Times Square Gossip

**** THE DEATH OF A LEGEND Story By: Mark Bego **** Lamar Fike And Mark Bego Lamar Fike was not a household name per se, but for the last 50 years he has been known as the "bigger than life" founding member of Elvis Presley's famed entourage, The Memphis Mafia. Back in the days of duck tail haircuts, gold lame suits, and the song "Hound Dog" topping the charts, Lamar was the "right hand man" to "The King of Rock & Roll." Lamar lived at Graceland with Elvis, alongside Gladys and Vernon Presley, back in the days when that family was pop culture's original reality show. There were Cadillacs in the driveway, motorcycles to race, and even Natalie Wood paying a famous Memphis visit, and Lamar was there. When Elvis Presley was drafted and went off to serve in the Army in Germany, Lamar went along. When Elvis returned to the States, and performed on TV with Frank Sinatra, Lamar was there. And, when the '70s rolled around, a...

Times Square Gossip has just learned that within the next two weeks LAMAR FIKE and his forthcoming book FIKE: AN UNCOMMON JOURNEY-ON ELVIS PRESLEY BOULEVARD, that he finished earlier this year with celebrity-bio-writer MARK BEGO, will have secured a major distribution deal exclusive to a major retail operation throughout the U.S. Initial reports say that the book will be carried as an exclusive item, in much the same way that the new 'greatest hits' CD from CHRISTINA AQUILERA is available only at Target. According to Fike, "We've spent some time ascertaining the best distribution and most effective route for this book ... and, what with the shrinking economic picture and book and record stores going under daily, this looks to be the best direction for us. The book is a fitting tribute to Elvis and those halcyon days. There's been a lot written and said, that quite honestly, never happened. I was there ... so, consider this is a first-person account. D...

Dallas-based LAMAR FIKE, the key member of Elvis Presley’s famed Memphis Mafia, who formally started up his own Drawbridge Productions in February, is now putting the finishing touches on the accompanying screenplay to his forthcoming book FIKE: AN UNCOMMON JOURNEY ON ELVIS PRESLEY BOULEVARD, written with best-selling celebrity-author Mark Bego, titled “ONE OF THE BOYS; ‘57 TO 60’.” The screenplay was written by Fike, Bego, and filmmaker D. Edward Stanley. Drawbridge Productions was formalized to bring under one umbrella Fike’s many productions as well as to contain all his ‘intellectual properties’ pertaining to his Presley-related projects in the works. Says Fike, “There are several ongoing projects and I now to have them all under the Drawbridge umbrella, makes prefect sense.” Fike formed the company with his business partner Taylor G. Atha. Having now finished the screenplay, Fike says that his LA-based agent has already begun shopping it with immediate positive results coming in....

Dallas-based LAMAR FIKE, one of ELVIS Presley’s legendary “Memphis Mafia” members and currently penning the tome “FIKE: AN UNCOMMON JOURNEY ON ELVIS PRESLEY BOULEVARD” (written with celebrity-author Mark Bego), has formed, effective immediately, DRAWBRIDGE PRODUCTIONS, to “bring under one umbrella” Fike’s many projects, as well as to contain all his “intellectual properties” pertaining to his Presley related projects in the works. Fike, who ran Presley’s music publishing company (1962-1977), as well as being a principle in a production deal with Jimmy Bowen (while at MCA Records), has written or co-written several tomes in the past relating to his work with Presley, but has now decided to form his own production concern, with business partner Taylor G. Atha.Says Fike, “In addition to the book, there’s also a screenplay in the works based on this book and, I felt at this point, I wanted everything under one banner.”Fike has also partnered with several financial entities enabling the co...

Lamar Fike and Mark Bego Celebrity-author MARK BEGO is uncovering all sorts of never-before-revealed tidbits about ELVIS PRESLEY, in the forthcoming ON ELVIS PRESLEY BOULEVARD; LAMAR FIKE: AN UNCOMMON JOURNEY, the tome he is writing with LAMAR FIKE; he of the infamous Memphis Mafia. Fike lived, worked, played, and partied with the King. He was there for the highs and the lows of life with The King. Among the books saucy revelations: "When Lamar first moved into Graceland with Elvis, he actually slept in the same bed with The King. According to Lamar, "He would have nightmares, and he would sleepwalk, so I slept with him ... so he didn't walk out of the second floor window. I had to turn on the lights to get him out of his sleepwalking phase." While there are all sorts of rumors about Elvis meeting and having an affair with Marilyn Monroe, in reality, it was Lamar who met her. Says Fike, "She invited Elvis over to a party at the studio, but he sent me over to se...