Elvis’ Bodyguard

Vigor High School Elvis Through the early and middle 1970s Elvis Presley could be seen in concert in Mobile. Backstage his local bodyguard became his friend.

by Jere Hough

Published: Tue, January 06, 2009 - 3:27 pm CST Last Updated: Thu, January 08, 2009 - 12:35 pm CST

Jessie Taylor is a gifted artist...and one of his favorite subjects is Elvis Presley. He has many drawings of "The King." He knows a lot about him, too...such as, very early in his career, Elvis was a natural blonde.
Jesse Taylor was a student in Pritchard and explains, "He had blonde hair when he went to Vigor High School, and the Principal, Mr. MacPhearson, and Mr. Faulk would not let him entertain because they said he was vulgar. I have a picture of him leaving, and his hair is just as blond as it could be."
But most of us only ever saw Presley with dark hair.
"Elvis said he dyed his hair because his Mama's hair was black," recalls Taylor.

A few year's later, after service in Viet Nam as a Navy Seal, Taylor was part of Presley's security whenever he came to the Mobile area.
Elvis let him have the guitar pick from one of the Mobile performances. On another night, Presley gave him money.
Taylor quotes the famous singer, "'That ain't no money,' when I told him what I was making, so he gave me a $50 bill and I said, 'Sign it.'"

Over the years, Elvis signed many pictures that Taylor took. There are lots of signed records and posters and some costume items...a scarf that both Elvis and his father signed. Taylor even has Presley's original Social Security Card.

Elvis was known to give away valuable things on the spur of the moment...that's the source of Taylor's diamond ring...Elvis took it off his own finger and handed it to him.
Taylor comments, "Elvis had a big heart. He was a very nice man."

On one visit to Mobile, a woman called about her very sick child at Mobile General (now USA Hopsital). She asked if Elvis could sing something to her child over the phone...she was told it couldn't be done. But that afternoon...
Taylor picks up the story. "We loaded up, went to the Mobile General, and they had all the children put all over the floors, around the child's room, and he sung, and sung, and sung, and when he left, it was really nice...he left the mother a check to help pay for the doctor bills."

At the Magee Farm Museum in Kushla, on Highway 45, Jessie Taylor is displaying his many mementos of Elvis this coming Saturday and Sunday, the 10th and 11th of January from 10 AM to 5 PM both days. There is a $10 charge for adults and teenagers. For more information call (251) 675-1863

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