Bill Belew, 1931-2007

I find out about more celebrities in Coachella Valley via the obituaries than by any other means.

Bill Belew, the designer of Elvis Presley's black leather 1968 outfit and many of his other famous costumes in the 1970s, as well as costumes for Petula Clark, Ella Fitzgerald, Gladys Knight, Gloria Estefan, Flip Wilson, and Doc Severinsen, died on January 7 at Desert Regional in Palm Springs, according to "Paul Dafelmair, Belew's longtime companion."

"He may have worn a leather jacket, but that's about it," Belew said. "At that time, though, we were into denim, and I said, 'What if I just duplicate a denim outfit in black leather?' Elvis loved it."

Added Belew, who is said to have later helped remove the famous leather outfit from Presley's sweat-soaked body: "He was a great person to dress. He had a terrific build at that point."