Roots of Elvis

Within the genetic maze of his ancestors lie the deep roots of Elvis Presley, the relatives with whom he shared DNA and who influenced him in unknown and unpredictable ways. He was a product of his ancestors-their habits, traditions, traits, lifestyles and values. Just as his parents' genes were shared through the union of sperm and egg, his ancestors' beliefs and values were indelibly transmitted through the telling of family stories and the imprinting of attitudes. But Elvis's public origin story is a mess of myth and factual errors that is finally corrected in Roots of Elvis. In this book, you will learn startling new facts about:

•Elvis's Cherokee and Jewish ancestry.

•The Presley matriarch who produced nine children but never married.

•The identity of Elvis's unknown great-grandfather.

•The mystery of Gladys Love Presley's middle name.

•The secret of Elvis's birthplace.

•Elvis's rare genetic mutation that may forever change his origin story.

A major publishing event in 2018 introduced letters written by Elvis Presley to his secret confidante and spiritual advisor, Carmen Montez. "Letters from Elvis" presented an amazing story of personal pain and abuse suffered by one of the world's most famous entertainers. Additional letters from Harry Belafonte, Tom Jones and Marlon Brando added meaningful details, but the verbatim text of these letters could not be reproduced for legal reasons.

"Brando on Elvis: In His Own Words," a sequel to "Letters from Elvis," goes some way to solving those legal frustrations. Now, for the first time, the full text of Marlon Brando's authenticated letters to Carmen Montez about Elvis Presley are revealed. His writing presents the compelling story of a close friendship that survived many personal traumas before a final break-up. Elvis fans will at last see the startling revelations about Elvis's life presented in Brando's own words and appreciate the unknown bond that once existed between these two great entertainers.