I love the stories about Elvis helping other artists like Jackie Wilson or Bill Medley to get a crowded showroom. He honoured other artists and even encouraged them. He was a really generous guy.
These guys gave a good discussion. There are a few times that they really stood up to bad folks in town. I’m sure Gracelands planning something new on it soon lol ! $$$
@@prodigalsongod Roy Hamilton. Elvis loved him. Elvis paid for his funeral and other family expenses after he was killed in a car accident. Elvis also was going to record "Angelica" in 1969 but gave it to Roy.
Elvis started his career just singing the songs and rhythms he loved. He never thought he would be so hated by those who saw a frontier of color everywhere, because he didn't. He didn't think he would be so loved by those who were hungry for new things, but he was. He was just a gifted boy, who intuitively opened doors for himself and others, whose the own existence was denied, despite having gifts, too. Elvis had a musical evolution, and walked through so many genres with an incredible vocal range, going far beyond from his initial work. But most of all, he had a lot of love in his heart. He was always able to help someone, not seeing colors, but souls. The stories are many, just look and find. Elvis was never the problem, he was and is a big part of the SOLUTION!
David knew Elvis personally and has been tight with the Presley family for years. He played at Priscilla's 21st birthday party in Memphis that Elvis threw for her at a night club. David has many great stories about Elvis. Black people today need to start doing research and stop going by hearsay. Elvis did so much for the black community and opening the doors for black music to go mainstream. Little Richard praised him for it.
No-one needs to defend Elvis's contribution to music. His talent, influence and legacy speaks for itself. So I won't even watch a piece with anybody discussing Elvis's talent and influence. Just check the millions who still buy his music and visit Graceland every year 46 years after his death. And underline the point that Elvis has now been dead 4 more years than he was alive. Who else other than Elvis could boast this kind of impact, ongoing influence, and a legacy that will never be touched. EP THE G.O.A.T. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Elvis became renowned for merging genres together, and making them attractive to young people of all races. He was very good at it. Merging genres and cultures together like peanut butter and jelly. And he had extreme talent in singing and dancing and stage presentation. He was an original. He created his look and was one of the first ever to move on the stage in the way that he did.
Elvis Aaron Presley is King of Music for a reason, He started it all. The first of everthing music and entertaining. He Smashed the door down for more artist than any one before him, and opened the flood gates for artist that might not have never been heard. God made him and gifted him to be the greatest, The King of music, it was his destiny. He was not racist he loved and cared about everone. His music transcends time, It is timeless. As John Lennon said ''Before Elvis there was nothing''. Elvis Presley's influance on music and artist of all ages are endless. Too this day his music is as big today it was back when he was still living. He is still earning gold records.The Icon, The legeng, The untouchable, The Gladiator and King of stage. The King of song. The King of style, Elvis Aaron Presley. Greatest of all time. 1935 Untill the end of time.
Elvis had the whole package.hes the o ly artist to sell over a billion records. Two jewish guys wrote houndog for mama Thornton, does that mean elvis cant sing houndog.the two Jewish guys wrote alot of hits for elvis.❤
I think its also important to discuss Elvis crediting the artists that came before him. The same people that would call Elvis a racist, without knowing or caring about A THING about him, would say he stole music or entire songs. Elvis credited every song owner for every song and on every album. No exceptions. Never stole a single lyric, song or signature dance move. Elvis was a creative supernova. A legendary song arranger that would interpret music in new ways that attracted young people. Noone else had that kind of ability back then. Black, white, or anyone else. Bach some call the greatest of them all. Yet all he did was interpret the music before him better than anyone else in his century. Classical music is a loooong way from Rock and Roll... but its the same art form, music. Black song owners like Little Richard, Chuck Berry and Otis Blackwell loved working with Elvis. They had a routine .... Elvis would buy the song rights, then Elvis would send royalty checks to them based on his own sales. In addition to that, their own record sales would skyrocket as America would seek out the original artists to songs Elvis would record. So black songwriters would get three new income channels that would exist solely because Elvis covered their song: 1. song rights. 2. royalty checks in the mail. 3. Their own album sales would skyrocket. THIS is how Elvis began to tear down racist barriers in the music business and he legit opened it up to everyone. And the corruption of the record CEOs were so bad... even black record execs were ripping off their black artists. Exhibit A: Big Mamma Thorton. Big Mamma was paid $500 for her work on Hound Dog. Given to her by Don Robey, gangster and owner of Peacock Records because he know she was illiterate, she couldn't read or write. So he made her sign all her profits over to him and he fed her almost nothing in return. He made her sign contracts that he knew she couldn't read. Legally, nothing could be done about it. She died almost penniless. He stole Millions of dollars that belonged to her. And he mismanaged her career in clubs where he knew the owners and got paid directly.
Why are they still doing this? He died 46 years ago, and they still discuss this, it's simple why he is the King: he could sing anything, was a great producer/composer, great dancer, had charisma with a big C and had the looks like nobody else. Just look up what James Brown, Little Richard, Muhammad Ali, B.B King, Sammy D Jr, Jackie Wilson among many others said about him. And he was crazy generous!
Bottom line.. being born with the greatest voice in history ... Is why he's the best ever was the best ever... He could do more genres better than anyone.. and he made every song better when he did it.. Marvin Gaye Sam Cooke right up there with the best ever.. but no one has ever done it better before or after Elvis
I really enjoyed this discussion and the developement of black music. Elvis really did go to a black church, and for a while (even to my surprise) lived in an all black area when he was a small child. My family grew up right next to his. I believed that black voices had been shut out from Elvis's story on purpose and had been shown little to no respect when it came to actual black folks who knew him. I always see videos of music and movie stars being consulted? I'm like what!!! Of course they're not going to know the entire story. My grandparents and other family members did not see him after his rise to fame. Which really is to blame and i hold certain entites (not his family) responible!! I wish and hope that more people speak out on his behalf. His parents did quite a bit to help protect black families at a time when it was not safe for them. I've been challenging folks like you guys-that an honest conversation would have been fine and not damaging to his career. I'm going to check out more of Questlove's podcast! This was good!
We as african americans need to be included in the conversation-we had not-that's why I pushed behind the scenes to include us! Can't wait for the next podcast! (I had to file a records request in order to even get started it was a mess lol!).
Everyone seems to miss something important. Elvis wanted to sing period. When he went into Sun, he was demoing songs in every style except R and B. It was only during a break that he messed around with That's Allright Mama and was what Sam Phillips was looking for. It is not fair that Elvis only gets looked at for his R and B when he quickly showed he could sing and have bigger hits like Don't Be Cruel. He then goes on to have one of the biggest singles hits of all time with Its Now Or Never. He just wanted to sing and he could sing everything well. It was just that the R and B world grabbed a hold of him early and paid a few bills. I would have too to escape whatever poverty I was in.
You can't steal a voice. He had a lot of influences....not just black. He grew up with gospel, country, etc. Elvis came up before or at the same time as the artists he supposedly "copied".
He grew up with Blacks... had black friends even when.he was an adult .. watch Elvis black community part 1 and 2 . Had black back up singers .. .. had famous black friends don't know what else more proof people want getting beyond a joke now ... ☹
Big Mama recorded in March 1952 when Elvis was not yet in the circuit. Elvis, who heard Freddie Bell perform this piece in Las Vegas in April 1956, was inspired by it. The lyrics are not the same as the originals by Leiber and Stoller. In 1992, Leiber and Stoller confirmed that Presley knew Thornton's record of the song but "he didn't do his version"; he had learned the song from Freddie Bell & The Bellboys. [2 12] George Plasketes argues that Elvis Presley's version of "Hound Dog" should not be considered a cover "since [most listeners]…were innocent of Willie Mae Thornton's original 1953 release". On September 9, 1952, the copyright application for "Hound Dog" was filed. On the app, lyrics and music are attributed to Thornton and recording executive Don Robey, with copyright claimants listed as: "Murphy L. Robey (W) & Willie Mae Thornton (A )." According to Stoller, "Big Mama's 'Hound Dog' went to number one, sold a million copies and did nothing for our bank statements. After suing Robey, "We were given a check $1,200 upfront," Stoller said. Similarly, Thornton said, "That song sold over two million records. I received a check for $500 and never saw another one. It was the market race of which the black artists of the time fell victim. Otis Blackwell said "I was surprised when I heard 'Don't Be Cruel' because it was like I had done the demo. I used to sing all my own demos, and a lot of what Presley and Jerry Lee did happened to sound the same. I thought they did the songs justice. They put the kind of feeling that I felt into it.” He gets credit on the recordings, his name is there and he was well paid. Otis was a songwriter working for a company that sold songs, Elvis made many of his hit songs and from there he made a living and was happy to continue writing songs for Elvis because he KNEW a song for Elvis would be a hit.
Sam bell was an elvis boyhood black friend, from Mississippi, he will tell u,how little elvis would go to the back church and dance like they did,the churchgoers would be surprised,a little white boy would si g and move like that buzz laurman,intervieweed sa. Bell .u will see how this affected elvis. Theres a video of buzz a d sam bell.
Thank you! I hope that the Bells speak out more. Elvis meant a lot to the black families around that area and my grandparents. His parents did a lot of civil rights work-which I had a huge bone to pick with the estate hiding it- a lot of black families were helped tremendously by the Presley. We got the family/ kids to start speaking out on other vids.
Why would Elvis need to be defended? Luhrman gets a few things wrong in his biopic. One, Presley wasnt copying Big Mamas version of Hound Dog, and two, he was a star before Little Richard- and didnt even try and compete with Richard. Presleys 10 early Sun records which are groundbreaking Rockabilly records at Sun studios, are the combination of black RnB and white hillbilly. Its a genre of music he pioneered in 1954, which blurred the racial lines of music. White stations wouldnt play some of his records because he sounded too black. Black stations wouldnt play his records because he sounded too white. Presley had millions selling hit songs on RCA before Otis Blackwell ever wrote songs for him. You think Heartbreak Hotel sounds like Otis Blackwell? Blackwell wrote the songs FOR Elvis, and sang the demos the way he thought Elvis would sound best. Blackwell tried his hand years earlier as an RnB singer and sounds nothing like Presley. Roy Hamilton? Hamilton was a Broadway style singer at first. He recorded Dont Let Go in 1958, copying Elvis singing style on All Shook Up from 1957. Hamilton was copying Presley,as Hamilton was trying to break into Rock and Roll. Presley took his black gospel and RnB roots influences, along with his white country and pop roots and blended it into a unique voice. He represented American music, black and white
You're correct. My family in tupelo said that he was and tammy's wynette folks really enjoyed going to beale street. It's two hours away from Memphis. Alot of folks think its right next door. Ever since he alittle kid he worked hard.
My big issue as Mr. Porter stated is that they should not have waited so long until after many of his black friends and music friends passed away. i felt like it was really important for us to speak up on this.
I REALLY enjoyed this discussion. There is SO MUCH misinformation in the black community that still needs to understand that Elvis was a CREATIVE GENIUS. HE created HIS OWN ACT. Song writers WROTE ... he arranged and performed and broke the gates open for black musicians in a culturally revolutionary way.
Elvis lived in housing projects with black people. He went to black churches with black people. He sneaked into black juke-joints with black people. Elvis was THE honorary brutha if there ever was one.
Pretty sure public housing was segregated then. What is true is the early friendships with the kids in the neighborhood - predominantly black, but 4 white families lived there, including Elvis.
What I think you are getting confused about is, Elvis lived on the edge of a black neighbourhood in Tupelo, Mississippi before moving to Memphis. That's when he became friends with Sam Bell. They were really dirt pore at the time. When the Presley's moved to Memphis they lived in housing projects with only white people.
MEMPHISROCKS1. The Icon,The Legend, The untouchable, The master, The Gladiator and King of the stage,The King of Influence, The King of Style, The King of Charisma, The King who Stared it all, Greatest of all Time, The king of music Elvis Aaron presley. Untill the End of time.
I was a child of the 50's now 80 I saw Elvis from the beginning to the end. the movie wasn't that great giving you all the things Elvis did with and for black people. To hear a real documentary watch "Elvis Presley and the Black Community" and listen to what Stevie Wonder says about Elvis and BB King, listen to their own words. Elvis was born during the depression, they were so poor, his stillborn twin brother was buried in a shoebox. He grew up in a black ghetto, and listen to "Elvis Presley friend Sam Bell" interview with Baz Luhrman. Sam Bell was Elvis black neighbor and best friend. People today cannot visualize how racist it was in the 50's. White stations would not play black artists till Elvis changed that. Listen to Stevie say, "Elvis stood up for black performers because he was white he did away with all that". Elvis and the Godfather of soul James Brown and Elvis were so close James set by his casket for 3 hours before the funeral in 77. Elvis also paid the hospital bill for the great black artist Jackie Wilson when he had a stroke. People have been told lies about him so much, that they refuse to hear the truth. Elvis once said, "We were so poor, that had our black neighbors given us summer vegetables, and fruits, we would have starved to death. It was the white people in the 50's that hated Elvis, the black people loved him.
Drivel...you only have to watch Elvis and the Black community or the interview with Sam Bell. Elvis also got inspiration from country and gospel quartets. He would go to listen to the Blackwood brothers or the Statesmen.. James "Big Chief" Wetherington, a gospel bass singer, was another big influence. You can see his mannerisms when watching him sing...it's obvious by some of the impressions you did in this video you haven't bothered to watch early Elvis...and so are only forming your opinion on what you think you know or what others have told you.
what's kind of getting lost is all the white influences as well. the movie didn't mention at all the combination of country and pop on him. Even in terms of gospel, white gospel was a huge influence. that's why as Elvis' career went on he branched out into so many genre's.
True. Rock and Roll is not just black music. It’s a multi generational multi cultural exploration that deserves to be credited as the very first music genre FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. That was a demographic that was never focused on. Elvis felt that young people were the future. Music and the Church were his two vehicles to bring people together. He came up in black and white churches.
MEMPHISROCKS1. There Are A Lot Of Great Artist Out There.BUT!. ''Past, Present And Future. No One Can Compete, Compare Or Touch To The ONE AND ONLY TRUE World Crowed KING OF MUSIC ELVIS AARON PRESLEY. ELVIS PRESLEY Will Reign KING Of Music ''TCB'' Until The End Of Time.''
Music, like any art, is for everybody and isn't owned by any race, culture or whatnot. If anything, you could say it's owned by the individual, original creator, but that's about it. That of course doesn't take away from black artists having been exploited (by managers, labels etc), but the absurd idea of any particular kind of music exclusively "belonging" to any particular group of people now isn't a remedy for that either. As an artist, you should make any kind of music you want, as a consumer you should listen to any kind of music you want. Every artist is influenced by artists before them, and before race, gender etc we're individuals and humans first, and have our own, singular, individual "culture" before anything. So if a white kid happens to grow up on Hiphop, they should OF COURSE be allowed to make Hiphop music themselves, as growing up on Hiphop has been part of their own, individual culture. Same goes for black kids growing up on Beethoven and classical music. As said, doesn't take away anything from the exploitation of black artists, but to allow certain art to only be made by people of any particular pigmentation, is just as wrong. Two wrongs don't make a right, and (imho) personal, individual culture comes before any other kind of culture, at least in my world view. We can't really right the wrongs of the past fully anyway, all that's left is to do better in the future - in the case of music that means, making sure no one artist (no matter the color) gets screwed over anymore, in the here&now and in the future. At least as best as we can. That's basically all we can do - if we don't want to make the same mistakes of the past or replace them with new mistakes because we think those would cancel out the old ones. At least if anyone is still interested at all in the betterment of society as a whole.
I see it as in the 50's and before, they didn't play a lot of black music. Little Richard said that after Elvis came out strong, the teens were buying black and white rock records and started playing him on the radio. He credits Elvis for opining that door for everyone.
If you read the brothers books as I did, James Brown said he was a great friend. Sang gospel with him. Fats Domino, Little Richard loved him. Chuck Berry loved him. They are all on UA-cam talking about it. The only brother that didn't like him was Ray Charles.
Just looking for reasons to dismiss the man as untalented. How hard is it to understand that rock and roll is the combination of BOTH rhythm & blues with country music. Both parts were needed to make it what it was. If you asked the bluesmen about the blues renaissance of the mid to late 60’s in England, they were grateful that anyone kept their music alive and introduced it to new generations. Led Zeppelin ripped off many of them, especially Willie Dixon, but he got his credits after suing them. Point is, people should stop trying to minimize or dismiss others talent and accomplishments of others simply because they were white. It’s the same behavior we hate about the establishment that stole from black artists.
Yep Elvis has had to walk through 'treacle' to win many people over and his skin colour was probably his biggest crime 😊😊 He had those certain, in many respects undefinable somethings that just hung together perfectly, difficult to explain in under a 1000 words but that's how it was. I personally think that when he came back in 1960 and recorded stuff like It's Now or Never, and Are You Lonesome Tonight really cemented the legend status as much as the 1950's.
I'm 73 I grew up with Elvis and think what's happening here is the thought of was he racist and stole music,all Bull crap he had black back up singers at a time when racism was at an all time high,rumors that where proven false, he's king and his lengend will never Die watch Elvis in the black cummimity!
MEMPHISROCK1''Writers Write The Script ELVIS PRESLEY Performs The Greatest Oscar Winning Story''.''ELVIS PRESLEY IS KING''. ''THE ONE AND ONLY TRUE WORLD CROWNED KING''. KING OF MUSIC. GLADIATOR AND KING OF STAGE AND ENTERTAINMENT. GREATEST OF ALL TIME PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE. KING ELVIS AARON PRESLEY. ''For Every He Will Reign KING OF MUSIC.'' ""TCB"" UNTIL THE END OF TIME''.
Elvis never claimed to invent the blues, or any ingredient of R&R. Elvis MERGED AND ARRANGED Gospel, Country and R&B to create A NEW HYBRID SOUND & STAGE PRESENTATION that attracted YOUNG PEOPLE of all races and turned off the OLDER elites in the 1950s. GOSPEL MUSIC: White people were singing Christian music since BEFORE the birth of Jesus Christ. Modern Gospel was influenced in large part by white Christian music. There were black and white practitioners in churches down South in Elvis' growth era (1935-55). Elvis was inspired by BOTH. THE BLUES: The blues were invented by black people. COUNTRY MUSIC: White people invented Country and Rockabilly music. The first recordings of what now is considered traditional country music were "Arkansas Traveler" and "Turkey in the Straw" by fiddlers Henry Gilliland & A.C. (Eck) Robertson on June 30, 1922, for Victor Records. Elvis changed EVERYTHING and opened up NEW BUSINESS MODELS for black songwriters and even fought with VENUE OWNERS to allow black musicians to walk in and out of the SAME ENTRANCES AND EXITS that white people used. Elvis Presley had a VERY UNIQUE STYLE and NOBODY LOOKED OR SOUNDED LIKE HIM. Nobody.
Roy and elvis were friends. Elvis and roy admired eachothers talent. Elvis would show up at jackie Wilson's concerts to help promote jackie, because Hollywood wouldn't promote black talent. when elvis would go see jackie at his concerts then all the sudden everyone wanted to go see jackie. From then on elvis and jackie were friends. Roy was there at the studio with elvis in 68 or 69 when elvis was recording the songs roy had recorded because elvis wanted tips from roy on how to sound more operatic like roy for his ballads. There are pictures to prove this. Otis has been given credit for his lyrics for elvis's songs. Elvis loved otis's voice too from otis's demo records for the lyrics and music otis wrote trying to pitch the song to elvis to record, because otis knew if elvis recorded the song he wrote he would make money. Everyone wanted elvis to sing the songs they wrote. Otis was a song writer. There is a youtube video of otis being interviewed proving this from his own mouth. I dont think otis met elvis if i remember the interview correctly. All singers have voices they admire and want to emmulate no matter their color and elvis was the same. He didnt steal anything. He admired voices so much he wanted to be like them. Name any singer who isn't the same. You can't.
Elvis did not "replicate" blacks. Sounds like he came in and make notes and went back to his rich neighbourhood. He grew up with it. He made a *new* sound, fusing R&B and country music. His voice was genuine. He was genuine and not a copy. I mean, please dont try to make Elvis` talent as something that really was a black talent.... Btw, most of Elvis` music had nothing to do with black music.
Let's put this thing to rest . Just read the quotes or watch on video. What Chuck Berry said about Elvis? Or Fats Domino Jackie Wilson BB king James Brown. Listen to their statements on Elvis. And that's says it in a nutshell. Their respect was through the roof.
Elvis took music to another level. We can’t say Elvis stole black people music is like saying Eminem stole rap from black la because he raps better than a lot of them. That Elvis hanged out with black people it seems kind of weird to some people than look at the video with Baz speaking with Elvis old neighborhood friend. Elvis and Roy were good friends and when Roy was sick in hospital Elvis paid a lot of his bills and funeral. His friend growing up was Sam Bell a black man who knew Elvis growing up.
All art is traced back to the influencers of the artist. The same way it goes backward is the same way it goes forward. Over and over again. There is no race in art and no hate in artist's hearts.
Alot of your black bros and sisters after research are finding out about the BS about Elvis and disregarding what was told to them by their relatives,I was there I know,rumors started by jealous,invious people!!
You are completely overlooking, or purposely dismissing the huge influence that Country music had on Elvis’ style. 2nd largest influence was Southern Gospel. Then probably Rhythm & Blues comes 3rd. If you try to show how influenced Elvis was by “race music”, (as it was known then), you show your ignorance about other genres. Because, his vocal style clearly has much more of a country aspect, then it does rhythm & blues. Elvis was also highly influenced by operatic style singers like Mario Lanza. Roy Hamilton (and Elvis loved him) was usually more of a straight ahead pop style singer.
Look up an interview involving Mr Sam Bell an African American who lived next door to Elvis is Tupelo Mississippi. Listen to what he states about Elvis and how Elvis, Mr Sam Bell and a few others used to go to the black gospel tents and sing. All you people have to do is some real research it's not hard it's on UA-cam just look it up.
MEMPHISROCKS1. ''KING ELVIS AARON PRESLEY'' ''IS STILL TO THIS DAY THE Greatest Talent, Vocalist, Musician, Performer, Solo Artist, Icon, Legend and Legacy''. ''That Has Ever Walked This Planet''''Before Elvis There was nothing'', The worlds light was dim, When Elvis Aaron Presley emerged on the seen. He shattered everything that was dark and lit the world with light so bright, like no other before or since. God created Elvis Aaron Presley to change the world. Change the world he did. To make it a better place. He gifted Elvis Aaron Presley with his greatest gifts. Bringing The greatest gifts of looks, vocals, style, charisma, charm, stature and grace. He Brought joy, happiness, love, generosity and caring to this world. The World Crowned Elvis Aaron Presley KING. Elvis Aaron Presley was"Unique and Ereplceible in a world of duplication''. The Icon, The Legend. The Untouchable. The Immortle, The incredible, The King of song. The King of vocals. The master, The King of style, The King of charisma. The gladiator and King of stage. The one and only True King of Music and Entertainment. ''THE ONE AND ONLY TRUE World Crowned. KING Elvis Aaron Presley''. ''Greatest Of All Time Past Present and Future. FOR EVER HE WILL REIGN KING OF MUSIC''. ''TCB'' ''Til the end of time''.
MEMPHISROCKS1. ''THERE Is Only One Man Of Music And Entertainment. That Was The One And Only True World Crowned King. THAT IS KING OF MUSIC ELVIS AARON PRESLEY. HE IS AND WILL ALWAYS REIGN KING OF MUSIC UNTIL THE END OF TIME''.
I love the stories about Elvis helping other artists like Jackie Wilson or Bill Medley to get a crowded showroom.
He honoured other artists and even encouraged them. He was a really generous guy.
These guys gave a good discussion. There are a few times that they really stood up to bad folks in town. I’m sure Gracelands planning something new on it soon lol ! $$$
Everyone should defend Elvis legacy, he was just crazy talented and opened the doors for music as we know it today
can’t defend his legacy w/o acknowledging his influencers.
There is zero excuse for not knowing that Elvis' importance simply cannot be overstated.
one cannot speak on his importance w/o mentioning who he was influenced by and, let’s face it, emulating.
@@prodigalsongod
Roy Hamilton.
Elvis loved him. Elvis paid for his funeral and other family expenses after he was killed in a car accident. Elvis also was going to record "Angelica" in 1969 but gave it to Roy.
Elvis deserves all the cred he can get, the biggest but also the most talented and humble man ever!
Elvis started his career just singing the songs and rhythms he loved. He never thought he would be so hated by those who saw a frontier of color everywhere, because he didn't. He didn't think he would be so loved by those who were hungry for new things, but he was. He was just a gifted boy, who intuitively opened doors for himself and others, whose the own existence was denied, despite having gifts, too.
Elvis had a musical evolution, and walked through so many genres with an incredible vocal range, going far beyond from his initial work.
But most of all, he had a lot of love in his heart. He was always able to help someone, not seeing colors, but souls. The stories are many, just look and find.
Elvis was never the problem, he was and is a big part of the SOLUTION!
Very well said.
اعظم فنان على مر العصور لم ولن يتكرر الملك بدون منازع
David knew Elvis personally and has been tight with the Presley family for years. He played at Priscilla's 21st birthday party in Memphis that Elvis threw for her at a night club. David has many great stories about Elvis. Black people today need to start doing research and stop going by hearsay. Elvis did so much for the black community and opening the doors for black music to go mainstream. Little Richard praised him for it.
No-one needs to defend Elvis's contribution to music. His talent, influence and legacy speaks for itself. So I won't even watch a piece with anybody discussing Elvis's talent and influence. Just check the millions who still buy his music and visit Graceland every year 46 years after his death. And underline the point that Elvis has now been dead 4 more years than he was alive. Who else other than Elvis could boast this kind of impact, ongoing influence, and a legacy that will never be touched. EP THE G.O.A.T. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Well said, Elvis needs no defending.
Elvis became renowned for merging genres together, and making them attractive to young people of all races. He was very good at it. Merging genres and cultures together like peanut butter and jelly.
And he had extreme talent in singing and dancing and stage presentation. He was an original. He created his look and was one of the first ever to move on the stage in the way that he did.
Elvis Aaron Presley is King of Music for a reason, He started it all. The first of everthing music and entertaining. He Smashed the door down for more artist than any one before him, and opened the flood gates for artist that might not have never been heard. God made him and gifted him to be the greatest, The King of music, it was his destiny. He was not racist he loved and cared about everone. His music transcends time, It is timeless. As John Lennon said ''Before Elvis there was nothing''. Elvis Presley's influance on music and artist of all ages are endless. Too this day his music is as big today it was back when he was still living. He is still earning gold records.The Icon, The legeng, The untouchable, The Gladiator and King of stage. The King of song. The King of style, Elvis Aaron Presley. Greatest of all time. 1935 Untill the end of time.
Elvis had the whole package.hes the o ly artist to sell over a billion records. Two jewish guys wrote houndog for mama Thornton, does that mean elvis cant sing houndog.the two Jewish guys wrote alot of hits for elvis.❤
I think its also important to discuss Elvis crediting the artists that came before him. The same people that would call Elvis a racist, without knowing or caring about A THING about him, would say he stole music or entire songs. Elvis credited every song owner for every song and on every album. No exceptions. Never stole a single lyric, song or signature dance move. Elvis was a creative supernova. A legendary song arranger that would interpret music in new ways that attracted young people. Noone else had that kind of ability back then. Black, white, or anyone else.
Bach some call the greatest of them all. Yet all he did was interpret the music before him better than anyone else in his century. Classical music is a loooong way from Rock and Roll... but its the same art form, music. Black song owners like Little Richard, Chuck Berry and Otis Blackwell loved working with Elvis. They had a routine .... Elvis would buy the song rights, then Elvis would send royalty checks to them based on his own sales. In addition to that, their own record sales would skyrocket as America would seek out the original artists to songs Elvis would record.
So black songwriters would get three new income channels that would exist solely because Elvis covered their song:
1. song rights.
2. royalty checks in the mail.
3. Their own album sales would skyrocket.
THIS is how Elvis began to tear down racist barriers in the music business and he legit opened it up to everyone. And the corruption of the record CEOs were so bad... even black record execs were ripping off their black artists.
Exhibit A: Big Mamma Thorton. Big Mamma was paid $500 for her work on Hound Dog. Given to her by Don Robey, gangster and owner of Peacock Records because he know she was illiterate, she couldn't read or write. So he made her sign all her profits over to him and he fed her almost nothing in return. He made her sign contracts that he knew she couldn't read. Legally, nothing could be done about it. She died almost penniless. He stole Millions of dollars that belonged to her. And he mismanaged her career in clubs where he knew the owners and got paid directly.
Why are they still doing this? He died 46 years ago, and they still discuss this, it's simple why he is the King: he could sing anything, was a great producer/composer, great dancer, had charisma with a big C and had the looks like nobody else. Just look up what James Brown, Little Richard, Muhammad Ali, B.B King, Sammy D Jr, Jackie Wilson among many others said about him. And he was crazy generous!
Roy Hamilton Was a Big Talent and Big Hero to Elvis. They Were Great Friends. Roy Hamilton Died To Young.
Bottom line.. being born with the greatest voice in history ... Is why he's the best ever was the best ever... He could do more genres better than anyone.. and he made every song better when he did it.. Marvin Gaye Sam Cooke right up there with the best ever.. but no one has ever done it better before or after Elvis
I really enjoyed this discussion and the developement of black music. Elvis really did go to a black church, and for a while (even to my surprise) lived in an all black area when he was a small child. My family grew up right next to his. I believed that black voices had been shut out from Elvis's story on purpose and had been shown little to no respect when it came to actual black folks who knew him. I always see videos of music and movie stars being consulted? I'm like what!!! Of course they're not going to know the entire story. My grandparents and other family members did not see him after his rise to fame. Which really is to blame and i hold certain entites (not his family) responible!! I wish and hope that more people speak out on his behalf. His parents did quite a bit to help protect black families at a time when it was not safe for them. I've been challenging folks like you guys-that an honest conversation would have been fine and not damaging to his career. I'm going to check out more of Questlove's podcast! This was good!
We as african americans need to be included in the conversation-we had not-that's why I pushed behind the scenes to include us! Can't wait for the next podcast! (I had to file a records request in order to even get started it was a mess lol!).
Everyone seems to miss something important. Elvis wanted to sing period. When he went into Sun, he was demoing songs in every style except R and B. It was only during a break that he messed around with That's Allright Mama and was what Sam Phillips was looking for. It is not fair that Elvis only gets looked at for his R and B when he quickly showed he could sing and have bigger hits like Don't Be Cruel. He then goes on to have one of the biggest singles hits of all time with Its Now Or Never. He just wanted to sing and he could sing everything well. It was just that the R and B world grabbed a hold of him early and paid a few bills. I would have too to escape whatever poverty I was in.
You can't steal a voice. He had a lot of influences....not just black. He grew up with gospel, country, etc. Elvis came up before or at the same time as the artists he supposedly "copied".
He grew up with Blacks... had black friends even when.he was an adult .. watch Elvis black community part 1 and 2 . Had black back up singers .. .. had famous black friends don't know what else more proof people want getting beyond a joke now ... ☹
Big Mama recorded in March 1952 when Elvis was not yet in the circuit. Elvis, who heard Freddie Bell perform this piece in Las Vegas in April 1956, was inspired by it. The lyrics are not the same as the originals by Leiber and Stoller. In 1992, Leiber and Stoller confirmed that Presley knew Thornton's record of the song but "he didn't do his version"; he had learned the song from Freddie Bell & The Bellboys. [2 12] George Plasketes argues that Elvis Presley's version of "Hound Dog" should not be considered a cover "since [most listeners]…were innocent of Willie Mae Thornton's original 1953 release". On September 9, 1952, the copyright application for "Hound Dog" was filed. On the app, lyrics and music are attributed to Thornton and recording executive Don Robey, with copyright claimants listed as: "Murphy L. Robey (W) & Willie Mae Thornton (A )." According to Stoller, "Big Mama's 'Hound Dog' went to number one, sold a million copies and did nothing for our bank statements. After suing Robey, "We were given a check $1,200 upfront," Stoller said. Similarly, Thornton said, "That song sold over two million records. I received a check for $500 and never saw another one. It was the market race of which the black artists of the time fell victim.
Otis Blackwell said "I was surprised when I heard 'Don't Be Cruel' because it was like I had done the demo. I used to sing all my own demos, and a lot of what Presley and Jerry Lee did happened to sound the same. I thought they did the songs justice. They put the kind of feeling that I felt into it.”
He gets credit on the recordings, his name is there and he was well paid. Otis was a songwriter working for a company that sold songs, Elvis made many of his hit songs and from there he made a living and was happy to continue writing songs for Elvis because he KNEW a song for Elvis would be a hit.
Correct
Manufacture
@@funkpill but no, do your research
Oh I forgot about Al Green! “Elvis had an influence on everybody with his musical approach. He broke the ice for all of us.” - Al Green
Sam bell was an elvis boyhood black friend, from Mississippi, he will tell u,how little elvis would go to the back church and dance like they did,the churchgoers would be surprised,a little white boy would si g and move like that buzz laurman,intervieweed sa. Bell .u will see how this affected elvis. Theres a video of buzz a d sam bell.
Thank you! I hope that the Bells speak out more. Elvis meant a lot to the black families around that area and my grandparents. His parents did a lot of civil rights work-which I had a huge bone to pick with the estate hiding it- a lot of black families were helped tremendously by the Presley. We got the family/ kids to start speaking out on other vids.
Why would Elvis need to be defended? Luhrman gets a few things wrong in his biopic.
One, Presley wasnt copying Big Mamas version of Hound Dog, and two, he was a star before Little Richard- and didnt even try and compete with Richard. Presleys 10 early Sun records which are groundbreaking Rockabilly records at Sun studios, are the combination of black RnB and white hillbilly. Its a genre of music he pioneered in 1954, which blurred the racial lines of music.
White stations wouldnt play some of his records because he sounded too black. Black stations wouldnt play his records because he sounded too white.
Presley had millions selling hit songs on RCA before Otis Blackwell ever wrote songs for him. You think Heartbreak Hotel sounds like Otis Blackwell? Blackwell wrote the songs FOR Elvis, and sang the demos the way he thought Elvis would sound best. Blackwell tried his hand years earlier as an RnB singer and sounds nothing like Presley.
Roy Hamilton? Hamilton was a Broadway style singer at first. He recorded Dont Let Go in 1958, copying Elvis singing style on All Shook Up from 1957.
Hamilton was copying Presley,as Hamilton was trying to break into Rock and Roll.
Presley took his black gospel and RnB roots influences, along with his white country and pop roots and blended it into a unique voice. He represented American music, black and white
You're correct. My family in tupelo said that he was and tammy's wynette folks really enjoyed going to beale street. It's two hours away from Memphis. Alot of folks think its right next door. Ever since he alittle kid he worked hard.
My big issue as Mr. Porter stated is that they should not have waited so long until after many of his black friends and music friends passed away. i felt like it was really important for us to speak up on this.
I REALLY enjoyed this discussion. There is SO MUCH misinformation in the black community that still needs to understand that Elvis was a CREATIVE GENIUS. HE created HIS OWN ACT. Song writers WROTE ... he arranged and performed and broke the gates open for black musicians in a culturally revolutionary way.
Elvis loved Roy Hamilton so much, after Roy's demise to complications after a stroke, Elvis sent Mrs Hamilton flowers everyday, for 6 months. 🥃👍
The day Elvis died, the NY TIMES wrote "We will never agree on anything, as much as we agreed on Elvis"
Elvis lived in housing projects with black people. He went to black churches with black people. He sneaked into black juke-joints with black people. Elvis was THE honorary brutha if there ever was one.
Pretty sure public housing was segregated then. What is true is the early friendships with the kids in the neighborhood - predominantly black, but 4 white families lived there, including Elvis.
@@TracyTidewater41009 according to Sam Bell Elvis was the only white kid.
What I think you are getting confused about is, Elvis lived on the edge of a black neighbourhood in Tupelo, Mississippi before moving to Memphis. That's when he became friends with Sam Bell. They were really dirt pore at the time. When the Presley's moved to Memphis they lived in housing projects with only white people.
MEMPHISROCKS1. The Icon,The Legend, The untouchable, The master, The Gladiator and King of the stage,The King of Influence, The King of Style, The King of Charisma, The King who Stared it all, Greatest of all Time, The king of music Elvis Aaron presley. Untill the End of time.
Único e irrepetible.
Elvis Presley EL REY POR SIEMPRE!!!!!!!! .
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
The white guy sounding R and B was usually attributed to Sam Phillips not Tom Parker.
I was a child of the 50's now 80 I saw Elvis from the beginning to the end. the movie wasn't that great giving you all the things Elvis did with and for black people. To hear a real documentary watch "Elvis Presley and the Black Community" and listen to what Stevie Wonder says about Elvis and BB King, listen to their own words. Elvis was born during the depression, they were so poor, his stillborn twin brother was buried in a shoebox. He grew up in a black ghetto, and listen to "Elvis Presley friend Sam Bell" interview with Baz Luhrman. Sam Bell was Elvis black neighbor and best friend. People today cannot visualize how racist it was in the 50's. White stations would not play black artists till Elvis changed that. Listen to Stevie say, "Elvis stood up for black performers because he was white he did away with all that". Elvis and the Godfather of soul James Brown and Elvis were so close James set by his casket for 3 hours before the funeral in 77. Elvis also paid the hospital bill for the great black artist Jackie Wilson when he had a stroke. People have been told lies about him so much, that they refuse to hear the truth. Elvis once said, "We were so poor, that had our black neighbors given us summer vegetables, and fruits, we would have starved to death. It was the white people in the 50's that hated Elvis, the black people loved him.
Thank you for your time and comment, where are you from ?
@@BenPortsmouth-qu6nw From the college town of Greenville North Carolina.
@@MaryJones-vo5nz sorry for the late response, have been in a meeting with some of my team mate for my upcoming cruise. How long have you been my fan?
This was a cool discussion
Drivel...you only have to watch Elvis and the Black community or the interview with Sam Bell. Elvis also got inspiration from country and gospel quartets. He would go to listen to the Blackwood brothers or the Statesmen.. James "Big Chief" Wetherington, a gospel bass singer, was another big influence. You can see his mannerisms when watching him sing...it's obvious by some of the impressions you did in this video you haven't bothered to watch early Elvis...and so are only forming your opinion on what you think you know or what others have told you.
what's kind of getting lost is all the white influences as well. the movie didn't mention at all the combination of country and pop on him. Even in terms of gospel, white gospel was a huge influence. that's why as Elvis' career went on he branched out into so many genre's.
True. Rock and Roll is not just black music. It’s a multi generational multi cultural exploration that deserves to be credited as the very first music genre FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. That was a demographic that was never focused on.
Elvis felt that young people were the future. Music and the Church were his two vehicles to bring people together. He came up in black and white churches.
Elvis ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
MEMPHISROCKS1. There Are A Lot Of Great Artist Out There.BUT!. ''Past, Present And Future. No One Can Compete, Compare Or Touch To The ONE AND ONLY TRUE World Crowed KING OF MUSIC ELVIS AARON PRESLEY. ELVIS PRESLEY Will Reign KING Of Music ''TCB'' Until The End Of Time.''
Her facial expressions lol
Music, like any art, is for everybody and isn't owned by any race, culture or whatnot. If anything, you could say it's owned by the individual, original creator, but that's about it. That of course doesn't take away from black artists having been exploited (by managers, labels etc), but the absurd idea of any particular kind of music exclusively "belonging" to any particular group of people now isn't a remedy for that either.
As an artist, you should make any kind of music you want, as a consumer you should listen to any kind of music you want. Every artist is influenced by artists before them, and before race, gender etc we're individuals and humans first, and have our own, singular, individual "culture" before anything. So if a white kid happens to grow up on Hiphop, they should OF COURSE be allowed to make Hiphop music themselves, as growing up on Hiphop has been part of their own, individual culture. Same goes for black kids growing up on Beethoven and classical music.
As said, doesn't take away anything from the exploitation of black artists, but to allow certain art to only be made by people of any particular pigmentation, is just as wrong. Two wrongs don't make a right, and (imho) personal, individual culture comes before any other kind of culture, at least in my world view. We can't really right the wrongs of the past fully anyway, all that's left is to do better in the future - in the case of music that means, making sure no one artist (no matter the color) gets screwed over anymore, in the here&now and in the future. At least as best as we can.
That's basically all we can do - if we don't want to make the same mistakes of the past or replace them with new mistakes because we think those would cancel out the old ones. At least if anyone is still interested at all in the betterment of society as a whole.
I see it as in the 50's and before, they didn't play a lot of black music. Little Richard said that after Elvis came out strong, the teens were buying black and white rock records and started playing him on the radio. He credits Elvis for opining that door for everyone.
If you read the brothers books as I did, James Brown said he was a great friend. Sang gospel with him. Fats Domino, Little Richard loved him. Chuck Berry loved him. They are all on UA-cam talking about it. The only brother that didn't like him was Ray Charles.
Just looking for reasons to dismiss the man as untalented. How hard is it to understand that rock and roll is the combination of BOTH rhythm & blues with country music. Both parts were needed to make it what it was. If you asked the bluesmen about the blues renaissance of the mid to late 60’s in England, they were grateful that anyone kept their music alive and introduced it to new generations. Led Zeppelin ripped off many of them, especially Willie Dixon, but he got his credits after suing them. Point is, people should stop trying to minimize or dismiss others talent and accomplishments of others simply because they were white. It’s the same behavior we hate about the establishment that stole from black artists.
Yep Elvis has had to walk through 'treacle' to win many people over and his skin colour was probably his biggest crime 😊😊 He had those certain, in many respects undefinable somethings that just hung together perfectly, difficult to explain in under a 1000 words but that's how it was. I personally think that when he came back in 1960 and recorded stuff like It's Now or Never, and Are You Lonesome Tonight really cemented the legend status as much as the 1950's.
I'm 73 I grew up with Elvis and think what's happening here is the thought of was he racist and stole music,all Bull crap he had black back up singers at a time when racism was at an all time high,rumors that where proven false, he's king and his lengend will never Die watch Elvis in the black cummimity!
Watch Elvis And the Black Community. It will give you more incite to what he was all about!
MEMPHISROCK1''Writers Write The Script ELVIS PRESLEY Performs The Greatest Oscar Winning Story''.''ELVIS PRESLEY IS KING''. ''THE ONE AND ONLY TRUE WORLD CROWNED KING''. KING OF MUSIC. GLADIATOR AND KING OF STAGE AND ENTERTAINMENT. GREATEST OF ALL TIME PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE. KING ELVIS AARON PRESLEY. ''For Every He Will Reign KING OF MUSIC.'' ""TCB"" UNTIL THE END OF TIME''.
Elvis never claimed to invent the blues, or any ingredient of R&R. Elvis MERGED AND ARRANGED Gospel, Country and R&B to create A NEW HYBRID SOUND & STAGE PRESENTATION that attracted YOUNG PEOPLE of all races and turned off the OLDER elites in the 1950s.
GOSPEL MUSIC: White people were singing Christian music since BEFORE the birth of Jesus Christ. Modern Gospel was influenced in large part by white Christian music. There were black and white practitioners in churches down South in Elvis' growth era (1935-55). Elvis was inspired by BOTH.
THE BLUES: The blues were invented by black people.
COUNTRY MUSIC: White people invented Country and Rockabilly music. The first recordings of what now is considered traditional country music were "Arkansas Traveler" and "Turkey in the Straw" by fiddlers Henry Gilliland & A.C. (Eck) Robertson on June 30, 1922, for Victor Records.
Elvis changed EVERYTHING and opened up NEW BUSINESS MODELS for black songwriters and even fought with VENUE OWNERS to allow black musicians to walk in and out of the SAME ENTRANCES AND EXITS that white people used. Elvis Presley had a VERY UNIQUE STYLE and NOBODY LOOKED OR SOUNDED LIKE HIM. Nobody.
Roy and elvis were friends. Elvis and roy admired eachothers talent. Elvis would show up at jackie Wilson's concerts to help promote jackie, because Hollywood wouldn't promote black talent. when elvis would go see jackie at his concerts then all the sudden everyone wanted to go see jackie. From then on elvis and jackie were friends. Roy was there at the studio with elvis in 68 or 69 when elvis was recording the songs roy had recorded because elvis wanted tips from roy on how to sound more operatic like roy for his ballads. There are pictures to prove this. Otis has been given credit for his lyrics for elvis's songs. Elvis loved otis's voice too from otis's demo records for the lyrics and music otis wrote trying to pitch the song to elvis to record, because otis knew if elvis recorded the song he wrote he would make money. Everyone wanted elvis to sing the songs they wrote. Otis was a song writer. There is a youtube video of otis being interviewed proving this from his own mouth. I dont think otis met elvis if i remember the interview correctly. All singers have voices they admire and want to emmulate no matter their color and elvis was the same. He didnt steal anything. He admired voices so much he wanted to be like them. Name any singer who isn't the same. You can't.
Elvis did not "replicate" blacks. Sounds like he came in and make notes and went back to his rich neighbourhood.
He grew up with it. He made a *new* sound, fusing R&B and country music. His voice was genuine. He was genuine and not a copy.
I mean, please dont try to make Elvis` talent as something that really was a black talent.... Btw, most of Elvis` music had nothing to do with black music.
Glad we have evolved into only seeing skin color.
Let's put this thing to rest .
Just read the quotes or watch on video. What Chuck Berry said about Elvis? Or Fats Domino Jackie Wilson BB king James Brown.
Listen to their statements on Elvis. And that's says it in a nutshell. Their respect was through the roof.
Colonel Tom Parker did not say”If I could find a white boy that sings like a black man,I could make a billion dollars. That was Sam Philips.
Elvis took music to another level. We can’t say Elvis stole black people music is like saying Eminem stole rap from black la because he raps better than a lot of them.
That Elvis hanged out with black people it seems kind of weird to some people than look at the video with Baz speaking with Elvis old neighborhood friend. Elvis and Roy were good friends and when Roy was sick in hospital Elvis paid a lot of his bills and funeral. His friend growing up was Sam Bell a black man who knew Elvis growing up.
I think Buddy Holly was a white group that traveled with Sam Cooke and his show after their appearance at the Appollo in 1957.
All art is traced back to the influencers of the artist. The same way it goes backward is the same way it goes forward. Over and over again. There is no race in art and no hate in artist's hearts.
Alot of your black bros and sisters after research are finding out about the BS about Elvis and disregarding what was told to them by their relatives,I was there I know,rumors started by jealous,invious people!!
elvis grew up dirt poor around black people sam bell has interview on youtube talking about elvis as a kid
Who says Elvis needs defending?
You are completely overlooking, or purposely dismissing the huge influence that Country music had on Elvis’ style. 2nd largest influence was Southern Gospel. Then probably Rhythm & Blues comes 3rd. If you try to show how influenced Elvis was by “race music”, (as it was known then), you show your ignorance about other genres. Because, his vocal style clearly has much more of a country aspect, then it does rhythm & blues. Elvis was also highly influenced by operatic style singers like Mario Lanza.
Roy Hamilton (and Elvis loved him) was usually more of a straight ahead pop style singer.
Look up an interview involving Mr Sam Bell an African American who lived next door to Elvis is Tupelo Mississippi. Listen to what he states about Elvis and how Elvis, Mr Sam Bell and a few others used to go to the black gospel tents and sing. All you people have to do is some real research it's not hard it's on UA-cam just look it up.
MEMPHISROCKS1. ''KING ELVIS AARON PRESLEY'' ''IS STILL TO THIS DAY THE Greatest Talent, Vocalist, Musician, Performer, Solo Artist, Icon, Legend and Legacy''. ''That Has Ever Walked This Planet''''Before Elvis There was nothing'', The worlds light was dim, When Elvis Aaron Presley emerged on the seen. He shattered everything that was dark and lit the world with light so bright, like no other before or since. God created Elvis Aaron Presley to change the world. Change the world he did. To make it a better place. He gifted Elvis Aaron Presley with his greatest gifts. Bringing The greatest gifts of looks, vocals, style, charisma, charm, stature and grace. He Brought joy, happiness, love, generosity and caring to this world. The World Crowned Elvis Aaron Presley KING. Elvis Aaron Presley was"Unique and Ereplceible in a world of duplication''. The Icon, The Legend. The Untouchable. The Immortle, The incredible, The King of song. The King of vocals. The master, The King of style, The King of charisma. The gladiator and King of stage. The one and only True King of Music and Entertainment. ''THE ONE AND ONLY TRUE World Crowned. KING Elvis Aaron Presley''. ''Greatest Of All Time Past Present and Future. FOR EVER HE WILL REIGN KING OF MUSIC''. ''TCB'' ''Til the end of time''.
Era una ESTRELLA, BRILLABA CON LUZ PROPIA. 🎉.
EL REY POR SIEMPRE!!!! ❤❤❤❤❤❤
MEMPHISROCKS1. ''THERE Is Only One Man Of Music And Entertainment. That Was The One And Only True World Crowned King. THAT IS KING OF MUSIC ELVIS AARON PRESLEY. HE IS AND WILL ALWAYS REIGN KING OF MUSIC UNTIL THE END OF TIME''.