Join Billy Hubbard and his wife Sarah on this part 2 special episode with Singer Songwriter John Smith Presley, a man who has presented DNA and other convincing evidence to prove he is the son of Elvis Presley, and his attorney friend/band mate Tony Petty. John was born in 1961 and adopted and raised by an uncle and aunt of Elvis, Ira Dee and Etta Smith.

John is the subject of a film about his life currently in the works based on Rich Carlburg’s book Let The Boy Sing. John is also part of a new documentary currently in production which is where we caught up with him today.

Paul Cohen, a noted Hollywood investigator, has spent the last eight years collecting new and corroborating evidence John already possessed including verification of his birth certificate. The state of Texas had a systems glitch in 1961 the year John was born that caused the “D” in the word "Date" to show up as an “O.” This was the only year this occurred. Most importantly Paul has obtained DNA comparisons to several verified members of the Presley family, including a first cousin to Elvis, and they match.

John was subsequently adopted by an aunt and uncle of Elvis, Ira Dee and Etta Smith at about 18 months old. Along with John, Ira Dee and Etta also adopted his two older half sisters at the same time to provide a loving stable home for the children. Ira Dee and Etta had no children of their own. John’s birth mom Zona was a cousin to Elvis by marriage, not by blood.

The book title Let The Boy Sing is from a message that was passed on to John's birth mother Zona, and some 30 years later Zona passed the message to John. Gladys Presley was illiterate and didn't write the message "Let the boy Sing" herself. Gladys had a maid named Hattie that wrote down what Gladys told her to write. Gladys passed away in 1958 several years before John was born. The message was intended for Elvis and the future mother of his child based on the feeling Gladys had about her future grandson. When Gladys asked Hattie to write this, the events of John's birth had not taken place. Hattie years later was sent to the house of Ira Dee and Etta Smith to help raise John, just as she helped raise Elvis for Gladys. Hear part 1 of John's story at https://www.buzzsprout.com/1300885/episodes/15646481 and read FAQ's and learn more about John's story at http://lettheboysing.co

Podcast producer/cohost Billy Hubbard is a Singer/Songwriter and former Regional Director of A&R for a company that published a Grammy winning song. Billy is a signed artist with Spectra Music Group and co-founder of the iconic venue "The Station" in East TN. Billy's album was released by Spectra Records 10/2023 on all major outlets! Learn more about Billy at http://www.BillyHubbard.com

Support the show

If you'd like to support My Backstage Pass you can make a donation to Billy & Lee's coffee fund at this link https://www.buymeacoffee.com/MyBackstagePass