LONG LIVED THE KING
The Interview
“May I get you anything else before we get
started?” The pretty blonde producer hovered around her guest as he waited for
the interview to begin.
“I’m fine. Thanks darlin’,” he drawled.
“I see they have your microphone all set
up. Would you like some more water? Anything? Anything at all, just ask.”
He shot her a crooked grin. She blushed
and scurried off.
The interviewer adjusted his tie and took
a seat across from his illustrious guest. They shook hands. He took one last
look at his notes as the director counted him down. Looking directly into the
camera he smiled widely. “And we are back.
In today’s movers and shakers segment we are honored to have someone
who’s impacted music, film, and even world politics over the last forty years.
This guest is here to tell us about his new book that chronicles his career and
delves into the darkness that almost ended his life. Join me in welcoming the King!”
The elderly guest looked slightly
embarrassed when the studio erupted in cheers and applause. “Thank you. Thank
you very much,” he said. The result was a roar of adulation.
“Well let’s get to it shall we?” the
interviewer continued. “Everyone in the world knows your music. You catapulted
rock and roll into the stratosphere in the 50’s and 60’s. In the 80’s your new
music inspired a new generation. Your influence can be heard in hip hop, rap,
country, of course rock and roll and pretty much every other genre of music
since. Your humanitarian efforts spawned a movement that has impacted the
globe. The hunger relief organization, PB&B, funds nutritious school
lunches for millions of American children and sends food to 34 countries. And
if that’s not enough, and it really should be…your support of the arts in
schools has insured that music, dance, film, and drama will continue to be
offered in every American high school in the country.”
“The arts are important and I…I can’t
imagine why anyone in this world should have to go hungry. There’s plenty of
food. We just have to get it to folks.” The King absently ran his hand through
his silver hair. “That’s why I started PB&B (peanut butter and banana, for
my favorite snack) so nobody goes hungry.”
The
interviewer stole a glance at his notes. “The whole world feels like they know
you from your music and movies but this book (I couldn’t put it down once I
started reading it.) covers what you call the dark decade, the 70’s. What can
you tell us about those times?”
“Well, sir. It…it’s like this. I had some
successes in the 70’s but for the most part my career was in decline. I was
touring the country a lot but my music was getting stale. I surrounded myself
with folks who never told me no. My marriage ended in 73. I was in a sorry
state. By 1977 my health was real bad. I had an enlarged heart, high blood
pressure, chronic migraines, and severe back pain. I stayed hopped up on
prescription meds. I was so overweight, I could barely make it through a show.”
“On August 16, 1977 I had a massive heart
attack. It should ‘a killed me. I was technically dead for a couple of minutes.
When I woke up in the hospital, I knew somethin’ had to change.”
“That is when you decided to check into
rehab?”
“Not
immediately. I was always so opposed to recreational drug use, it was hard for
me to understand that I was an addict. It took a brave and very straightforward
young doctor, actually he was an intern at the time, to tell me I was addicted
to drugs. I was so used to being the one that everyone depended on, it was
really hard for me to ask for help. It was hard to admit that I needed help. In
the week I spent at the hospital recovering, I began to understand.”
“On August 28th, I checked in
to Hazelden in St. Paul.”
“That’s the Hazelden Clinic, which later
became the Betty Ford Clinic,” the interviewer interjected.
“Yes. That’s right. I learned real quick
that I needed to change pretty much everything about my life. I had to learn to
eat right and exercise. Most importantly, I had to learn to manage my health
concerns without overmedicating. It was not an easy road. It took two years. I
lost 65 pounds, which helped my overall health a lot. I took up yoga, which is
a lot like martial arts but calmer. I needed calm in my life. I began to
surround myself with positive people who cared enough to tell me the truth.”
“What truths did that entail?”
“The truth about everything. My wardrobe
was dated. The jumpsuits had to go. My music was stale. I needed new writers. I
even started writing some original songs for myself. Facing my issues with
substance abuse, I learned a lot.” The King shifted in his seat to look
directly at the camera. “There is an epidemic in this country. Prescription drug
abuse is out of control. That’s why all the profits from this book, LONG LIVED
THE KING; HOW DYING SAVED MY LIFE, are going to the Hazelden Foundation. This
organization funds rehab centers across the country.”
The interviewer nodded and gestured to the
large screen behind them. Images of smiling people and a manicured campus
scrolled by. “A worthy cause indeed. Let me remind our viewers. The medical
facilities and free clinics funded by the Hazelden Foundation have changed the
face of healthcare in the United States.” More images of small town clinics and
more smiling patients. “In 1985 the first clinic in Memphis opened to service
the people who couldn’t afford quality healthcare. Since then, over 1200
medical facilities in towns all over the country have joined to insure that no
one goes without medical care.”
“That’s right.”
“Now before we must go, I have to ask you
one more question. Did you really have a hand in designing the flying car?”
The King laughed. “No. Elon started that
rumor. That kid.” He shook his head. “He was meeting with his engineering team
to work on their hover car concepts. Someone turned on my music. Elon said they
were inspired. The rest is history. Now just about everyone has one of his
solar powered or electric hover cars.”
“I’m getting the nod from our director so
I guess we’ll have to wrap this up. I just want to say thank you for all that
you’ve done.”
“Yes sir. Thank you, sir. But I…I haven’t
really done all that much. I’m just a singer.”
“Oh, no sir. You are so much more than
just a singer. You are an innovator, philanthropist, and an inspiration to us
all. At 82 you are still making a difference in the world. I’d hate to think
what a sorry state this world would be in if you hadn’t survived back in 1977.
The King, ladies and gentlemen. His new book LONG LIVED THE KING; HOW DYING
SAVED MY LIFE is in bookstores now.”
The old man stood and bowed to thunderous
applause. “Thank you. Thank you very much.”
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