JD Sumner & Elvis

J.D. Sumner: “The first thing that comes up in an interview about Elvis is the question of drugs. If Elvis took drugs, that was his business. He was a grown man capable of determining his own destiny and making his own decisions. But the bottom line was that he was in debt to no one and never mistreated anyone. I have no desire to put anyone down or hurt anyone, but there are a few things I have to say because he was my friend and I was his friend. I spent a lot of hours with my boyfriend and I was his. I spent many hours with Elvis, sometimes all night, and we spent most of the time talking about Jesus Christ. We prayed together, laughed, cried. I never saw Elvis Presley in any form of dope. I know he used tops as our schedule was tight and sometimes he felt like a top was a must. Truck drivers use tops all the time to stay awake. Housewives, preachers, lawyers and even doctors use tops to curb their appetites. Me too I know that Elvis took sleeping and painkillers. He was a sick man, sicker than we knew. The Memphis Mafia, as his gang was latterly known, or at least some of its members, could forge a signature that belonged to Elvis or Dr. Nick, and they could also write their own names. You could easily contact Dr. Nick's prescription pads come and get as many medications as they wanted. Drugs were bought for 45 people in Elvis' name, and neither Elvis nor Dr. Nick always knew. There was no way Elvis could have taken all the drugs purchased in his name.

Admin, Dr. Nick was the doctor for everyone on tour, that's why there was so much medication and Elvis wanted to pay for all the medication on tour if anyone was sick.

From the book by J.D. Sumner, Elvis His Love For Gospel Music.