Sorry guys the Blues Brothers video was wrongly labeled and the Elvis video was posted instead! Blues Brothers will be up tomorrow! Sorry for the confusion!
We all make mistakes. Plus two little ones and a baby and Jordan. The house can get crazy.🤣 But we finally got to see Amber's face when she was introduced to Elvis Presley,-(In the Ghetto).👍😎
Wish you would react to the original classic Soul Man by Sam and Dave. The Blues Brothers were simply a fictitious duo in a comedy movie. This is Sam and Dave performing *THEIR* song on the Midnight Special th-cam.com/video/pYh-LwbUwoQ/w-d-xo.html
There is a true story I’ve heard many times of Elvis’s generosity. When he made it really big, he was at a car dealership looking at Cadillacs. He saw a woman looking at them and he asked her if she liked the car. Not knowing who he was, she said”oh yes but I could never afford it”. He went inside and purchased the car and came back out and handed her the keys and told her it was hers. One of many things Elvis did for people. Such an icon but also very humble and caring of others.
Elvis was my cousin. His mother and my great grandmother (who I knew well) were first cousins. Our family was dirt poor too. My newly-married grandparents headed to Texas where they worked as sharecroppers. They sheltered in a lean to (similar to a shed) at night and lived and cooked outdoors over an open fire. My grandmother made all of their clothes by hand. Not with the sewing machine, but with a needle and thread. They worked HARD and saved and eventually bought 100 acres of property that my grandfather developed into a subdivision. And my grandmother became a master seamstress and instructor for Singer sewing machine company. As hard as their life was in those early days, my grandmother says that it was the best days of their life. Newly married, new baby, work and save and no bills.
As an Aboriginal kid in Australia my mum made me listen to this song and i grew to understand this song. i was on the track to be a thug with the life i was living. I'm now 37 and haven't been in that life since i was 15 and have been working day in and day out since i was 17. Much Love
I'm very pleased that you turned your life around. The song never mentions race or ethnicity. It is relatable for anyone that has grown up in similar circumstances, no matter where that may be. Here in the States, the ghettos were once predominantly white, with Jewish, Irish and Italians, being the majority. They had the same problems with poverty and violence, that minorities in the ghettos have today. The song was written by a Country singer and songwriter named, Mac Davis. Who was from Texas.
I am from and now live in Tupelo MS, Elvis's birthplace and childhood home. The hardware store where his mother bought his first guitar is still in the same spot and open for business. Elvis's childhood home is part of a larger area with museum and the small one room church he sang in as a child has been moved there. There are still many of his cousins in the area. The Presley genes are strong and several bare a striking resemblance to Elvis. It freaks tourists out!
Yeah, one of my friends is a Presley and descended from his cousins. I live south of you, in the central Mississippi area. My daddy was in a band that was on the Louisiana Hayride same time as Elvis. Daddy always said that Elvis was one of the nicest people he'd ever met.
@@ChristChickAutistic He was a genuinely nice guy. I remember meeting him in stores a few times when he and his parents would come home to visit family. When my Daddy was in the hospital at Baptist Central in Memphis, his nurse said she had been Elvis's nurse when he was in the hospital for pneumonia. He gave her a red Cadillac! Stories abound of him doing those kind of things.
@@tupelohoney622 I've noticed that the people who came from nothing and got rich are usually the people who help others the most. Elvis knew how it feels to be not just poor, but po'. He knew how crappy it feels and he didn't want others to feel like that.
@@chariotreign You're welcome. Tupelo is a fairly small area but pulls from the surrounding rural areas as a significant regional medical center. The downtown area is full of colorfully decorated metal guitar sculptures by local artists and fun small restaurants and bars with live music and hidden alleyway open venues. It is an easy 90 mile drive on Hwy 78, a four lane divided highway, from Memphis. We have a steady stream of tourists but never too many to prevent anyone from enjoying the well-done childhood home museum, in its original location and neighborhood. You are welcome anytime!
I've told people many times: The freedom with which today's artists perform is due to the tremendous amount of criticism, censorship and outright hatred that Elvis endured at the start of his career. He stood strong and never gave an inch. Watch "Elvis & the Black Community" (2 parts) for just a sample of what I'm referring to. As a former pro musician (now retired), he earned my eternal respect and gratitude for breaking down many doors, allowing the rest of us to just walk through.
Theres no freedom today in the arts or media today. Everything allowed to exist and prosper is required to serve a certain agenda it cant stray from. In the past that was decided by a free market. I would argue that theyre less free.
So if it weren't for Elvis none of that would have happened? It was solely a result of him? Or was he perhaps just one of MANY contributing factors? You don't think this may have had any influence? th-cam.com/video/XaAKWJaVccY/w-d-xo.html
If it was not for Elvis, no black performer would have made it on the big stage. Yes they would have performed in their own areas. But the wider white community would never have heard of them that's a fact. Give Elvis the respect he deserves, if people do not believe Elvis open the doors for the black community. Check out the small documentary called: Elvis and the black community the echo will never fail then make comments on Elvis!!
@@smallblockchevy1022 watched your video it was shite,and what did your singer do to help the black performers get noticed? Never heard of him and he certainly was not in Elvis class that's a fact!!
@@jonathonfrazier6622 There was no "free market". There was a monopoly of rich, white men who had a stranglehold on what would & wouldn't get played on the radio (with the exception of small, independent/college stations). That part may actually be worse today, with less & less people owning more & more stations. But, with the internet, people can bypass the system, & make it by appealing directly to fans.
@@Timur_aka_Tamerlane Elvis was a power house, going places, learning and adapting. Everyone who worked with him could see over time how drugs changed his personality; ask Lisa P.
@@barbarabisson2551 You dont understand what my point was. I was meaning that Elvis was always a kind hearted wonderful soul, despite the mood swings that his addiction caused at times, he still had a heart of gold and you can find thousands of stories proving this during the last year of his life.
I appreciate your open mindedness about Elvis. He was so misunderstood in the black community. I’ve spent most of my life defending being an Elvis fan. Some say he was prejudice, which he wasn’t. He was friends with BB King, Little Richard, Sammy Davis Jr. Muhammad Ali, and others. He bought a Cadillac for a black woman waiting at a bus stop. He had the “Sweet Inspirations” his black back up singers too. The song “If I Could Dream” is my favorite Elvis song because of the reason he sang it! Thanks for sharing this! Gary B Nashville Tennessee
No one else dared do it in 1969. His manager told him not to. Said it would ruin his career. He smiled and said this is my next hit. He sure was something.
One of my favorite stories is of his beautiful backup singers. At that time it was a big deal that he had African American Backup singers. When he and they arrived at one of the venues for their concert, they were told they didn't want the backup singers to perform. Elvis simply said, if they are not welcomed here, then you don't have an Elvis concert. They were allowed to play.
Elvis was such a huge, talented figure in the musical field, he truly was the King. Even 44 years after his death, his music is still relevant and still influences people. And his talent still shines through.
"Elvis & The Black Community" Really eye opening snapshot of what Elvis went through during times of deep discrimination & his attitude towards it. It truly shows his character.
The back-up singers were a gospel/R&B group known as the Sweet Inspirations. They were mostly a trio, but sometimes joined by a 4th singer. One of the Sweet Inspirations was Cissy Houston, who of course was the mother of Whitney Houston. The Inspirations are joined here by some other singers who also worked regularly with Elvis.
@@vilaharrison4066 It's mind blowing how much talent flows through that blood line. So it pains to imagine just how many other poor buggers were and definitely still are out there with some kind of artistic or even academic brilliance. I'm ranting on, but the songs story happens daily, how many people never get to be heard or noticed. Great channel ! ! ! .
Elvis was born in Tupelo, MS, and he was a twin. His brother died at birth. He was very humble, religious and very generous. He changed somewhat after his mother died. Elvis was the first person I ever knew that died. I mourned for days, breaking down in sobs. One thing I would like to say, I'm a white, senior citizen and still a headbanger. I have never heard a white band sing a song about racism or derogatory towards POC. I hope you see this! I loved your commentary about this song. I'm a brand new subscriber and just wanted to contribute some truth about Elvis. May he rest in peace. ❤️🙏🇨🇦
Elvis passed when I was 5, had posters of him on my walls until I moved out at 18. Amazing person/voice. At almost 50 now I still watch his movies when I cant sleep.
Elvis hated being "King", he said so many occasions the only "King" is the Lord. He was such an amazing man, every time you think you know him he becomes more and more humble in his personal actions and his words. He is a truly is a great.
“Elvis & The Black Community- The Echo Will Never Die” is an absolute MUST! You’ll learn so much about Elvis, his music, & most importantly who he was as a human being. My Mother’s favorite Elvis songs were 1) If I can Dream, 2) In The Ghetto, & 3) Walk A Mile In My Shoes. Check out the live version of that third one! A fun one- ‘Fever’ live. Also Suspicious Minds. Great reaction, as always!❤️❤️
"Elvis And The Black Community, The Echo Will Never Die". A great documentary about 20 minutes long that will give you a big insight on some of his beginnings. God bless you Guys.
This is one my favorite Elvis song. I really love his gospel songs. Such an awesome voice that was taken from the world way to soon. This song is so sad. It always chokes me up and makes me cry. This song is definitely about the cycle in the Ghetto, but it's also pointing out that the wrong way is not going to get you out. People brought up in poverty get out of it every day by their parent(s) making wise choices and the kids actually listening to the parent(s). Ben Carson, our previous Secretary of Housing, was the product of a single parent household, living in poverty. Dr. Carson's story shows that hard work and discipline will prevail. He had nothing and became a famous neurosurgeon. There are all kinds of stories out there of kids making it out. Never lose hope and persevere.
The great Mac Davis wrote this song and went on to have his own celebrated career between country and pop music. "Lord It's Hard To Be Humble" was a massive hit for Mac Davis... a little bit country, a little bit pop, and just a little bit schmaltzy!
@@donnajean3202 - Yes she was...Cissie Houston. It is unclear if she was in this particular clip, but she was certainly a part of The Sweet Inspirations.
@@soulgalorememories9921 The Sweet Inspirations for this performance (recorded Aug. 13, 1970, for the documentary "Elvis: That's The Way It Is") are Estelle Brown, Myrna Smith, Sylvia Shemmell & Ann Williams. Cissy sang with Elvis for just 5 weeks in 1969, then left to focus on her solo recording career & spend more time at home with her children. Of her time with Elvis, Cissy said; “It was wonderful. He was wonderful. I loved him”
Such a sad loss at just 42. Not just an amazing voice and fantastic entertainer but also a true humble gentleman. I can’t even begin to imagine the fantastic music he would’ve continued to make had he lived longer.
My favorite Elvis song is his rendition of “How Great Thou Art”. Elvis loved gospel music. And you can tell that he knows exactly who he is singing to.
I agree. I would love to see your reaction to How Great Thou Art. Especially the live version, with Kathy Westmoreland, the Sweet Inspirations, and JD Sumner and the Stamps Quartet. JD Sumner had the lowest bass voice I have ever heard, and Kathy Westmoreland had the highest soprano voice I have ever heard, The combination was incredible. It shook the Silverdome in Pontiac MI, on NYE 1975-76. One of my favorite memories!
He loved everyone. Everytime I hear this song it brings tears for that poor momma. I believe he was ahead of his time. He loved African Americans. That's where he learned to sing. He sang in the church choir with them. Back then it wasn't something done in the South. He wanted things to change for the African American community as a whole. He saw the wrongs done to them and this was his way of making white people aware of the problem.
Elvis was born with a twin brother who died at birth. They were so poor,the baby was buried in a shoebox. When Elvis bought Graceland,he had his brothers body,along with his Moms,exhumed and moved to Graceland cemetery!
I have been listening to classic rock for 50 years, I do not own one single Elvis album. But I know so many of his songs, watched him perform and have seen many documentaries and remembered when he passed.. I have never seen a performer with the stage presence and adoration from his fans.. He is THE KING.
Growing up in a white middle class family, when this song came out, I was floored. I wore this 45 record out, playing it over and over with tears in my eyes. Brilliant song and message, especially for the times.
Elvis did so many things for so many people !He built Hospitals ,soccer clubs for youngsters and even paid for the renovations of Pearl Harbour bridge a monument for Soldiers in Hawaii !
Cissy Houston, Whitney Houston's mom, was one of Elvis' back up singers. In an interview. Whitney remembers seeing Elvis, when she was a little girl, and what a huge presence he had. Like a lights up the room, as he walked in or surrounded by an aura sort of thing.
Did not know about the connection to Whitney Houston! Cool! He was also connected to the one-time Guinness Record holder for lowest bass voice: J D Sumner. J D Sumner and the Stamps went on to be a terrific gospel group!
Elvis does not like the nickname, The King. He stated there is only one king, Jesus Christ! Only Grammys that he won are for Gospel, I believed 3 Grammys
The song also never blames anyone. It just states the emotion and how that young man got to that place. It brings me to tears almost every time. I was a kid when I first heard this song. Actually, I think it was after Elvis died, because he really wasn't on the radio at all when I was a kid (His movies were on TV a lot on cable channels on weekends/evenings, so I had a crush on him, lol). When he died there was a resurgence and then my parents wanted to share his music with us. When I listened to the song and thought of little boy Elvis in the rural south living in a shack, and then thought of what I thought a ghetto was (where poor black people lived in the city) ......I realize they're the same and how the cycle repeats itself. It was a good lesson to learn as a young kid.
You should go to Graceland, Elvis's home in Memphis. Its been turned into a museum. It's a 9 hr drive for you, I think you would really enjoy it, theres a lot of Elvis history there. You can see his gold records, jeweled jumpsuits, his private plane, and visit his grave there.
Mac Davis from Lubbock TX wrote this song. He also had a few hits of his own, Baby Baby Don't Get Hooked On Me, Texas In My Rearview Mirror and Lord It's Hard To Be Humble
Mac was an incredible songwriter and human... I also love his Stop and Smell the Roses. When I was a young child, I had a crush on him because of his beautiful smile, sparkling eyes, and curly hair. 😁
@@inspirationworks8357 I was fortunate enough to play 18 holes of golf with him in Las Vegas in the mid 80s. He was very kind and quite humble. He seemed more interested in my buddy and myself and our golf games and our stories, while we wanted to talk about North Dallas 40.
Elvis was an amazing artist no doubt and he breathed life in this song. The song was actually written by another great artist who's name was Mac Davis. Mac writer this song based on a childhood friend he grew with observing that his friend didn't have the same opportunities and experiences as he did and the cycle of poverty from generation to generation.
Mac Davis, the writer of this song was very prolific. He wrote for Elvis, Dolly and even Bruno Mars. "He and Presley followed it up with In The Ghetto, a haunting track about racial inequality, which Elvis took into the top five in 1969. Davis recounted the writing of the song in 2009, saying it was inspired by his childhood friend, Smitty Junior - the son of a black labourer who worked for his father."
Yes. Back then, writers sold their songs to singers' agents who signed them on to recording companies. It was a production line, like successful factories utilized, not artistry. Singers did not stick with just one writer. Later Neil Diamond wrote for various singers until being encouraged to sing them himself as he did it better. So he did, as did others, but not Elvis, who seemed bent on destroying his career w drugs.
@@onlythewise1 Initially, yes, but dosage and usage increased. Seems I remember years of his friends (band members)trying to get him yo quit drugs, threatening to leave him if he didn't.
My friend grew up around Elvis. Her Dad did the upholstery in one of his cars. She said when she was at store in the middle of the night he drove up on his motorcycle. This is one of my favorites.
I was 10 yrs old when this song hit the air waves and it was a huge hit. Young people may think that the poor mother could just apply for welfare. Back in those days the safety net for the poor was nothing like it is today. There was no food stamp program. If you were fortunate the local government would be given some government surplus food items that a family could wait in line for but those were far and few between. There were no such thing as a food pantry for the poor. If you needed food it was left up to you to beg from social agencies that had very limited resources themselves. I recall some neighboring kids asking us for an old dog house that we had in the back yard so that they could have some fire wood to burn. My family always had food but I remember a few Christmas's that my siblings and I did not get any presents on Christmas morning. We weren't traumatized by this because we understood that we had very little money available for these luxuries. Although we had very little money my parents were able to send us to Catholic schools and that's a gift that has lasted me a lifetime. A good education is the key for escaping poverty and everyone of my 8 siblings were able to provide a comfortable life for our families because of this.
Wherever you are your observations about education are so true ,good part is once educated they can't uneducate you.learn get trained or similar then use it wisely.
This was a wonderful son written as somebody else mentioned, by Mac Davis the country singer. This was a beautifully delivered song by Elvis, his band, and his back up singers. We sometimes forget about the band and back up singers.
This song was written by the late great Mac Davis, who was from the same hometown as Buddy Holly and myself, Lubbock, Texas. Mac was also a performer who had a number of hits in his own right. Y'all should check him out. :)
Thank y'all for another awesome reaction! A good one to react to would be Elvis and The Black Community it will show you just what kind of loving and giving person he really was💙
A friend of my parents said that her father was Elvis's dentist when he was a child. His father did it for free or whatever they could give. She said that when Elvis became famous he returned and paid back her father all the money that Elvis's family should have paid.
Peter Guralnick has a 2 volume bio of Elvis. Vol 1: Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley; Vol 2: Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley. Best bio yet!
Such a sad and difficult song to listen to . . . actually painful to listen to . . . Bless Elvis for being brave enough to bring this truthful song to the masses. I do not think there would have been another artist of his time that would have sang this song. Bless all of the little children of the ghetto xoxoxo
It warm's my heart to know that people now understand what is true about Elvis and more about who the Man was. His legacy got twisted up for a while. R.I.P. Lisa Marie, Your Daddy is no doubt waiting for you
YOU NEEEED To see the Movie ELVIS with Kurt Russell as Elvis !! Incredible portrayel of his life from Teen to his Vegas Comback ! So well done and a pretty accurate story of his life
If you like this, you will LOVE Elvis' performance of If I Can Dream from his 1968 TV special. In my opinion, his greatest performance. The passion of his delivery of the song is unmatched. This was shortly after the death of MLK, and Elvis was distressed that Dr.King was killed in Memphis. Just watch and you will be amazed.
The first time Mac Davis heard "In the Ghetto" (who wrote it) on the radio, he was unhappy with one particular part. Davis went on to say that he was pleased that the song became such a huge success. It also gave the songwriter his highest-grossing check. “I heard it on the radio, driving down the street. I remember going, “I wish Elvis hadn’t said ‘GheT-To.’ I wish he had just said ‘In the Ghetto.’ That’s a typical songwriter, you know."
I love you guys. I just now found this reaction. I was born on January 8, 1977, on Elvis Presley's last birthday. He died that same year, August 16th, on my mother's birthday. Twenty years later to the day, August 16th 1997, my dad died on my mother's birthday. My mother was a huge Elvis fan, and some people said that my dad kinda favored Elvis in the face. I've always loved his music, but especially the gospel music he did. His voice was absolutely amazing when he sang "How Great Thou Art". That's one of those songs that not just anyone can sing. Elvis blew it out of the park. God bless y'all.
Elvis Presley and his family were real poor and literally lived in dirt floor shack. His neighbors were mainly people of color who were poor. So it is a fitting homage to his youth. That is why Elvis had those moves and a old blues influence. He was very shy but would sing easily . His early songs were sung in Church and his fall back songs were gospel. Beautiful.
In South Park there is an episode where Cartman makes funny of Kenny being poor and sings the song to him. Elvis was the King for reason. I still to this day get chills when he sings.
I’d love to see y’all do an interview of Elvis! I love to hear him talk! And those backup singers were called the Sweet Inspirations, and one of them is Whitney Houston’s mom! 😁😁😁
Sorry guys the Blues Brothers video was wrongly labeled and the Elvis video was posted instead! Blues Brothers will be up tomorrow! Sorry for the confusion!
Lol i type sooo slow! 18 seconds later...
No worries guys!
No worries. Just had me a bit confused.
😎
We all make mistakes. Plus two little ones and a baby and Jordan. The house can get crazy.🤣 But we finally got to see Amber's face when she was introduced to Elvis Presley,-(In the Ghetto).👍😎
Wish you would react to the original classic Soul Man by Sam and Dave. The Blues Brothers were simply a fictitious duo in a comedy movie. This is Sam and Dave performing *THEIR* song on the Midnight Special th-cam.com/video/pYh-LwbUwoQ/w-d-xo.html
There is a true story I’ve heard many times of Elvis’s generosity. When he made it really big, he was at a car dealership looking at Cadillacs. He saw a woman looking at them and he asked her if she liked the car. Not knowing who he was, she said”oh yes but I could never afford it”. He went inside and purchased the car and came back out and handed her the keys and told her it was hers. One of many things Elvis did for people. Such an icon but also very humble and caring of others.
That was SO Elvis!
And since it was a gift he had to also pay a gift tax on any cars he bought. He really was an exceptional human being.
My favorite Elvis song.
You need to react to '68 comeback TV special. The medley starts with heartbreak hotel, then you can try mean woman blues
Yep! True story!
Elvis was my cousin. His mother and my great grandmother (who I knew well) were first cousins. Our family was dirt poor too. My newly-married grandparents headed to Texas where they worked as sharecroppers. They sheltered in a lean to (similar to a shed) at night and lived and cooked outdoors over an open fire. My grandmother made all of their clothes by hand. Not with the sewing machine, but with a needle and thread. They worked HARD and saved and eventually bought 100 acres of property that my grandfather developed into a subdivision. And my grandmother became a master seamstress and instructor for Singer sewing machine company. As hard as their life was in those early days, my grandmother says that it was the best days of their life. Newly married, new baby, work and save and no bills.
I met Billy Smith and his wife Jo in Laughlin back, maybe around 2004 ?
@@marioserrano6333 Is he a cousin to Elvis?
As an Aboriginal kid in Australia my mum made me listen to this song and i grew to understand this song. i was on the track to be a thug with the life i was living. I'm now 37 and haven't been in that life since i was 15 and have been working day in and day out since i was 17.
Much Love
Bravo👏👏👏
Same my Mother made us listen we are from London England
Great to hear this, as a fellow Aussie, though as indigenous you are more Australian than me. Much respect.
I'm very pleased that you turned your life around. The song never mentions race or ethnicity. It is relatable for anyone that has grown up in similar circumstances, no matter where that may be. Here in the States, the ghettos were once predominantly white, with Jewish, Irish and Italians, being the majority. They had the same problems with poverty and violence, that minorities in the ghettos have today. The song was written by a Country singer and songwriter named, Mac Davis. Who was from Texas.
Awesome mate
At. A concert,a group held up a sign that says Elvis is King. Elvis asked them to take the sign down. He said there is only one KING!
Understandable, he started as a Gospel singer.
I am from and now live in Tupelo MS, Elvis's birthplace and childhood home. The hardware store where his mother bought his first guitar is still in the same spot and open for business. Elvis's childhood home is part of a larger area with museum and the small one room church he sang in as a child has been moved there. There are still many of his cousins in the area. The Presley genes are strong and several bare a striking resemblance to Elvis. It freaks tourists out!
Yeah, one of my friends is a Presley and descended from his cousins. I live south of you, in the central Mississippi area. My daddy was in a band that was on the Louisiana Hayride same time as Elvis. Daddy always said that Elvis was one of the nicest people he'd ever met.
@@ChristChickAutistic He was a genuinely nice guy. I remember meeting him in stores a few times when he and his parents would come home to visit family. When my Daddy was in the hospital at Baptist Central in Memphis, his nurse said she had been Elvis's nurse when he was in the hospital for pneumonia. He gave her a red Cadillac! Stories abound of him doing those kind of things.
@@tupelohoney622 I've noticed that the people who came from nothing and got rich are usually the people who help others the most. Elvis knew how it feels to be not just poor, but po'. He knew how crappy it feels and he didn't want others to feel like that.
Thanks for sharing that. I didn't know and it makes me feel better to know more about Tupelo.
@@chariotreign You're welcome. Tupelo is a fairly small area but pulls from the surrounding rural areas as a significant regional medical center. The downtown area is full of colorfully decorated metal guitar sculptures by local artists and fun small restaurants and bars with live music and hidden alleyway open venues. It is an easy 90 mile drive on Hwy 78, a four lane divided highway, from Memphis. We have a steady stream of tourists but never too many to prevent anyone from enjoying the well-done childhood home museum, in its original location and neighborhood. You are welcome anytime!
I've told people many times: The freedom with which today's artists perform is due to the tremendous amount of criticism, censorship and outright hatred that Elvis endured at the start of his career. He stood strong and never gave an inch. Watch "Elvis & the Black Community" (2 parts) for just a sample of what I'm referring to.
As a former pro musician (now retired), he earned my eternal respect and gratitude for breaking down many doors, allowing the rest of us to just walk through.
Theres no freedom today in the arts or media today. Everything allowed to exist and prosper is required to serve a certain agenda it cant stray from. In the past that was decided by a free market. I would argue that theyre less free.
So if it weren't for Elvis none of that would have happened? It was solely a result of him? Or was he perhaps just one of MANY contributing factors? You don't think this may have had any influence? th-cam.com/video/XaAKWJaVccY/w-d-xo.html
If it was not for Elvis, no black performer would have made it on the big stage. Yes they would have performed in their own areas. But the wider white community would never have heard of them that's a fact. Give Elvis the respect he deserves, if people do not believe Elvis open the doors for the black community. Check out the small documentary called: Elvis and the black community the echo will never fail then make comments on Elvis!!
@@smallblockchevy1022 watched your video it was shite,and what did your singer do to help the black performers get noticed? Never heard of him and he certainly was not in Elvis class that's a fact!!
@@jonathonfrazier6622 There was no "free market". There was a monopoly of rich, white men who had a stranglehold on what would & wouldn't get played on the radio (with the exception of small, independent/college stations). That part may actually be worse today, with less & less people owning more & more stations. But, with the internet, people can bypass the system, & make it by appealing directly to fans.
He truly was a great human being and known for his generosity.
...um, for a time at least...sad, what drugs can do.
@@barbarabisson2551 That has nothing to do with who Elvis was as a person.
@@Timur_aka_Tamerlane Elvis was a power house, going places, learning and adapting. Everyone who worked with him could see over time how drugs changed his personality; ask Lisa P.
@@barbarabisson2551 You dont understand what my point was. I was meaning that Elvis was always a kind hearted wonderful soul, despite the mood swings that his addiction caused at times, he still had a heart of gold and you can find thousands of stories proving this during the last year of his life.
besides the pedophilia i guess
No matter how many times I hear this song, it makes me cry 😢
You MUST listen to Elvis' Kentucky Rain....I get chills every time even now.
Kentucky Rain was written by another great singer, Eddie Rabbitt.
Kentucky Rain is my favorite latter day Elvis song.
I was gonna mention that one also nice!
Yeah, but if listen to the lyrics it’s kind of a stalker song.
That and Don't Cry Daddy
I appreciate your open mindedness about Elvis. He was so misunderstood in the black community. I’ve spent most of my life defending being an Elvis fan.
Some say he was prejudice, which he wasn’t. He was friends with BB King, Little Richard, Sammy Davis Jr. Muhammad Ali, and others. He bought a Cadillac for a black woman waiting at a bus stop. He had the “Sweet Inspirations” his black back up singers too. The song “If I Could Dream” is my favorite Elvis song because of the reason he sang it! Thanks for sharing this!
Gary B Nashville Tennessee
they when full KKK
This song still makes me cry! It never gets old.
Elvis is the King of Rock and this song is one reason why. No one sings like Elvis. Thank you for reacting to this song, it’s one of my favorites.
Mac Davis was a great songwriter. Placing the song with Elvis was perfect. No one could sing it any better.
Elvis grew up poor lived in the projects he understood poverty
No one else dared do it in 1969. His manager told him not to. Said it would ruin his career. He smiled and said this is my next hit. He sure was something.
One of my favorite stories is of his beautiful backup singers. At that time it was a big deal that he had African American Backup singers. When he and they arrived at one of the venues for their concert, they were told they didn't want the backup singers to perform. Elvis simply said, if they are not welcomed here, then you don't have an Elvis concert. They were allowed to play.
Whitney Houston's mother was one of his backup singers!!
Whitney Houson mother, Cissy was one of the backup singers, The Sweet Inspirations. Had the honor of seeing him in person! No words can explain!
Elvis was such a huge, talented figure in the musical field, he truly was the King. Even 44 years after his death, his music is still relevant and still influences people. And his talent still shines through.
Elvis hated to be called a king. He said the only king was Jesus.
"Elvis & The Black Community"
Really eye opening snapshot of what Elvis went through during times of deep discrimination & his attitude towards it. It truly shows his character.
The back-up singers were a gospel/R&B group known as the Sweet Inspirations. They were mostly a trio, but sometimes joined by a 4th singer. One of the Sweet Inspirations was Cissy Houston, who of course was the mother of Whitney Houston. The Inspirations are joined here by some other singers who also worked regularly with Elvis.
Cissy is not just the mother of Whitney, but the aunt of Dionne Warwick
I am happy that you knew about this music history. That informs me and others about it also, so thanks.
@@vilaharrison4066 It's mind blowing how much talent flows through that blood line. So it pains to imagine just how many other poor buggers were and definitely still are out there with some kind of artistic or even academic brilliance. I'm ranting on, but the songs story happens daily, how many people never get to be heard or noticed. Great channel ! ! ! .
Elvis was a talented and generous man!! He will never be forgotten!
R.I.P. Mr. Mac Davis
R.I.P. Mr. Elvis Presley
Rock InPeace ✌ 🎸
Elvis was born in Tupelo, MS, and he was a twin. His brother died at birth. He was very humble, religious and very generous. He changed somewhat after his mother died. Elvis was the first person I ever knew that died. I mourned for days, breaking down in sobs.
One thing I would like to say, I'm a white, senior citizen and still a headbanger. I have never heard a white band sing a song about racism or derogatory towards POC. I hope you see this! I loved your commentary about this song. I'm a brand new subscriber and just wanted to contribute some truth about Elvis. May he rest in peace. ❤️🙏🇨🇦
The Lord Jesus Christ Blessed Elvis TREMENDOSLYSY
Elvis passed when I was 5, had posters of him on my walls until I moved out at 18. Amazing person/voice. At almost 50 now I still watch his movies when I cant sleep.
Elvis hated being "King", he said so many occasions the only "King" is the Lord. He was such an amazing man, every time you think you know him he becomes more and more humble in his personal actions and his words. He is a truly is a great.
“Elvis & The Black Community- The Echo Will Never Die” is an absolute MUST! You’ll learn so much about Elvis, his music, & most importantly who he was as a human being.
My Mother’s favorite Elvis songs were 1) If I can Dream, 2) In The Ghetto, & 3) Walk A Mile In My Shoes. Check out the live version of that third one! A fun one- ‘Fever’ live. Also Suspicious Minds.
Great reaction, as always!❤️❤️
"Walk a Mile in My Shoes' is a great song, written by Joe South.
It truly is! It’s only fault: Too short! lol I could loop it I think & never tire!
Imagine at that time , he the King spoke it out so true ... He's still and for ever The KING
"Elvis And The Black Community, The Echo Will Never Die". A great documentary about 20 minutes long that will give you a big insight on some of his beginnings. God bless you Guys.
This is one my favorite Elvis song. I really love his gospel songs. Such an awesome voice that was taken from the world way to soon. This song is so sad. It always chokes me up and makes me cry.
This song is definitely about the cycle in the Ghetto, but it's also pointing out that the wrong way is not going to get you out. People brought up in poverty get out of it every day by their parent(s) making wise choices and the kids actually listening to the parent(s). Ben Carson, our previous Secretary of Housing, was the product of a single parent household, living in poverty. Dr. Carson's story shows that hard work and discipline will prevail. He had nothing and became a famous neurosurgeon. There are all kinds of stories out there of kids making it out. Never lose hope and persevere.
The great Mac Davis wrote this song and went on to have his own celebrated career between country and pop music. "Lord It's Hard To Be Humble" was a massive hit for Mac Davis... a little bit country, a little bit pop, and just a little bit schmaltzy!
He wrote In the Ghetto too.
Mac Davis was a decent actor as well.
Mac Davis was a decent actor as well.
You gotta try Mac's song Hooked on Music. Mix of 50's rockabilly and memories.
Stop And Smell The Roses was another one.
Two nights ago on prime a movie Elvis it was really good Tom Hanks played has manager outstanding performance
The girls backing are The Sweet Inspirations.
"Kentucky Rain" is a must.
Kentucky Rain was written by Eddie Rabbitt, who had a big hit later with "I love a rainy night".
@SoulGalore Memories - Whitney Houston's mother was one of the back-up singers?
@@donnajean3202 - Yes she was...Cissie Houston. It is unclear if she was in this particular clip, but she was certainly a part of The Sweet Inspirations.
@@soulgalorememories9921 The Sweet Inspirations for this performance (recorded Aug. 13, 1970, for the documentary "Elvis: That's The Way It Is") are Estelle Brown, Myrna Smith, Sylvia Shemmell & Ann Williams. Cissy sang with Elvis for just 5 weeks in 1969, then left to focus on her solo recording career & spend more time at home with her children. Of her time with Elvis, Cissy said; “It was wonderful. He was wonderful. I loved him”
@@wnsafford1854 - Thank you for the Info'
Such a sad loss at just 42. Not just an amazing voice and fantastic entertainer but also a true humble gentleman. I can’t even begin to imagine the fantastic music he would’ve continued to make had he lived longer.
When elvis stares out at the end my goose bumps go crazy. I e seen elvis 3 times in houston,and I tell you he puts his all into a concert.🎶🎶🎶🎶💔💔💔💔💔💔
I was a kid when this song came out. It made me wanna cry every time I heard it on the radio. 🌹❤️🌹
I don't know how you could listen to this without crying.
Always one of my favorite Elvis songs.
My favorite Elvis song is his rendition of “How Great Thou Art”. Elvis loved gospel music. And you can tell that he knows exactly who he is singing to.
I agree. I would love to see your reaction to How Great Thou Art. Especially the live version, with Kathy Westmoreland, the Sweet Inspirations, and JD Sumner and the Stamps Quartet. JD Sumner had the lowest bass voice I have ever heard, and Kathy Westmoreland had the highest soprano voice I have ever heard, The combination was incredible. It shook the Silverdome in Pontiac MI, on NYE 1975-76. One of my favorite memories!
He loved everyone. Everytime I hear this song it brings tears for that poor momma. I believe he was ahead of his time. He loved African Americans. That's where he learned to sing. He sang in the church choir with them. Back then it wasn't something done in the South. He wanted things to change for the African American community as a whole. He saw the wrongs done to them and this was his way of making white people aware of the problem.
20 years from now, people will still be talking and reacting to the King.
Even famous opera singers recognized how amazing his voice was!
Elvis was born with a twin brother who died at birth. They were so poor,the baby was buried in a shoebox. When Elvis bought Graceland,he had his brothers body,along with his Moms,exhumed and moved to Graceland cemetery!
That's not true , his mother died whilst living at Graceland and Jesse Garon isn't buried there its just a marker .
I have been listening to classic rock for 50 years, I do not own one single Elvis album. But I know so many of his songs, watched him perform and have seen many documentaries and remembered when he passed.. I have never seen a performer with the stage presence and adoration from his fans.. He is THE KING.
Elvis and The Black Community is a MUST WATCH 💕☮️💜. You’ll learn a lot about him
Growing up in a white middle class family, when this song came out, I was floored. I wore this 45 record out, playing it over and over with tears in my eyes. Brilliant song and message, especially for the times.
Elvis did so many things for so many people !He built Hospitals ,soccer clubs for youngsters and even paid for the renovations of Pearl Harbour bridge a monument for Soldiers in Hawaii !
I believe he donated all the money from his satellite concert in Hawaii to that memorial
@@davemo7572 That's right ,and many more kind acts,he was our King of Kindness !👍
There will never be anyone close to elvis such a amazing voice and godly man, he wasn't perfect by far but he was godly
All those backing singers sent down from above and I do mean heaven. ❤
Cissy Houston, Whitney Houston's mom, was one of Elvis' back up singers. In an interview. Whitney remembers seeing Elvis, when she was a little girl, and what a huge presence he had. Like a lights up the room, as he walked in or surrounded by an aura sort of thing.
Did not know about the connection to Whitney Houston! Cool! He was also connected to the one-time Guinness Record holder for lowest bass voice: J D Sumner. J D Sumner and the Stamps went on to be a terrific gospel group!
She was but not for this performance.
@@jedislap8726 Okay.
Supergreat reaction. I really like when Elvis is payd forward like that. If more people did that the more get to know about him.
Elvis was so ahead of his time in so many ways!
27:17 so true!!! I wish more people walked the path. Thank you for the reaction!
Elvis Presley was the most beautiful man that ever
graced this world, he was so very special, always the King.
Elvis is the king! This is just one example of why Elvis is the king.
Elvis does not like the nickname, The King. He stated there is only one king, Jesus Christ! Only Grammys that he won are for Gospel, I believed 3 Grammys
@@MrTech226 I agree that Jesus Christ is the king. Elvis was the king of rock and roll.
The song also never blames anyone. It just states the emotion and how that young man got to that place. It brings me to tears almost every time. I was a kid when I first heard this song. Actually, I think it was after Elvis died, because he really wasn't on the radio at all when I was a kid (His movies were on TV a lot on cable channels on weekends/evenings, so I had a crush on him, lol). When he died there was a resurgence and then my parents wanted to share his music with us. When I listened to the song and thought of little boy Elvis in the rural south living in a shack, and then thought of what I thought a ghetto was (where poor black people lived in the city) ......I realize they're the same and how the cycle repeats itself. It was a good lesson to learn as a young kid.
You should go to Graceland, Elvis's home in Memphis. Its been turned into a museum. It's a 9 hr drive for you, I think you would really enjoy it, theres a lot of Elvis history there. You can see his gold records, jeweled jumpsuits, his private plane, and visit his grave there.
And Sun records too
This song makes me cry every time!!! 💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖
Love your reaction and comments.
Mac Davis from Lubbock TX wrote this song. He also had a few hits of his own, Baby Baby Don't Get Hooked On Me, Texas In My Rearview Mirror and Lord It's Hard To Be Humble
Mac was an incredible songwriter and human... I also love his Stop and Smell the Roses. When I was a young child, I had a crush on him because of his beautiful smile, sparkling eyes, and curly hair. 😁
@@inspirationworks8357 I was fortunate enough to play 18 holes of golf with him in Las Vegas in the mid 80s. He was very kind and quite humble. He seemed more interested in my buddy and myself and our golf games and our stories, while we wanted to talk about North Dallas 40.
Elvis was an amazing artist no doubt and he breathed life in this song. The song was actually written by another great artist who's name was Mac Davis. Mac writer this song based on a childhood friend he grew with observing that his friend didn't have the same opportunities and experiences as he did and the cycle of poverty from generation to generation.
Mac Davis, the writer of this song was very prolific. He wrote for Elvis, Dolly and even Bruno Mars.
"He and Presley followed it up with In The Ghetto, a haunting track about racial inequality, which Elvis took into the top five in 1969. Davis recounted the writing of the song in 2009, saying it was inspired by his childhood friend, Smitty Junior - the son of a black labourer who worked for his father."
Yes. Back then, writers sold their songs to singers' agents who signed them on to recording companies. It was a production line, like successful factories utilized, not artistry. Singers did not stick with just one writer. Later Neil Diamond wrote for various singers until being encouraged to sing them himself as he did it better. So he did, as did others, but not Elvis, who seemed bent on destroying his career w drugs.
@@barbarabisson2551 no he used drugs to wake up and go to sleep he needed it
@@onlythewise1 Initially, yes, but dosage and usage increased. Seems I remember years of his friends (band members)trying to get him yo quit drugs, threatening to leave him if he didn't.
My friend grew up around Elvis. Her Dad did the upholstery in one of his cars. She said when she was at store in the middle of the night he drove up on his motorcycle. This is one of my favorites.
I was 10 yrs old when this song hit the air waves and it was a huge hit. Young people may think that the poor mother could just apply for welfare. Back in those days the safety net for the poor was nothing like it is today. There was no food stamp program. If you were fortunate the local government would be given some government surplus food items that a family could wait in line for but those were far and few between. There were no such thing as a food pantry for the poor. If you needed food it was left up to you to beg from social agencies that had very limited resources themselves. I recall some neighboring kids asking us for an old dog house that we had in the back yard so that they could have some fire wood to burn. My family always had food but I remember a few Christmas's that my siblings and I did not get any presents on Christmas morning. We weren't traumatized by this because we understood that we had very little money available for these luxuries. Although we had very little money my parents were able to send us to Catholic schools and that's a gift that has lasted me a lifetime. A good education is the key for escaping poverty and everyone of my 8 siblings were able to provide a comfortable life for our families because of this.
+100 points for your parents! They prioritized the right things.
Wherever you are your observations about education are so true ,good part is once educated they can't uneducate you.learn get trained or similar then use it wisely.
Fantastic song from Elvis 👍👏
This was a wonderful son written as somebody else mentioned, by Mac Davis the country singer.
This was a beautifully delivered song by Elvis, his band, and his back up singers. We sometimes forget about the band and back up singers.
Awe....probably one of my favorites from Elvis ❤️
This song was written by the late great Mac Davis, who was from the same hometown as Buddy Holly and myself, Lubbock, Texas. Mac was also a performer who had a number of hits in his own right. Y'all should check him out. :)
Love it. Great song and reaction.
I get a chill at the end of that song every. Single. Time.
I was eleven years old in 1969 when this song came out and it brought me to tears even as a child, and still does all these years later.
It once was my very first Elvis song. After that masterpiece I fall in love with the King. ❤️
Elvis was once asked by a reporter, how it felt to be the king of rock-n--roll. Elvis told him Jesus Christ is the King, I'm just an entertainer.
Thank y'all for another awesome reaction! A good one to react to would be Elvis and The Black Community it will show you just what kind of loving and giving person he really was💙
You guys are the new "Hippie" generation. More power to you!!!! Keep the Love going.
A friend of my parents said that her father was Elvis's dentist when he was a child. His father did it for free or whatever they could give. She said that when Elvis became famous he returned and paid back her father all the money that Elvis's family should have paid.
The King had great teeth 👍
A father doesn't just teach you how to fight, he teaches you what to fight for. FAMILY!
Peter Guralnick has a 2 volume bio of Elvis. Vol 1: Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley; Vol 2: Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley. Best bio yet!
Both great books and yet Vol 2 is one of the saddest books I have ever read
Heartbreaking song. Those backup singers! I could listen to them by themselves all day long!
Such a sad and difficult song to listen to . . . actually painful to listen to . . . Bless Elvis for being brave enough to bring this truthful song to the masses. I do not think there would have been another artist of his time that would have sang this song. Bless all of the little children of the ghetto xoxoxo
It warm's my heart to know that people now understand what is true about Elvis and more about who the Man was. His legacy got twisted up for a while. R.I.P. Lisa Marie, Your Daddy is no doubt waiting for you
YOU NEEEED To see the Movie ELVIS with Kurt Russell as Elvis !! Incredible portrayel of his life from Teen to his Vegas Comback ! So well done and a pretty accurate story of his life
He was a prophet pure and simple!🙏🕊️
American Trilogy is another amazing Elvis song that showcases Elvis’s phenomenal vocal talent
A song addressing a similar subject is "Love Child" by The Supremes. This would be a good choice for Female Friday or Motown Monday.
I love your reactions, Amber you are so insightful and smart!
I was all pumped up to see the Blues Brothers "Soul Man"
Me too.
This song is so deep and Elvis sang it with such sadness.
This song always hurts my heart.
If you like this, you will LOVE Elvis' performance of If I Can Dream from his 1968 TV special. In my opinion, his greatest performance. The passion of his delivery of the song is unmatched. This was shortly after the death of MLK, and Elvis was distressed that Dr.King was killed in Memphis. Just watch and you will be amazed.
Elvis and the Black Community is an interview you need to check out if you’re looking for a good interview.
Even when really sick he always connected with his fans!
During a concert,fans held up a sign that said Elvis is King. He asked them to take the sign down. He said there is only King!❤️
Elvis Presley's heart was as big as his voice ❤️
The first time Mac Davis heard "In the Ghetto" (who wrote it) on the radio, he was unhappy with one particular part. Davis went on to say that he was pleased that the song became such a huge success. It also gave the songwriter his highest-grossing check.
“I heard it on the radio, driving down the street. I remember going, “I wish Elvis hadn’t said ‘GheT-To.’ I wish he had just said ‘In the Ghetto.’ That’s a typical songwriter, you know."
That song is amazing. It tells the full story then it starts again with the birth of of another child. Vicious cycle.
Well I don't know what everyone else is on about, I clicked and got in the ghetto by Elvis
Same here
The video title for me says FIRST TIME HEARING Blues Brothers - Soul Man REACTION.
lol. Still an awesome song.
Yeah I got In The Ghetto too. Elvis is my favorite though so I’m not complaining.
Same. Are people just commenting without watching the video?
@@corsa180 That's what I thought they were doing at first, but there's so many they must have seen it...somehow. ; )
I love you guys. I just now found this reaction. I was born on January 8, 1977, on Elvis Presley's last birthday. He died that same year, August 16th, on my mother's birthday. Twenty years later to the day, August 16th 1997, my dad died on my mother's birthday. My mother was a huge Elvis fan, and some people said that my dad kinda favored Elvis in the face. I've always loved his music, but especially the gospel music he did. His voice was absolutely amazing when he sang "How Great Thou Art". That's one of those songs that not just anyone can sing. Elvis blew it out of the park. God bless y'all.
Elvis Presley and his family were real poor and literally lived in dirt floor shack. His neighbors were mainly
people of color who were poor. So it is a fitting homage to his youth. That is why Elvis had those moves and a old blues influence. He was very shy but would sing easily . His early songs were sung in Church and his fall back songs were gospel. Beautiful.
One of my favorite songs by the King of Rock n Roll Elvis Presley
In South Park there is an episode where Cartman makes funny of Kenny being poor and sings the song to him. Elvis was the King for reason. I still to this day get chills when he sings.
I can't hear this song without thinking of Cartman now.
Elvis was more than just a singer. He was a human.
This live performance is so amazing
2 you should listen too is "Are You Lonesome Tonight" Amazing ballad and a AWESOME rock side "A Little Less Conversation" and " Little Sister"
I’d love to see y’all do an interview of Elvis! I love to hear him talk! And those backup singers were called the Sweet Inspirations, and one of them is Whitney Houston’s mom! 😁😁😁
Yes, but Cissy Houston was only five weeks in 1969 with him and the Sweets. Sadly there is no video where she can be seen.
Never again will there be a king..Thank you for you voice which will never die..Rip..
The next Elvis should be anything from the 1968 comeback special. I’ll be waiting.
Since this song came out, I have cried every time I hear it. I am 56 years old. The song touches my empathic soul.