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Robert Gene "Red" West (March 8, 1936 – July 18, 2017) was an American actor, film stuntman and songwriter. [1] He was known for being a close confidant and bodyguard for rock and roll singer Elvis Presley .
In July 1976, Red and Sonny West, together with Dave Hebler, were fired by Presley's father, Vernon, from their jobs as bodyguards to Presley. [3] Red had known Presley since they had attended high school together and had become a very close friend of him. He became a part of Presley's inner circle in 1955, acting as a driver and bodyguard. [4]
Lamar Fike handled Elvis' stage lighting. Red and Sonny West were Elvis' bodyguards and security at Presley concerts.(although Red West also had a talent for writing songs, including some recorded by Elvis such as "If Everyday Was Like Christmas" and then "Separate Ways"). Marty Lacker was a brutally honest "sounding board" advisor [18]
Delbert Bryant West Jr. (July 5, 1938 [1] [2] – May 24, 2017), known professionally as Sonny West, was a friend and bodyguard of the singer Elvis Presley along with his cousin Red West for sixteen years, as part of the Elvis entourage at Elvis' Memphis home Graceland, which became known as "The Memphis Mafia".
"If Every Day Was Like Christmas" is a song written in 1965 by Red West and popularized by his friend and employer Elvis Presley in 1966 when he recorded and released it as a single. [1] [2] Presley released it again in 1970 on his Camden Elvis' Christmas Album.
"Separate Ways" is a 1972 song by Elvis Presley written by Red West and Richard Mainegra. Elvis Presley recorded the song on March 27, 1972, and released it as a single with "Always On My Mind" as the B-side. It reached gold status in the US for sales of over half a million copies.
Red West recounted that "You'll Be Gone" was written after a suggestion or idea made by Elvis to write new lyrics for Cole Porter's 1935 classic song "Begin the Beguine", from the musical Jubilee: "Elvis recorded 'It's Now Or Never' and he wanted to take another old standard that was a great song and change the lyrics. ...
The song was copyrighted on May 15, 1962, with words and music by Elvis Presley and Red West and published by Elvis Presley Music, Inc. It is surmised that Elvis wrote the song about his mother Gladys Love Presley, who had died in 1958. Elvis also co-wrote the song "You'll Be Gone" with Red West and Charlie Hodge in 1961. [3]