Elvis News » Bill Burk has died

Bill Burk has died

25/04/2008

Elvis and Bill Burk in 1960

Connie and Bill Burk

We are extremely sad to report that Bill Burk, well-known Elvis publisher and Memphis journalist died yesterday.

Working for the Memphis Press Scimitar newspaper Bill Burk began reporting on Elvis Presley in the 1950s, and the two built up a close friendship over the years. In 1960 when Elvis returned from Germany, Bill is seen in all the footage from the time as he covered the story for the paper where he is seen at Graceland in the movie This Is Elvis.

As well as working for the Press Scimitar Bill Published the fan magazine Elvis World, which still has subscribers from all corners of the globe, and he was the publisher of several of his own Elvis books including Early Elvis: The Humes Years, The Tupelo Years and The Sun Years trilogy as well as Soldier Boy Elvis, Press Between The Pages and Elvis: Through My Eyes which was a personal story of Bill Burk's personal relationship with Elvis and the stories he covered.

In the words of Vernon Presley, two days after Elvis passed away in August 1977: 'Bill Burk has written more good things about my boy over the years than anyone.'

Bill Burk was always very welcoming to Elvis fans in Memphis and hosted his now famous Elvis World lunches in  August and January every year.  He was devoted to his wife Connie, who sent us this message:

'It is with such great and abiding sadness that I am telling you that Bill passed away peacefully today at Baptist Hospital at 10:10 am, surrounded by his 3 children -- Gary, Jennifer, Randy -- and me.

He had irreversable brain damage from cardiac arrest suffered Monday afternoon, and it was his living will that he not be kept alive artificially in a situation like that.

It is terribly painful for those of us left behind, who will miss him so dearly, but Bill is now in a much better place.

Services will be at Memphis Funeral Home, Poplar Avenue. Visitation on Sunday, April 27, 3-6 pm. Service Monday, April 28, 1 pm. Burial at West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery at a later date next week.

We ask that any memorials be donated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, www.stjude.org, in Bill's name.

Thank you for all your prayers and support throughout Bill's illness. We both truly appreciated it!'

Connie

»Bill Burk - A Great Friend To All Fans - Editor's Blog

Please add your comment to this story below.

A huge loss 
Bill Burk was a great guy, a loveable old bear.  What a loss.
Jason P

From the Good Old Days
I remember meeting Bill in Shoney's back in 1994.  It was such a pleasure to talk to this man that knew Elvis and these were the good old days, when it was all about the fans in Memphis.  He always remembered me when I returned.  A real fan, for the fans.
Andy McLaurin

What a great loss
What a great loss of a gentleman in the Elvis world, we share our great loss with his beloved family.  He will be remembered for his respect and honour to a great man and his fans.  Thanks for sharing your memories Bill, you were the best.
Eileen Weston

A really friendly guy
Really sad to hear of Bills demise I met him a few years back.He actually gave me a copy of his latest book seemed a real friendly guy remember Julie you were with me at the time
Barry Robinson

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