The irony about "Elvis fighting racism" is that Elvis benefitted greatly from segregationist racist attitudes by white music producers, DJs, and the television producers who wanted to find a white music star to market to white suburban America in the mid 50s. Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Bo Diddley etc didn't get that kind of support and push.
When I thing of ghetto I thing f 1960 poverty with high crime elvis presley family was very poor moved many time when he was a kid vernon presley went to prison so elvis and gladys moved into family members home I think
Elvis was born in poverty in a black community in Tupelo, Mississippi. Elvis knew about the struggles and harsh realities faced by those living in poverty. The track reflects not only the societal issues of the time but also Elvis’s deep empathy for the downtrodden. His manager didn't want him to sing it because of the backlash and Parker feared that the song's heavy themes and political undertones might alienate their core audience, which largely consisted of mainstream listeners who preferred escapist entertainment. Despite Parker's reservations, Elvis ultimately went against his manager’s wishes and recorded "In the Ghetto," which was released in 1969.
Whenever Elvis sings without smiling or flirting with the women, it is because he takes that song serious. This song meant a lot to him just like If I could dream did. He also took gospel music seriously.
So glad he finally went against Col. Parker & sang In The Ghetto. Elvis knew what it was like to live in the ghetto that's where him & his mother lived while Vernon was in jail. Elvis was dirt poor but had a loving family.
For more about Elvis’ life, watch “Elvis and the Black Community- that echo will never die”. Growing up in predominantly poor, black neighborhoods in Tupelo, Mississippi & Memphis, Tennessee, he was exposed to gospel, soul & rock & roll. He sang in the choir of a Black Church. He helped bring soul & Gospel into larger audiences.
@@julieb.5860absolutely. As a teenager one of my first favorite country singers along with Ronnie Milsap and Don Williams. Also loved his TV specials and film appearances.
@@makingthecoin3647 there are so many great artists who didn't get their due. i mourn the fact that Leon Russell is unknown by most of the people who adore his songs. I see covers of A Song For You being inspired by everyone but the actual creator, and that is just the tip of the iceberg. So many others as well.
Elvis always the best. Mac Davis wrote this and took it to Sammy Davis Jr first and Sammy told him to take it to Elvis, as Elvis knew this life. Elvis always the best
@@carolyn_sm7182 Ah, wrong! Mac offered it to Sammy. Sammy said wtf is a white guy doing giving a black man a song to sing about the ghetto, wtf dose white guy know what it is like to be black and be black and live in the ghetto, he then said, give it to that WHITE! boy Elvis.
@@carolyn_sm7182Carol, Cindy you are correct. You speak the truth. If you notice this Termite Bwana a habitual Liar because he can't handle that Elvis is King of Rock & Roll. It's eating him up.
Elvis was very generous with his money. On his way to one of his concerts a lady was on the side of the road, her car was stalled out. He told his driver to pull over where she was, he got her address & sent her a Cadillac…true story!👍💙💙💙
A few? No one knows how many, because he gave things away without anyone knowing. They do know that he gave away at least 200 Cadillac's!!! Truly one of kind! Magnificent in every way! Colleen 🙂
Mac Davis, a lesser known WHITE songwriter knew he could publish the song about black inner-city plight, but felt the industry might not be behind pushing such a song. Elvis knew 'they' wouldn't stop him.
ELVIS loved black folks. he loved black music which was a huge influence on him. he was one of the most generous people you would ever meet.when on tour he was ready to do a concert and they objected to his black female backup singers, ELVIS told them if my girls can't be on stage with him he was not going on stage either.
Big myth was spread that elvis stayed black man could not even shine his shoes totally lie he grew up exposed to poor films of all colors grew up in black churches
When Houston stated his back up singers sweet inspirations not allowed o. Stage due to being black he stated to them if they are kicked out he would take it S him being kicked out thew quickly changed there tune tmregarxing all allowed on stage to sing
@@davidchase1439 Elvis had a test done in high school that showed an IQ of 70. That's a “very low” IQ at the level of mild intellectual disability and unable to think for himself.
THE KING actually grew up in pure poverty, his twin brother who was stillborn was actually buried in a shoebox they were THAT poor. He knows what he sings about. The vicious cycle of poverty
When was Elvis old? He died at 42. He did perform in other U.S.cities besides Las Vegas over his last 10 years. HE WILL BE MISSED AND LOVED FOREVER.❤ Thanks for the reaction.
He performed in Canada - Toronto Elvis's first Canadian performances were on April 2, 1957 at the Maple Leaf Gardens. He wore his famous gold lamé suit, and played "Blueberry Hill" on the piano. Ottawa Elvis performed on April 3, 1957 at the Ottawa Auditorium. The audience was so loud that it was hard to hear Elvis sing. Vancouver Elvis's final Canadian performance was on August 31, 1957 at Empire Stadium. The show was marred by a riot, with fans rushing the stage and surrounding the band's car after the show. Elvis's Canadian concerts were a pop-culture event that sent fans into a frenzy. He never toured internationally again, and only played shows outside of the United States on these two occasions
Elvis was born on January 8, 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi, in a 2 room shack of a house his dad built with money he borrowed from his boss. That's how dirt poor they were. He was one half of identical twins; the other boy - Jesse Garon - was stillborn. They were so poor, that Jesse Garon was buried in a shoebox in an unmarked grave. At Graceland they have a plaque with his name on it in his memory. Elvis always got along with the black community and learned a lot about music from his friends of color. Also, according to the one drop rule, Elvis would not be considered white, since he has Cherokee ancestors on both the Smith (his mother) and the Presley (his father) sides of the family. His paternal grandfather, Jesse Dunning Presley, was not happy that his two sons, Elvis' father Vernon and his brother Vester, married two sisters, Gladys and Clettes who were known to have Cherokee blood in their family tree. J.D. Presley was quite the racist a-hole, often drunk and a philandering husband to Minnie Mae (they were actually separated long before they finally divorced in 1954) who was always competing with his sons Vester and Vernon and who was known to abuse his kids when drunk. J.D. was publicly against race mixing and was in denial about the Cherokee blood in his own family tree. It was more publicly known that the Smith family had Native blood in their family tree, so when both his sons fell for 2 Smith sisters and Vernon, on top of that, was still a minor at 17 when he eloped with Gladys who was 4 years older than him, Jesse was totally pissed off. As a child, Elvis already had many friends in the black community at the time his family was one of 4 "white" families that lived in the predominantly black neighborhood The Hill, just across from Shake Rag. His childhood friend Sam Bell said that some of the (black) kids in that neighborhood had lighter skin than Elvis. One of Elvis' bodyguards once said that he thought it was a miracle Elvis got into Humes High School in Memphis, because it was "lily white". Elvis wanted to be more open about his Native ancestry, but his manager "colonel" Tom Parker (real name Andreas van Kuijk) was against it because he was afraid it might cost Elvis fans (and himself money). They did have Elvis play characters in his movies though where he had Native American blood (Flaming Star, G.I. Blues, Stay Away Joe). Once Elvis had his own (apprentice) job learning to be an electrician, he saved up his money and bought his clothes in the same style that many of his friends of color wore. He was called a (forgive me, just stating facts here) "n-lover" and got beaten up several times too. Later, when he was an established star, he would not perform at places where the members of color of his back-up band/orchestra weren't allowed.
All very interesting. I am curious, however, in any members of Elvis's Memphis Mafia were black because they are always portrayed by white men in the movies. Did he have any real black friends as an adult?
@@sebastianblack6506 His inner circle was white, probably because as his fame exploded it was hard for him to make new friends and his last black friends were from Tupelo, when he was a child. Most of his MM members he knew from his Memphis High School days (Red, Sonny, George - although he was not really MM, but a close friend), Jerry Schilling was 7 years younger, but was invited to join whenever they were a player short at touch football when Elvis was a late teenager who was just becoming a local celebrity. Guys like Charlie and Joe he befriended in the army. He was friends with black celebs such as Muhammad Ali, Jackie Wilson, B.B. King and more, but of course they were not in his inner circle and had their own entourages. He was close to his black cooks; treated them the same as the MM members (as in giving them houses and cars).
Just so you know, there is no proof of this Cherokee blood. Someone wrote a book and claimed it, but there is no proof it exists. It's certainly possible, but it seems that every southerner seems to claim Cherokee blood and something tells me that the author of that book took liberties when writing it ( as everyone does when it comes to Elvis ). The point being, we don't know.
Being raised around children of a different color and race, ELVIS never knew the difference because they all wore the same shoes. "ELVIS AND THE BLACK COMMUNITY" is an historical documentary of life growing up in a segregated South. Legends like BB King and numerous others in show biz talk about the real ELVIS. He attended Black Churches as a boy and was asked to participate in the choir. Already those around him was aware of his musical talent. In 1975 ELVIS was asked and was scheduled for a Concert in Texas. He was told "Well you can leave the Black girls home." His reply, "Then I'm not gonna be there." No one knew more about racism because he had faced it head on all his life. Many other videos show the different sides of ELVIS; the man who donated huge sums of money to St. Jude's Children Hospital; buying his cook a brand-new house and buying cars for those who had nothing. *PLEASE REACT TO THE ABOVE VIDEO I MENTION! THANX GUYS!!
I’m a 61 year old Mexican born and raised in San Diego Ca. And, yes, this song was a message to the world of what life in the ghetto is like for a black culture for I know from the eyes looking in perspective of the poverty and racial discrimination mainly towards the black community. But at the same time the Mexican community went through the same, we call the ghetto Barrio in Spanish. I was raised in a predominantly Black and Mexican community, we shared it and lived together. But there’s ghettos all over the world and those that just know, know. So internationally, speaking for myself can relate. I was that baby that was born when times were difficult and became that young man that picked up a gun and pulled the trigger and lost my freedom. But, I had a baby brother that was born six years later and times were still difficult for two hard working parents of seven. The sad reality is that my little Brother (RIP🙏🏽🌹) at the same age I was when I pulled the trigger died at the home we grew in,the ghetto. Elvis was trying to bring awareness and empathy to the black community when this song was written, but like Corey said, for those who know, know. I’ve been checking your content and you guys are cool and joyful to watch; you have a new subscriber after I end this message. Much Love, One Love 🙏🏽✌🏼😎✊🏽
I feel for you and your family, Victor. To have lost your brother at so young an age. Tragic. Sad. A lesson for those who would reflect and ponder reality. Much love to you, sir. I am 63 tomorrow. I've known discrimination all of my life. I was weak. I attempted to take my own life because of it. No one will ever understand unless they've lived it. Like Corey said, "those how know. Know." Peace out dude. Merry Christ-mas. May God always smile upon you and light your path. -eric "He must increase, but I must decrease" ...(John 3:30)
Elvis grew up in terrible poverty, as did ( and still today ) many, many white people. Contrary to popular belief, black and brown people aren't the only poor people. Poor whites didn't have anyone standing up for them back then and they still don't have anyone standing up and speaking out for them today. Poverty affects all races.
Elvis was born poor and never forgot hus roots. Loved to entertain and did Not do anuthing to show kff. He enjoyed the fame but also stayed True and humble. Often mus- understood. He was Not a shallow man.. Wise beyond his years
You need to watch the mini doc ELVIS AND THE BLACK COMMUNITY to better understand what he was truly all about. He grew up in poverty around black folks and he was ostracized by white folk because of his music.
........... Elvis is being morphed today into a blues-only influenced artist, which simply wasn't true. Elvis had so many other influences never discussed any more. Country music was an equal influence on him, as was Pop Music of the day. His greatest influence and biggest idol was Dean Martin. Elvis desperately wanted to be a pop crooner. Finally, Elvis was always credited with DEsegregating our music. He blended White Country with Black Blues and gave us a new genre, as well as fighting the media (tv, radio, & movies) to get his songs played, which were often blues songs that he evolved into a new sound.
Elvis' musical taste came from a real place. He was surrounded by not only Country music, but Gospel and the Blues as well. He lived in a black neighborhood when he was very young and there is a video of one of his childhood friends talking to "Elvis" director Baz Luhrmann about their time together as kids. His name was Sam Bell. I hope you'll watch this as well as "Elvis and the Black Community".
He never mentioned race. Poverty has no color. He himself was born and raised in the ghetto. His twin brother was stillborn and so poor they had to buy him in a shoebox.
When Elvis' daughter was born, Nancy Sinatra phoned him to congratulate him. She said that he said that he felt bad for all the children born that day who would not have what his daughter would have. "He particularly talked about the black kids". You can hear this when she was on Conan O'Brien. Two years later he was given In The Ghetto.
Mac Davis wrote this song and offered it to Sammy Davis. But he replied he thinks Elvis should do it because Elvis grew up in very poor rural area. Sammy said he didn't.
When he got heavy it was because he was in congestive heart failure. The song was ground breaking because he refused to hide the truth of the ghetto. A big song!
The youngest reactor seems uncomfortable talking about Elvis? The fact is Elvis grew up dirt poor in Tupelo Mississippi. Elvis' family lived on the edge of Shake Rag. Shake Rag was the black side of town in the 1930s...Elvis had many black friends as a child and was brought up by his mother to be color blind. Blues legend BB King knew Elvis from1953 on and had this to say about Elvis' talent and character King said this: said: " Elvis did not have a racist bone in his body. I know I was around him often. When he sang he had a way of making it sound like you could believe it, so a lot of people like myself liked him" "When Elvis hit he was so great and popular that everything he sang became a hit. To me they did'nt get it wrong when they called him the King" The song, In the Ghetto, was not a song his manager wanted him to record-but he did it anyway. In 1969 most of white America did not want to acknowledge the "cycle of life" that "In the Ghetto" spoke about.....but Elvis did. Poor in 1935 was not like poor in todays world....Elvis' house had no running water nor toilet inside-they had an outhouse. they had no electric refrigerator, no air conditioning, no hot water...their stove served 2 purposes to cook on and to help keep the house warm in cold weather. No TV, for years not even a radio so this was poor like most kids in 2024 could not imagine. Rock n Roll was not just blues,......... it was also country, pop music of the day and black and white gosple all blended together to become a new genre Rock and Roll. Elvis hit in 1954 with "Thats Alright Mama" on Sun Records label in Memphis. The record had a pretty goof size regional hit throughout the south.The day it was recorded Sam Phillips(Sun records owner) took it to a black radio station and asked DJ Dewey Phillips to play it once to get some reaction to it . The switchboard at WHBQ's Red, Hot and Blue show went into overtime as people kept requesting it over and over....and they wanted to know who the voice on the record was. The song played near 30 times in that hour. Many thought the singer was black. (so with only the voice to go by they were not influenced by the color of his skin.) The B-side of "Thats Alright Mama" was a reworking of a country bluegrass song, "Blue Moon of Kentucky" which was sped up and lyrics switched around some.... to get the rock/pop sound they were going for. The orders for this first single in a few days totaled 6000. Sun was not a huge operation so they were always behind in getting the orders out. THE biggest misconception about Elvis is that he was racist-and that is the biggest lie told about ELvis which some people continue to believe. People like BB King who knew Elvis before Elvis was famous are personal witnesses to the fact that Elvis was not in anyway racist. I think a good video for you all to watch would be Elvis and the black community. Big name stars who knew Elvis, his backup singers and others talk about Elvis and his principles and beliefs.
And Elvis was reviled by his schoolmates for playing and celebrating black music and gospel learned in the black churches he snuck into. He loved and admired and was inspired by the struggles of blacks and the poor.
Well you know, Elvis liked what he liked. He liked black and white gospel, foot stomping, pentecostal music. He liked country, hillbilly music, Louisiana Hayride stuff and he liked rhythm and blues. And with that mix he created rock-n-roll.
If anyone who is not familiar with the ‘Elvis’ phenomenon ….this song resonates with Elvis very much so because he was born in poverty in a predominantly black neighbourhood of Tupelo. He adored and loved people in general ( especially the Black community) . He was great friends with James Brown, Roy Hamilton, Jackie Wilson, Mohamed Ali, just to name a few… also his backup singers were black ( sweet inspirations with cissy Houston) also his 3 in house cook’s/maid at Graceland were all black .( Mary Jenkins, Nancy Rooks , Pauline Nicholson)…..
@@kbrewski1Elvis over 30 #1 Hits. Berry only 1. Elvis broke all records. Singles, Albums also a multitude of genres and Attendance records. Highest rated TV appearances in 7 shows in the '50s. Elvis is the King. He dominated he overwhelmed. Not even close.
@@makingthecoin3647 Because he had a marketing machine behind him and he was sold to white suburban and rural America by the white DJs, record execs and TV shows as the alternative to that nasty "black voodoo music." Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Bo Diddley etc scared the middle class white parents. So Chuck never had a chance marketing wise. Chuck Berry was not only a superb vocalist with very good precise diction, he was an ICONIC electric guitar player who created the template for rock rhythm and blues lead guitarists, (Elvis did not), AND CHUCK BERRY WROTE HIS SONGS, UNLIKE ELVIS. CHUCK WAS A TRIPLE THREAT. ELVIS WAS A SINGLE THREAT AND MORE OF A STYLE ICON SOLD TO WHITE SUBURBIA. Just look at who the BEATLES AND STONES COVERED AND EMULATED. IT WASN'T ELVIS. Someday when you git all growed up, this larnin' will seep into your noggin.
@@kbrewski1 Johnnie Johnson let Chuck Berry in his band. A quiet timid gentleman but severe alcoholic. He did so much for Chuck. Berry songwriter? Outrageous. Johnson the leader and pianist wrote many of Berry's songs and worked on others. All of Berrys songs were written in piano notes etc. Berry has no clue about piano work. Johnson then transfered it so Chuck can do it on his guitar. Combination of Johnson's alcohol ills, being timid along with Berry's temper obviously worked against JJ. Berry took advantage of him? Sympathetic view of Berry from Britain was evident because of the dominating star of Elvis and just like that he was gone not performing from late '57 thru '68. So the eyes looked elsewhere. Which leads to Beatles etc who watched Berry while Elvis was on his military and movie hiatus approx 12 years! 😂 The Johnson story has been out there as time went by it became MORE evident it was true but for along period of time nobody wanted to challenge it. Berry was a star, Johnson a broken alcoholic slowed down taken advantage of severely, ironically was he used by Berry, remember those WHITE DEMON producers? Hmm. Listen Jethro there is more to come to this. Just remember as time went by it became more and more evident that JJ was used and taken advantage of. All songs written by JJ in piano script. Your naive and full of it and can't go with me. Your foundation is full of Scata.
@@kbrewski1 EVERYONE noticed the Removal of the truth that this SITE is doing. Screenshots by many proving they are removing there legitimate points about Elvis. In the process.
What I like about this video is, he's in Vegas singing to an audience of mostly white well to do folks. But, he's singing about the people who are struggling with life. It's something this audience probably don't want to think about but he wants to bring it to them anyway.
Elvis didn't 'stay in Vegas' the last years of his life. He toured incessantly, doing more than 1100 concerts after he stopped being in movies. The overwhelming known Black artists of his generation had nothing but good things to say about Elvis. He didn't 'misappropriate' Black music. Elvis fused country with R&B, gospel & rockabilly & in doing so, helped create a new sound.
It was a rainy day at Shelby Park in Nashville, the day Elvis died. My mama and I picked up two young boys walking home from canceled football practice. They lived in the projects & their parents weren’t very involved. We all cried at the news. Lots of us “poor folks” thought of him as, one of us… that made it. Keep on Rocking! ☮️🎶✝️
I think OlliWoodDDA wondered if there wasn't much internally happening with Elvis when he was interpreting this song at this perfomance - that he was tired and chilling after a faster song. When it cames to the slow songs especially, Elvis inhabited them. He cared about lyrics, ; the subject matter related by 'In the Ghetto' during 1970 is sung with empathy and no drama. In fact, Sammy Davis Jr passed on this because he couldn't convey the necessary feeling required. The only dramatic part we here in Elvis' live interpretation was the controlled band ending. The body language form Elvis was unmistakeably congruent when he interprets words (unless he felt in a joking mood). The eyes, the hands, the tone of the words, the focus, all brought about connection with the viewer and listener. Yes, the heat of the lights and an exuberant performance earlier might have a required a momentary tempo change, but Elvis respected lyrics and he knew that not all songs had to be belted out to chime with people.
This song wasn’t about Elvis’s experience. Singer/songwriter Mac Davis wrote In The Ghetto (for Elvis) about the cycle of poverty. It was inspired by Davis’s childhood friend, a black kid named Smitty Junior who lived on a dirt street in the ghetto. He wondered why Smitty had to live that way but he didn’t. Elvis put much more into the recording than that live version.
He went to black churches when he was a kid. That echo will never die. On UA-cam. His black pastor talks about when Elvis sang in the church black church
Thank you for your reaction is real God bless, Elvis,was born dirt poor when he sang the ghetto he sang with passion he lived it 🕺🎸🎤⚡TCB ⚡TLC☝👍👊✌👌🇵🇷🇺🇲❤🙏
Many think Elvis wrote this, but it was Mac Davis. His friend lived in the Ghetto and he decided to write this song about his friend’s experience. It’s so like the times now. Makes me cry. 😢 As far as him liking Black music, he imitated Roy Hamilton and Jackie Wilson’s moves and singing style. Please react to those two. Great artists. ❤
@randyhanner3188 I like your direct way with words! And you couldn't be more right. As always politicians did and still do appropriate money for wars but not people. There were instances where ELVIS spent so much on complete strangers that his manager tried to put a stop to it.
Song was written by mac davis. Elvis didnt just sing lyrics . He walked the walk In many ways Often refusing to play if his back up singers werent given proper respect. He waa very charitable Really solid person all around W soulful.
I was hooked on this song when I was 8 in the late 60's. I wonder if an 8-year-old today would like this. Many songs in the 60's and 70's were loved by parents & kids
Elvis was Born in the poorest part of Tupelo Ms in a Two room shotgun house with no electricity or running water, built by his daddy and Cousin ,he very well Knew what it meant to be poor and the song, never referred to the black people only , it's just a song that was written by Mac Davis who asked Sammy Davis Jr to record it and he said I didn't live that life and I know who did and he told Mac Davis that Elvis was the man who lived that life TCB 1935
The song in its original release was acually slower and elvis sings it beautifully. Him. Singing it on stage was great . Elvis only got heavy in his lasy year 76 but he had many inherited illiness from his mothers side . His voice acually got better in his later years
BACKGROUND INFO for the SONG: Written by famous singer-songwriter Mac Davis, it is about his Black childhood friend whose father worked for Davis’ father & Davis could not understand why the boy lived in such poverty in a part of town that was a dirt-street ghetto. Sometimes we need to see a "quieter" Elvis who does slow songs -- i.e., The Wonder Of You. Every song he did, fast or slow was full of emotion and REAL. Nothing he sang with emotion/passion was every phony. And no, he was not tired at that point. Those house lights & stage lights are extremely mega hot -- you could stand nude on stage & you will perspire.
Elvis was not tired! You clearly have not watched enough Elvis. He not only sang, he interpreted a song. He makes you feel the words. Take a look at these performances and then reevaluate if you still think he was tired…. Early Vegas- That’s the Way it Is Suspicious Minds 1970 ua-cam.com/video/T1g5tVGZhfk/v-deo.htmlsi=Mu5pYlKJj14ibzmH Polk Salad Annie ua-cam.com/video/B4dXsDCHMgo/v-deo.htmlsi=OI-tx5xCqj5pJBqv Bridge Over Troubled Water ua-cam.com/video/70dT1-WhBFM/v-deo.htmlsi=LzW33hBuuGs9OF86 Just Pretend ua-cam.com/video/CuuaXIA4A-A/v-deo.htmlsi=zCG6KgK5zNwg4joi You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling ua-cam.com/video/QTLjMiEJwq4/v-deo.htmlsi=Azi7-oHzaTQYaxIp
I loved his voice in the 70s and it seems to keep getting better and better Office was very sick. He had a lot of health conditions that caused the weight gain as well exploding it was never necessarily fact it was because he was sick. He had been sick most of his life, but it got worse at the end Elvis cared about all people all the time.
Elvis sings this song to awaken people to those who are less fortunate. Elvis knew all about poverty. He grew up poor!! And knew of the struggles of being poor!!
I like that you gents are checking out Elvis. As in some of the previous comments I also think you should watch " Elvis and the Black Community " and see what the people in the black community who knew him thought about him. It's about a 15 minute video and well worth watching.
Elvis did not only stay in Vegas. Thats for just parts of the year. He did go on US tours with 10- 25.000 fans showing up. Full stadiums on every consert.
Elvis put himself out there I'm sure a lot of people didn't like this Elvis knew a lot of people knew him so his message got out.. you have to give him credit
Elvis was NEVER fat, yo. Let's get that clear. Can I just say, the only people who stole from and abused the black and coloured artists were their own managers and promoters. Fact. To place the lack of rise and recognition of "black communities" and artists/entertainers, etc, on Elvis Presley because he got so popular and wealthy is downright petty jealousy, misplaced entitlement, and plain ignorance. He earned everything on merit. Nothing stopped everyone from rising to the same heights before, during, and after his time. Come on, y'all. Anyways, thank you, brothers, for spotlighting Elvis on your channel. Peace ✌🏼💯⚡❤️
The Las Vegas act began in 1969 till he died in 1977. It was that last year where he was heavy and very heavy in his last appearance just prior to dying. His Unchained Melody performance at his final concert was shockingly great as he could not breathe well and was near the end of his life.
Unchained Melody was not his final concert. It was the last FILMED concert but not his last. It was June 21st, he then went on to do 5 more concerts, the last being June 26th.
If you haven't already watched it. Yall need to watch Elvis and the black community! He grew up in poverty in the black community. It shows how racist people were against Elvis Presley. This song was written by Mac Davis, and it was about growing up poor, not about the color of anyone's skin.
Yes. They never do young Elvis in black leather. Or Elvis with his country shirts and guitar or his cute suits. He got fat young. He was only 42 when he died. He put a lot of feeling into this song. He friend write it and he felt a deep connection to it.
Elvis never took anyone's music...Elvis was born among the music he liked..yes the black Ghetto was the reason he sang that song to help his people out..to make awareness and stop racism..Elvis loved all people..please do the homework on Elvis and this song..
I really love post 1968 Elvis! Here are a few of my favorites from this era you definitely should check out! Kentucky Rain Moody Blue Suspicious Minds Promised Land Burning Love
Elvis understood poverty. Born into it, I can respect him singing this song because of that fact.
Elvis took stands against segregation and racism over & over. He did it publicly, privately, loudly, and quietly. He always stood up for black people.
The song was written by Mac Davis. The story of the song. ua-cam.com/video/WGSnTfRJlCY/v-deo.html
The irony about "Elvis fighting racism" is that Elvis benefitted greatly from segregationist racist attitudes by white music producers, DJs, and the television producers who wanted to find a white music star to market to white suburban America in the mid 50s. Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Bo Diddley etc didn't get that kind of support and push.
Tell that to public enemy and others who call him a racist and a thief.
When did Elvis pick up his microphone, walk out on stage and speak against segregation? This should be an interesting read.
@@kbrewski1 Because white America needed a great white hope to get the white girls out of the black clubs because that's where all the action was.
Elvis himself was raised the the ghetto of Mississippi
And in Memphis , his family moved there when he was like 13?years old. They lived in the projects there
And in Memphis, he lived in government apartments until he became famous.
@@juliestogner2542 Google ghetto.
When I thing of ghetto I thing f 1960 poverty with high crime elvis presley family was very poor moved many time when he was a kid vernon presley went to prison so elvis and gladys moved into family members home I think
There's a youtuber called Spa Guy who did a video about why vernon presley went to prison
Elvis was born in poverty in a black community in Tupelo, Mississippi. Elvis knew about the struggles and harsh realities faced by those living in poverty. The track reflects not only the societal issues of the time but also Elvis’s deep empathy for the downtrodden. His manager didn't want him to sing it because of the backlash and Parker feared that the song's heavy themes and political undertones might alienate their core audience, which largely consisted of mainstream listeners who preferred escapist entertainment. Despite Parker's reservations, Elvis ultimately went against his manager’s wishes and recorded "In the Ghetto," which was released in 1969.
And often refused to play if his back up singers were not respected
Whenever Elvis sings without smiling or flirting with the women, it is because he takes that song serious. This song meant a lot to him just like If I could dream did. He also took gospel music seriously.
So glad he finally went against Col. Parker & sang In The Ghetto. Elvis knew what it was like to live in the ghetto that's where him & his mother lived while Vernon was in jail. Elvis was dirt poor but had a loving family.
For more about Elvis’ life, watch “Elvis and the Black Community- that echo will never die”. Growing up in predominantly poor, black neighborhoods in Tupelo, Mississippi & Memphis, Tennessee, he was exposed to gospel, soul & rock & roll. He sang in the choir of a Black Church. He helped bring soul & Gospel into larger audiences.
Did all that just to be demonized by groups like public enemy and many more
Tell me, how many people make up the black community? Give me a number.
So true; it pisses me off.
@@laurawilloughby4000 why so mad
@@christopherking4932 Tell me, how many people make up the black community? Give me a number.
Written by Mac Davis, a very talented singer-song writer
underappreciated!
@@julieb.5860absolutely. As a teenager one of my first favorite country singers along with Ronnie Milsap and Don Williams. Also loved his TV specials and film appearances.
@@makingthecoin3647 there are so many great artists who didn't get their due. i mourn the fact that Leon Russell is unknown by most of the people who adore his songs. I see covers of A Song For You being inspired by everyone but the actual creator, and that is just the tip of the iceberg. So many others as well.
I saw Mac Davis live. He had a wonderful stage show and was a great song writer
I saw Mac Davis in concert & he went out with us afterward for a few drinks. He was an amazing poet and bard and man. ❤
Elvis always the best. Mac Davis wrote this and took it to Sammy Davis Jr first and Sammy told him to take it to Elvis, as Elvis knew this life. Elvis always the best
now that is not the truth, is it?
@@bwana-ma-coo-bah425 yes it is the truth, search it out. Those words came from Sammy Davis Jr himself in an interview.
@@carolyn_sm7182 Ah, wrong! Mac offered it to Sammy. Sammy said wtf is a white guy doing giving a black man a song to sing about the ghetto, wtf dose white guy know what it is like to be black and be black and live in the ghetto, he then said, give it to that WHITE! boy Elvis.
@@carolyn_sm7182Carol, Cindy you are correct. You speak the truth. If you notice this Termite Bwana a habitual Liar because he can't handle that Elvis is King of Rock & Roll. It's eating him up.
Elvis was very generous with his money. On his way to one of his concerts a lady was on the side of the road, her car was stalled out. He told his driver to pull over where she was, he got her address & sent her a Cadillac…true story!👍💙💙💙
He didn't steal anything he lived it. You can't teach or learn that you have it in you or you don't have it in you.
Really tired of this story line that Elvis stole Rock and Roll from blacks. Actually R&R is a mixture of country, R&B, rockabilly.....etc.
All greats borrow from someone, except the first one. We don't even know who the first was- goes too far back!
He gave away a few house and a few cars to people. He was humble in many ways.
A few? No one knows how many, because he gave things away without anyone knowing.
They do know that he gave away at least 200 Cadillac's!!!
Truly one of kind!
Magnificent in every way!
Colleen 🙂
had sex in his under pants too.
@@rayjackson6917 Hay una historia donde Elvis ve una pareja viendo un carro en una excibicion, se les acerca y conversan y luego les compra el carro.
Mac Davis wrote this song. He was a singer and a songwriter. Elvis grew up very poor. He understood poverty.
Mac Davis, a lesser known WHITE songwriter knew he could publish the song about black inner-city plight, but felt the industry might not be behind pushing such a song.
Elvis knew 'they' wouldn't stop him.
Great man from humble beginnings!
Sadly... still relevant today.
They are trapped in those ghettos. It's tragic; no way out. I don't understand why something cant be done.
ELVIS loved black folks. he loved black music which was a huge influence on him. he was one of the most generous people you would ever meet.when on tour he was ready to do a concert and they objected to his black female backup singers, ELVIS told them if my girls can't be on stage with him he was not going on stage either.
Big myth was spread that elvis stayed black man could not even shine his shoes totally lie he grew up exposed to poor films of all colors grew up in black churches
When Houston stated his back up singers sweet inspirations not allowed o. Stage due to being black he stated to them if they are kicked out he would take it S him being kicked out thew quickly changed there tune tmregarxing all allowed on stage to sing
If I can dream was how elvis really felt about race relations
Seriously?! Can you re-read and spell check etc. before you post?? Nobody can understand what in the heck your talking about…
@@davidchase1439 Elvis had a test done in high school that showed an IQ of 70. That's a “very low” IQ at the level of mild intellectual disability and unable to think for himself.
Another reason why he was, is and always will be, the King!
THE KING actually grew up in pure poverty, his twin brother who was stillborn was actually buried in a shoebox they were THAT poor. He knows what he sings about. The vicious cycle of poverty
54 years ago and we still haven't really "listened" to the words.
When was Elvis old? He died at 42.
He did perform in other U.S.cities besides Las Vegas over his last 10 years.
HE WILL BE MISSED AND LOVED FOREVER.❤
Thanks for the reaction.
He performed in Canada - Toronto
Elvis's first Canadian performances were on April 2, 1957 at the Maple Leaf Gardens. He wore his famous gold lamé suit, and played "Blueberry Hill" on the piano.
Ottawa
Elvis performed on April 3, 1957 at the Ottawa Auditorium. The audience was so loud that it was hard to hear Elvis sing.
Vancouver
Elvis's final Canadian performance was on August 31, 1957 at Empire Stadium. The show was marred by a riot, with fans rushing the stage and surrounding the band's car after the show.
Elvis's Canadian concerts were a pop-culture event that sent fans into a frenzy. He never toured internationally again, and only played shows outside of the United States on these two occasions
@HeavenlyPresley-Tonya ❤️
Elvis started looking 50ish in his mid 30s.
@@kbrewski1 Does he look 50ish in this video because he is about 35 here?
@@kbrewski1let's see your face . Embarrassed?
Elvis was born on January 8, 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi, in a 2 room shack of a house his dad built with money he borrowed from his boss. That's how dirt poor they were. He was one half of identical twins; the other boy - Jesse Garon - was stillborn. They were so poor, that Jesse Garon was buried in a shoebox in an unmarked grave. At Graceland they have a plaque with his name on it in his memory.
Elvis always got along with the black community and learned a lot about music from his friends of color. Also, according to the one drop rule, Elvis would not be considered white, since he has Cherokee ancestors on both the Smith (his mother) and the Presley (his father) sides of the family. His paternal grandfather, Jesse Dunning Presley, was not happy that his two sons, Elvis' father Vernon and his brother Vester, married two sisters, Gladys and Clettes who were known to have Cherokee blood in their family tree. J.D. Presley was quite the racist a-hole, often drunk and a philandering husband to Minnie Mae (they were actually separated long before they finally divorced in 1954) who was always competing with his sons Vester and Vernon and who was known to abuse his kids when drunk. J.D. was publicly against race mixing and was in denial about the Cherokee blood in his own family tree. It was more publicly known that the Smith family had Native blood in their family tree, so when both his sons fell for 2 Smith sisters and Vernon, on top of that, was still a minor at 17 when he eloped with Gladys who was 4 years older than him, Jesse was totally pissed off.
As a child, Elvis already had many friends in the black community at the time his family was one of 4 "white" families that lived in the predominantly black neighborhood The Hill, just across from Shake Rag. His childhood friend Sam Bell said that some of the (black) kids in that neighborhood had lighter skin than Elvis. One of Elvis' bodyguards once said that he thought it was a miracle Elvis got into Humes High School in Memphis, because it was "lily white". Elvis wanted to be more open about his Native ancestry, but his manager "colonel" Tom Parker (real name Andreas van Kuijk) was against it because he was afraid it might cost Elvis fans (and himself money). They did have Elvis play characters in his movies though where he had Native American blood (Flaming Star, G.I. Blues, Stay Away Joe). Once Elvis had his own (apprentice) job learning to be an electrician, he saved up his money and bought his clothes in the same style that many of his friends of color wore. He was called a (forgive me, just stating facts here) "n-lover" and got beaten up several times too. Later, when he was an established star, he would not perform at places where the members of color of his back-up band/orchestra weren't allowed.
All very interesting. I am curious, however, in any members of Elvis's Memphis Mafia were black because they are always portrayed by white men in the movies. Did he have any real black friends as an adult?
@@sebastianblack6506 His inner circle was white, probably because as his fame exploded it was hard for him to make new friends and his last black friends were from Tupelo, when he was a child. Most of his MM members he knew from his Memphis High School days (Red, Sonny, George - although he was not really MM, but a close friend), Jerry Schilling was 7 years younger, but was invited to join whenever they were a player short at touch football when Elvis was a late teenager who was just becoming a local celebrity. Guys like Charlie and Joe he befriended in the army. He was friends with black celebs such as Muhammad Ali, Jackie Wilson, B.B. King and more, but of course they were not in his inner circle and had their own entourages. He was close to his black cooks; treated them the same as the MM members (as in giving them houses and cars).
@@jayeginn5963 Thanks for the response.
Just so you know, there is no proof of this Cherokee blood. Someone wrote a book and claimed it, but there is no proof it exists. It's certainly possible, but it seems that every southerner seems to claim Cherokee blood and something tells me that the author of that book took liberties when writing it ( as everyone does when it comes to Elvis ). The point being, we don't know.
@@SusieOrSueOrSusan Billy Smith and his son confirmed it.
Being raised around children of a different color and race, ELVIS never knew the difference because they all wore the same shoes.
"ELVIS AND THE BLACK COMMUNITY" is an historical documentary of life growing up in a segregated South. Legends like BB King and numerous others in show biz talk about the real ELVIS.
He attended Black Churches as a boy and was asked to participate in the choir. Already those around him was aware of his musical talent.
In 1975 ELVIS was asked and was scheduled for a Concert in Texas.
He was told "Well you can leave the Black girls home."
His reply, "Then I'm not gonna be there."
No one knew more about racism because he had faced it head on all his life.
Many other videos show the different sides of ELVIS; the man who donated huge sums of money to St. Jude's Children Hospital; buying his cook a brand-new house and buying cars for those who had nothing.
*PLEASE REACT TO THE ABOVE VIDEO I MENTION!
THANX GUYS!!
What's the difference between colour and race?
I’m a 61 year old Mexican born and raised in San Diego Ca. And, yes, this song was a message to the world of what life in the ghetto is like for a black culture for I know from the eyes looking in perspective of the poverty and racial discrimination mainly towards the black community.
But at the same time the Mexican community went through the same, we call the ghetto Barrio in Spanish. I was raised in a predominantly Black and Mexican community, we shared it and lived together.
But there’s ghettos all over the world and those that just know, know. So internationally, speaking for myself can relate.
I was that baby that was born when times were difficult and became that young man that picked up a gun and pulled the trigger and lost my freedom.
But, I had a baby brother that was born six years later and times were still difficult for two hard working parents of seven. The sad reality is that my little Brother (RIP🙏🏽🌹) at the same age I was when I pulled the trigger died at the home we grew in,the ghetto.
Elvis was trying to bring awareness and empathy to the black community when this song was written, but like Corey said, for those who know, know.
I’ve been checking your content and you guys are cool and joyful to watch; you have a new subscriber after I end this message.
Much Love, One Love 🙏🏽✌🏼😎✊🏽
I feel for you and your family, Victor. To have lost your brother at so young an age. Tragic. Sad. A lesson for those who would reflect and ponder reality.
Much love to you, sir. I am 63 tomorrow. I've known discrimination all of my life. I was weak. I attempted to take my own life because of it. No one will ever understand unless they've lived it. Like Corey said, "those how know. Know."
Peace out dude. Merry Christ-mas. May God always smile upon you and light your path.
-eric
"He must increase, but I must decrease" ...(John 3:30)
Elvis grew up in terrible poverty, as did ( and still today ) many, many white people. Contrary to popular belief, black and brown people aren't the only poor people. Poor whites didn't have anyone standing up for them back then and they still don't have anyone standing up and speaking out for them today. Poverty affects all races.
I swear this is the saddest song ever. But thanks for the share ❤
Elvis was born poor and never forgot hus roots.
Loved to entertain and did Not do anuthing to show kff.
He enjoyed the fame but also stayed True and humble.
Often mus- understood.
He was Not a shallow man..
Wise beyond his years
You need to watch the mini doc ELVIS AND THE BLACK COMMUNITY to better understand what he was truly all about. He grew up in poverty around black folks and he was ostracized by white folk because of his music.
how many people make up the black community? give me a number, and then tell me who ostracized Elvis and it is NOT! his music
He's the top 5 celebrities in America history for giving to charity's and strangers. He did hundreds of shows for charity's. His estate still gives
........... Elvis is being morphed today into a blues-only influenced artist, which simply wasn't true. Elvis had so many other influences never discussed any more. Country music was an equal influence on him, as was Pop Music of the day. His greatest influence and biggest idol was Dean Martin. Elvis desperately wanted to be a pop crooner. Finally, Elvis was always credited with DEsegregating our music. He blended White Country with Black Blues and gave us a new genre, as well as fighting the media (tv, radio, & movies) to get his songs played, which were often blues songs that he evolved into a new sound.
Elvis' musical taste came from a real place. He was surrounded by not only Country music, but Gospel and the Blues as well. He lived in a black neighborhood when he was very young and there is a video of one of his childhood friends talking to "Elvis" director Baz Luhrmann about their time together as kids. His name was Sam Bell. I hope you'll watch this as well as "Elvis and the Black Community".
He never mentioned race. Poverty has no color. He himself was born and raised in the ghetto. His twin brother was stillborn and so poor they had to buy him in a shoebox.
😪RIP Elvis🙏♥️
When Elvis' daughter was born, Nancy Sinatra phoned him to congratulate him. She said that he said that he felt bad for all the children born that day who would not have what his daughter would have. "He particularly talked about the black kids". You can hear this when she was on Conan O'Brien. Two years later he was given In The Ghetto.
Mac Davis wrote this song and offered it to Sammy Davis. But he replied he thinks Elvis should do it because Elvis grew up in very poor rural area. Sammy said he didn't.
When he got heavy it was because he was in congestive heart failure. The song was ground breaking because he refused to hide the truth of the ghetto. A big song!
His people asked for him to not to sing this song 🎶 but Elvis said he was going too do the song 🎶 . Vonnie ❤❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
The youngest reactor seems uncomfortable talking about Elvis?
The fact is Elvis grew up dirt poor in Tupelo Mississippi. Elvis' family lived on the edge of Shake Rag. Shake Rag was the black side of town in the 1930s...Elvis had many black friends as a child and was brought up by his mother to be color blind. Blues legend BB King knew Elvis from1953 on and had this to say about Elvis' talent and character King said this: said:
" Elvis did not have a racist bone in his body. I know I was around him often. When he sang he had a way of making it sound like you could believe it, so a lot of people like myself liked him" "When Elvis hit he was so great and popular that everything he sang became a hit. To me they did'nt get it wrong when they called him the King"
The song, In the Ghetto, was not a song his manager wanted him to record-but he did it anyway. In 1969 most of white America did not want to acknowledge the "cycle of life" that "In the Ghetto" spoke about.....but Elvis did. Poor in 1935 was not like poor in todays world....Elvis' house had no running water nor toilet inside-they had an outhouse. they had no electric refrigerator, no air conditioning, no hot water...their stove served 2 purposes to cook on and to help keep the house warm in cold weather. No TV, for years not even a radio so this was poor like most kids in 2024 could not imagine.
Rock n Roll was not just blues,......... it was also country, pop music of the day and black and white gosple all blended together to become a new genre Rock and Roll. Elvis hit in 1954 with "Thats Alright Mama" on Sun Records label in Memphis. The record had a pretty goof size regional hit throughout the south.The day it was recorded Sam Phillips(Sun records owner) took it to a black radio station and asked DJ Dewey Phillips to play it once to get some reaction to it . The switchboard at WHBQ's Red, Hot and Blue show went into overtime as people kept requesting it over and over....and they wanted to know who the voice on the record was. The song played near 30 times in that hour. Many thought the singer was black. (so with only the voice to go by they were not influenced by the color of his skin.) The B-side of "Thats Alright Mama" was a reworking of a country bluegrass song, "Blue Moon of Kentucky" which was sped up and lyrics switched around some.... to get the rock/pop sound they were going for. The orders for this first single in a few days totaled 6000. Sun was not a huge operation so they were always behind in getting the orders out.
THE biggest misconception about Elvis is that he was racist-and that is the biggest lie told about ELvis which some people continue to believe.
People like BB King who knew Elvis before Elvis was famous are personal witnesses to the fact that Elvis was not in anyway racist.
I think a good video for you all to watch would be Elvis and the black community.
Big name stars who knew Elvis, his backup singers and others talk about Elvis and his principles and beliefs.
ua-cam.com/video/yKG4oeNSh0o/v-deo.html Elvis and the Black Community The Echo will Never Die
اعظم فنان على مر العصور لم ولن يتكرر الملك بدون منازع
And Elvis was reviled by his schoolmates for playing and celebrating black music and gospel learned in the black churches he snuck into. He loved and admired and was inspired by the struggles of blacks and the poor.
Well you know, Elvis liked what he liked. He liked black and white gospel, foot stomping, pentecostal music. He liked country, hillbilly music, Louisiana Hayride stuff and he liked rhythm and blues. And with that mix he created rock-n-roll.
Cold Kentucky Rain
A beautiful heartfelt song that mirrors how life could be in the ghetto , for ALL who live there.💔
If anyone who is not familiar with the ‘Elvis’ phenomenon ….this song resonates with Elvis very much so because he was born in poverty in a predominantly black neighbourhood of Tupelo. He adored and loved people in general ( especially the Black community) . He was great friends with James Brown, Roy Hamilton, Jackie Wilson, Mohamed Ali, just to name a few… also his backup singers were black ( sweet inspirations with cissy Houston) also his 3 in house cook’s/maid at Graceland were all black .( Mary Jenkins, Nancy Rooks , Pauline Nicholson)…..
Elvis grew up in the ghetto in the black community .. went to the black Churches and sang in the choir..
Bruno Mars got his start being a young Elvis impersonator; great channel guys!!!
Elvis was Amazing and this song adds to the Reason why he was not called the King by accident back then.
Race was never mentioned in this song.
Poverty knows no "Race."
Elvis was a wonderful humsn being. Unique. Lets keep the spirit of Elvis alive. Because Elvis is love! TCB ⚡
All I ever heard in the early 50s were big bands. You can imagine how excited we were when the King showed up.
He has no equal!
CHUCK BERRY> True KING OF RNROLL
@@kbrewski1Elvis over 30 #1 Hits. Berry only 1. Elvis broke all records. Singles, Albums also a multitude of genres and Attendance records. Highest rated TV appearances in 7 shows in the '50s. Elvis is the King. He dominated he overwhelmed. Not even close.
@@makingthecoin3647
Because he had a marketing machine behind him and he was sold to white suburban and rural America by the white DJs, record execs and TV shows as the alternative to that nasty "black voodoo music." Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Bo Diddley etc scared the middle class white parents.
So Chuck never had a chance marketing wise.
Chuck Berry was not only a superb vocalist with very good precise diction, he was an ICONIC electric guitar player who created the template for rock rhythm and blues lead guitarists, (Elvis did not), AND CHUCK BERRY WROTE HIS SONGS, UNLIKE ELVIS. CHUCK WAS A TRIPLE THREAT. ELVIS WAS A SINGLE THREAT AND MORE OF A STYLE ICON SOLD TO WHITE SUBURBIA.
Just look at who the BEATLES AND STONES COVERED AND EMULATED. IT WASN'T ELVIS.
Someday when you git all growed up, this larnin' will seep into your noggin.
@@kbrewski1
Johnnie Johnson let Chuck Berry in his band. A quiet timid gentleman but severe alcoholic. He did so much for Chuck. Berry songwriter? Outrageous. Johnson the leader and pianist wrote many of Berry's songs and worked on others. All of Berrys songs were written in piano notes etc. Berry has no clue about piano work. Johnson then transfered it so Chuck can do it on his guitar. Combination of Johnson's alcohol ills, being timid along with Berry's temper obviously worked against JJ. Berry took advantage of him? Sympathetic view of Berry from Britain was evident because of the dominating star of Elvis and just like that he was gone not performing from late '57 thru '68. So the eyes looked elsewhere. Which leads to Beatles etc who watched Berry while Elvis was on his military and movie hiatus approx 12 years! 😂 The Johnson story has been out there as time went by it became MORE evident it was true but for along period of time nobody wanted to challenge it. Berry was a star, Johnson a broken alcoholic slowed down taken advantage of severely, ironically was he used by Berry, remember those WHITE DEMON producers? Hmm. Listen Jethro there is more to come to this. Just remember as time went by it became more and more evident that JJ was used and taken advantage of. All songs written by JJ in piano script. Your naive and full of it and can't go with me. Your foundation is full of Scata.
@@kbrewski1 EVERYONE noticed the Removal of the truth that this SITE is doing. Screenshots by many proving they are removing there legitimate points about Elvis. In the process.
What a Great song. No one copies this one from Elvis . it's too Good to be duplicated
The 60s and 70s were a time of civil rights and social conscience. It was written by a country singer, Mac Davis. Check him out and why he wrote it.
This song and suspicious minds were my favorite Elvis songs😊
What I like about this video is, he's in Vegas singing to an audience of mostly white well to do folks. But, he's singing about the people who are struggling with life. It's something this audience probably don't want to think about but he wants to bring it to them anyway.
The only Grammys he ever won for the gospel.and most deserving. this song isn't gospel, but it does touch the Soul.
Elvis didn't 'stay in Vegas' the last years of his life. He toured incessantly, doing more than 1100 concerts after he stopped being in movies. The overwhelming known Black artists of his generation had nothing but good things to say about Elvis. He didn't 'misappropriate' Black music. Elvis fused country with R&B, gospel & rockabilly & in doing so, helped create a new sound.
It was a rainy day at Shelby Park in Nashville, the day Elvis died. My mama and I picked up two young boys walking home from canceled football practice. They lived in the projects & their parents weren’t very involved. We all cried at the news. Lots of us “poor folks” thought of him as, one of us… that made it.
Keep on Rocking! ☮️🎶✝️
I think OlliWoodDDA wondered if there wasn't much internally happening with Elvis when he was interpreting this song at this perfomance - that he was tired and chilling after a faster song. When it cames to the slow songs especially, Elvis inhabited them. He cared about lyrics, ; the subject matter related by 'In the Ghetto' during 1970 is sung with empathy and no drama. In fact, Sammy Davis Jr passed on this because he couldn't convey the necessary feeling required. The only dramatic part we here in Elvis' live interpretation was the controlled band ending. The body language form Elvis was unmistakeably congruent when he interprets words (unless he felt in a joking mood). The eyes, the hands, the tone of the words, the focus, all brought about connection with the viewer and listener. Yes, the heat of the lights and an exuberant performance earlier might have a required a momentary tempo change, but Elvis respected lyrics and he knew that not all songs had to be belted out to chime with people.
This song wasn’t about Elvis’s experience. Singer/songwriter Mac Davis wrote In The Ghetto (for Elvis) about the cycle of poverty. It was inspired by Davis’s childhood friend, a black kid named Smitty Junior who lived on a dirt street in the ghetto. He wondered why Smitty had to live that way but he didn’t. Elvis put much more into the recording than that live version.
Elvis's favorite music was Gospel.
He went to black churches when he was a kid. That echo will never die. On UA-cam. His black pastor talks about when Elvis sang in the church black church
The Dutch "colonel" robbed so many of experiencing E's greatness.
Elvis allowed it to happen. Don't just blame the colonel.
Thank you for your reaction is real God bless, Elvis,was born dirt poor when he sang the ghetto he sang with passion he lived it 🕺🎸🎤⚡TCB ⚡TLC☝👍👊✌👌🇵🇷🇺🇲❤🙏
Many think Elvis wrote this, but it was Mac Davis. His friend lived in the Ghetto and he decided to write this song about his friend’s experience. It’s so like the times now. Makes me cry. 😢
As far as him liking Black music, he imitated Roy Hamilton and Jackie Wilson’s moves and singing style. Please react to those two. Great artists. ❤
Elvis was a great defender & advocate fir minorities & the lack of the government giving AF about poor people & underprivileged people
@randyhanner3188 I like your direct way with words! And you couldn't be more right. As always politicians did and still do appropriate money for wars but not people.
There were instances where ELVIS spent so much on complete strangers that his manager tried to put a stop to it.
Thank you ! ❤ Elvis.
Song was written by mac davis.
Elvis didnt just sing lyrics .
He walked the walk
In many ways
Often refusing to play if his back up singers werent given proper respect. He waa very charitable
Really solid person all around
W soulful.
I was hooked on this song when I was 8 in the late 60's. I wonder if an 8-year-old today would like this. Many songs in the 60's and 70's were loved by parents & kids
Elvis was Born in the poorest part of Tupelo Ms in a Two room shotgun house with no electricity or running water, built by his daddy and Cousin ,he very well Knew what it meant to be poor and the song, never referred to the black people only , it's just a song that was written by Mac Davis who asked Sammy Davis Jr to record it and he said I didn't live that life and I know who did and he told Mac Davis that Elvis was the man who lived that life
TCB 1935
I cry when Elvis did this...
Sincere performance.
He was brought up in the Ghetto, Tupelo Mississippi.
The song in its original release was acually slower and elvis sings it beautifully. Him. Singing it on stage was great . Elvis only got heavy in his lasy year 76 but he had many inherited illiness from his mothers side . His voice acually got better in his later years
“Always on my mind “great song
BACKGROUND INFO for the SONG: Written by famous singer-songwriter Mac Davis, it is about his Black childhood friend whose father worked for Davis’ father & Davis could not understand why the boy lived in such poverty in a part of town that was a dirt-street ghetto. Sometimes we need to see a "quieter" Elvis who does slow songs -- i.e., The Wonder Of You. Every song he did, fast or slow was full of emotion and REAL. Nothing he sang with emotion/passion was every phony. And no, he was not tired at that point. Those house lights & stage lights are extremely mega hot -- you could stand nude on stage & you will perspire.
It was because he was sick which people didn’t talk about, they just wanted to reflect on the weight.
No he feels and shows his emotions.
Awesome! Great channel showing all sorts of great performances, songs, and reactions.
Elvis was not tired! You clearly have not watched enough Elvis. He not only sang, he interpreted a song. He makes you feel the words. Take a look at these performances and then reevaluate if you still think he was tired….
Early Vegas- That’s the Way it Is
Suspicious Minds 1970
ua-cam.com/video/T1g5tVGZhfk/v-deo.htmlsi=Mu5pYlKJj14ibzmH
Polk Salad Annie
ua-cam.com/video/B4dXsDCHMgo/v-deo.htmlsi=OI-tx5xCqj5pJBqv
Bridge Over Troubled Water
ua-cam.com/video/70dT1-WhBFM/v-deo.htmlsi=LzW33hBuuGs9OF86
Just Pretend
ua-cam.com/video/CuuaXIA4A-A/v-deo.htmlsi=zCG6KgK5zNwg4joi
You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling
ua-cam.com/video/QTLjMiEJwq4/v-deo.htmlsi=Azi7-oHzaTQYaxIp
I loved his voice in the 70s and it seems to keep getting better and better Office was very sick. He had a lot of health conditions that caused the weight gain as well exploding it was never necessarily fact it was because he was sick. He had been sick most of his life, but it got worse at the end Elvis cared about all people all the time.
Elvis was raised in the Ghetto, his father was in prison and it was what he knew and lived.
Loved your reaction to the King.
Elvis sings this song to awaken people to those who are less fortunate. Elvis knew all about poverty. He grew up poor!! And knew of the struggles of being poor!!
I like that you gents are checking out Elvis. As in some of the previous comments I also think you should watch " Elvis and the Black Community " and see what the people in the black community who knew him thought about him. It's about a 15 minute video and well worth watching.
Classes divide us most, not race. I think Elvis realize this. Aways so kind to the working class, not just the elites.
Great reactions fellas!..You have to check out "TRYING TO GET TO YOU" from the 68 Live TV Comeback Special
This song was written by Mac Davis. He wanted Elvis to record it because he knew it would reach more people that needed to hear it.
Elvis did not only stay in Vegas. Thats for just parts of the year.
He did go on US tours with 10- 25.000 fans showing up. Full stadiums on every consert.
Fire 🔥🔥🔥
Elvis put himself out there I'm sure a lot of people didn't like this Elvis knew a lot of people knew him so his message got out.. you have to give him credit
Elvis was NEVER fat, yo. Let's get that clear.
Can I just say, the only people who stole from and abused the black and coloured artists were their own managers and promoters. Fact. To place the lack of rise and recognition of "black communities" and artists/entertainers, etc, on Elvis Presley because he got so popular and wealthy is downright petty jealousy, misplaced entitlement, and plain ignorance. He earned everything on merit. Nothing stopped everyone from rising to the same heights before, during, and after his time. Come on, y'all.
Anyways, thank you, brothers, for spotlighting Elvis on your channel.
Peace ✌🏼💯⚡❤️
❤
The ghettos are color blind in that every group had their own.
Sissy Huston was one of the Elvis singers
The song moves your heart
Please do "Tryin' To Get To You" from the '68 Comeback Special. Lots of reactors do it because so many people love it!🩵✨️🩵
This was written and sung by Mac Davis, but Elvis' version was a much bigger hit. Elvis was definitely for human rights!
The Las Vegas act began in 1969 till he died in 1977. It was that last year where he was heavy and very heavy in his last appearance just prior to dying.
His Unchained Melody performance at his final concert was shockingly great as he could not breathe well and was near the end of his life.
Unchained Melody was not his final concert. It was the last FILMED concert but not his last. It was June 21st, he then went on to do 5 more concerts, the last being June 26th.
@@carolhayar3037corrected. I have his final few programs and had them for auction labelling then Elvis' Final shows. Stuck in my mind as final.
@@makingthecoin3647 That's ok, almost everyone thinks this was his final, not sure why. Thx for your response.
If you haven't already watched it. Yall need to watch Elvis and the black community! He grew up in poverty in the black community. It shows how racist people were against Elvis Presley.
This song was written by Mac Davis, and it was about growing up poor, not about the color of anyone's skin.
This is my favorite Elvis song!
Yes. They never do young Elvis in black leather. Or Elvis with his country shirts and guitar or his cute suits. He got fat young. He was only 42
when he died. He put a lot of feeling into this song. He friend write it and he felt a deep connection to it.
If I Can Dream...
The King 👑
Elvis never took anyone's music...Elvis was born among the music he liked..yes the black Ghetto was the reason he sang that song to help his people out..to make awareness and stop racism..Elvis loved all people..please do the homework on Elvis and this song..
I really love post 1968 Elvis! Here are a few of my favorites from this era you definitely should check out!
Kentucky Rain
Moody Blue
Suspicious Minds
Promised Land
Burning Love