Elvis Presley

“Wayne Evokes Opposing Views of Past” (Dec. 15) refers to a remark that Elvis Presley “was rumored to have made” regarding his feelings about blacks.

From April 1964 until the day he died, I was Presley’s hairdresser and close personal friend. We spent many hours--at Graceland and Bel Air, in hotel rooms around the country, and on the road--sharing our thoughts, feelings and philosophies. Elvis treasured the heritage of black music, which had contributed so much to his own development and success. He never lost touch with his roots, and spoke often and fondly of spending his early years in Tupelo, Miss., living and playing among blacks. Elvis was acutely aware of the treatment of blacks in society. As a Southerner, this brought him considerable embarrassment; as a human being, he felt great pain seeing fellow human beings mistreated.

The many blacks who worked and lived with Elvis had the highest regard and admiration for him. Never was there ever so much as a whisper of suspicion that he was less than decent and caring for the entire human family.

LARRY GELLER

Los Angeles