When George Klein was an eighth grader at Humes High, he couldn’t have known how important the new kid with the guitar—the boy named Elvis—would later become in his life. But from the first time GK (as he was nicknamed by Elvis) heard this kid sing, he knew that Elvis Presley was someone extraordinary. During Elvis’s rise to fame and throughout the wild swirl of his remarkable life, Klein was a steady presence and one of Elvis’s closest and most loyal friends until his untimely death in 1977.

In Elvis: My Best Man, a heartfelt, entertaining, and long-awaited contribution to our understanding of Elvis Presley and the early days of rock ’n’ roll, George Klein writes with great affection for the friend he knew—about who the King of Rock ’n’ Roll really was and how he acted when the stage lights were off. This fascinating chronicle of boundary-breaking and music-making through one of the most intriguing and dynamic stretches of American history overflows with insights and anecdotes from someone who was in the middle of it all. From the good times at Graceland to hanging out with Hollywood stars to butting heads with Elvis’s iron-handed manager, Colonel Tom Parker, to making sure that Elvis’s legacy is fittingly honored, GK was a true friend of the King and a trailblazer in the music industry in his own right.


From the Hardcover edition.

“George, bravo! I learned some new things about you and your life, especially the earlier years. I feel you capture the essence of Elvis not only in dialogue, but also in giving the reader a sense of his personality, humor, and his spirit of play. . . . I know that Elvis would be proud that you’ve remained his loyal and lifelong friend.” —Priscilla Presley

“George was with Elvis from the beginning. He personally knows the story.” —Dick Clark

“George Klein is something else. Through the years, George has been right there. He’s got the great stories and he’s always talked about Elvis and presented him with great dignity.” —Tom Petty

“GK was there from the beginning, and there ’til the end. This book is fact.” —Jerry Lee Lewis

“GK was one of the most important friends and confidants of Elvis Presley. This book captures all the excitement of the birth of rock ’n’ roll, and reminds us of the very significant roles that Elvis and GK played as rock ’n’ roll pioneers.” —Jerry Schilling


From the Hardcover edition.