Fantastic job! Don’t worry about the complainers, the idea is to watch your reaction. I love this song, makes me cry though. I cry because things haven’t changed like they should! Someone suggested watching Elvis and the Black Community and it is a really good idea.I think it’s a two part documentary.
@@darealadogg It's a short documentary that is well worth watching to get a good perspective on how bad racism was back in the day, and how Elvis stood against it.
He was from a very poor Family and he loved his momma and to attend the black churches in his area to sing or here them sing in the choir. He liked the soul and R&B in the music. That’s how he developed his style. He was colorblind from word go!!
Elvis grew up in poverty next to the Ghetto. His parents worked the cotton fields along side the black community. Elvis's own words "When it comes to people, I'm colour blind". He was a fabulous singer, a wonderful entertainer, and a exceptional human being. We should all be treated the same. Cos we are all the same. Xxxxx
Elvis fought to release this song .. the record label and his management told him it would ruin his career .. he said release it or I will get another label to do it.. he wanted to shine a light to people to realize what goes on in the Ghetto .. he grew up dirt poor .. he knew how important this song was . His record label released it because Elvis was the biggest star in the world ..
And the rest is history!! That was the Astrodome the people didn't want the black back up singers in concert Elvis said no I don't play if thay leave so it turned out Elvis waumy .
the reason I love these reaction videos is because I love these young people experiencing Elvis. He transcends time, race and cultures, he is for everyone
I’m 28 my grandpa was a huge Elvis fan when I was a kid he showed me a lot. I’m back listening to those songs for the first time in years after watching the new Elvis movie, feels like I’m back with my grandpa.
He grew dirt poor in the Tuplua Ghettos. His community was black. He loved gospel and black music, he wanted this message out there, he wanted to highlight this poverty to help it. They said it would ruin his career if he sang it, but he didnt care. He loved everyone. He never forgot where he came from.He fought for equality
I am going to turn 60 years old next year. And as amazing as this performance is and thank you for the reaction, it deeply troubles me that we were still talking about the same things today. A young man laying face-down in the street with a gun in his hand and he's dead when he just tried to escape a desperate situation. It breaks my heart man.
The story behind the song is he didn't want to perform it for this concert. He was afraid it was too controversial for the time, but then he felt that growing up in Memphis and being poor, people had to know about the way people were being ignored and he had to say something. This song made everybody back then think about what we needed to do to help each other, because without each other, we perish.
I think Elvis felt compelled to sing this song. He knew he millions of eyes and ears on him The little child in the song looks at you and me.He sing on asking if we're just going to look away. Elvis didn't dance, he didn't smile . Took no applause Took no bow .B.
i was born in the early 60' and the first time I heard it, I was so impacted by the words that I memorized the entire song. It is so heartbreaking that after so may years nothing has changed
I'm 67 and saw Elvis live in Louisville Ky when I was 16. Yes, Elvis's family was very poor. The nearest church to them was a black church, he and his mother attended regularly. He said that's where he learned to sing in the choir. Mac Davis wrote this song. Elvis's producers and manager did not want him to cut this song, he did it anyway and it was one of his big hits.
Elvis was trying to let the world know of the vicious circle of life in a ghetto, no matter where it was . I'm 79, I've been an Elvis Presley fan since I was 13. He was an amazing performer and a truly amazing Man. Truly the King of Rock and Roll. A little trivia, one of those back up singer's was Cissy Huston. Mother of Whitney Huston. They were the Sweet Inspirations. The other notable song he recorded was, the Impossible Dream. I believe it's title was derived from MLK's Dream Speech. ELVIS was a very humble man without an ounce of prejudice towards any other human. PS. I loved your reaction. I saw this man 11 times in person. The clip you showed was filmed in the show room of the Las Vegas Hilton. No words to describe seeing Elvis Presley performing in that room in 1973.
He was told that the Sweet Inspiration ( the girls that backed him up ) couldn’t stay in the hotel and he told them if they can’t stay then neither am I and they let them stay. Mac Davis wrote the song and some artist wouldn’t sing it because they said it was too controversy so Elvis sung it and the rest is history. The song if I can dream he sung for Martin Luther King , after he died to keep the dream alive
The song.. If i can dream.. It is not a song for Martin luther king,, the song came out after Robert Kennedy died.. The song is a wake op call to AMERICA ?? Vietnam WAR.. Killing Martin luther king. And killing . Robert Kennedy.. All this happens in 1968..
@@bopoulsen4030 Exactly! They decided to close the show with a "tribute" song, after the assasination of R.F.K. in June '68. MLK was aready killed in April '68. But of couse the song is based on the great speech of Dr. King "I Have A Dream"
@@alameas6358 Earl Brown was asked to right a song, for the finale of the 68 comeback special. Brown knew the fondness that Elvis had for Martin Luther King. So he wrote it specifically for Elvis to sing. This song was to replace "I'll be home for Christmas" which was supposed to be the last song done for the 68 special. Martin Luther King had just died a few months earlier.
@@debbiekuehl8178 The book "Elvis '68 Comeback" written by Steve Binder, the director and producer of the show tells exactly what happened. Elvis admired Martin Luther King. That's absolutely right. But only after Bobby Kennedys assassination in June '68 they decided that the show would end with a tribute song. But that doesn't mean the song was only for Dr. King.
I heard a story similar from his early days. He slept in the bus in the parking lot of a "black" hotel, because some of his band and back-up couldn't sleep in the same hotel as him.
Elvis invented the “Drip” diamonds on every finger, but he was so generous, he would give away cars and houses , sometimes to family and friends, sometimes people on the street. He wanted to share his fortune , amazing man, glad your getting to know him.🤘💯🙏
@Tammy Pearson. I had the privilege of putting one of his rings on my finger. I turned it and made a prayer. I was 6 months pregnant at the time. I had my daughter Ellie-Mae on 8th January his birthday. I believe to this day that he was looking over me. ⚡️TCB⚡️❤️
Yes! Elvis Presley!! I was born in 1972 & my Grandmother LOVED Elvis! When he died, my Grandmother was devastated! EVERY Christmas at her house, Elvis gospel music!!
Elvis was years ahead of his time regarding equality. This song always touches my heart. I had loads of Elvis vinyls as a child but I’ve no idea where they are now. 😢
I have watched a few of the reactions to this recording, and people of colour who have taken the time to do 5 minutes Research would react just like you, understanding that there is no malice toward any person who lived in the ghetto. He himself was dirt poor, and I’m sure he saw some of what he sang about. However, other reactors seem to have taken offense to the words of the song. Which I do understand, I just hope when they read the comments, they will see that Elvis was a man who loved and tried to help all people. He had many close and dear friends of colour. The very LAST thing Elvis was, was racist, he didn’t have a racist bone in his body. xx
This song is one of my absolute favorite Elvis songs ever. It has always moved me since I first knew who he was as child. I'm so white and grew up in Utah where every one was white but my greatest influences were my grandparents. Prejudice never entered into the equation. I know about Elvis' upbringing, I think the prejudice there may have had a HUGE influence on how NOT to be.
"Elvis was a hero to most but he didn't mean shit to me, see straight up racist that sucker was simple and plain, mutha fuck him and John Wayne!" Not my words, that was Chuck D in the song Fight the Power (Public Enemy)
I just love your reactions to this classic song. I truly, truly wish that more of this younger generation could hear some of the great music and the great messages the 'older songs' carry throughout the decades... before they were born. Hey, I think the message was that music can start to unite us!!
I just found your channel. Great reaction to an old song with current familiarity! Nothing changes if nothing changes! I grew up in a Detroit "ghetto", the Herman Garden projects on the west side. There isn't much opportunity in the ghetto. It took me years to get out and on the right path. I'm biracial and that alone caused me problems. I literally had to fight because of the color of my skin and in the ghetto winning those fights brought respect or what we thought was respect. I've been shot, more than once. I have a "record", not as lengthy as some, but long enough! BUT, I now have a Master's degree in social work. Elvis sings, "the child needs a helping hand..." Well, I have two hands. The projects I grew up in were demolished years ago, but right around the corner sits others. I go back frequently and help in whatever capacity I can! All kids deserve a healthy outlet for their energy and someone to believe in their hopes and dreams!
One of my favorite songs he has ever sang and I still cry every time I hear this song! I also love “If I can Dream” but maybe “Suspicious minds” is dope🔥🔥 if it’s playing in my car I can’t help but dance! Lucky enough to see him twice in concert as a child.
Listen to " if i can dream" which is his tribute to MLK. He was told not to sing that at his 68 Comeback Special..he sang it anyway, then went backstage and broke down crying..
Great reaction.....the song is not an actual incident but a synopsis of life in the ghetto. A song that holds true today, especially in cities like Chicago. A Vicious Circle, which was the original title. As stated by many, he did grow up in that environment in Tupelo and Memphis, living in projects. He is the truest form of a rags to riches story. You will have an awesome journey discovering this person, who even with all his flaws (he is human) accomplished more than any other entertainer in history. Only actor n history to have ALL his movies make money and have 33 straight movies make money. Top seller. Have fun discovering Elvis.., I'm lucky enough to have spent 19 years of my life here on earth at the same time he was alive..Saw him 3 times...Thanks again, enjoyed it my friend
Written by Mac Davis, a great American Song Writer, and a Friend to Elvis. Ya have to live it, to write it .... BLUE EYED SOUL! Stride for Stride and Back to Back, Brother 🎶🗽
There is a really nice backstory here. Mac Davis wrote the song, and offered it to Sammy Davis Jr. Sammy turned it down because he said he had never lived that life. He suggested Mac should send it to Elvis, since he DID have that past.
@@mamaasaiz I’ve seen that posted, but I’ve not been able to find an actual source for it. I do know that Mac did Not attribute a suggestion by Sammy as the reason he sent it to Elvis. Mac said, shortly after Elvis sang Memories (written by Mac) on the “68 Comeback Special”, Elvis’ people called Mac, to see if he had any more “new” songs available (ie-not previously recorded songs), for an album Elvis was recording. Mac sent over a demo tape he had on hand, of 19 “new” songs. Elvis chose In The Ghetto & Don’t Cry Daddy for the album.
@@wnsafford1854 You could very well be right. I am going off of what I sort of remember Mac Davis saying in an interview. It is possible I am wrong - I have been married 3 times!
If this song doesn’t bring tears to your eyes nothing will.Elvis loved everyone,he knew the struggle it was a part of his life. I have a biracial family and I love them all, I don’t see color. Thank you for playing this song…another good one is called:”Suspicious Minds”. (He had one AWESOME BACKUP BAND)❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Elvis and his band were a”Blessing” to us all.❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
There are very few entertainers in this world, that had this type of impact on us, & Elvis definitely was one of them.....For me, the appeal of Elvis, was that, even though he was incredibly talented, remarkably handsome, & cooler than any man has the right to be, at his core, he was humble, shy, generous, & had love for all of humanity, which in my eyes, what made him the King 💖 ********ELVIS TRULY WAS A GIFT******** 💖
WELCOME TO THE BIRTHPLACE Elvis Aaron Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi on January 8, 1935 to Vernon and Gladys Presley. Born in a two-room house built by his father, grandfather and uncle, Elvis was one of twin brothers born to the Presleys. His brother, Jessie Garon was stillborn. Elvis grew up in Tupelo surrounded by his extended family including his grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Financially, times were hard on Vernon
One thing about the story about him refusing to perform at the Houston Astrodome, which is true and been confirmed, is that not only did he defend them, but he NEVER did a show without them. They were the only ones who were with him from his first comeback concert on July 31, 1969 to his last show on June 26, 1977 just 6 weeks before his death and were headed to meet up with him for the start of his next tour that day he died. He loved and adored them and they loved and adored him. They were a team, a family.
Hey Dog.He was true to himself. I love this song. He sings Gospel like no other. Thanks for keeping his music alive.He died in 1977. But I think you are right he sings for everyone can relate and connect with him .His music comes from his soul. Thanks so much. This new Generation is feeling his music. U Tube has a video Hot Girls dancing to Burning Love check it out. As always I enjoy your blogs.❤Thank
This song was actually written by legendary singer/songwriter/actor Mac Davis (R.I.P.) and was loosely based on HIS childhood friendship with a black kid his age. Really interesting how he explained it in an interview. Mac also starred as the QB in the 1979 football movie "North Dallas Forty". I got to meet him the year before when I was a 17-year-old busboy at a country club. He just walked up to me and started talking. Very nice and warm guy. His death really hit me last year.
There is a section in Graceland where it talks about all the charity work he did privately for so many people, particularly minorities. All the generosity we saw doesn’t even scratch the surface
Mac Davis (another talented singer/songwriter from the 70's) wrote this song, and he felt he couldn't pull off the lyrics, so he offered it to Elvis Presley who loved it. And because of Elvis' hard-scrabble upbringing, he could absolutely relate to the song 100%. Elvis' mom worked tirelessly to get the family beyond the poverty level (I think his dad left early--mom remarried later, and stepdad became Elvis' surrogate father). Elvis didn't care that the song was controversial at the time, he started performing it live and it took off! But Mac Davis later said that Elvis was probably the only one who could have made that song the success it became. Another fun-fact: Cece Houston (Whitney Houston's mom) was one of Elvis' background singers! Isn't that neat?
Yes watch the documentary on Elvis you will have a different understanding of who he was and what he was about. He was a pure individual and amazing human being. He was probably the closest thing to an angel on Earth. FACTS!
I can also say that this song was written by Singer/Songwriter Mac Davis...but he told Elvis not to sing it...because there would be people criticizing him for singing it. Elvis said he didn't care and insisted on doing this song anyway. I am so glad he did that. This is my number 1 favorite song by Elvis. It touches my heart every time I hear it. Elvis knew back in the 60's that the "race war" was going on. Also...the "If I Can Dream" song was written after Martin Luther King's assassination and some of the lyrics came from MLK's "I have a Dream" Speech. That is what I've learned, from commenters. I watch a lot of reaction videos. I hope this information is helpful?
When it came to civil rights and race, Elvis was ahead of his time. He called his back up singers his family. If you haven't checked out Frank Sinatra, you should. He was another amazing talent and he stood up against racist without hesitation.
What race is Frank Sinatra from? Cause you know Italians aint white you know that right? There are 7/8 billion people on this earth so I guess there are 7/8 billion races too huh? Wow I'm in the human race where you from?
@@tommtommkin WTF? Nothing about your reply to my comment makes sense. I said he stood up to racist and if you think racist don't exist you either are one or you are just being a troll. What about my comment exactly got your ass in a twist? Chill out. I was simply saying Frank and Elvis were both willing to stand up for their friends.
@@sherrystewart8519 Exactly. He refused to play at the hotels that would refuse to allow Sammy to play there but not stay as a guest. He once ripped up a contract when he found out the owner of the club had refused to let Sammy Davis Jr. inside to watch Frank sing. He was a man who stood by his friends and what he believed in.
@@sherrystewart8519 but he hung Sammy out to get in good with the Kennedys. and then got burned by them.... Dean Martin told him not to get involved with them but Frank didn't listen.
This song is about the unfortunate cycle that urban families go through and have been living through for many years. The cycle of poverty leading to violence and death which many people escape from but many more don’t. Great reaction!
Grew up with Elvis music.. He speaks with love and fun for all. So sorry so many missed out without Elvis. More Elvis..Listen closely. Very meaningful. He grew up in the Ghetto. He sings from his heart.
@@RJsStudio131 Yes , people make it in to a huge thing but she was only there a few weeks.Even Whitney lied saying her mother worked with Elvis for years.
That incident took place in Texas. He was told that the Sweet inspirations were not allowed to perform in the stadium. He said if they don't go, then I don't go.
The way I interpret the song is that their lives have come full circle by the end of the song. The reason why the "momma cries" at the beginning is because the father of the child is another "angry young man, face down in the street, with a gun in his hand." The momma realizes she's going to be raising the child without the father, and it's going to be a rough life for her. And then through the course of the song, we see history repeating itself.
I was a young girl an I understood Immediately after hearing this song , (I did know where the ghetto was ) how hopeless, the poor and mostly black race has been wrongly treated, Elvis showed true respect, he had a black friend he hanged out with in Memphis as a young boy. I am thankful his momma let him have that friend, I believe it helped to make him the man he was!!
Yeah, that was in Texas. The promoters told him not to bring his black female background singers. His reply was that if they couldn't come then he wouldn't perform either. And not only that, Elvis had his singers driven around the arena by a blond white woman in a white convertible.
I have loved Elvis since I first heard him on the radio when I was five years old. Now I am 70 years wise. I've learned a lot about him. Elvis Aron Presley was born in a one room shack without plumbing in Tupelo Mississipi. His twin, Jessie Garon Presley, did not survive and was buried in a potters field. Later in life Elvis would search for his brother's grave but never found it. The family was always poor, as Vernon Presley was not great at holding down a job. Later Gladys Presley would sew a shirt for Elvis to wear for his first big local appearance. The family moved to an apartment in a housing project on the poor side of Memphis. Elvis loved gospel and R&B in addition to country music. He visited R&B clubs and sang gospel with choirs in black churches. He auditioned for his high school choir but was not accepted. He saw all people as real people and judged them by how they treated others. He was the same throughout his life in this regard. Cissy Houston, who sang with the Sweet Inspirations for a while, spoke of a big concert venue - I think in Texas, which had been booked at a stadium. The promoter told Elvis to leave his black backup singers at home. Elvis replied that if he was coming, he was coming with his entire family, including his backup singers - or he would cancel the show. The promoter backed down. The concert was of course a great success. Recently I've come across some posted reactions to Elvis' music and life that have provided quite an education for a white woman - to learn that black folks had been hearing that Elvis was a racist. I've always seen Elvis as the soul who bridged white hillbilly music and black rhythm and blues music through his gospel experiences. He was a role model to me. I am glad the truth about Elvis is coming to the black community. Imagine how many other personalized myths about racism have been told to our children which maintain and strengthen racism and other forms of hate. Let's continue to shed light on these myths to debunk them. I wish peace and love to all my sisters and brothers.
Great reaction! I memorized this song when I was 7 (young musician), and remember tearing up a lot at the end, I had 2 black friends, cousins, who were born into poverty (not that we were much better off) and I was so scared for them because of this song. Mama had to ensure me that she would help if ever needed lol they rose, though.. 1 became radiology tech, the other a preacher. This song can still bring me to tears after 43 years lol ugh, dunno what prompted the share, sorry!
I watch a lot of your videos and ran across this old one today. I'm a 77 year old white guy and I can tell you that Elvis was all that you say he was. One advantage of being old is that I got to see history happening. I was 9 years old when Elvis made his TV debut in 1956 on the Ed Sullivan Show. I watched on a small black and white TV (no color TV back then). The cameras were not allowed to film him below the waist because of his swiveling hips (TV censors were a lot different back then). All TV variety shows like that were live. In 1958, he was inducted into the Army for 2 years. They shaved his head and the young girls went crazy. He served honorably and when he got out, he resumed his career. Quite a few years ago, we went to Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee. I recommend going there, if you can. It's basically an Elvis museum. You can view his grave on the property as well. Not related to Elvis, witnessing history is something young people will never understand. We lived live through the JFK assassination, RFK assassination and MLK Jr, assassination, Lee Harvey Oswald shot by Jack Ruby on live TV, the space race, Sputnik (first satellite), Neil Armstrong stepping on the moon and many other historical events. Later, the Challenger explosion and 9/11. Living history is a lot different than reading it in a book.
Love Elvis! Many musicians made a stand about discrimination of band members and backup singers but Elvis was so big that he could really make a difference.
The Beatles also refused to play a concert in the south if they had to play to a whites only crowd. Hats off to any artist or performer who refuses to bend the knee to white supremacy regardless of any financial or professional consequences.
Do "Proud Mary" by Elvis. It's a really good one. He grew up in the poorest part of Tupelo, Mississippi. His cook was a african american lady who was also a friend. He bought her a house. She had a dream after he passed that he was at her house and asked if he could stay there. She said in her dream, "You know your always welcome Mr. Elvis". She brought him food he liked while he was in the hospital once, snuck it in passed the nurses. Her name was Mary Jenkins. Another lady Nancy Rooks was also one of his cooks and wrote a cookbook with Elvis' uncle. When a stranger had an accident on the street near his home and 2 people died, he paid for the family to be flown back to Memphis, paid all their expenses, and medical care for one of the people in the accident. He did so anonymously. There's a lot of great stories out there about Elvis Presley, his life and music. One I liked recently was about a house he lived at on Audoban Dr. in Memphis. The neighbors were upset people were coming to the neighborhood to see Elvis. The men from the neighborhood went to Elvis' father and asked how much he owed on the mortgage. They wanted to pay off the mortgage if the Presleys would move. They found out the Presley's had no mortgage and went back home with their tale between their legs. The people in the neighborhood though pt they were wealthy and didn't think the Presley's were in their "class". They discovered the Presley's actually had more money than they did. When Elvis heard about it he said " How much do they owe on their damn mortgage, I'll buy THEM out". I really liked that story.
Man this brought up memories, falling asleep with a transistor under my pillow listening to this song, I was about 7 … anyways just wanted to let you know that this song was written by one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Mac Davis who wrote it about the “social engineering” of the 60’s, same fight, different decade 🙏🏻
Elvis grew up in the poorest neighborhood. It was so bad that his Dad went to jail because he forged a check to buy food. So he knew very well what it was like to grow up with nothing, I truly believe that is the reason he had so much compassion and love for others. It also explains his very humble ways, no matter how big he was, or how rich, he never lost that humbleness or compassion.
Margaret things have not changed in many cities because they are run by the Democratic party and its supporters the mainstream media, Hollywood and the music industry, social media push race as a power tool and money maker. The people pushing it are all skin tones, they have evil in their hearts. They protect criminals and punish the law abiding citizens and they do not care how many innocents die since its not in their neighborhood Do not let them infiltrate your soul, 90% of all people are good, its just the good people are not as loud as the troublemakers. This is God's country and this is the country everyone tries to escape tyranny to get to, you do not see people trying to escape the USA, citizens in thee world would trade places with anyone wanting to leave the USA anytime. The politicians fear the citizens rising against them so to insure you do not they keep you divided into groups and teach everyone to hate and not trust each other. They have been doing this for decades.
@@SD-mw1hz Don't forget people like David Bowie standing up to MTV telling them it was wrong that they weren't playing any black bands and singers. Bands refusing to play in South Africa because of apartheid. I didn't expect to get into politics here but I'd ask you to look closer and ignore the propaganda. Look at the map. Look at the red states. The poorest states are the red ones. Even with covid the blue states are doing so much better. I am not a democrat. I take a wider view.
@@SD-mw1hz Now that the non-whitewashed history is coming out I think things will get better. So many people were unaware of the Black Wall Street because it's not taught in schools or talked about are now talking about it. Did you know that Memorial Day was started by some newly freed slaves? Kept that quiet too, didn't they?
@@SD-mw1hz "... the good people aren't as loud as the troublemakers..." SO TRUE. But those of us who are colorblind and good try to follow Jesus' lead, and spread love one person at a time. You may have to listen more closely to hear the quieter voice, but that's how you know you're hearing the Gospel. Gotta pray for the angry people to hear that quiet Voice
And nothing ever will. There will always be poor people! I grew up in the white ghetto! We went to bed hungry many nights! My parents did their best, and eventually, my Dad landed a good job and we were lifted out of poverty. But, we stayed in the hood! We just ate a lot better! I remember my Mother was so excited when she finally got a washing machine, a wringer washer! Poor people have better values and morals than rich people do.
Elvis used to go to the "Black Clubs" and listen to their music. He LOVED it, especially Black Gospel. He had a huge heart and would help anyone, and was genuinely concerned about the plight of the people who didn't have the opportunities a lot of others had...When he was a boy, they were dirt poor. He also had a twin that was still born. Elvis Aron and Jesse Garon Presley.
That was at the Houston Astrodome where Elvis refused to perform if his black backup singers weren't included. it's chronicled in "Elvis Presley & The Black Community The Echo will never die. Here's the part, time stamped where it tells about that time in Houston: ua-cam.com/video/xd1pXw1DmsA/v-deo.html
Very few people today know about Elvis’s life. He grew up in the Ghetto and his family was poor. He wanted better for his parents and worked hard to get where he got. His lead back up singer was Whitney Houston’s mother. It is true he refused to play in Houston unless his black back up singer were welcome, and they were treated the sane as him. He was a phenomenal person who happened to be extremely handsome and talented and had a big heart. We need more people like him in this world. Thank you for reacting to his videos and keeping his memory alive! Us older generation love it!!
I loved your reaction. It sortof shines a light on my own thoughts: I Don't Understand Racism Today. So many have tried to spread love and understanding and acceptance for decades now. There is just no place for racism in the world. We should all love one another..
My husband was born the same year as Elvis. Being from New Orleans, he saw and spent time with him through the Louisiana Hayride; which was a singing performance in New Orleans. Elvis was born in Tupelo Mississippi and YES, Dirt poor!! He was raised in a black Assembly of God church and the influence could be heard in All his music for his life!! Black people were his closest people his whole life!! Prejudice? He didn’t know What that meant growing up!! An amazing man!
I'm so happy you like Elvis, I've heard it said "there was nothing before Elvis". When he came on the scene in the mid 50's, disc jockeys who played his records were stunned when they discovered he was white., There is so much soul in his voice, I still cry listening to "In the Ghetto", Elvis grew up dirt poor, first in Mississippi, then in Memphis Tennessee. When he got famous, the first thing he bought was a pink Cadillac for his Mother (he called his Mom Satnin) & built Graceland, Elvis was then drafted in the Army and while he was in training his Mother died, his grief was so profound & so public, I've heard tapes of him weeping, he was inconsolable. He was then stationed to Germany and that's when he began taking "speed" and also where he met his future wife Priscilla, who was 14 years old. They kept in contact, when she was nearly 16 Elvis moved her into Graceland, they married in 1967 or 68 and there only daughter Lisa Marie was born exactly 9months later.
This man basically grew up in the hood . Was dirt poor , lived in public housing while his father was doing time in prison . It was there he became introduced to black friends , black gospel , black church services. When people say he stole from black musicians it really bothers me because it’s what he grew up in , it’s what he knew
When he was young he would sneak out of the church his family went to and went to the black church down the road he said that their music spoke to him .
Elvis came from a time and place where he can relate to the black population like no other,he grew up in a suburb of Nashville and probably saw a lot of this kind of stuff first hand.Listening to peoples reactions to this song,I can see it really hits home and brings bad but true memories for many people.Elvis is one of my childhood hero’s and songs like this make me proud to say he came from my generation and that his respect for the MLKs and Bobby Kennedy of the world is who he truly is.Thanks for the King.
Houston Astrodome was also the first venue to perform outside Las Vegas for 'The Sweet Inspirations'. Myrna Smith says this - "The first time we were set to appear with Elvis outside of Vegas, we were exited. It was in Houston. The people were exceptionally nice to us. Later I found out the promoters had sent word that they were thrilled Elvis was coming, but NOT to bring 'those black girls' with him. Elvis had laid down the law that if we didn't come, HE wasn't coming either. So when we did the show, I wondered why everybody was so nice to us. None of the guys told us 'cause they didn't want to hurt our feelings. I found out years later that Elvis had stood up for us." As it turns out the person who didn't want the black girls there was the owner of the Houston Astrodome. Elvis not only told him that he wouldn't perform if they were not with him, but he also set additional conditions. He said that girls had to be given the star treatment the same as what he got. And they had to driven around in a convertible where everyone could see them, and the owner's daughter would be their chauffeur.
They lived in a shotgun house growing up..his father served time for ✍ writing bad checks...and then they grew up in Lauderdale projects..which is where his appreciation for blk music developed
Elvis was born in a two room shack his father built and was raised in the ghetto. His family was not only poor, they were the poorest family in the whole town. Other families in the ghetto used to gather and bring food to them. Elvis's father went to prison for a few years. It was just Elvis and his mama. Here's a video all about this upbringing with interviews with his childhood friends. It's so full of information and it's great. Elvis is the greatest rags to riches story of all time. You'll love it. ua-cam.com/video/tW_xDjzjBUY/v-deo.html
Great reaction as usual. I have not seen a reaction from you of Elvis in the black community parts 1 & 2. In there whenever it's backup singers tells a story that you mentioned. When he was not going to do the Houston Astrodome if his girls could not be with. Imagine he was willing to lose millions by not doing the Astrodome if you couldn't bring his girls with. Now that's respect and love for his girls!!
It was when he was going to perform at the Houston astrodome the said leave the black girls home and he said if you don’t want them then I won’t come !! I saw Elvis every time he was in Las Vegas !! He was and is the greatest entertainer ever !!!
🌟👑⚡ELVIS⚡👑🌟...Always the King...Not because of his power...but because of his Big HEART...and SOUL...."When our music couldn't get through the doors,Elvis kicked it open for us all" - Little Richard -
By the time this was recorded, this was an old song for him and he was performing it because people liked it. He hurried through it without the emotion of earlier performances.
Elvis grew up in an area with a lot of black people while knowing he was a mixture of Scottish (Norman French), German, Cherokee, and Jewish. I think he had a little bit of Native American ancestry. He had more Jewish ancestry than Cherokee. The Jewish part might partially explain his looks. His mother had a star of David on her tombstone. Jews at that time were very active in the civil rights movement. Elvis couldn't ignore the civil rights movement and the debt he owed the community. He owed them he felt.
This song was sort of revolutionary in that it highlights that crime is not determined by race but rather, by poverty. Elvis had a strong tie to the black community. He respected and loved them to spite the racism being the general consensus in those times, he was brave and stood up for what he thought was right. He did live in a Ghetto as a child and his family was very poor. He lived it. He tried to bring the sadness of the poverty to light. I wasn't a big fan of his music, but I appreciate it very much and I love the respect he showed the black community during a time when that wasn't a popular thing to do.
Hey mate Thank you for your amazing reaction You were talking about Elvis's back up singers. You should watch Elvis and the black community Alot of people in the past thought Elvis was a racist But if you watch that documentary It's the opposite Elvis loved black people Infact he grew up with black people He used to go to black churches and sing gospel songs Elvis loved gospel songs Elvis was a humble down to Earth person He had a heart of gold But he also had a tough career From the second he started singing They tried to ban his records because he sounded to black and the way he moved They said to him He should be ashamed of singing black man's music and had no talent and should go back to driving a truck Elvis job before he became famous was a truck driver. Thank you for keeping the memory of Elvis alive God bless you
"You'll Think of Me" is one of the songs that Elvis did so well and is so emotional, plus the musician ship is there. I feel like when he released "You'll Think of Me", he was trying to convince himself that his baby momma Priscilla was missing him. Very Emotional Song.
How sad is it that this song is still relatable to this day? You are correct - Elvis grew up in poverty, his father was in prison, so he and his mother lived in a shack - dirt poor - they depended on others for food. He grew up playing with all different races but mainly in the black community - he loved to go to the local church and sing gospel with the choir. Elvis himself was part Native American - he didn't see colour, he saw people. A true Gentleman who never forgot his roots. A rare, unique & truly special talent. R.I.P. Elvis 🖤
He’s saying that life is a vicious cycle and in order for change we have to quit turning our heads and looking the other way. Otherwise it stays the same.
Hey you are Awesome so Excited about you listening to Elvis. Not only did he have the most Unique Voice ever , he was also so very caring to all People. I loved the story that came out about when he saw a older Black Lady looking at a Cadillac he when and bought it for her ! I love it when people care about people, regardless of their skin Color , it’s so heartwarming 🙏❤️ looking forward to your next Video, love you and The King of Rock n Roll Elvis Presley !!!
Yes friend please watch Elvis in the black community!!!!! He was surrounded by ignorant people managers record companies producers all that! He was a great talent yes but, an absolute great man!
it was in Vegas, and he was to perform there. Anyway the hotel said that his band and singers couldn't stay there at that hotel. Elvis told them if they couldn't stay at that hotel he would not perform. The band and singers got rooms at that hotel.
He grew up for his first few years, he had no indoor plumbing or electricity.Moving to the ghetto was a step Rags to riches almost overnight when he hit big.
I love that song. Gives me goosebumps & my eyes tear up. I have been listening to that song & many of Elvis's songs. Going back to the mid 80's, my neighbor played the drums for Rickey Nelson. Their plane crashed & they all died. I went to Ricky Invelt's (the drummer) funeral and Elvis's background singers the ones in this video were there to sing. It was beautiful. You should listen to all of his music, I think you will really like it!
In the era of when this was performed, racism and segregation was still very prominent in many places...even if not spoken. Elvis was NOT a racist and he stood up for what he believed. I have always respected that about him. He grew up poor in Tupelo, MS.
great reaction , the song was about the circle of life in the ghetto, and yes elvis family was very poor but he never forgot his roots. what the other people are talking is (ELVIS AND THE BLACK COMMUNITY THAT ECHO WILL NEVER DIE), there is a part 2 but not done by the same people also ok to watch.. keep up the good work
Fantastic job! Don’t worry about the complainers, the idea is to watch your reaction. I love this song, makes me cry though. I cry because things haven’t changed like they should! Someone suggested watching Elvis and the Black Community and it is a really good idea.I think it’s a two part documentary.
i will thanks jamie for leaving a positive comment
@@darealadogg It's a short documentary that is well worth watching to get a good perspective on how bad racism was back in the day, and how Elvis stood against it.
@@Chris-kj7de o yea I plan on doing that one next Chris thanks a lot
@@darealadogg looking forward to it!!
@@darealadogg He grew up dirt poor,,,,can you react to American Trilogy 1973 aloha concert
He was from a very poor Family and he loved his momma and to attend the black churches in his area to sing or here them sing in the choir. He liked the soul and R&B in the music. That’s how he developed his style. He was colorblind from word go!!
YES
Don't forget that he got his moves from Forrest Gump.
@@danm6120 did you know "ELVIS" was a 'Natural Blond'? He died his hair black for the "James Dean" looks ...
@@Stereotype5346 James Dean was blond
One of the other back up singers was Whitney Houston's aunt. Her mom and aunt sung back up. Elvis called his back up singers "The Sweet Inspiration."
Elvis grew up in poverty next to the Ghetto. His parents worked the cotton fields along side the black community. Elvis's own words "When it comes to people, I'm colour blind". He was a fabulous singer, a wonderful entertainer, and a exceptional human being.
We should all be treated the same. Cos we are all the same. Xxxxx
Elvis fought to release this song .. the record label and his management told him it would ruin his career .. he said release it or I will get another label to do it.. he wanted to shine a light to people to realize what goes on in the Ghetto .. he grew up dirt poor .. he knew how important this song was . His record label released it because Elvis was the biggest star in the world ..
Can you imagine a record label letting Elvis walk away? He was a superstar
They let him release it because he had a terrible contract that gave them a massive cut of everything.
And the rest is history!! That was the Astrodome the people didn't want the black back up singers in concert Elvis said no I don't play if thay leave so it turned out Elvis waumy .
Elvis was a man of the people, ALL PEOPLE. ALWAYS THE KING - ELVIS
True
the reason I love these reaction videos is because I love these young people experiencing Elvis. He transcends time, race and cultures, he is for everyone
I forget I'm not "the younger kids" anymore....
So agree with you on this!
I’m 28 my grandpa was a huge Elvis fan when I was a kid he showed me a lot. I’m back listening to those songs for the first time in years after watching the new Elvis movie, feels like I’m back with my grandpa.
SPOT ON......THANK YOU
And that is why he is still THE KING. MUCH RESPECT, MR. PRESLEY! R.I.P.
He grew dirt poor in the Tuplua Ghettos. His community was black. He loved gospel and black music, he wanted this message out there, he wanted to highlight this poverty to help it. They said it would ruin his career if he sang it, but he didnt care. He loved everyone. He never forgot where he came from.He fought for equality
I am going to turn 60 years old next year. And as amazing as this performance is and thank you for the reaction, it deeply troubles me that we were still talking about the same things today. A young man laying face-down in the street with a gun in his hand and he's dead when he just tried to escape a desperate situation. It breaks my heart man.
The story behind the song is he didn't want to perform it for this concert. He was afraid it was too controversial for the time, but then he felt that growing up in Memphis and being poor, people had to know about the way people were being ignored and he had to say something. This song made everybody back then think about what we needed to do to help each other, because without each other, we perish.
I think Elvis felt compelled to sing this song. He knew he millions of eyes and ears on him
The little child in the song looks at you and me.He sing on asking if we're just going to look away. Elvis didn't dance, he didn't smile . Took no applause
Took no bow
.B.
i was born in the early 60' and the first time I heard it, I was so impacted by the words that I memorized the entire song. It is so heartbreaking that after so may years nothing has changed
Not true backup singers story is not true. However Elvis insisted on singing it even though he was advised not to make a record
@@pmmw8468 really the singers them selves verified this told the story on Camera… what is your point in lying about this?
I'm 67 and saw Elvis live in Louisville Ky when I was 16.
Yes, Elvis's family was very poor. The nearest church to them was a black church, he and his mother attended regularly. He said that's where he learned to sing in the choir.
Mac Davis wrote this song. Elvis's producers and manager did not want him to cut this song, he did it anyway and it was one of his big hits.
Elvis was trying to let the world know of the vicious circle of life in a ghetto, no matter where it was . I'm 79, I've been an Elvis Presley fan since I was 13. He was an amazing performer and a truly amazing Man. Truly the King of Rock and Roll. A little trivia, one of those back up singer's was Cissy Huston. Mother of Whitney Huston. They were the Sweet Inspirations. The other notable song he recorded was, the Impossible Dream. I believe it's title was derived from MLK's Dream Speech. ELVIS was a very humble man without an ounce of prejudice towards any other human. PS. I loved your reaction. I saw this man 11 times in person. The clip you showed was filmed in the show room of the Las Vegas Hilton. No words to describe seeing Elvis Presley performing in that room in 1973.
He was told that the Sweet Inspiration ( the girls that backed him up ) couldn’t stay in the hotel and he told them if they can’t stay then neither am I and they let them stay. Mac Davis wrote the song and some artist wouldn’t sing it because they said it was too controversy so Elvis sung it and the rest is history. The song if I can dream he sung for Martin Luther King , after he died to keep the dream alive
The song.. If i can dream.. It is not a song for Martin luther king,, the song came out after Robert Kennedy died.. The song is a wake op call to AMERICA ?? Vietnam WAR.. Killing Martin luther king. And killing . Robert Kennedy.. All this happens in 1968..
@@bopoulsen4030
Exactly!
They decided to close the show with a "tribute" song, after the assasination of R.F.K. in June '68.
MLK was aready killed in April '68.
But of couse the song is based on the great speech of Dr. King
"I Have A Dream"
@@alameas6358 Earl Brown was asked to right a song, for the finale of the 68 comeback special. Brown knew the fondness that Elvis had for Martin Luther King. So he wrote it specifically for Elvis to sing. This song was to replace "I'll be home for Christmas" which was supposed to be the last song done for the 68 special. Martin Luther King had just died a few months earlier.
@@debbiekuehl8178
The book "Elvis '68 Comeback" written by Steve Binder, the director and producer of the show tells exactly what happened.
Elvis admired Martin Luther King. That's absolutely right. But only after Bobby Kennedys assassination in June '68 they decided that the show would end with a tribute song. But that doesn't mean the song was only for Dr. King.
I heard a story similar from his early days.
He slept in the bus in the parking lot of a "black" hotel, because some of his band and back-up couldn't sleep in the same hotel as him.
Elvis invented the “Drip” diamonds on every finger, but he was so generous, he would give away cars and houses , sometimes to family and friends, sometimes people on the street. He wanted to share his fortune , amazing man, glad your getting to know him.🤘💯🙏
@Tammy Pearson. I had the privilege of putting one of his rings on my finger. I turned it and made a prayer. I was 6 months pregnant at the time. I had my daughter Ellie-Mae on 8th January his birthday. I believe to this day that he was looking over me. ⚡️TCB⚡️❤️
The fact you knew about his backup singers is amazing. Great job man
The female back-ups were The Sweet Inspirations, one of whom was Whitney Houston's aunt ( very nice woman). He loved the lot of them. XO
Yes! Elvis Presley!! I was born in 1972 & my Grandmother LOVED Elvis! When he died, my Grandmother was devastated! EVERY Christmas at her house, Elvis gospel music!!
Elvis was years ahead of his time regarding equality. This song always touches my heart. I had loads of Elvis vinyls as a child but I’ve no idea where they are now. 😢
I have watched a few of the reactions to this recording, and people of colour who have taken the time to do 5 minutes Research would react just like you, understanding that there is no malice toward any person who lived in the ghetto. He himself was dirt poor, and I’m sure he saw some of what he sang about. However, other reactors seem to have taken offense to the words of the song. Which I do understand, I just hope when they read the comments, they will see that Elvis was a man who loved and tried to help all people. He had many close and dear friends of colour. The very LAST thing Elvis was, was racist, he didn’t have a racist bone in his body. xx
at no time does he refer to the skin color, religion, or ethnic background of the characters in the song
True
This song is one of my absolute favorite Elvis songs ever. It has always moved me since I first knew who he was as child. I'm so white and grew up in Utah where every one was white but my greatest influences were my grandparents. Prejudice never entered into the equation. I know about Elvis' upbringing, I think the prejudice there may have had a HUGE influence on how NOT to be.
"Elvis was a hero to most but he didn't mean shit to me, see straight up racist that sucker was simple and plain, mutha fuck him and John Wayne!" Not my words, that was Chuck D in the song Fight the Power (Public Enemy)
This song brings me to tears, has since i was a kid in the 60s....
I just love your reactions to this classic song. I truly, truly wish that more of this younger generation could hear some of the great music and the great messages the 'older songs' carry throughout the decades... before they were born. Hey, I think the message was that music can start to unite us!!
I just found your channel. Great reaction to an old song with current familiarity! Nothing changes if nothing changes! I grew up in a Detroit "ghetto", the Herman Garden projects on the west side. There isn't much opportunity in the ghetto. It took me years to get out and on the right path. I'm biracial and that alone caused me problems. I literally had to fight because of the color of my skin and in the ghetto winning those fights brought respect or what we thought was respect. I've been shot, more than once. I have a "record", not as lengthy as some, but long enough! BUT, I now have a Master's degree in social work. Elvis sings, "the child needs a helping hand..." Well, I have two hands. The projects I grew up in were demolished years ago, but right around the corner sits others. I go back frequently and help in whatever capacity I can! All kids deserve a healthy outlet for their energy and someone to believe in their hopes and dreams!
One of my favorite songs he has ever sang and I still cry every time I hear this song! I also love “If I can Dream” but maybe “Suspicious minds” is dope🔥🔥 if it’s playing in my car I can’t help but dance! Lucky enough to see him twice in concert as a child.
Listen to " if i can dream" which is his tribute to MLK. He was told not to sing that at his 68 Comeback Special..he sang it anyway, then went backstage and broke down crying..
and never sang it again because it was meant to be special!
did u see the one where he sing it with celine dion,on american idol,have a goodone.
@@annebutler2648 Elvis died in 1977, way before American Idol started
@@animaldawglook up american idol celine dion and elvis if i could dream,it is out standing.
@@annebutler2648 I did, I see it now. They did a stitch, basically
Elvis was remarkable. He sang from the heart. I love your reactions.
Great reaction.....the song is not an actual incident but a synopsis of life in the ghetto. A song that holds true today, especially in cities like Chicago. A Vicious Circle, which was the original title. As stated by many, he did grow up in that environment in Tupelo and Memphis, living in projects. He is the truest form of a rags to riches story. You will have an awesome journey discovering this person, who even with all his flaws (he is human) accomplished more than any other entertainer in history. Only actor n history to have ALL his movies make money and have 33 straight movies make money. Top seller. Have fun discovering Elvis.., I'm lucky enough to have spent 19 years of my life here on earth at the same time he was alive..Saw him 3 times...Thanks again, enjoyed it my friend
wow I bet those were some good concerts. I never got the opportunity to see him live, I was only a baby when he passed.
Written by Mac Davis, a great American Song Writer, and a Friend to Elvis. Ya have to live it, to write it .... BLUE EYED SOUL! Stride for Stride and Back to Back, Brother 🎶🗽
Written by the late, great Mac Davis. RIP
There is a really nice backstory here. Mac Davis wrote the song, and offered it to Sammy Davis Jr. Sammy turned it down because he said he had never lived that life. He suggested Mac should send it to Elvis, since he DID have that past.
@@mamaasaiz I’ve seen that posted, but I’ve not been able to find an actual source for it. I do know that Mac did Not attribute a suggestion by Sammy as the reason he sent it to Elvis. Mac said, shortly after Elvis sang Memories (written by Mac) on the “68 Comeback Special”, Elvis’ people called Mac, to see if he had any more “new” songs available (ie-not previously recorded songs), for an album Elvis was recording. Mac sent over a demo tape he had on hand, of 19 “new” songs. Elvis chose In The Ghetto & Don’t Cry Daddy for the album.
@@wnsafford1854 You could very well be right. I am going off of what I sort of remember Mac Davis saying in an interview. It is possible I am wrong - I have been married 3 times!
He was a humble guy too
If this song doesn’t bring tears to your eyes nothing will.Elvis loved everyone,he knew the struggle it was a part of his life. I have a biracial family and I love them all, I don’t see color. Thank you for playing this song…another good one is called:”Suspicious Minds”. (He had one AWESOME BACKUP BAND)❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Elvis and his band were a”Blessing” to us all.❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
There are very few entertainers in this world, that had this type of impact on us, & Elvis definitely was one of them.....For me, the appeal of Elvis, was that, even though he was incredibly talented, remarkably handsome, & cooler than any man has the right to be, at his core, he was humble, shy, generous, & had love for all of humanity, which in my eyes, what made him the King 💖 ********ELVIS TRULY WAS A GIFT******** 💖
Loved his humanity.
WELCOME TO THE BIRTHPLACE
Elvis Aaron Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi on January 8, 1935 to Vernon and Gladys Presley. Born in a two-room house built by his father, grandfather and uncle, Elvis was one of twin brothers born to the Presleys. His brother, Jessie Garon was stillborn. Elvis grew up in Tupelo surrounded by his extended family including his grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.
Financially, times were hard on Vernon
One thing about the story about him refusing to perform at the Houston Astrodome, which is true and been confirmed, is that not only did he defend them, but he NEVER did a show without them. They were the only ones who were with him from his first comeback concert on July 31, 1969 to his last show on June 26, 1977 just 6 weeks before his death and were headed to meet up with him for the start of his next tour that day he died. He loved and adored them and they loved and adored him. They were a team, a family.
Hey Dog.He was true to himself. I love this song. He sings Gospel like no other. Thanks for keeping his music alive.He died in 1977. But I think you are right he sings for everyone can relate and connect with him .His music comes from his soul. Thanks so much. This new Generation is feeling his music. U Tube has a video Hot Girls dancing to Burning Love check it out. As always I enjoy your blogs.❤Thank
This song was actually written by legendary singer/songwriter/actor Mac Davis (R.I.P.) and was loosely based on HIS childhood friendship with a black kid his age. Really interesting how he explained it in an interview. Mac also starred as the QB in the 1979 football movie "North Dallas Forty". I got to meet him the year before when I was a 17-year-old busboy at a country club. He just walked up to me and started talking. Very nice and warm guy. His death really hit me last year.
“Can’t Help Falling In Love” and “Crying In The Chapel” are two of my favorite Elvis songs 👵🏼☮️❤️🙏🏼
There is a section in Graceland where it talks about all the charity work he did privately for so many people, particularly minorities. All the generosity we saw doesn’t even scratch the surface
Mac Davis (another talented singer/songwriter from the 70's) wrote this song, and he felt he couldn't pull off the lyrics, so he offered it to Elvis Presley who loved it. And because of Elvis' hard-scrabble upbringing, he could absolutely relate to the song 100%. Elvis' mom worked tirelessly to get the family beyond the poverty level (I think his dad left early--mom remarried later, and stepdad became Elvis' surrogate father). Elvis didn't care that the song was controversial at the time, he started performing it live and it took off! But Mac Davis later said that Elvis was probably the only one who could have made that song the success it became. Another fun-fact: Cece Houston (Whitney Houston's mom) was one of Elvis' background singers! Isn't that neat?
Yes watch the documentary on Elvis you will have a different understanding of who he was and what he was about. He was a pure individual and amazing human being.
He was probably the closest thing to an angel on Earth. FACTS!
Facts all day
I can also say that this song was written by Singer/Songwriter Mac Davis...but he told Elvis not to sing it...because there would be people criticizing him for singing it. Elvis said he didn't care and insisted on doing this song anyway. I am so glad he did that. This is my number 1 favorite song by Elvis. It touches my heart every time I hear it. Elvis knew back in the 60's that the "race war" was going on.
Also...the "If I Can Dream" song was written after Martin Luther King's assassination and some of the lyrics came from MLK's "I have a Dream" Speech. That is what I've learned, from commenters. I watch a lot of reaction videos. I hope this information is helpful?
When it came to civil rights and race, Elvis was ahead of his time. He called his back up singers his family. If you haven't checked out Frank Sinatra, you should. He was another amazing talent and he stood up against racist without hesitation.
What race is Frank Sinatra from? Cause you know Italians aint white you know that right? There are 7/8 billion people on this earth so I guess there are 7/8 billion races too huh? Wow I'm in the human race where you from?
@@tommtommkin WTF? Nothing about your reply to my comment makes sense. I said he stood up to racist and if you think racist don't exist you either are one or you are just being a troll. What about my comment exactly got your ass in a twist? Chill out. I was simply saying Frank and Elvis were both willing to stand up for their friends.
@@greeneyelove2003 and one Frank's friends was Sammy Davis Jr, in a Time when the world was bad!
@@sherrystewart8519 Exactly. He refused to play at the hotels that would refuse to allow Sammy to play there but not stay as a guest. He once ripped up a contract when he found out the owner of the club had refused to let Sammy Davis Jr. inside to watch Frank sing. He was a man who stood by his friends and what he believed in.
@@sherrystewart8519 but he hung Sammy out to get in good with the Kennedys. and then got burned by them.... Dean Martin told him not to get involved with them but Frank didn't listen.
This song always brings tears to my eyes. That man had so much soul.
This song is about the unfortunate cycle that urban families go through and have been living through for many years. The cycle of poverty leading to violence and death which many people escape from but many more don’t. Great reaction!
Grew up with Elvis music.. He speaks with love and fun for all. So sorry so many missed out without Elvis. More Elvis..Listen closely. Very meaningful. He grew up in the Ghetto. He sings from his heart.
I saw Elvis sing this song in the Astrodome, he had his Dad and manager with him, when he came out the whole place stood up and screamed.
This song makes me tear up everytime. Mucho love to ya'll here.
This particular song was a milestone in Elvis' career. No doubt about that. And among the choir singers, there was Whitney Houston"s mother.
Whitney's Mother, Cissy, left Elvis a year before this video...She only sang with Elvis in August 1969
@@RJsStudio131 Yes , people make it in to a huge thing but she was only there a few weeks.Even Whitney lied saying her mother worked with Elvis for years.
That incident took place in Texas. He was told that the Sweet inspirations were not allowed to perform in the stadium. He said if they don't go, then I don't go.
The way I interpret the song is that their lives have come full circle by the end of the song. The reason why the "momma cries" at the beginning is because the father of the child is another "angry young man, face down in the street, with a gun in his hand." The momma realizes she's going to be raising the child without the father, and it's going to be a rough life for her. And then through the course of the song, we see history repeating itself.
I was a young girl an I understood Immediately after hearing this song , (I did know where the ghetto was ) how hopeless, the poor and mostly black race has been wrongly treated, Elvis showed true respect, he had a black friend he hanged out with in Memphis as a young boy. I am thankful his momma let him have that friend, I believe it helped to make him the man he was!!
I believe the song Is "In The Ghetto", the vicious cycle.
Yeah, that was in Texas. The promoters told him not to bring his black female background singers. His reply was that if they couldn't come then he wouldn't perform either. And not only that, Elvis had his singers driven around the arena by a blond white woman in a white convertible.
Everything you said was accurate. He grew up in a very poor area. And yes, he refused to play his concert without his backup singers! ❤
I have loved Elvis since I first heard him on the radio when I was five years old. Now I am 70 years wise. I've learned a lot about him. Elvis Aron Presley was born in a one room shack without plumbing in Tupelo Mississipi. His twin, Jessie Garon Presley, did not survive and was buried in a potters field. Later in life Elvis would search for his brother's grave but never found it.
The family was always poor, as Vernon Presley was not great at holding down a job. Later Gladys Presley would sew a shirt for Elvis to wear for his first big local appearance.
The family moved to an apartment in a housing project on the poor side of Memphis. Elvis loved gospel and R&B in addition to country music. He visited R&B clubs and sang gospel with choirs in black churches. He auditioned for his high school choir but was not accepted.
He saw all people as real people and judged them by how they treated others. He was the same throughout his life in this regard. Cissy Houston, who sang with the Sweet Inspirations for a while, spoke of a big concert venue - I think in Texas, which had been booked at a stadium. The promoter told Elvis to leave his black backup singers at home. Elvis replied that if he was coming, he was coming with his entire family, including his backup singers - or he would cancel the show. The promoter backed down. The concert was of course a great success.
Recently I've come across some posted reactions to Elvis' music and life that have provided quite an education for a white woman - to learn that black folks had been hearing that Elvis was a racist. I've always seen Elvis as the soul who bridged white hillbilly music and black rhythm and blues music through his gospel experiences. He was a role model to me. I am glad the truth about Elvis is coming to the black community.
Imagine how many other personalized myths about racism have been told to our children which maintain and strengthen racism and other forms of hate. Let's continue to shed light on these myths to debunk them.
I wish peace and love to all my sisters and brothers.
Great reaction! I memorized this song when I was 7 (young musician), and remember tearing up a lot at the end, I had 2 black friends, cousins, who were born into poverty (not that we were much better off) and I was so scared for them because of this song. Mama had to ensure me that she would help if ever needed lol they rose, though.. 1 became radiology tech, the other a preacher. This song can still bring me to tears after 43 years lol ugh, dunno what prompted the share, sorry!
I watch a lot of your videos and ran across this old one today. I'm a 77 year old white guy and I can tell you that Elvis was all that you say he was. One advantage of being old is that I got to see history happening. I was 9 years old when Elvis made his TV debut in 1956 on the Ed Sullivan Show. I watched on a small black and white TV (no color TV back then). The cameras were not allowed to film him below the waist because of his swiveling hips (TV censors were a lot different back then). All TV variety shows like that were live. In 1958, he was inducted into the Army for 2 years. They shaved his head and the young girls went crazy. He served honorably and when he got out, he resumed his career. Quite a few years ago, we went to Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee. I recommend going there, if you can. It's basically an Elvis museum. You can view his grave on the property as well.
Not related to Elvis, witnessing history is something young people will never understand. We lived live through the JFK assassination, RFK assassination and MLK Jr, assassination, Lee Harvey Oswald shot by Jack Ruby on live TV, the space race, Sputnik (first satellite), Neil Armstrong stepping on the moon and many other historical events. Later, the Challenger explosion and 9/11. Living history is a lot different than reading it in a book.
Love Elvis! Many musicians made a stand about discrimination of band members and backup singers but Elvis was so big that he could really make a difference.
but he did not
@@bwana-ma-coo-bah425 he tried hard
Zappa fan, hahahaha do you know what a hypocrite is? Hahahaha
The Beatles also refused to play a concert in the south if they had to play to a whites only crowd. Hats off to any artist or performer who refuses to bend the knee to white supremacy regardless of any financial or professional consequences.
Der Zirkus ist was schönes
Do "Proud Mary" by Elvis. It's a really good one.
He grew up in the poorest part of Tupelo, Mississippi.
His cook was a african american lady who was also a friend. He bought her a house. She had a dream after he passed that he was at her house and asked if he could stay there. She said in her dream, "You know your always welcome Mr. Elvis". She brought him food he liked while he was in the hospital once, snuck it in passed the nurses. Her name was Mary Jenkins. Another lady Nancy Rooks was also one of his cooks and wrote a cookbook with Elvis' uncle.
When a stranger had an accident on the street near his home and 2 people died, he paid for the family to be flown back to Memphis, paid all their expenses, and medical care for one of the people in the accident. He did so anonymously.
There's a lot of great stories out there about Elvis Presley, his life and music. One I liked recently was about a house he lived at on Audoban Dr. in Memphis. The neighbors were upset people were coming to the neighborhood to see Elvis. The men from the neighborhood went to Elvis' father and asked how much he owed on the mortgage. They wanted to pay off the mortgage if the Presleys would move. They found out the Presley's had no mortgage and went back home with their tale between their legs. The people in the neighborhood though pt they were wealthy and didn't think the Presley's were in their "class". They discovered the Presley's actually had more money than they did. When Elvis heard about it he said " How much do they owe on their damn mortgage, I'll buy THEM out". I really liked that story.
Man this brought up memories, falling asleep with a transistor under my pillow listening to this song, I was about 7 … anyways just wanted to let you know that this song was written by one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Mac Davis who wrote it about the “social engineering” of the 60’s, same fight, different decade 🙏🏻
Elvis grew up in the poorest neighborhood. It was so bad that his Dad went to jail because he forged a check to buy food. So he knew very well what it was like to grow up with nothing, I truly believe that is the reason he had so much compassion and love for others. It also explains his very humble ways, no matter how big he was, or how rich, he never lost that humbleness or compassion.
The real sadness is that after all these years nothing has really changed. It's still a great song though.
Margaret things have not changed in many cities because they are run by the Democratic party and its supporters the mainstream media, Hollywood and the music industry, social media push race as a power tool and money maker. The people pushing it are all skin tones, they have evil in their hearts. They protect criminals and punish the law abiding citizens and they do not care how many innocents die since its not in their neighborhood Do not let them infiltrate your soul, 90% of all people are good, its just the good people are not as loud as the troublemakers. This is God's country and this is the country everyone tries to escape tyranny to get to, you do not see people trying to escape the USA, citizens in thee world would trade places with anyone wanting to leave the USA anytime. The politicians fear the citizens rising against them so to insure you do not they keep you divided into groups and teach everyone to hate and not trust each other. They have been doing this for decades.
@@SD-mw1hz Don't forget people like David Bowie standing up to MTV telling them it was wrong that they weren't playing any black bands and singers. Bands refusing to play in South Africa because of apartheid. I didn't expect to get into politics here but I'd ask you to look closer and ignore the propaganda. Look at the map. Look at the red states. The poorest states are the red ones. Even with covid the blue states are doing so much better. I am not a democrat. I take a wider view.
@@SD-mw1hz Now that the non-whitewashed history is coming out I think things will get better. So many people were unaware of the Black Wall Street because it's not taught in schools or talked about are now talking about it. Did you know that Memorial Day was started by some newly freed slaves? Kept that quiet too, didn't they?
@@SD-mw1hz "... the good people aren't as loud as the troublemakers..." SO TRUE. But those of us who are colorblind and good try to follow Jesus' lead, and spread love one person at a time. You may have to listen more closely to hear the quieter voice, but that's how you know you're hearing the Gospel. Gotta pray for the angry people to hear that quiet Voice
And nothing ever will. There will always be poor people! I grew up in the white ghetto! We went to bed hungry many nights! My parents did their best, and eventually, my Dad landed a good job and we were lifted out of poverty. But, we stayed in the hood! We just ate a lot better! I remember my Mother was so excited when she finally got a washing machine, a wringer washer! Poor people have better values and morals than rich people do.
He was a great person and treated everyone in the same way
Elvis used to go to the "Black Clubs" and listen to their music. He LOVED it, especially Black Gospel. He had a huge heart and would help anyone, and was genuinely concerned about the plight of the people who didn't have the opportunities a lot of others had...When he was a boy, they were dirt poor. He also had a twin that was still born. Elvis Aron and Jesse Garon Presley.
Thank you for saying Elvis will always be a legend .
That was at the Houston Astrodome where Elvis refused to perform if his black backup singers weren't included. it's chronicled in "Elvis Presley & The Black Community The Echo will never die. Here's the part, time stamped where it tells about that time in Houston: ua-cam.com/video/xd1pXw1DmsA/v-deo.html
You're such a Sweetheart!!! I just want to give you a Hug for your Reaction!
Elvis had such a great soul, huge ❤
I kind of think it is good that Elvis isn't still living, I think that the way things are between the races would break his heart.
Very few people today know about Elvis’s life. He grew up in the Ghetto and his family was poor. He wanted better for his parents and worked hard to get where he got. His lead back up singer was Whitney Houston’s mother. It is true he refused to play in Houston unless his black back up singer were welcome, and they were treated the sane as him. He was a phenomenal person who happened to be extremely handsome and talented and had a big heart. We need more people like him in this world. Thank you for reacting to his videos and keeping his memory alive! Us older generation love it!!
My all time favorite song by Elvis. Just timeless and wonderful.
ELVIS was beautiful inside and out! He loved all people!
Elvis has so many touching, beautiful songs. He will always be The King. I’m a huge fan of his
Elvis went to a black church after aged some/ even sang in the church choir. He loved people of all colors!
I loved your reaction. It sortof shines a light on my own thoughts: I Don't Understand Racism Today. So many have tried to spread love and understanding and acceptance for decades now. There is just no place for racism in the world. We should all love one another..
My husband was born the same year as Elvis. Being from New Orleans, he saw and spent time with him through the Louisiana Hayride; which was a singing performance in New Orleans.
Elvis was born in Tupelo Mississippi and YES, Dirt poor!! He was raised in a black Assembly of God church and the influence could be heard in All his music for his life!! Black people were his closest people his whole life!!
Prejudice? He didn’t know What that meant growing up!! An amazing man!
He did tell them his girls were coming and they drove in, in a convertible ❤️❤️ He made sure they entered with class!!💯
I'm so happy you like Elvis, I've heard it said "there was nothing before Elvis". When he came on the scene in the mid 50's, disc jockeys who played his records were stunned when they discovered he was white., There is so much soul in his voice, I still cry listening to "In the Ghetto", Elvis grew up dirt poor, first in Mississippi, then in Memphis Tennessee. When he got famous, the first thing he bought was a pink Cadillac for his Mother (he called his Mom Satnin) & built Graceland, Elvis was then drafted in the Army and while he was in training his Mother died, his grief was so profound & so public, I've heard tapes of him weeping, he was inconsolable. He was then stationed to Germany and that's when he began taking "speed" and also where he met his future wife Priscilla, who was 14 years old. They kept in contact, when she was nearly 16 Elvis moved her into Graceland, they married in 1967 or 68 and there only daughter Lisa Marie was born exactly 9months later.
Elvis is a true humanitarian ❤️ thank you
Don’t worry about the haters they don’t understand normal thinking
This man basically grew up in the hood . Was dirt poor , lived in public housing while his father was doing time in prison . It was there he became introduced to black friends , black gospel , black church services. When people say he stole from black musicians it really bothers me because it’s what he grew up in , it’s what he knew
When he was young he would sneak out of the church his family went to and went to the black church down the road he said that their music spoke to him .
Elvis came from a time and place where he can relate to the black population like no other,he grew up in a suburb of Nashville and probably saw a lot of this kind of stuff first hand.Listening to peoples reactions to this song,I can see it really hits home and brings bad but true memories for many people.Elvis is one of my childhood hero’s and songs like this make me proud to say he came from my generation and that his respect for the MLKs and Bobby Kennedy of the world is who he truly is.Thanks for the King.
Houston Astrodome was also the first venue to perform outside Las Vegas for 'The Sweet Inspirations'. Myrna Smith says this - "The first time we were set to appear with Elvis outside of Vegas, we were exited. It was in Houston. The people were exceptionally nice to us. Later I found out the promoters had sent word that they were thrilled Elvis was coming, but NOT to bring 'those black girls' with him. Elvis had laid down the law that if we didn't come, HE wasn't coming either.
So when we did the show, I wondered why everybody was so nice to us. None of the guys told us 'cause they didn't want to hurt our feelings. I found out years later that Elvis had stood up for us." As it turns out the person who didn't want the black girls there was the owner of the Houston Astrodome. Elvis not only told him that he wouldn't perform if they were not with him, but he also set additional conditions. He said that girls had to be given the star treatment the same as what he got. And they had to driven around in a convertible where everyone could see them, and the owner's daughter would be their chauffeur.
Good one, Elvis!
I love hearing that story, thank you.
They lived in a shotgun house growing up..his father served time for ✍ writing bad checks...and then they grew up in Lauderdale projects..which is where his appreciation for blk music developed
Damn, that is a feel GOOD tale! Thank you for sharing that!!
I understand, I enjoy you’re reactions. Keep it up!
I love all his songs!!! My al time favorite is “ How great thou art “.
Elvis was born in a two room shack his father built and was raised in the ghetto. His family was not only poor, they were the poorest family in the whole town. Other families in the ghetto used to gather and bring food to them. Elvis's father went to prison for a few years. It was just Elvis and his mama. Here's a video all about this upbringing with interviews with his childhood friends. It's so full of information and it's great. Elvis is the greatest rags to riches story of all time. You'll love it. ua-cam.com/video/tW_xDjzjBUY/v-deo.html
Fun fact about elvis Presley he's a trained fighter. Former military Sargent and a black belt in karate
Yeah he's something like an 8th degree black belt.
You mean he was all those.
@@greetingz1540 yup
Great reaction as usual. I have not seen a reaction from you of Elvis in the black community parts 1 & 2. In there whenever it's backup singers tells a story that you mentioned. When he was not going to do the Houston Astrodome if his girls could not be with. Imagine he was willing to lose millions by not doing the Astrodome if you couldn't bring his girls with. Now that's respect and love for his girls!!
It was when he was going to perform at the Houston astrodome the said leave the black girls home and he said if you don’t want them then I won’t come !! I saw Elvis every time he was in Las Vegas !! He was and is the greatest entertainer ever !!!
🌟👑⚡ELVIS⚡👑🌟...Always the King...Not because of his power...but because of his Big HEART...and SOUL...."When our music couldn't get through the doors,Elvis kicked it open for us all" - Little Richard -
By the time this was recorded, this was an old song for him and he was performing it because people liked it. He hurried through it without the emotion of earlier performances.
Elvis grew up in an area with a lot of black people while knowing he was a mixture of Scottish (Norman French), German, Cherokee, and Jewish. I think he had a little bit of Native American ancestry. He had more Jewish ancestry than Cherokee. The Jewish part might partially explain his looks. His mother had a star of David on her tombstone. Jews at that time were very active in the civil rights movement. Elvis couldn't ignore the civil rights movement and the debt he owed the community. He owed them he felt.
You should listen to his daughter, Lisa Marie sing this along side of a taped performance from Elvis. She is a great singer also
I love listening to Lisa Marie!
And Lisa so looks like her Daddy!
This song was sort of revolutionary in that it highlights that crime is not determined by race but rather, by poverty. Elvis had a strong tie to the black community. He respected and loved them to spite the racism being the general consensus in those times, he was brave and stood up for what he thought was right. He did live in a Ghetto as a child and his family was very poor. He lived it. He tried to bring the sadness of the poverty to light. I wasn't a big fan of his music, but I appreciate it very much and I love the respect he showed the black community during a time when that wasn't a popular thing to do.
Hey mate
Thank you for your amazing reaction
You were talking about Elvis's back up singers.
You should watch
Elvis and the black community
Alot of people in the past thought Elvis was a racist
But if you watch that documentary
It's the opposite
Elvis loved black people
Infact he grew up with black people
He used to go to black churches and sing gospel songs
Elvis loved gospel songs
Elvis was a humble down to Earth person
He had a heart of gold
But he also had a tough career
From the second he started singing
They tried to ban his records because he sounded to black and the way he moved
They said to him
He should be ashamed of singing black man's music and had no talent and should go back to driving a truck
Elvis job before he became famous was a truck driver.
Thank you for keeping the memory of Elvis alive
God bless you
Elvis knew what he was saying because he grew up in the ghetto and was poor and hungry
"You'll Think of Me" is one of the songs that Elvis did so well and is so emotional, plus the musician ship is there. I feel like when he released "You'll Think of Me", he was trying to convince himself that his baby momma Priscilla was missing him. Very Emotional Song.
How sad is it that this song is still relatable to this day? You are correct - Elvis grew up in poverty, his father was in prison, so he and his mother lived in a shack - dirt poor - they depended on others for food. He grew up playing with all different races but mainly in the black community - he loved to go to the local church and sing gospel with the choir.
Elvis himself was part Native American - he didn't see colour, he saw people. A true Gentleman who never forgot his roots. A rare, unique & truly special talent. R.I.P. Elvis 🖤
He’s saying that life is a vicious cycle and in order for change we have to quit turning our heads and looking the other way. Otherwise it stays the same.
Hey you are Awesome so Excited about you listening to Elvis. Not only did he have the most Unique Voice ever , he was also so very caring to all People. I loved the story that came out about when he saw a older Black Lady looking at a Cadillac he when and bought it for her ! I love it when people care about people, regardless of their skin Color , it’s so heartwarming 🙏❤️ looking forward to your next Video, love you and The King of Rock n Roll Elvis Presley !!!
Great Reaction !! You should watch a mini-Doc called Elvis and the Black Community and do a Reaction to that.
GREAT IDEA I WILL
Absolutely a must see!
Yes friend please watch Elvis in the black community!!!!! He was surrounded by ignorant people managers record companies producers all that! He was a great talent yes but, an absolute great man!
@@darealadogg was about to recommend the same documentary.
Yes I was going to say that too
it was in Vegas, and he was to perform there. Anyway the hotel said that his band and singers couldn't stay there at that hotel. Elvis told them if they couldn't stay at that hotel he would not perform. The band and singers got rooms at that hotel.
He grew up for his first few years, he had no indoor plumbing or electricity.Moving to the ghetto was a step
Rags to riches almost overnight when he hit big.
I love that song. Gives me goosebumps & my eyes tear up. I have been listening to that song & many of Elvis's songs. Going back to the mid 80's, my neighbor played the drums for Rickey Nelson. Their plane crashed & they all died. I went to Ricky Invelt's (the drummer) funeral and Elvis's background singers the ones in this video were there to sing. It was beautiful. You should listen to all of his music, I think you will really like it!
Thanks for all your efforts to upload. Elvis is the king of music.After listening more to him, you will know why.
In the era of when this was performed, racism and segregation was still very prominent in many places...even if not spoken. Elvis was NOT a racist and he stood up for what he believed. I have always respected that about him. He grew up poor in Tupelo, MS.
great reaction , the song was about the circle of life in the ghetto, and yes elvis family was very poor but he never forgot his roots. what the other people are talking is (ELVIS AND THE BLACK COMMUNITY THAT ECHO WILL NEVER DIE), there is a part 2 but not done by the same people also ok to watch.. keep up the good work
He has sang that song many times and broke down I'm tears, he was raised poor and never saw color in anyone.