Larry Geller

Last updated

Larry Geller
Born (1939-08-08) August 8, 1939 (age 86)
Occupation
  • Writer
  • public speaker
  • hairstylist
LanguageEnglish
Subjects
Years active1989–2012
SpousesStevie (1963–1972)
Shira (1995–present)
Website
elvispresleybiography.net

Larry Geller (born August 8, 1939) is an American writer, hairstylist, and public speaker. [1] He was a spiritual advisor and personal [2] hairstylist to Elvis Presley. [2] [3] [4] [5] Geller "played a major role in shaping the King's iconic hair looks," CNN editor Lilit Marcus wrote. [6] Presley hired him on April 30, 1964 [7] [8] during the filming of Roustabout (1964). [9] He became "the man in whom (Presley) confided in matters of the spirit." [10]

Contents

Career

Geller's career began when he joined forces with famed hairdresser Jay Sebring, opening the first men's hair salon in America in 1959. The salon (Sebring International) was on Fairfax Avenue in Los Angeles and it provided services like women's hair styling salons as opposed to traditional barber shops. [1]

It attracted Hollywood's A-list. Film stars, television, and recording artists including Frank Sinatra, Paul Newman, Sammy Davis Jr., Kirk Douglas, Marlon Brando, Peter Sellers, Steve McQueen, Henry Fonda, Robert Wagner, Glen Campbell, James Garner, Bobby Darin, Tony Bennett, Rock Hudson, Roy Orbison, Sam Cooke, and Jackie Gleason were among their clientele. [1]

Personal hairstylist to Elvis Presley

Beginning in 1964, Geller left Sebring to accompany Presley and style his hair [6] for entertainment engagements like film productions, [6] concert performances, [6] and events with the reception of guests at Graceland in Memphis. [1] Their relationship went far deeper than hairstylist and client. Geller was Presley's confidant and friend. He brought Presley many new age ideas and books which were about the ideas (on "[r]eligion, philosophy,... life, and anything else you can think of." [6] Geller said those helped Presley in his search for identity and purpose. [1]

Geller styled Presley's hair for 11 movies: Roustabout, Girl Happy , Double Trouble , Easy Come, Easy Go , Frankie and Johnny , Harum Scarum; Paradise, Hawaiian Style; Tickle Me , Clambake , and Spinout . Geller prepared his hair for the last time for Presley's funeral in August, 1977. [1]

Personal life

Geller was first married to Stevie, [7] from 1963 to 1972. He married a second time in 1995 to Shira. They lived in Los Angeles [1] and moved to Sedona, Arizona. [11] He has twin sisters. [8] Presley studied with him for years and they shared insights together. [7]

In November 2010, Geller sailed on the Elvis Cruise 2010 from Jacksonville, Florida to Nassau, The Bahamas on a Carnival Cruise Line ship, the Carnival Fascination . [2]

Bibliography

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Geller, Larry. "Elvis Presley Bio: Larry Geller: Hairstylist, friend, mentor". Bell Rock Publishing. Retrieved 2015-11-18.
  2. 1 2 3 Emmrich, Stuart (2009-12-15). "Cruising with the King of Rock 'n' Roll" (Broadsheet). The New York Times . New York City. ISSN   0362-4331. OCLC   1645522 . Retrieved 2015-11-18.
  3. ↑ "Elvis turns 80: 10 fascinating facts about The King". cbsnews.com. 8 January 2015. Retrieved 2015-11-18.
  4. 1 2 Prouty (1996-09-01). Variety and Daily Variety Television Reviews, 1993–1994. Taylor & Francis. ISBN   978-0-8240-3797-0 . Retrieved 2015-11-18. Weekly January 10, 1994, Daily January 14, 1994. P. viii.
  5. ↑ Ponce de Leon, Charles L. (2007-08-07). Fortunate Son: The Life of Elvis Presley. Macmillan. pp. 144–149. ISBN   978-0-374-70733-0 . Retrieved 2015-12-02.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Marcus, Lilit (8 January 2015). "Elvis Presley's Hairstylist Spills the King's Secrets". Yahoo!.
  7. 1 2 3 Presley, Priscilla Beaulieu; Harmon, Sandra (1985-09-19). Elvis and Me . Berkley Books. ISBN   978-0-399-12984-1. ISBN   978-0-399-12984-1, ISBN   978-0-425-09103-6. Pages 225, 226, and 254.
  8. 1 2 Keogh, Pamela Clarke (2004-07-06). Elvis Presley: The Man. The Life. The Legend . Atria Books. ISBN   978-0-7434-5603-6. ISBN   978-0-7434-5603-6. Pages 48 and 157.
  9. ↑ Nash, Alanna (2003-07-08). The Colonel: The Extraordinary Story of Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis Presley . Simon & Schuster. ISBN   978-0-7432-1301-1. ISBN   978-0-7432-1301-1. Pages 216, 232-244.
  10. ↑ Tillery, p. 2
  11. ↑ Glinsky, Lisa Schatz (February 2015). "The Oneg Corner" (PDF). Community Update: 5. Retrieved 2015-11-01.
  12. ↑ Beagley, Piers (2007-06-26). "Larry Geller interview 2007 - Elvis Information Network". Elvis Information Network, ElvisInfoNet.com.
  13. ↑ Elvis (1979 film) at IMDb Retrieved 2015-11-28.
  14. ↑ Elvis and the Colonel: The Untold Story at IMDb Retrieved 2015-11-28.
  15. ↑ Elvis (miniseries) at IMDb Retrieved 2015-11-28.

Further reading

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