Lamar-Fike-Obituary

Lamar Fike

Obituary

DALLAS (AP) — Lamar Fike, a member of Elvis Presley's famed inner circle called the "Memphis Mafia" who had a long career in the music industry, has died. He was 75.

Fike, who was suffering from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, died Jan. 21 at a hospital in the Dallas suburb of Arlington, said his son, James Fike, 45, of Atlanta.

"He did everything first-class. He was very brilliant. He had a tremendous presence. When he walked in a room, he lit it up," said David Stanley, Presley's stepbrother who first met Fike as a toddler.

"He taught me so much about music, about life, about living life to the fullest," he said.

James Fike said his father held various roles with Presley, including as a lighting director, bodyguard and managing Presley's music publishing group. After Presley's death in 1977, James Fike said that his father continued to work as an entrepreneur in the music business in Nashville, Tenn., in music publishing, managing artists and brokering music and memorabilia deals.

He said that in 2006, his father moved to Texas, where he had relatives.

James Fike said that his father, a great storyteller, would recall when Presley and the "Memphis Mafia" would decide they needed a cheeseburger somewhere and hop on their plane to take them to whatever city they chose.

"He was a character. He always had these stories," James Fike said.

Stanley said that Lamar Fike was "like a father figure to me."

"Him and Elvis were the best of friends, so obviously he was part of the family," Stanley said.

Stanley said that Fike, who had been working on a memoir of his time with Presley and a screenplay, was the kind of guy who would call him up and say to meet him in a city just to spend some time in the best hotels, eating at the best restaurants.

Fike was among five members of the group dubbed the "Memphis Mafia" who incorporated the name in the early 1990s.

Fike was born in Cleveland, Miss., on Nov. 11, 1935. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Joan Fike. In addition to James Fike, he is survived another son, John Fike, of Nashville, Tenn. A memorial service is set for Feb. 26 in Mart, a town about 25 miles east of Waco.


Copyright © 2011 The Associated Press

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Sincere heartfelt condolences to Mr. Fike and everyone who knew and loved Mr. Fike. I am just an unimportant man who hails from Toronto, Canada. And as awfully late this entry is, I assure you that this comes from the very depths of my soul. May Mr.(Lamar) Fike sleep in heavenly peace, I bid you all the peace, love and the utmost respect as your journeys continue without Mr. Fike which I suspect will take time to adjust to his absence in body. I wish for no less than the best of health,...

Thank you for all you did for my cousin Elvis and for the music industry. Fly high great man !

Enjoy listening to your stories. Man why a life!

Rest in Peace Lamar you was one of the best ever you done the best that you could do and now its time to Rest.

I enjoyed listening to all the great stories and insight with all his experiences with Elvis and the Memphis Mafia. Rest In Eternal Peace Mr. Fike with your maker and good friend Elvis.

Only know of you from watching the videos. "All the Kings Men." I loved your laughter, everyone needed a Lamar in their life..

Rip Mr. Lamar Fike.
I like listening to your stories when you were employed and worked for EP. Plus you were the lights/lighting director at EP concerts. You did a good job doing that work. My condolences to the Fike family and friends, for your loss.
Joe DeHoyos
Carlsbad, Texas

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

Lamar, I wish I could have met you