Vietnam, and one of the first things I did upon arrival, was to buy a guitar. This time I had a regular audience playing Johnny Cash songs in the Officer’s Club (a Quonset Hut) in PhuBai, when I wasn’t out in the field.
To make a long story a little shorter, after returning from Vietnam, and upon discharge from the Marine Corps, I took my guitar, car, and brand new suit to Los Angeles and the Corporate World. And Hollywood. And then it got very exciting as I began hanging out in bars with entertainers, sports stars, and actors, many of whom most people reading this, would recognize.
And then leaving California on New Years Day 1973, to continue my Corporate America experience, I arrived and settled, in Denver, then a cow town, and found myself once again playing my music, on the side, to audiences that were into Outlaw Country music and Rock and Roll and the combination Country Rock.
Then in 1976 I was asked by close friends, associates of Elvis Presley, Lamar Fike, who spent 25 years with Elvis and started Elvis's "The Memphis Mafia"; and Tommy Stewart McDonald, Lamar's cousin, and one of only a small number of my life time best friends and mentors; if I would like to go to Vail for Elvis Presley's 41st birthday.
Which I did, and the next thing I knew I was writing songs, playing songs at gigs, and with their help and support, did a recording of my songs in Dolly Parton and Porter Waggoner's Fireside Studio in Nashville. I went on to continue to write songs and did more recording sessions in Denver.
Colonel Parker, Elvis, and Lamar Fike
Then in 1976 I was asked by close friends, associates of Elvis Presley, Lamar Fike, who spent 25 years with Elvis and started Elvis's "The Memphis Mafia"; and Tommy Stewart McDonald, Lamar's cousin, and one of only a small number of my life time best friends and mentors; if I would like to go to Vail for Elvis Presley's 41st birthday.
Which I did, and the next thing I knew I was writing songs, playing songs at gigs, and with their help and support, did a recording of my songs in Dolly Parton and Porter Waggoner's Fireside Studio in Nashville. I went on to continue to write songs and did more recording sessions in Denver. It would be hard for anyone to fathom walking into a "man-made" Tsunami, but that is exactly what Lamar Fike did, and for the next 25 plus years, he rode the Tsunami, a.k.a Elvis Presley, day and night. Not only a close and trusted confidant, but the many who introduced Elvis to Mrs. Elvis Presley, Pricilla.
I'm told by Tommy McDonald, Lamar's cousin, that Elvis told a story about this fat kid who climbed over the wall at Graceland, and stayed for the next 25 years. That was Lamar Fike, and any of you who are Elvis Fans know the name and have read his books.
This is a photo of Elvis's manager Colonel Parker, Lamar, and Elvis.
Tommy & Lamar Today
By chance you've not been to Mart, Texas, you may have missed one of the secret wonders of the world.
While I haven't checked lately, I don't think there is a Fike or McDonald Ave., Drive, or Street in Mart; but I may be incorrect. But when they were children, without the exception of high school football and discjockey stardom (Tommy and Lamar), little happened in Mart. Remember this was the era of Bob Wills, Buddy Holly, Richey Valens, The Big Bopper, Jerry Lee Lewis, and the one that got both Lamar's and Tommy's attention, Elvis Presley.
And that's when the world changed for Lamar and Tommy.
Lamar & Elvis
During the last two years of Elvis's life, it was my extreme pleasure to be invited by Lamar and Tommy to spend time with the Presley Entourage. What an exceptional time in my life.
I flew into Dallas for one of the last Elvis Concerts and when it became time to board the buses, I jumped on as quickly as possible. I can't imagine what it would have been like to miss what was about to happen - I had a Back Stage Pass and I wasn't prepared for what I was about to experience; AN ELECTRICAL ENERGY FIELD WHICH I HAD NEVER KNOWN BEFORE, NOR WILL EVER AGAIN.
ELVIS PRESLEY WAS UNCHAINED ENERGY, AND THAT EVENING, I FELT HIS IMMENSE POWER!
And Lamar Bike had lived this Energy Field with Elvis for 25 years. Unbelievable!
Lamar Fike introduced Elvis to Priscilla, and the famous courtship began, leading to their marriage.
"We Were The Wild Ones", one of the last songs Waylon Jennings recorded, and remember, this is not official, had to have been written about those in this picture, Tommy McDonald, "Little" David Wilkens, Lamar Fike, and Bill Sparkman.
They were wild times, and if you weren't a participant, you were enjoying the antics of The Wild One's, and those in this photo were chewing up life and spitting it out.
It was in Denver, 1978 and those in this photo are Little David Wilkens, Tommy McDonald, Me, Capt. Jerry Kennedy - Denver PD, Ron Petrofeso - Denver PD, Little Donna Darling, Bob Cantwell - Denver PD, Lamar Fike.
It was after Elvis's death when there was a very quiet, very innoucuous gathering in Denver, Colorado. The people in this photo, minus Ms. Donna Darling, prominant disc jockey in Denver, had one thing in common, they each proudly, Elvis's TCB (Taking Care Of Business with a lightning bolt was Elvis's logo) necklaces around their necks.
The Nashville Session 1978
Wow, what an opportunity I was given to record the songs I had written and to meet the Stars of Country Music who I admired so much, many of whom I had previously sang their songs.
Fireside Recording Studio was owned by Dolly Parton and Porter Waggoner, and Little David Wilkins mixed the session and his band, along with Elvis's piano player and Charley Pride's steel guitar player, turned my songs into wonderful productions.
Lamar and Tommy provided me the opportunity to realize and participate in a dream that few people can ever realize; one of the most exciting times in my life, and allowed me to meet and "hang out with" some very accomplished and in many instances, famous people in the entertainment industry.
I will always be thankful for the association I had with both Lamar and Tommy, who introduced me to a wonderful and very fulfilling time of my life, and I will always be greatful to them both for sharing with me, a very special time in my life.
Lamar Fike, Founder of The Memphis Mafia, has passed away. Announcement written by Marty Lacker, at the request of Lamar's family.
Lamar Fike, Founder of Elvis Presley’s Memphis Mafia, passes.
Announcement written by Marty Lacker, Lamar's close friend and Memphis Mafia Member, at the request of Lamar’s family. “I have the unfortunate task of “Officially” & sadly, announcing the passing of Lamar Fike as authorized by his cousin Tommy McDonald who was very close to Lamar and was with him daily in his hospital room in Arlington, Texas. Lamar passed away very peacefully last night, Friday, January 21, 2011. Lamar had been hospitalized since last October 14th and then transferred to the physical therapy wing of the hospital. Unfortunately he did not improve and was sent back to the hospital about a month ago. Outside of Red West, Lamar was with Elvis the longest and he remained close to him until Elvis' passing. Lamar was also very close to Elvis' mother. Lamar's wishes to be cremated will be carried out by the Brown, Owen, Brumley Funeral Home, Ft. Worth, who are handling his funeral. A memorial service will be held in Mart, Texas, one of Lamar's boyhood homes at a date to be announced. He was born in Cleveland, Mississippi on November 11,1935. Those of us in the Memphis Mafia who remained his friends are greatly saddened by the loss of yet another member of our close group. May God Bless his Soul and may he Rest In Peace." Marty Lacker PS: This is the official announcement, his family has asked that it you hear anything else from anyone else do not believe it.”
