What an honor to finally meet Priscilla! Since childhood, I have been a huge fan of Elvis Presley. As a child, I often sang his songs and gave concerts for my friends. I had a toy box and flipped it over and it became my stage. A Lincoln Log toy became my microphone and when my parents would bring friends over I was asked to give FREE concerts. They loved it! Mom & Dad took me twice to see Elvis in concert in 1977 the summer he died. I was age five and imagine your first ever concert was seeing Elvis LIVE!

My father graduated from the FBI in 1978 but what were the odds his roommate for 12 weeks was Bob Cantwell. Bob had been a close friend to Elvis from 1970-1977. He was bodyguard to Elvis and years later became Deputy Chief of Denver Police Department. He first met Elvis as a rookie cop in 1970 guarding the top floor of a hotel he was staying while in town. Elvis took a liking to him and invited him to the show.  Imagine your first time meeting Elvis, he invites you to a show and riding in the limo with him! Elvis often did things on a whim and with no notice the sold out concert hall had no extra chairs. So what did Elvis do? He had his team put a folding chair ON THE STAGE where Bob watched from the corner. So the first time he met him, is now invited to the show and riding in the limo only to watch it not from the balcony or first row but on stage! #MindBlown

Elvis asked Bob in the car if he had a favorite song and he replied, “I like most of them but I think “How Great Thou Art” is my favorite.” Elvis smiled and said, “Thank you, very much.” Later in the concert, Elvis said, “I would like to turn the houselights off me so you can see my new friend and one of Denver’s finest.” Then said, “I dedicate this next song to him.” Elvis turned that rock and roll concert into a church service for a few minutes and the crowd went wild. Bob said, “The hair on the back of my neck stood straight up!” JD Sumner who sang bass for Elvis said, “I have been around Southern Gospel music for 50 years and nobody sang Gospel like Elvis Presley.” Bob was on cloud nine and thought he would never hear from him again and Elvis asked for his phone number to keep in touch. Bob was floored but didn’t think he would ever hear from him again. After all he had already done so much! Talk about “taking care of business” Elvis not only gave him a ride, free show and sang a song for him but gifted him his friendship. That was the greatest gift!

Elvis indeed followed up! For seven years until he died. Shortly after that first meeting in Denver; “E” later invited Bob and his wife to meet him at his show in Vegas. Bob humbly replied, “Sir, if you think we have money we don’t. I am on a humble police officers salary and my wife and I would love to attend but she has never once flown on an airplane. We would love to but just don’t have the funds.” Elvis was a tad hurt but said, “If you think I am asking you to pay your own money to see me you are mistaken.” Elvis flew them in on the Lisa Marie jet named after his beautiful daughter. Elvis made things happen in a flash #TCB and prior to the show someone asked Bob’s wife do you have a favorite song? She said, “ALL OF THEM!” When one pressed further she replied, “I like his version of “Sweet Caroline” that Neil Diamond wrote is currently one of my favorites. The staff at the Hilton International ushered Bob and his wife down front. Way down front. Front row and dead center and after the intro and the crowd thrown in a frenzy Elvis walks out slim and trim wearing the iconic white fringe jumpsuit (one of my all-time favorites) and in middle of show dedicated the next song to Bob’s wife and sang “Sweet Caroline.” Bob told me later that his wife didn’t wash her face for a month and the smile stayed to this day.

Bob spent the night at our house right after the FBI training and I was six in 1978, but I humbly gave him my bedroom upstairs and I took the couch downstairs. I remember telling him, “If you slept at Graceland you take my bed. You are like royalty.” Bob laughed and thanked me and said he would make it up to me one day. We stayed in touch over the years on occasion but he heard I was at a meeting in Denver and was staying at the nice Westin Hotel near the airport. Bob, a man of his word called me (40 years later) in 2018 and said, “You are checking out now and my wife and I are coming to pick you and up and you can stay at my house.” For hours he shared with me more of the stories and gifts Elvis gave him. It was one of the coolest experiences of my life. Indeed, Bob spent many nights at Graceland and Elvis in 1976 gave him a brand new Cadillac (video below). Elvis in his personal bedroom at Graceland (now completely off limits) gave Bob a 357 magnum gun. I am holding it at Bob’s house years later while visiting him in Colorado. Elvis gave him beautiful jewelry, rings and necklace and he even gifted him a gold Rolex watch inscribed EP on the back of the timepiece. Elvis gave him a couple beautiful coats and shirts. Many know him as the “King of Rock n Roll” but from afar I saw him as the king of Generosity. In a world that was out to GET it appeared that Elvis truly lived to GIVE. The Bible is clear, “it is better to give than receive.”

Bob introduced Elvis to the famous “Fools Gold” Sandwich in Colorado. It was massive submarine sandwich with jelly, bacon, peanut butter, etc. Elvis loved it so much one time on a whim he had a craving for that snack in the midnight hour and flew on his private plane from Memphis to Colorado to get that sub one more time. It was Bob who hand – delivered it to him on the runway and talk about “fast food” Elvis took it on the road and the plane immediately flew back to Tennessee. Bob and his bride took me to that same sub shop in Golden, CO still in business today with all Elvis pics on wall. They served me the same sub on the same silver platter that Elvis meal was made. Bob & Elvis went skiing together in Vail, Colorado and Vernon Presley asked Bob to be an honorary pallbearer at the state like funeral in Memphis. FACT: More flowers were purchased that day in the history of America with love pouring in from around the world. Bob rode in one of the white Cadillacs to the cemetery and he was asked to stand post at times during the wake as fans reverently filed through the mansion to pay their respects. Just like he protected Elvis at times in life he was asked to stand post in death. Even US President’s have Secret Service on post at funerals.

Years later, I had the honor to minister at various events while preaching on the road to meet some of Elvis entourage. In 1992, I met Terry Blackwood who sang with the Imperials and on tour with Elvis for several years. I was asked to sing, IN THE GHETTO at a talent show in Ocean City, MD and he enjoyed it. We are still friends on FB today! I was invited to preach in Maryland (2002) on Smith Island and Donnie Sumner sang that week while I was guest evangelist in an old tabernacle. Donnie sang the famous LIGHTHOUSE song that Elvis loved to hear and sing in the midnight hour. We met Uncle Vestal in early 1990’s at Graceland and I became friends with Ricky Stanley. He was one of three stepbrothers to Elvis and he became a preacher and evangelist. Rick spoke twice at a Billy Graham Crusade. I had the honor years later to be on staff with Billy Graham Evangelistic Assoc for five years as the DC, MD & DE State Coordinator. We did several events together and stayed in contact and he passed away while he was serving at a country church in South Carolina. The last words Ricky Stanley said to me on the phone before his passing, “Frank, keep making much of Jesus! Keep preaching the Gospel.” I’ve done my best and you got to grab Ricky’s book, “The Touch of Two Kings.” It shares his life serving his stepbrother on the road, “The King of Rock n Roll” and giving his life to Christ and becoming a Gospel preacher and evangelist serving, “The King of Kings.”

For over 40 years, I prayed to meet Priscilla and last August was my 25th anniversary of being ordained into the Gospel ministry. I reached out to her via Cameo and she blew me away and did the nicest video for me. I was so touched and she was so personable and gracious with her details and time. Immediately, I knew purple was her color and I went shopping for a Bible and found a leather one in purple. I saw where she was going to be an event in New York and bought my ticket and was going to drive a thousand miles roundtrip with hopes to meet her and the event was cancelled two nights before the show. Recently, I saw where she was going to be near Pittsburgh, PA and my son, Andrew and I made the trip to connect with her. She was elegant, beautiful, gracious and kind. She was wearing purple! That is my birthstone (February) and it means royalty. Grateful to God for making the connection and I would love to grow as friends and praying blessings on her and her family today and always. Jesus is the Answer to all of life’s questions.

At one of the concerts in 1977, I got five feet from Elvis and he almost picked me up on stage. That would have been incredible! My friend, Zoro was a close friend to Lisa Marie Presley and he always spoke very highly of her. Z is Lenny Kravtiz drummer and Zoro is also a strong Christian brother. We flew to Guatemala together for Compassion International and have done several ministry events coast to coast. I have always had a burden for Hollywood and would have loved to spend time with Lisa. God is never in a hurry but always on time and ask the Lord today who you can encourage? Everyone needs hope and kindness and we all need Jesus. WATCH The day before, (August 10)  I attended the funeral of my dear friends who died in the plane crash. Nathan Kistler and Amber Nelon were amazing Gospel singers and even better people. It was my honor to preach at a couple events with them and they were among best singers of Southern Gospel heading to sing at Bill Gaither cruise. He wrote a song for Elvis too! If I looked tired in pic with Priscilla it is because I drove 1,100 miles in less than 24 hrs from Maryland to NC for the funeral and raced back north to Pittsburgh to be in position to meet Priscilla the next day. However, it was worth every mile. Jesus left crowds to go after individuals and I waited most my life to say “hi” to her and tell her God loves her. I pray she likes the Bible and thank you Jesus for making it happen and God bless you, Priscilla.