Charlie Hodge at Graceland - 8/15/02
Charles Thomas
8/15, the day of the candle-light vigil. I thought Elvis fans would get
a kick out of the story, and since none of my friends even know who
Charlie is, I thought I'd share the story here.
First a disclaimer: I know that many Elvis fans have many reasons for
their many grudges against this and that member of Elvis' former
entourage, and/or band, and/or his acquaintances. Some of you may not
like Charlie for this or that reason, or feel like I'm making too much
out of meeting him. I'm asking that you just skip this thread and save
your misplaced anger for another time. To me, Charlie was not only
Elvis' friend and confidant, but also a member of his touring band from
1969-1977. For those reasons, I felt like getting the chance to meet
him was a great honor. Yes, I was totally star-struck. So sue me.
My girlfriend and I were touring Graceland sometime around 5:30 in the
afternoon. Not exactly sure of the time. We had made our way to the
basement room where some of the furniture from Graceland circa 1957,
Elvis' atheletic gear, some of his guns, and items from Elvis' office
are on display.
For some reason, I wondered what this room used to be (kind of ironic as
it turns out) when Elvis was alive, or if the room had been added on to
Graceland after his death. I asked the Graceland staff person working
there (a young foreign guy) about the room and he said that it had been
a garage while Elvis was alive.
My girlfriend and I went back to looking at the displays and I heard a
voice say, quite loudly, "This used to be my bedroom." Several people
in the room looked at the man speaking and chuckled nervously, obviously
thinking the gentleman was making some kind of inappropriate joke.
Something in the man's voice registered in my head as familiar and I
turned around to see a short, older gentleman standing in the room. He
was wearing a blue polo shirt, and conspicuously did NOT have on a set
of Graceland "guided tour" headphones.
He repeated, "This used to be my bedroom." The Graceland staff member I
mentioned earlier addressed him saying, "I'm sorry sir, but this used to
be a garage. It was never a bedroom." The older gentleman looked at
him with a combination of amusement and frustration. He paused,
obviously trying to decide how to answer. "I'm telling you", he said
carefully, "this used to be my bedroom. My bed was right over there."
He pointed to a wall of the room near me. The guide just stared at the
man, unsure of what to do. "You don't believe me.", said the older
gentleman after another pause. I stepped up to him and said "I believe
you." Truthfully, I was still a little unsure I was correct about the
man's identity. I had hopes, but what if I was wrong?
He turned to me. Yes. It was Charlie Hodge. Such a very odd
experience to spend so much time looking (sometimes daily) at someone on
video tapes and dozens of VCD's, and then suddenly see them aged 30
years. To me, Charlie was just singing backup for Elvis in my living
room a few days ago, now he was 30 years older and standing in front of
me.
Charlie was still looking at me, so I said "May I?", and held out my
hand to him. He took my hand in his and shook it, his hand warm,
weathered, and strong. I looked him in the eye and said with a voice
loaded with feeling, "It's a real pleasure." I glanded down and noticed
his "TCB" necklace: worn from decades of use... encrusted in diamonds.
Just then, an annoyed woman stepped out of line and got right in
Charlie's face. "Maybe you should get a set of headphones or
something", she said snottily. Charlie's face just fell... then became
angry. "Maybe I should just leave.", he said. And he turned and walked
out the nearest door.
I was reeling. I couldn't think, or maybe my mind was racing at a
thousand miles an hour. I felt crushed for him. I wanted to much to
have that moment back. To let him talk of his time at Graceland, to ask
him questions... a million questions. To tell him "Some of us know who
you are, and we care!" To let him know that his contributions to one of
the greatest stories in the history of music are not unacknowledged.
It was a bittersweet moment. A great honor for me, but one with a sad
ending.
If Charlie ends up reading this somehow, I just want to say "Thank You"
for giving me the chance to shake your hand, and for coming to Graceland
with the intent of sharing your experiences with the fans. Some of us
would have loved to have had the opportunity. I hope one bad apple
doesn't spoil it for you.
Charles Thomas
cth...@facstaff.wisc.edu
Broadwaychris
Good story though.
Stephen Leacock
Jason~~
Broadwaychris
>some of his so called friends.
>
Did you ask DD's permission to speak?
DID YOU??
Devildog1982z
>From: broadw...@aol.com (Broadwaychris)
>Did you ask DD's permission to speak?
>DID YOU??
No he's too busy getting bitch slapped by me on the other board.
Bill
Broadwaychris wrote:
>
> Charles! You gotta think and talk fast sometimes!
> Good story though.
I found the story kinda sad actually. Instead of stepping forward and
saying who he was, Charlie makes these comments that "this used to be my
bedroom" hoping against hope that someone recognizes him and then
everyone would be able to make a big deal about him. Instead, everyone
(except one) looks at him like a nutjob.
Bill
KellyMonro007
undying respect, but Mr Hodge is 1 who will always have it...
Has he ever written a book?
Be good,
KM.
Dawn
>From: kellym...@aol.com (KellyMonro007)
>Date: 8/19/2002 11:02 PM Central Standard Time
>Message-id: <20020820000256...@mb-cl.aol.com>
Yes, It's called "Me'n Elvis", 1984.
I have an autographed Premier Limited Edition.
Dawn
Ton Bruins
I am sorry to say but I don't like charlie at all; He was just a
yes-man and I met him a couple of times during fanclub days in Holland
and he just tells bullshit stories..He told for example that he saw
Elvis after his death...........grrrrrrrrrrrr....
Ton Bruins.
Devildog1982z
>you wish.by the way i am having emails from other fans saying what an idiot
>you
>are
Sure you are. Feel better now.
Devildog1982z
>From: kstev...@aol.com (K stevens35)
>heres one of them i did have 3 i must have deleted the other 2 but i will
>keep
>looking for them.thank you for asking about me yes i feel fine.
>
Go and have a good cry, then you can post some more about autopsies, while at
the same time you bitch about everyone else talking about his death.
Broadwaychris
>are
>a pair of bitches.you go and have a cry and post some more about elvis
>favorite
>col
Dry up already. You're a sick kid.
D4Qts
which we all have. He and Joe Esposito took Elvis to the hospital in the
ambulance after he died and if anyone know...Charlie does....His book, by the
way..is the only one that doesn't sensationalize on Elvis.
He's a good man and is still Elvis's friend.
J D Brown
"K stevens35" <kstev...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20020823064316...@mb-fj.aol.com...
> well said,charlie is one of the only people close to elvis who has not
written
> a pack of lies about him.in every interview i have seen about charlie
hodge he
> has only ever said nice things about elvis that is what you call a true
FRIEND.
>