Elvis Presley’s Stepbrother Shared His Moving Story About Growing Up In The Shadow Of The King

In 1960 David Stanley’s mother Dee married into pop royalty, and the then pre-schooler gained an older stepbrother. But this wasn’t just any sibling. No, this was the world’s best-known rock ‘n’ roller: Elvis Presley! And the latter was unhappy about his dad’s remarriage. But did the King live up to his famed sneer when David walked through the door?

Elvis has been the focus of David’s life ever since the two first met. The former has knocked around a bit and tried a few things out. According to The Independent, he was even an evangelist at one point. But one thing above all has marked him out and formed the shape of his life: David is Elvis’ stepbrother. He doesn’t let anyone forget it, either.

David has mined his relationship to Elvis by writing a series of books about the singer. Among them have been Elvis, We Love You Tender and The Elvis Encyclopaedia. When not writing, David has also been speaking. In fact, people will pack out a venue to hear stories from someone who was so close to the King.

Elvis and David were definitely close: the latter worked for him from the age of 16 until the rocker passed. And you’d better believe that he has some juicy stories! After all, this is someone who describes life with the King of Rock as “chaotic insanity in excess: everything all the time always.” But how did he even come into Elvis’ life?

Though they weren’t blood brothers, of course. Elvis actually had a twin who didn’t survive birth, but that was his only sibling. He grew up with dad Vernon and mom Gladys in poverty in the tiny home that they shared in Tupelo, Mississippi. But poor though they were, the latter had ambition for her son: Gladys wanted him to have the education she’d never had.