In 1954, twelve-year-old Jerry Schilling wandered into a Memphis touch football game, only to discover that his team was quarterbacked by nineteen-year-old Elvis Presley. Elvis was still an unknown, but his first record, "That’s All Right," had just debuted on Dewey Phillips’ popular WHBQ radio show "Red, Hot & Blue." That chance encounter with the future King of Rock ‘n’ Roll began an adventure for Schilling that continues to this day. In this episode, Schilling, who later became a successful talent manager, shares stories of how Elvis’s friendship has been an inspiration his life and career. Then, Alicia Dean, from Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. joins to provide a behind-the-scenes look at Graceland and Elvis Week today.

Jerry Schilling’s book, “Me and a Guy Named Elvis: My Lifelong Friendship with Elvis Presley,” is available on Amazon.com.

This episode is sponsored by the Hatchie River Conservancy.