George Nichopoulos - The King and Dr. Nick: What Really Happened to Elvis and Me

PRAISE FOR THE KING AND DR. NICK

Dr. George Nichopoulos is one of the kindest men I know. He is a good man, and Im glad to call him my friend. He has seen me through some tough times and I believe he helped save my life. Not many have the love and compassion Dr. Nick has for people. I am proud to say Dr. Nick is one of my best friends. God bless you, Dr. Nick.

Entertainer Jerry Lee Lewis, Rock
and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee

Leave aside what youve previously read and this much-needed book will unbend your mind. Itll fill in many gaps regarding an incredibly close friendship and finally tell the truth about how it all ended. To produce a mighty book you must have a mighty story, and there is none more so than this.

Andrew Hearn, editor and
publisher, Essential Elvis UK
magazine

A remarkable first person account of the toll of fame on an American icon. It reminds us of the humanity, generosity of spirit, humor and enormous talent of the King of rock n roll. You wont be able to put it down.

Michael Rose, producer of
Elvis: Return to Tupelo

After reading this book, in my opinion you will discover that Nick (Dr.) was more than a personal physician to EP. He was a mentor, a confidante, and a friend. He really cared about the maninside and out!

Joe Guercio, music director (Elvis
Presley)

The King and Dr. Nick is an exciting, powerful and important memoir, revealing a sweeter, stronger Elvis than we have seen before. Finally, after 40 years of relative silence, the man at the center of it all delivers a rich and poignant storyeasily outdistancing the scores of tell alls that have come before. When he focuses on the entertainers drug use, Elvis doctor also sweeps away the thick cobwebs surrounding Presleys deaththereby producing an intimate and clear picture of the final hours that have so mystified and fascinated the world. In many ways THE insider account.

Peter Harry Brown and Pat H.
Broeske, authors of Down at the
End of Lonely Street: the Life
and Death of Elvis Presley

The King and Dr. Nick: What Really Happened to Elvis and Me is a compelling memoir by Dr. George Nichopoulos, physician to the King of Rock n Roll. This heartfelt account of Dr. Nicks personal and professional relationship with Elvis has something to offer everyone. For fans, new information comes to light regarding Elviss struggle with an array of health problems. For biographers and journalists, a fuller story of his death and the controversy over the autopsy is revealed. For scholars, each new personal account from someone in Elviss inner circle reworks and expands the Presley mythology.

Dr. Nicks account adds another piece to the puzzleone missing for too long regarding the events surrounding Elviss death and the path that led him there. With each year that passes, it becomes crucial to collect the memories, points of view, and recollections of all those who were close to Elvis for the record. While their experiences with Elvis continue to comfort, inspire, and even haunt them on a personal level, Elvis is part of our history nowand their experiences belong to the ages.

Susan Doll, author of Elvis for
Dummies ; Elvis: American Idol ;
and Understanding Elvis

History needs villains, and so Dr. Nick has been cast in the popular Elvis Presley story. His own version of events, not surprisingly, differs from the prevailing narrative. In the days before addiction was public fare, before the creation of the Betty Ford Center and other celebrity retreats, the medical doctor was counselor, confidante, and gatekeeper. From the call that brought Dr. Nichopoulos into Elviss world to the wreckage that his world became in the wake of his patients death, its a narrative that cant be anticipated. Tragedy looms large, but so does hope.

Robert Gordon, author of It Came
From Memphis ; director of Respect
Yourself: The Stax Records Story

We as a culture love to dissect our heroes, but are loathe to resuscitate our villains. To shine todays understanding upon yesterdays dilemmas, to shed new light on past wrongs, to complicate good and evil with vulnerability, innocence and hope for a future not yet certainthis is why Dr. Nicks memoir was written and why it must be read.

Tara McAdams, author of The
Elvis Handbook

2009 by George Nichopoulos

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or otherexcept for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson. Thomas Nelson is a registered trademark of Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Thomas Nelson, Inc., titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fundraising, or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail SpecialMarkets@ThomasNelson.com.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Nichopoulos, George, 1927
The King and Dr. Nick : what really happened to Elvis and me / George Nichopoulos
with Rose Clayton Phillips.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 978-1-59555-171-9
1. Presley, Elvis, 1935-1977. 2. Rock musiciansUnited StatesBiography. 3. Presley,
Elvis, 19351977Death and burial. 4. Nichopoulos, George, 1927 5. Presley, Elvis,
19351977Friends and associates. I. Phillips, Rose Clayton. II. Title.
ML420.P96N53 2009
782.42166092dc22
[B]

2009041930

09 10 11 12 13 WC 6 5 4 3 2 1

Information about External Hyperlinks in this ebook

Please note that footnotes in this ebook may contain hyperlinks to external websites as part of bibliographic citations. These hyperlinks have not been activated by the publisher, who cannot verify the accuracy of these links beyond the date of publication.

CONTENTS

C ontrary life with Elvis Presley and what really happened between us during his lifetime and to us as a result of his death. My memories of our times together are emotionally based, anchored by the pain of living them. Even now my happiest times are clouded by the sadness of Elvis leaving us much too soon.

The account of my friendship with one of the most written-about personalities in history is my attempt to help readers understand a very private man, whose humble life conflicted so drastically with his famous public image.

It is as truthful as my memory can recall the facts, but it would be futile for me to claim that it is anything but tainted by the love I have for this fascinating and sensitive man, one of my dearest friends.

This story bears little resemblance to those of Elvis and me that I have read in other books. Everyones story of Elvis comes, as mine does, from an interpretation of what we saw at the time, what he was willing to share with us, how others reacted, and how we were affected. Never did I imagine how ordinary actions and simple conversations would play out in the pages of history. Actions have consequences, and part of knowing ourselves is learning how others see us. People I have written about here will obviously feel the same way as they view my personal observations about them and my attempts to make sense of all we shared together. Writing a memoir is an exercise in separating fact from opinion, evaluations from judgment, and truth from wishful thinking.