Sonny West

Lore & Background

West met Elvis in 1958 at a roller skating rink. After discharge from the U.S. Air Force as an Airman Third Class (E-2), West, working as a washer and dryer repairman, went to work for Elvis as a bodyguard from 1960 to 1976, without being full time by Elvis' side such as during the '68 special. In December 1970, West married his wife Judy Jordan, an actress and an original "Away We Go" girl from The Jackie Gleason Show, with Elvis as best man, and Priscilla Presley, then wife of Elvis, serving as Matron of Honor. On December 21, 1970, Presley, West, and Elvis insider Jerry Schilling were photographed in the White House with Richard Nixon by Ollie Atkins. In July 1976, Presley bodyguards Sonny West, Red West, and David Hebler were fired by Elvis' father, Vernon Presley, in what was described as a cost-cutting measure, but was rumored to have been caused by concern over Presley's increased intake and dependence on various prescription drugs, and lawsuits against Presley due to security techniques which caused injury to fans.

Reader's Guide

West appeared in several Elvis movies as an extra. During the time West spent in Hollywood with Elvis, West stuck close to the directors and various other members of the movie crews, and learned about the production end of movie making. In the 1960s, West had a few acting roles under his belt, along with stunt work. West appeared in productions including Kid Galahad (1962), The Navy vs. the Night Monsters (1966), Daniel Boone TV Series (1967), A Matter of Blood (1967), The Hellcats (1968), Stay Away, Joe (1968), Bigfoot (1970), The Disc Jockey (1978), and E.S.P. (1983). He also worked as a stuntman on Harum Scarum (1965), Tickle Me (1965), and Live A Little, Love A Little (1968). West appeared in two Elvis concert documentaries while Elvis was alive: Elvis: That's The Way It Is (1970) and Elvis On Tour (1972). After Elvis died, West and his wife ran a company which bred Arabian horses. West later designed and made Western jewelry. In 1982, West served as "Chief of Security" for the "Salem Country Gold '82" country music tour. West hosted a local Memphis radio show on WMRO. In his later years, West produced and starred in a show called, "Memories of Elvis: An Evening with Sonny West."

Did You Know?

• West's parents came from Pontotoc, Mississippi, not far from Tupelo, Elvis Presley's hometown.
• West was one of two sons and five daughters.
• West was buried with full military honors in Crestview Memory Gardens in Gallatin, Tennessee.
• Less than two months after Sonny's death, on July 18, 2017, his cousin Red West died at Baptist Hospital in Memphis, aged 81, after suffering an aortic aneurysm.