The Boy Who Would Be King : An Intimate Portrait of Elvis Presley by His Cousin - Hardcover

Having literally grown up with Elvis Presley in Tupelo and Memphis, Greenwood also served his cousin for some years as his press agent, claiming a front-row seat for the best and the worst of rock music's late king. As with so much written about him, this book is simultaneously interesting and lurid and often the former because it is the latter. But its saving grace, in addition to being well written, is Greenwood's closeness to Presley, rendering this an eyewitness account (the first ever by a blood relative) to the formative childhood years and the inner workings of the Presley family that played such a large part in the musician's personality development. Revelatory and credible in these and other areas, but never descending to either blathering idolatry or merciless crucifixion (a la Albert Goldman), this fast-paced, no-white-wash look at the rock icon will surely find an audience among the millions for whom Elvis Presley still holds fascination. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 5/15/90.
- David M. Turkalo, Social Law Lib., Boston
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Greenwood, a cousin who grew up with Elvis and later became his press agent, attempts to explain the singer's turbulent life and career by detailing the events of his youth. Poverty, unstable parents, the death of a twin brother at birth, emotional attachment to his alcoholic mother are included in the litany of childhood misfortunes offered as explanations for the star's debauched behavior as an adult. We learn very little that matters about Elvis the performer or his music, however. Glossing over his cousin's professional accomplishments, Greenwood concentrates instead on the juicy details of his bizarre personal relationships, his drug abuse and his sexual encounters. The resulting "portrait," written with freelancer Tracy, is yet another sensational account of the Elvis's life, and isn't even interesting. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.