I used to listen to a show on XM radio where on occasion, they’d play this clip of laughing Elvis where he got cracked up about a bald guy in the front. It’s pretty funny for the time. th-cam.com/video/hwbzxENP2eE/w-d-xo.html
You need to check out his live performance of Polk Salad Annie. You will see another side of Elvis. This is one of my favorite songs. Elvis grew up in Mississippi around the black blues players and learned from them. Before he went to Memphis.
The premise of the story is the repeating cycle of a child being born, grows up, dies and another child is born......starting the cycle all over again.
I am a big Elvis fan! Before I became a fan, I too only knew him for Hound dog, jailhouse rock, etc. I thought he only did fun songs. But, When I heard "In the Ghetto" for the first time, I was shocked, pleasantly. So, then made it a mission to sought out more great songs by him and he did not disappoint. I would love to see you do a reaction to one of my favorite Elvis songs..."DON'T CRY DADDY". If you do react to it. Try and do just an audio reaction. Don't do the special one with his daughter. Just do the audio version. Thanks and I enjoy your channel.
@@carlasaddler9888 Do you speak English? You make no sense. Name one racist thing Elvis ever did. You cant....because he loved black folks like he loved anybody else. Climb back into your hole you bigot.
Told Astro.center in Texas if his back up singers or as local authorities said no niggers.E.p said you 'll be refunding sold out astrodome for the 3 Elvis comcerts.a lady who was back up by the name of cissy tyson 8 back up all had penthouse rooms and chauffeurs and .works.and by the way cissy gave birth to a little girl who had trust fund Elvis set aside for cissy daughter and Whitney Houston graced all.
Most black celebrities, including Mohammed Ali, liked him and said he had a heart of gold. He grew up poor in Tupelo MS right next to a poor black neighborhood, and he went to a local black church, where he sang in their choir. Their minister and choir director thought highly of his talent and good heart.
@@thebrazilianatlantis165 . Correct..."They lived *IN* a black neighborhood part of the time...". (not just "next door") Important distinction that many have overlooked throughout years.
@@bwana-ma-coo-bah425 I know plenty about Elvis. If you disagree with my comment, you're the one who knows nothing about Elvis or you just can't handle the truth.
I heard one story of Elvis was that he was buying a new car and saw a family looking inside. He went and asked them if they were going to buy a car and they said they couldn't afford one. He bought them a car, employed the dad and put the son through college.
@patriciashepard887...also, one of his limo drivers was a young black man and Elvis asked him what his future plans were. He replied he one day hoped to own his own limo so he could start his own business. Elvis bought him a limo.
The ladies singing backup, were known as the “Sweet Inspiration”. Whitney Houston’s mom Cissy was a “Sweet Inspiration”. The men were know as “The Jordanaires”. They were a gospel group that sang backup for Elvis during live performances.
Elvis had a nickname for Cissy. It was "Squirrely". Maybe you saw the home visit by Oprah to her home? She showed Oprah a very thick gold bracelet and inscribed was Squirrely. Elvis' nickname for her. Elvis was a humorous chacter.
The Jordanaires started getting really busy and weren't available to tour with him. There were never any hard feelings, just success for everybody meant different schedules. Then, he got J D Sumner and The Stamps Quartet.
It's frustrating when people say he's a racist. I truly feel they are seriously misinformed about this most caring man. He used his platform the best way he knew how. The man with the velvet voice. Rest in Peace.
People will believe what they want to believe regardless of the facts! They will remain ignorant of the truth and then convince themselves that their lies are the truth! You are correct! Elvis was a caring man and great to people regardless of their skin color. In fact, while he was on one of his infamous Cadillac shopping sprees, when a black woman, who was a complete stranger, commented on how she liked his Cadillac while at the dealership. He ended up buying her one too!
Agreed. They say that probably because he's a southern white dude. That's all, it's just prejudice because he white. He grew up poor as fuck along side black folk.
I loved your reaction to this I could feel your pain. Also we have to stop believing what people say about others. It’s always the opposite. Us everyday Americans only have each other. The leaders and the elite have their own agenda. They try to pit us against each other so we don’t realize it’s all because of them and their corrupt ways that people are so bad off
I'm from Mississippi and we all know that Elvis had as much soul and love for every color as is humanly possible. He had a twin who died at birth and I think that pain is felt in a lot of his songs. He grew up poor on the streets in Tupelo and Memphis and had respect for EVERYONE!
@@robertstrassell405 I think it was Mac Davis that wrote the song another white cat offered it to Sammy Davis Jr with Sammy would not sing it because of the turbulent times but Elvis has balls of steel
"If I Can Dream" was written for Elvis during rehearsals of what became his '68 Comeback Special, which aired in December 1968. That was also the year that both Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy were assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. The killings of both men really affected Elvis, so he wanted a special song to perform in respecful tribute to them. That was, of course, "If I Can Dream" and he sang it to close out his '68 Comeback Special. To my knowledge, Elvis never performed that song again.
Mac Davis wrote this and shopped it around to many performers. Noone would touch it. The minute Elvis read it he wanted to record it but his manager and studio at the time told him not to. They didnt want him to touch such a racially charged song but you see what came of that. lol He grew up in the back end of nowhere Mississippi and those little black kids were his playmates.
@@dannyoneil5058 Elvis was born in the ghetto ,his life started poor but he started to go to church and joined in the Gospel choir and that is how his got his music from.I think what he put was slighty wrong but we know must black singers did sing gospel back then.I would of put he met his friends from the church which led him to being reilgous.
He refused to play The Astrodome in Houston, Texas if The Sweet Inspirations weren't allowed to play AND be TREATED LIKE ROYALTY! They were. They not only worked with him, they were considered FAMILY...as was practically everyone else he worked with. He was always lavashing gifts on them. He even bought his long time cook Mary Jenkins a house! Only a fool would believe he was racist!
Yes, he developed medical problems, didn't take good enough care of himself, worked too hard and too much, became addicted to prescription pills, etc. He had his vices...as we all do, for nobody is perfect...but, he never forgot where he came from nor his religious upbringing. He had 50 charities he donated to annually, in addition to countless other acts of generosity, up until he died. Elvis didn't see color, he loved people. He was good friends with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (Check out his tribute If I Can Dream, performed at the end of the '68 Comeback Special), also friends with Muhammad Ali ( they called each other the greatest). Check out Elvis and the Black Community.
@@michaelfarmer9472 plus his criminal manager the colonel over working him and stealing a large amount of money, it was really the first time the music industry saw it that blatantly I’m sure it had happened before Elvis but he directly contributed to his death as well
Where did that come from of what I heard it was the song don't step on my blue sued shoes and my cousins when was young my cousin told me in his interview he said a N Word can only shine my shoes but I never heard that. Or seen the interview. But that song if I can dream works tell some one that shows us he was not racist
True story too! He said it on stage at a concert in October 1974 at Notre Dame Coliseum. "As far as I'm concerned there's only one king and that is Christ Jesus".
@@jardennis4nd Not just men also women ,this song is still happen today and it is worst.If elvis was still alive ,he would be appalled of this gun shooting etc.
Mac Davis wrote it, tried to get another singer to record it but, he said there would be to much controversy over it and wouldn't do it, Mac then brought it to Elvis, his people didn't want him to do it either but, Elvis grew up in the ghetto and, he said' yes i will record but not only that, I'll promote it also, the rest is history! Elvis did not see color, he saw humans!
This is the first reaction of yours I’ve watched. You were silly and distracted at first, and I love that…But I was waiting for you to connect with the lyrics. It happened after your second pause, and it was glorious. ❤️ This is such a powerful song.
It`s interesting so many in this comment section talking about race, Ghettos was invented in Russia, and spread to the whole world do to the invention of tractors and people moving to the city's. But racists can make everything about race.
He was friends with many black ppl and they respected him also. After he died and was in Graceland, James Brown came to the house and sat with Elvis' body alone for about 4 hrs.
They had to practically drag James Brown away from Elvis after he died before they buried him look at the tribute that James Brown made for Elvis Presley and look it up film call the black community you will see Sammy Davis all the great black singers Chubby Checker bbking excetera excetera also in the early nineties it was a TV special about Elvis before he became famous and what he had to go through it was a TV series called Michael st. Gerard played Elvis part 1 through 5 6 through 10 10 through 13 and it ends with right before he made the International worldwide start to the top with was in 1956
This always gets brought up on these videos... yes Whitney Houston's mom was once part of Elvis's backup singers, but not on this video; she had already left at this point
Don’t listen to the crap he was not raciest he love the black people. The song I suggested to you in my last comment was about recorded after MLK was killed it is a beautiful song . This was recorded this song back in 1969
The Cameron Roach Show he said he would sneak out of the church his Mama took him too and went to the black church down the road because he loved they way they sang .
You heard rumors. Look up the videos with interviews from his backup singers, James Brown, BB, Sammy Davis, Jr., and others. That song is 50 years old, and like you said, despite it's age, it is still relevant.
I was born in 1958 I'm white I live this exact life our neighborhood was white black and brown it still happens all over the country right now we didn't know if we are prejudiced we were just people all of us
Why do you use so many periods? I'm curious as I see this happen often with people. Are you using text to speech and its inserting them automatically or something?
Thank you for reviewing the song. A few comments. As stated by others, the women singing backup were the Sweet Inspirations. Two anecdotes on them. The first time they were in rehearsal with him he was giving some feedback and one of them said, “ok boss.” He replied, “I’m not your boss. I’m your brother.” I mention this because it says something about his attitude towards them as musician colleagues. A second anecdote has to do with a performance date that was scheduled in the Astrodome. (I don’t know the date though). He was told that he could leave “the black girls at home.” He replied, “If the Sweets don’t come then I don’t come. If you change your mind my expectation is that they are staying in first class accommodations along with the rest of my musicians.” Upon arrival, he proceeded to be chauffeured around the Astrodome with the three of them. There has been a long standing rumor that Elvis Presley was a racist. Others have already commented on this here but I’ll add a few things. When this first started to circulate in the 1950’s (the allegation was that he said “the only thing zxcv are good for are buying my records and shining my shoes”) When this was brought to his attention, Presley was horrified because he knew it wasn’t true. He went to the Black radio station in Memphis and requested that the DJ interview him on air. He ended up saying, “I never said anything like that and anyone who knows me knows that I wouldn’t even think such a thing.” He then went on to say, “whoever you are that is saying this, either call into the station right now or come down here, look me in the eye and say to my face when and where you heard me say that.” Time went by and there was no response. What else could he do? However, up until that time, EP was popular with both black and white kids. (This was what part of the controversy was about him in the 1950’s- he was crossing the color lines and disregarding the segregation laws there). Anyway, this rumor was such a big deal that Jet Magazine decided to investigate it. A reporter was assigned to evaluate its legitimacy. Ultimately they concluded there was no substantial evidence that EP had ever made such a remark. Unfortunately it’s remained out there and it’s not been helped by several prominent African American musicians who have continued to call him a racist despite any evidence of that. And that’s despite his friendships with many in the black community. I have wondered why anyone would think he was a racist when he was very close to James Brown, Muhammad Ali, Fats Domino and so many others. None of them would have had any tolerance towards someone that they thought was a racist. But those relationships are a whole other story and people can read about those friendships on line. Finally, the song. Elvis Presley spent a good part of his childhood years in the Shake Rag neighborhood of Tupelo, Mississippi. They were one of three other white families in a black neighborhood. He played with black children, swam together in the swimming hole, spent time in each other’s homes. They didn’t go to elementary school together because the schools were segregated. Bluntly, Elvis Presley was colorblind. He only cared about how people, music and gospel made him feel. How it stirred him inside. He could relate to this song and sing it with understanding because he knew experientially what poverty was. His father spent several months in a Mississippi prison for forging a check so he knew what it was to have an absent father. Presley is not the caricature that’s often been portrayed. He was a deeply feeling, empathetic, spiritual person and it’s that which was the wellspring for that remarkable voice.
Fantastic statements. Thank you for all of this. A bit more about this song, written by Mac Davis, himself an outstanding singer and brilliant writer. Elvis contacted Mac concerning this particular performance, referred to as "the '68 comeback special". Elvis asked Mac if he had anything, and Mac had just written two songs. Elvis heard this one and bought them, both, for this performance. Another song performed here is the incredible "If I Can Dream", which is a reaction to the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy, both friends of Elvis, and murdered the same year as this performance. Both of these performances put a strong lump in my throat, as they are still incredibly relevant works.
It's easier to be ignorant and it is lazy of people to comment on someone they clearly know NOTHING about. Some folks use the term in order to get attention, to start controversy, to be controversial, to cause division because they have nothing but anger and jealousy in his heart. LOVE YOU ELVIS! always (btw I lived in Germantown TN which is right next to Memphis from 1974 to 1976 as a young child and yes we visited Graceland)
Check out a video called Elvis and the Black community.. The man didn’t have a racist bone in his body.. he grew up in a area of Tupelo which was populated by both Whites & Blacks. He even attended a black church were he was influenced a lot... great reaction man
It was released in 1969. Late 70s is when it was written. This performance right here may very well be from the early 70s but the song itsef was written and Elvis recorded it in 1969.
Mac Davis wrote this from his experience when he was a young boy. He had a young black friend and wondered why couldn't his friend live like him and saw his friend struggle.
That song has always choked me up; still does. I have a knot in my throat. I'm happy you got to experience it. Dolly Parton's rendition is good too. Very haunting. Also, Elvis was not racist. He loved singing Gospels in black community churches.
Not sure where you got that info, but it totally is not true..no way would a devoted mother and father ever allowed him to go shoeless...they gave up so much to make sure he had the needs in life
otis young He spent 9 months at Parchman Farm for forging a check to feed his family when Elvis was 2. Your info is bull. He was not a small time criminal.
I love your grasp and understanding of the song and message without knowing any background on elvis. You nailed it. If you knew his history you would have gotten even deeper, but you really nailed it.
Someone may have wrote this already but back in the day there was a Texas stadium that didn't want Elvis's black backup singers to be allowed to come in, Elvis said they're coming in or he is not, they came in. Elvis loves God that means she loves people all people
there's a part 1 and 2, make sure you watch both then, you'll know all you need to know about Elvis also, react to the new movie " ELVIS " coming out 6/24/22, it's about Elvis' life from the time he was a little boy!
I was 3 years old. My Mom Loved Elvis Presley and his music. Country, Rock, Gospel..... it's All Good. I can still sing word for word his music.......And I'm 54! I can't remember what I went into a room for but I can remember song lyrics from my childhood and teens. Lol.....
... Jesus Christ, you're right... I... always... just assumed he was talking about... about African... American's... I... ...I'm so ashamed of myself...
I grew up in the "ghetto" in the 70's.. whoever created the free lunch and breakfast program saved kids lives... my neighbor put his kids in a dog kennel to protect them.. my brother was murdered... the ghetto isn't just bad... it's a soul crushing mind trap... I escaped.. I hope you all make the change you need... I joined the army to escape... Thank you Drill Sgt Alves A795 for straighting out the man in me.. I've gone far.. and try to pay it forward...
LFR, don't listen to what people don't know about. Elvis was loved by the black community, if the black members of his band didn't get the VIP treatment, he wouldn't play the show, even if it was a sold out crowd. Look a little deeper into Elvis, he was a great man.
the sweet inspirations were his female singers, his backup band was TCB band....when he was preforming in Texas one time, they told him that his female singers couldn't ride with him around the astrodome in the convertable...he told those people you don't want them, then you don't want me, guess who rode in the car...true story..this song came out in 1969 and it was written by Mac Davis
During this time, The singers are call "Sweet Inspirations" Cissy Drinkard Houston, Myrna Smith, Sylvia Shemwell and Estelle Brown. Cissy is Whitney Houston's mom. Later his band would be call TCB "Taking Care of Business"
When Elvis recorded this I was an 11 yr old white girl living in a suburb of LA. It made me cry cuz I didn't understand why a child would be hungry or what a ghetto was. My dad asked one of his best friend's, Big Willy, to explain it to me. He was a 6'5" black man who lived in Compton. Dad knew it was Willy's story and that he would be able to breath life into it. He did. And he was an Elvis fan. At 65, sitting on his knee telling me his story, well, it is one of my most vivid and precious memories. And its still one of my favorite songs cuz it reminds me that all that is needed for poverty to continue is for those of privilege to turn away.
Immediately listen to "If I Can Dream" which he performed after MLK's murder. It was dedicated to him. He did that song in ONE take was exhausted is why. And OMG from his manager Col. Tom Parker as he *knew* it would erode some of Elvis' white southern fan base. People who said Elvis was racist and other words like this are *liars* or maybe they are jealous. His background singers were the "Sweet Inspirations". It was a big performance in Houston where the promoter said to "be sure you don't bring your girls". We know what Elvis said and when they all drove in convertible Cadillacs around the Houston Astrodome they did the same. He nicknamed Cissy Houston "Squirrely" and bought her a gift of a thick gold bracelet with Squirrely inscribed underside it. She was either Whitney's mother or aunt IDK. It's nothing but sheer IGNORANCE for those who say Elvis was racist. Ignorance does not mean stupid. Ignorance is just being uninformed or misinformed. Burr had a good field day trashing Elvis and yeah I get pushing the envelope. Elvis was brought up in what was called a "shotgun shack" in Tupelo, Mississippi on the "wrong side of the tracks". It had two rooms. Vernon actually was trying to earn enough money so they could *move INTO* government housing meaning "the projects". Now this was a *dream* for them. He'd go to black churches when he could, sit in the back row and sing gospel songs. His white southern fan base were NOT happy when he had black background singers and started to call him a wh@gger. This song would never have been made into a record unless it was Elvis. He did it because he was able to call the shots even though that bastard manager was dead set AGAINST him recording it. Elvis had *four* gospel records and his only Grammy was for singing gospel. He is in the Hall of Fame in four categories: Rock, Gospel, Country, and Rockabilly. Listen to Elvis sing "How Great Thou Art" in a live audience performance.
This song was not played on the radio (much). The message is so very relevant today. I remember hearing this song as a child and crying. My mom and my aunt loved Elvis. We heard it because they had his records. I never understood people saying he was prejudice.
Elvis grew up poor, the families all together fed each other, one family had gotten a chicken, another family got potatoes, etc., They helped each other and he always remembered this
The only thing he did ahead of his time was pass away. Other than that I believe he was the right man at the right time to make such a crossover in all of music
Actually, I believe, he was a man of his time. Unfortunately, history books lie about what was going on. And now they have ventured further from the truth to the point of not coming close to anything that was going on. Also Known As lying and making everything completely the reverse. Elvis Presley grew up dirt poor and fought for everybody’s rights, but somehow some people have been told he was a racist. I just can’t comprehend how!
I live near Chicago, I cried the first time I heard this song when I was little (early 70's) and still cry every time I listen to it. I may be wrong but I feel there are far more people that intimately relate to the words, the message of this song now. It's unforgivable. We have lost generations of beautiful people to poverty. EVERY ONE has the right to dream AND achieve their dream. What will it take to stop the world from turning it's head? 😔😔💔
The band was the “TCB Band” (Taking Care of Business), Elvis made a robe for Muhammed Ali (stayed with Ali while Ali trained in Minnesota). - James Brown asks for 5 minutes with Elvis’ body and casket - EP chose to live in the black side of Memphis, he helped black music to a white audience - he was the last thing from a racist.
This song was written by Mac Davis, who also recorded it, but I think Elvis' version is more widely known. As you said, this song was released in 1969. Elvis always had black singers in his band, and even refused to perform if the owners of certain venues had a problem with that.
His backing rhythm band was called the TCB (Taking Care Of Business) Band. The female backing singers are the Sweet Inspirations. And the male backing singers in this video is the Imperials Quartet. A few years after this, he witched to JD Sumner & The Stamps Quartet for his male backing group. The members of The TCB Band are as follows: Piano - Glen Hardin Drums - Ronnie Tutt Rhythm Guitar - John Wilkerson Bass Guitar - Jerry Scheff Lead Guitar - James Burton Guitar and Backing Vocal Harmonies - Charlie Hodge He also had a full orchestra that was conducted at all of his concerts by Joe Guercio.
@Christopher Smith Hey asshole he never fucked a 14 year old. That's another bullshit lie about Elvis. He met her when she was 14 while in Germany but married her when she was 22 and she has admitted that he refused to take advantage of her and kept her pure until their wedding night. What they had was innocent and LEGAL.
@Christopher Smith You're judging him off of assumptions when she has gone on record about how she begged him to make love to her and he told her "it's not the right time" that he wanted her to wait and he would one day marry her when the time was right. Nobody around either one of them has ever claimed that they slept together until their wedding night. Besides, the age of consent then in Germany was 14 years old. So even if they had it would have been legal at the time. A pedophile is someone who sexually assaults/rapes a minor.
So good to hear people really appreciate Elvis’s music and voice. It’s one of his most poignant records, more so because nothing has changed 50 years later. When we still had JFK, RFK, DR MARTIN LUTHER JR and MALCOLM X we thought that we might have a chance but a few bullets put a stop to those ideas.
Commenting here three years later. I would like to say that I grew up in small town Oklahoma in the sixties and seventies. There were only a handful of black people in town. In my 18 years there, we never had a murder or robbery. I was 7 years old when this song came out. It terrified me!!! I couldn't wrap my head around children starving or stealing just to eat. Elvis introduced white folks to the black community. Elvis didn't write songs, but he made them his own. He intended to shake up people who were clueless about what was happening in America. After graduating from college, I got a job teaching in a school that was 98% black. I'm not going to lie. The kids put me through hell the first several months, but as soon as they learned that I was there because I knew they mattered, they gave me so much love and loyalty! 32 years later, we still have each other's back! I have spent my whole adult life working in the black community. When George Floyd was murdered, I sobbed thinking about how he died calling out for his momma. I could hear Elvis singing, "as her young man dies." This song was monumental. I can't think of any artist who explicitly sang about these issues besides Diana Ross and the Supremes' 1968 song, "Love Child". I certainly can't think of white artist who did.
Elvis, at this point in time (the beginning of his touring career following the 68 comeback special) was backed vocally by J.D. Sumner And The Stamps (male chorus) and The Sweet Inspirations (female chorus).
I have loved this song since I first heard it in the early 70s. It is heart wrenching to anyone with a soul who has eyes to see what is going on around them. He does another song that tugs at your heart called "Don't Cry Daddy". I think it was the flip side of the "In the Ghetto" 45 record.
He was a huge supporter of the civil rights movement! What makes me sad is it's been 50 years since this and we haven't changed ANYTHING. What is it going to take to stop this circle repeating
Elvis grew up with his Dad in prison, so poor he grew up in a black neighborhood. Check out his song “If I can Dream” it’s his response to MLKs death. I don’t where this idea that he was racist came from?
I think you'll find that the vast majority of people who make the claim that he was racist will just say "I heard that from somewhere" without ever citing an actual or credible source. Like a fake news story attributed to "unnamed sources" with zero accountability. On the other hand, when you watch the video Elvis & The Black Community, you have real people with real names willing to counter those "unnamed sources". th-cam.com/video/xd1pXw1DmsA/w-d-xo.html
Elvis’ dad only spent 9 months at Parchman farm for forging a check to feed his family. He did not grow up with him in prison. Elvis was only 2 when this happened and most likely didn’t remember that time. He definitely grew up very poor and in a black community even attending at times some of the Black churches, hence the influence on his style.
@@MrClobbertime a white newspaper guy made up a story about what Elvis told someone about what he thought about black people in Boston while performing there in the 50s. It turned out Elvis had never been to Boston and only played there once and that wasn't until 71. The rumor did the job it was intended to do if you look at it. Elvis had to answer the questions and a lot of black people believed it. If you look at some of the early pictures of Elvis in the 50s with his fans there are both white and black girls reacting the same. What other big name white entertainers were showing up to black children's charity events in the 50s. Elvis was doing this in Memphis to help out. Even some of the other performers say they were amazed by that but had a lot of respect for him doing it.
The entire point of the song ending as it started (with another child being born in the place of the first) represents the repetitious cycle that, as you mentioned, still continues today... Without scrolling down, I'll assume that the comment section is full of requests for the '68 Comeback Special version of "If I Can Dream"... Sign me up! Oh yeah... I'm also sure you've been told the polar opposite of the "racism" rumor... IDK what to tell you except that it's POSSIBLE there was some resentment by the black community for Elvis' success with "Their" style of music in the days when black artists weren't played on rock stations. All it takes is one ripple... It's the only thing I can think of, as Elvis like Sinatra, literally put his reputation and his money on the line more than once when it came to standing up out against racism. Prepare yourself for the stories below! =)
ELVIS (that's all that needed to be said). But he had great back up singers & musicians. You need to youtube what Sammy Davis said about him, BB King, he gave Mohammed Ali one of the most beautiful robs to wear when he would make his way to the ring. Elvis wasn't just a great entertainer, he was a generous man that gave back to people, his story is amazing from government housing in Memphis to one of the most famous entertainer of the 20th century.
You should react to Elvis' live Las Vegas performance of Bridge Over Troubled Water. His performance is absolutely excellent and it is an inspirational song.
This was written by Mac Davis, a great singer/songwriter/ actor, who wrote songs for many other artists. Elvis was the only one brave enough to record it in 1969, as it was considered too controversial. It breaks my heart that 53 years later things haven't changed much. This song still makes me cry.
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I used to listen to a show on XM radio where on occasion, they’d play this clip of laughing Elvis where he got cracked up about a bald guy in the front. It’s pretty funny for the time. th-cam.com/video/hwbzxENP2eE/w-d-xo.html
Volbeat is a modern band that was touring with Slipknot. The singer sounds ALOT like Elvis i think anyway. You would enjoy their music
You need to check out his live performance of Polk Salad Annie. You will see another side of Elvis. This is one of my favorite songs. Elvis grew up in Mississippi around the black blues players and learned from them. Before he went to Memphis.
The premise of the story is the repeating cycle of a child being born, grows up, dies and another child is born......starting the cycle all over again.
I am a big Elvis fan! Before I became a fan, I too only knew him for Hound dog, jailhouse rock, etc. I thought he only did fun songs. But, When I heard "In the Ghetto" for the first time, I was shocked, pleasantly. So, then made it a mission to sought out more great songs by him and he did not disappoint. I would love to see you do a reaction to one of my favorite Elvis songs..."DON'T CRY DADDY". If you do react to it. Try and do just an audio reaction. Don't do the special one with his daughter. Just do the audio version. Thanks and I enjoy your channel.
ANYONE who says that Elvis was racists,..doesnt know a damn thing about Elvis.
You are a lie and the truth ain't in you.
@@carlasaddler9888 Do you speak English? You make no sense. Name one racist thing Elvis ever did. You cant....because he loved black folks like he loved anybody else. Climb back into your hole you bigot.
Country lagend Mac Davis wrote this song for him. Check him out too!
Carla Shut Up! Elvis was not racist at all. He looked at everyone no matter the color equally.
The most humble person ever!
He was born and brought up in a deprived background .. he never forgot his roots
Exactly!
Deprived is an understatement
Carole palmer He would refuse to do the show if they were not welcome.
Tupelo Mississippi is only a couple of hours from Cleveland Mississippi one of the poorest cities in the USA
His mom loved him so much didn't we all
Elvis still bringing everybody together over 44 years after he died. Powerful.
Yup,Yup... Still here ... lol
At the end, Elvis salutes his backup singers! Beautiful!
His back up singers were his family, if they could not stay at a hotel,neither would he. Don’t believe the b.s.. read up on him.
They had a career in their own right, but said that when Elvis called, they canceled everything and went.
Likely rumors started by racists...they hate nothing more than one of their own decrying racism
Told Astro.center in Texas if his back up singers or as local authorities said no niggers.E.p said you 'll be refunding sold out astrodome for the 3 Elvis comcerts.a lady who was back up by the name of cissy tyson 8 back up all had penthouse rooms and chauffeurs and .works.and by the way cissy gave birth to a little girl who had trust fund Elvis set aside for cissy daughter and Whitney Houston graced all.
I heard that story.
Most black celebrities, including Mohammed Ali, liked him and said he had a heart of gold. He grew up poor in Tupelo MS right next to a poor black neighborhood, and he went to a local black church, where he sang in their choir. Their minister and choir director thought highly of his talent and good heart.
I'm sure you read this but listen to a Google site where it's called Elvis and the black community
"He grew up poor in Tupelo MS right next to a poor black neighborhood" They lived in a black neighborhood part of the time they lived in Tupelo.
Elvis' gospel recordings are GOLD.
@@thebrazilianatlantis165 . Correct..."They lived *IN* a black neighborhood part of the time...".
(not just "next door")
Important distinction that many have overlooked throughout years.
He also lived in Hurt Village...
The women back up singers were The Sweet Inspirations & were the best in their day.
He also had a group of men with very deep baritone voices that resonated his songs .
One of them was Whitney Houston‘s mom❤❤❤❤
Chuck D is a Racist
For Elvis to perform a message like that in 1969, should tell you everything you need to know about the guy.
You are 100% correct. Elvis respected everyone, man, woman, black or white. Anyone who says differently is just jealous or a damn liar.
Or both a jealous liar
@@theresa6955 you know nothing of Elvis.
@@bwana-ma-coo-bah425 I know plenty about Elvis. If you disagree with my comment, you're the one who knows nothing about Elvis or you just can't handle the truth.
@@theresa6955 care to test yourself what was Elvis's IQ?
I heard one story of Elvis was that he was buying a new car and saw a family looking inside. He went and asked them if they were going to buy a car and they said they couldn't afford one. He bought them a car, employed the dad and put the son through college.
👏
It was a Black family and he gave them a car.
He did stuff like that.
❤️
@patriciashepard887...also, one of his limo drivers was a young black man and Elvis asked him what his future plans were. He replied he one day hoped to own his own limo so he could start his own business. Elvis bought him a limo.
Elvis grew up extremely poor, went to a black church. He helped the black community. He was not racist.
The ladies singing backup, were known as the “Sweet Inspiration”.
Whitney Houston’s mom Cissy was a “Sweet Inspiration”.
The men were know as “The Jordanaires”. They were a gospel group that sang backup for Elvis during live performances.
And After The Jordanaires, he played with The Stamps.
Thx for sharing that
Elvis had a nickname for Cissy. It was "Squirrely". Maybe you saw the home visit by Oprah to her home? She showed Oprah a very thick gold bracelet and inscribed was Squirrely.
Elvis' nickname for her. Elvis was a humorous chacter.
@@guitarheroguy5 the jordainares sang backup for sister rosetta. And Mac Davis wrote In the Ghetto about a kid he remembered from Lubbock
The Jordanaires started getting really busy and weren't available to tour with him. There were never any hard feelings, just success for everybody meant different schedules. Then, he got J D Sumner and The Stamps Quartet.
It's frustrating when people say he's a racist. I truly feel they are seriously misinformed about this most caring man. He used his platform the best way he knew how. The man with the velvet voice. Rest in Peace.
People will believe what they want to believe regardless of the facts! They will remain ignorant of the truth and then convince themselves that their lies are the truth! You are correct! Elvis was a caring man and great to people regardless of their skin color.
In fact, while he was on one of his infamous Cadillac shopping sprees, when a black woman, who was a complete stranger, commented on how she liked his Cadillac while at the dealership. He ended up buying her one too!
He was raised in a Black neighborhood and loved the music he heard there.
Elvis didn’t have a racist bone in his body.
Agreed. They say that probably because he's a southern white dude. That's all, it's just prejudice because he white. He grew up poor as fuck along side black folk.
I loved your reaction to this I could feel your pain. Also we have to stop believing what people say about others. It’s always the opposite. Us everyday Americans only have each other. The leaders and the elite have their own agenda. They try to pit us against each other so we don’t realize it’s all because of them and their corrupt ways that people are so bad off
Get together with us europeans we are just as downtrodden.
I'm from Mississippi and we all know that Elvis had as much soul and love for every color as is humanly possible. He had a twin who died at birth and I think that pain is felt in a lot of his songs. He grew up poor on the streets in Tupelo and Memphis and had respect for EVERYONE!
Elvis not dead…faked his death…look up Pastor Bob Joyce here on TH-cam
Elvis was raised in the Ghetto and grew up around the black community!
me to it a hard life .
elvis didnt write the song
STOP STOPPING SONG
YOU RUIN IT
TALK AFTER 🌺
As you were asking when the song came out, I was dismayed that you were about find out that not much has changed in half a century.
@@robertstrassell405 I think it was Mac Davis that wrote the song another white cat offered it to Sammy Davis Jr with Sammy would not sing it because of the turbulent times but Elvis has balls of steel
Written by Mac Davis . nobody else was willing to do the song but Elvis
After Martin Luther King Jr was killed, Elvis put out a song called If I can Dream, in honor of him. It has a great message for the world.
Yes please react to this song ... PLEASE!
Please react to this song it gives hope. And I remember about it and Martin Luther King too.
"If I Can Dream" was written for Elvis during rehearsals of what became his '68 Comeback Special, which aired in December 1968. That was also the year that both Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy were assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. The killings of both men really affected Elvis, so he wanted a special song to perform in respecful tribute to them. That was, of course, "If I Can Dream" and he sang it to close out his '68 Comeback Special.
To my knowledge, Elvis never performed that song again.
Mac Davis wrote this and shopped it around to many performers. Noone would touch it. The minute Elvis read it he wanted to record it but his manager and studio at the time told him not to. They didnt want him to touch such a racially charged song but you see what came of that. lol He grew up in the back end of nowhere Mississippi and those little black kids were his playmates.
Tupelo
@@chrisp4170 What he just said.
@@dannyoneil5058 Elvis was born in the ghetto ,his life started poor but he started to go to church and joined in the Gospel choir and that is how his got his music from.I think what he put was slighty wrong but we know must black singers did sing gospel back then.I would of put he met his friends from the church which led him to being reilgous.
Mac Davis tells the story of how the song came to be. Type in youtube "Story Behind the song: In the Ghetto"
Elvis grew up poor…in a predominately black ghetto neighborhood. This was from the heart!
Elvis was never racist He was the most generous human being! I loved your reaction! I subscribed to you! Stay blessed❤️🙌🏻😘
He refused to play The Astrodome in Houston, Texas if The Sweet Inspirations weren't allowed to play AND be TREATED LIKE ROYALTY! They were. They not only worked with him, they were considered FAMILY...as was practically everyone else he worked with. He was always lavashing gifts on them. He even bought his long time cook Mary Jenkins a house! Only a fool would believe he was racist!
Yes, he developed medical problems, didn't take good enough care of himself, worked too hard and too much, became addicted to prescription pills, etc. He had his vices...as we all do, for nobody is perfect...but, he never forgot where he came from nor his religious upbringing. He had 50 charities he donated to annually, in addition to countless other acts of generosity, up until he died. Elvis didn't see color, he loved people. He was good friends with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (Check out his tribute If I Can Dream, performed at the end of the '68 Comeback Special), also friends with Muhammad Ali ( they called each other the greatest). Check out Elvis and the Black Community.
@@michaelfarmer9472 thanks for that! Yes, he did have drug issues and nobody is perfect. More humans should be like him. God bless you! ❤️
@@michaelfarmer9472 plus his criminal manager the colonel over working him and stealing a large amount of money, it was really the first time the music industry saw it that blatantly I’m sure it had happened before Elvis but he directly contributed to his death as well
Where did that come from of what I heard it was the song don't step on my blue sued shoes and my cousins when was young my cousin told me in his interview he said a N Word can only shine my shoes but I never heard that. Or seen the interview. But that song if I can dream works tell some one that shows us he was not racist
Side note he didn't like being called the king he hated that.He said theres only one king jesus christ
Best dang comments on any song I've ever read. Elvis peeps still strong...make my mom up in heaven berry happy
True story too! He said it on stage at a concert in October 1974 at Notre Dame Coliseum. "As far as I'm concerned there's only one king and that is Christ Jesus".
One of his back up singers said he didn't like being called boss. "we're all the same"
Yeah that's why we called Elvis the King. He was one of a kind and we'll never see another like him. He started singing gospel music in church.
You should check out the song "If I can Dream'" performed by Elvis. Elvis was a fan of Martin Luther King Jr.
Yes ! The one where he’s wearing a white suit
superb song out of this world. the depth and feeling. awesome. amazing
Whitney Houston’s mom was a back up singer for Elvis. Whitney met him.
Elvis sounds like ELVIS. Nobody else comes close to that beautiful baritone voice no matter how much they think they do.
It’s a crying shame everyone doesn’t know about this song.
I am going to make a point to share this song on Facebook every time a young man is shot and killed.
@@jardennis4nd Not just men also women ,this song is still happen today and it is worst.If elvis was still alive ,he would be appalled of this gun shooting etc.
Mac Davis was a genius songwriter, and put it together. Died recently.
Mac Davis wrote it, tried to get another singer to record it but, he said there would be to much controversy over it and wouldn't do it, Mac then brought it to Elvis, his people didn't want him to do it either but, Elvis grew up in the ghetto and, he said' yes i will record but not only that, I'll promote it also, the rest is history! Elvis did not see color, he saw humans!
This is the first reaction of yours I’ve watched. You were silly and distracted at first, and I love that…But I was waiting for you to connect with the lyrics. It happened after your second pause, and it was glorious. ❤️
This is such a powerful song.
Elvis was the least racist person in the world and helped anyone who needed help. Research him.....
Best comments I've read on any song ever. So glad Elvis peeps still out there telling the truth. My momma in heaven is smiling
Elvis had a huge heart for ALL people.May he rest in peace.❤️
Shake Rag district took him in as one of their own according to Sam Bell.
It`s interesting so many in this comment section talking about race, Ghettos was invented in Russia, and spread to the whole world do to the invention of tractors and people moving to the city's. But racists can make everything about race.
You were lied to, You should do some google searches on Elvis and you will see he was a good man.
He was friends with many black ppl and they respected him also. After he died and was in Graceland, James Brown came to the house and sat with Elvis' body alone for about 4 hrs.
They had to practically drag James Brown away from Elvis after he died before they buried him look at the tribute that James Brown made for Elvis Presley and look it up film call the black community you will see Sammy Davis all the great black singers Chubby Checker bbking excetera excetera also in the early nineties it was a TV special about Elvis before he became famous and what he had to go through it was a TV series called Michael st. Gerard played Elvis part 1 through 5 6 through 10 10 through 13 and it ends with right before he made the International worldwide start to the top with was in 1956
One of the backing singers was Whitney Houston’s mom.
This always gets brought up on these videos... yes Whitney Houston's mom was once part of Elvis's backup singers, but not on this video; she had already left at this point
Yes she was in the group for the 69 las Vegas comeback
Cissy Houston, The sweet inspirations (Cissy Houston, Doris Troy, Dionne Warwick, Dee Dee Warwick)
@@GroovingPict there was also the imperials quartet and jd sumner and the stamps at some point.
They were called THE Sweet Inspirations. His band was always just Elvis' Band.
Elvis was raised around the black community in Mississippi!
He nvr said Black or White.
Just a poor lil child born in rhe ghetto.
Evry line is a punch in the gut.
Very true .
Don’t listen to the crap he was not raciest he love the black people. The song I suggested to you in my last comment was about recorded after MLK was killed it is a beautiful song . This was recorded this song back in 1969
Just don't say THE black people...it's 2020 everything get 2nd guessed.
@@tonyfro23 There are some many spelling mistakes in that comment, I bet it wasn't an intentional emphasis
Melody Projekt no both parents was white he just loved that kind of music he said it spoke too him
Elvis went to a black church and sang in the choir. He was encouraged by the community he grew up in and yes, black and white people lived Elvis.
The Cameron Roach Show he said he would sneak out of the church his Mama took him too and went to the black church down the road because he loved they way they sang .
As a young child in Austria, Europe, 40 years ago, THIS song got me to learn the English language. Elvis, R.I.P. , Thank's for your advice!!!
Whitney Houston's mom is singing backup y'all and she loved him!!!
That's what I was thinking... isn't her name Cissy Houston ??? Not sure, but definitely Whitney's MOM !
That is whitney Houston's mother as the back up.
You heard rumors. Look up the videos with interviews from his backup singers, James Brown, BB, Sammy Davis, Jr., and others.
That song is 50 years old, and like you said, despite it's age, it is still relevant.
Cissy Houston only sang for Elvis in 1969, then, left The Sweet Inspirations.
I was born in 1958 I'm white I live this exact life our neighborhood was white black and brown it still happens all over the country right now we didn't know if we are prejudiced we were just people all of us
Are you kidding? He. Grew up. So poor. The ghetto. Was an. Upgrade for him.
You are. Preaching to. The Choir.
@@RareHarmony Did you. Just say. You are. Preaching. To. The choir?
Literally dirt poor.
Why do you use so many periods? I'm curious as I see this happen often with people. Are you using text to speech and its inserting them automatically or something?
whats with all the periods?
Thank you for reviewing the song. A few comments. As stated by others, the women singing backup were the Sweet Inspirations. Two anecdotes on them. The first time they were in rehearsal with him he was giving some feedback and one of them said, “ok boss.” He replied, “I’m not your boss. I’m your brother.” I mention this because it says something about his attitude towards them as musician colleagues. A second anecdote has to do with a performance date that was scheduled in the Astrodome. (I don’t know the date though). He was told that he could leave “the black girls at home.” He replied, “If the Sweets don’t come then I don’t come. If you change your mind my expectation is that they are staying in first class accommodations along with the rest of my musicians.” Upon arrival, he proceeded to be chauffeured around the Astrodome with the three of them.
There has been a long standing rumor that Elvis Presley was a racist. Others have already commented on this here but I’ll add a few things. When this first started to circulate in the 1950’s (the allegation was that he said “the only thing zxcv are good for are buying my records and shining my shoes”) When this was brought to his attention, Presley was horrified because he knew it wasn’t true. He went to the Black radio station in Memphis and requested that the DJ interview him on air. He ended up saying, “I never said anything like that and anyone who knows me knows that I wouldn’t even think such a thing.” He then went on to say, “whoever you are that is saying this, either call into the station right now or come down here, look me in the eye and say to my face when and where you heard me say that.” Time went by and there was no response. What else could he do? However, up until that time, EP was popular with both black and white kids. (This was what part of the controversy was about him in the 1950’s- he was crossing the color lines and disregarding the segregation laws there). Anyway, this rumor was such a big deal that Jet Magazine decided to investigate it. A reporter was assigned to evaluate its legitimacy. Ultimately they concluded there was no substantial evidence that EP had ever made such a remark. Unfortunately it’s remained out there and it’s not been helped by several prominent African American musicians who have continued to call him a racist despite any evidence of that. And that’s despite his friendships with many in the black community. I have wondered why anyone would think he was a racist when he was very close to James Brown, Muhammad Ali, Fats Domino and so many others. None of them would have had any tolerance towards someone that they thought was a racist. But those relationships are a whole other story and people can read about those friendships on line.
Finally, the song. Elvis Presley spent a good part of his childhood years in the Shake Rag neighborhood of Tupelo, Mississippi. They were one of three other white families in a black neighborhood. He played with black children, swam together in the swimming hole, spent time in each other’s homes. They didn’t go to elementary school together because the schools were segregated. Bluntly, Elvis Presley was colorblind. He only cared about how people, music and gospel made him feel. How it stirred him inside. He could relate to this song and sing it with understanding because he knew experientially what poverty was. His father spent several months in a Mississippi prison for forging a check so he knew what it was to have an absent father. Presley is not the caricature that’s often been portrayed. He was a deeply feeling, empathetic, spiritual person and it’s that which was the wellspring for that remarkable voice.
So nicely stated. Thank you.
Fantastic statements. Thank you for all of this. A bit more about this song, written by Mac Davis, himself an outstanding singer and brilliant writer. Elvis contacted Mac concerning this particular performance, referred to as "the '68 comeback special". Elvis asked Mac if he had anything, and Mac had just written two songs. Elvis heard this one and bought them, both, for this performance. Another song performed here is the incredible "If I Can Dream", which is a reaction to the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy, both friends of Elvis, and murdered the same year as this performance. Both of these performances put a strong lump in my throat, as they are still incredibly relevant works.
It's easier to be ignorant and it is lazy of people to comment on someone they clearly know NOTHING about. Some folks use the term in order to get attention, to start controversy, to be controversial, to cause division because they have nothing but anger and jealousy in his heart. LOVE YOU ELVIS! always (btw I lived in Germantown TN which is right next to Memphis from 1974 to 1976 as a young child and yes we visited Graceland)
I couldn’t have said it better!!
Thanks for taking me time to explain the story of Elvis his background so people can understand
Check out a video called Elvis and the Black community.. The man didn’t have a racist bone in his body.. he grew up in a area of Tupelo which was populated by both Whites & Blacks. He even attended a black church were he was influenced a lot... great reaction man
This was written and performed in the early 70's Mac Davis wrote it. He just died last week. Side note Mac Davis is a white man
It was released in 1969. Late 70s is when it was written. This performance right here may very well be from the early 70s but the song itsef was written and Elvis recorded it in 1969.
Mac Davis wrote this from his experience when he was a young boy. He had a young black friend and wondered why couldn't his friend live like him and saw his friend struggle.
Loved Mac Davis and Elvis Presley. It fing pi$$es me off that people made them to be hateful racist!
That song has always choked me up; still does. I have a knot in my throat. I'm happy you got to experience it. Dolly Parton's rendition is good too. Very haunting. Also, Elvis was not racist. He loved singing Gospels in black community churches.
Elvis did not have shoes until he was 8yrs old.
Not sure where you got that info, but it totally is not true..no way would a devoted mother and father ever allowed him to go shoeless...they gave up so much to make sure he had the needs in life
His father wasn't devoted.......he was a small time criminal
and was in jail
otis young He spent 9 months at Parchman Farm for forging a check to feed his family when Elvis was 2. Your info is bull. He was not a small time criminal.
Strange how these stories spread when they are not true. His father did a silly thing and paid the price, he was definitely not a small time criminal.
I love your grasp and understanding of the song and message without knowing any background on elvis. You nailed it. If you knew his history you would have gotten even deeper, but you really nailed it.
Someone may have wrote this already but back in the day there was a Texas stadium that didn't want Elvis's black backup singers to be allowed to come in, Elvis said they're coming in or he is not, they came in. Elvis loves God that means she loves people all people
His female backup singers were the "Sweet Inspirations." Check out "Elvis Presley & The Black Community - That Echo Will Never Die."
there's a part 1 and 2, make sure you watch both then, you'll know all you need to know about Elvis also, react to the new movie " ELVIS " coming out 6/24/22, it's about Elvis' life from the time he was a little boy!
Mac Davis was an amazing songwriter, and will be missed. Elvis is a legend, and his version of this song tugs at our hearts.
The “Jordanaires”were his male backup singers.
The Sweet Insperations were his amazing female singers.
Your reaction is so moving. Elvis would be very sad to see how little we have progressed in over 50 years. Thanks for your videos. God bless.
James Brown was devastated when Elvis died and performed a tribute to him .
Elvis truly had Friends who loved him like James, so many
the line "as her young man dies", after 50 yrs, that line kills me to this day. much love Van. Peace
Came out in 1969. I was 9 years old. Yes, it's sadly still relevant.
I was 3 years old. My Mom Loved Elvis Presley and his music. Country, Rock, Gospel..... it's All Good. I can still sing word for word his music.......And I'm 54! I can't remember what I went into a room for but I can remember song lyrics from my childhood and teens. Lol.....
Also just a note: he never mentioned the color or race
... Jesus Christ, you're right...
I... always... just assumed he was talking about... about African... American's...
I... ...I'm so ashamed of myself...
Good point.
Yes, so everyone can think about their blessings and/or their own upbringing. We are all the same.
You’re correct on that, but people will spin it anyway.
I live in the Middle East and I understand what Elvis is singing. A ghetto is found everywhere in every country in this sad sad world of ours.
I grew up in the "ghetto" in the 70's..
whoever created the free lunch and breakfast program saved kids lives... my neighbor put his kids in a dog kennel to protect them.. my brother was murdered...
the ghetto isn't just bad... it's a soul crushing mind trap...
I escaped.. I hope you all make the change you need...
I joined the army to escape...
Thank you Drill Sgt Alves A795 for straighting out the man in me..
I've gone far.. and try to pay it forward...
❤
❤❤❤❤❤❤
Thank you for your service
LFR, don't listen to what people don't know about. Elvis was loved by the black community, if the black members of his band didn't get the VIP treatment, he wouldn't play the show, even if it was a sold out crowd. Look a little deeper into Elvis, he was a great man.
Check out Elvis's If I can Dream a powerful tribute.
THE GOAT! HE OPENED THE DOOR FOR EVERY ARTIST AFTER HIM!!
the sweet inspirations were his female singers, his backup band was TCB band....when he was preforming in Texas one time, they told him that his female singers couldn't ride with him around the astrodome in the convertable...he told those people you don't want them, then you don't want me, guess who rode in the car...true story..this song came out in 1969 and it was written by Mac Davis
I remember I heard that song as a child and I cried. That message had stuck with me my whole life.
I still cry, every time I hear it. I have the record, and I still cry whenever I play it. It is so moving, real, and raw.
Me too!! Just as Sam Cooke’s Chain Gain 😓
During this time, The singers are call "Sweet Inspirations" Cissy Drinkard Houston, Myrna Smith, Sylvia Shemwell and Estelle Brown. Cissy is Whitney Houston's mom. Later his band would be call TCB "Taking Care of Business"
When Elvis recorded this I was an 11 yr old white girl living in a suburb of LA. It made me cry cuz I didn't understand why a child would be hungry or what a ghetto was. My dad asked one of his best friend's, Big Willy, to explain it to me. He was a 6'5" black man who lived in Compton. Dad knew it was Willy's story and that he would be able to breath life into it. He did. And he was an Elvis fan.
At 65, sitting on his knee telling me his story, well, it is one of my most vivid and precious memories. And its still one of my favorite songs cuz it reminds me that all that is needed for poverty to continue is for those of privilege to turn away.
ELIVS SANG LOADS OF GOSPEL IT WAS HIS FAVORITE TYPE OF MUSIC AND HE LOVED EVERYONE AND EVERYONE LOVED HIM HE HAD NO CARES ABOUT RACISM
Elvis never win a Grammy for his rock and roll. He won Grammies for his gospel albums!
Immediately listen to "If I Can Dream" which he performed after MLK's murder. It was dedicated to him. He did that song in ONE take was exhausted is why. And OMG from his manager Col. Tom Parker as he *knew* it would erode some of Elvis' white southern fan base.
People who said Elvis was racist and other words like this are *liars* or maybe they are jealous.
His background singers were the "Sweet Inspirations". It was a big performance in Houston where the promoter said to "be sure you don't bring your girls". We know what Elvis said and when they all drove in convertible Cadillacs around the Houston Astrodome they did the same.
He nicknamed Cissy Houston "Squirrely" and bought her a gift of a thick gold bracelet with Squirrely inscribed underside it. She was either Whitney's mother or aunt IDK.
It's nothing but sheer IGNORANCE for those who say Elvis was racist. Ignorance does not mean stupid. Ignorance is just being uninformed or misinformed. Burr had a good field day trashing Elvis and yeah I get pushing the envelope. Elvis was brought up in what was called a "shotgun shack" in Tupelo, Mississippi on the "wrong side of the tracks". It had two rooms. Vernon actually was trying to earn enough money so they could *move INTO* government housing meaning "the projects". Now this was a *dream* for them. He'd go to black churches when he could, sit in the back row and sing gospel
songs. His white southern fan base were NOT happy when he had black background singers and started to call him a wh@gger.
This song would never have been made into a record unless it was Elvis. He did it because he was able to call the shots even though that bastard manager was dead set AGAINST him recording it.
Elvis had *four* gospel records and his only Grammy was for singing gospel. He is in the Hall of Fame in four categories: Rock, Gospel, Country, and Rockabilly.
Listen to Elvis sing "How Great Thou Art" in a live audience performance.
YES!!
You nailed it!
Colonel Tom Parker was a pos.
Elvis wanted to bring people together…he blended the music that inspired him: gospel, blues, country He loved people & music!
Elvis is a rabbit hole. He had no peer. 184 gold, platinum, and diamond records...no one else comes close. Also, he was the opposite of a racist.
It's "dope", but, God, it will break your heart.
My mother used to sing this song and it always made me cry.
This song was not played on the radio (much). The message is so very relevant today. I remember hearing this song as a child and crying. My mom and my aunt loved Elvis. We heard it because they had his records. I never understood people saying he was prejudice.
There should be more like him. He was a good and decent man
Elvis grew up poor, the families all together fed each other, one family had gotten a chicken, another family got potatoes, etc., They helped each other and he always remembered this
When Elvis was a kid he was in the same situation that's how he knows so much about the ghetto
Elvis was definitely ahead of his time.
The only thing he did ahead of his time was pass away. Other than that I believe he was the right man at the right time to make such a crossover in all of music
I don't think he way, I think we just didn't move forward.
Actually, I believe, he was a man of his time. Unfortunately, history books lie about what was going on. And now they have ventured further from the truth to the point of not coming close to anything that was going on. Also Known As lying and making everything completely the reverse. Elvis Presley grew up dirt poor and fought for everybody’s rights, but somehow some people have been told he was a racist. I just can’t comprehend how!
Elvis started out singing Gospels...some of the best recordings ever.
He loved his backup singers and they were the Sweet Inspirations.Elvis loved all regardless of skin color.
I live near Chicago, I cried the first time I heard this song when I was little (early 70's) and still cry every time I listen to it. I may be wrong but I feel there are far more people that intimately relate to the words, the message of this song now. It's unforgivable. We have lost generations of beautiful people to poverty. EVERY ONE has the right to dream AND achieve their dream. What will it take to stop the world from turning it's head? 😔😔💔
Beautiful words. Never stop sharing thoughts like these
Mama Odie wow such beautiful words, I'm crying once again while I listen to this song and read your comment. Cheers
Education. It’s all down to respect for education. Telling a child they’re a victim is child abuse.
Thank you for your very insightful thoughts poverty steals the life of many.
'Poverty' is 'profitable' for some so turning the head (after posing as an activist/ally/leader) for them fills their bank accounts.
The band was the “TCB Band” (Taking Care of Business), Elvis made a robe for Muhammed Ali (stayed with Ali while Ali trained in Minnesota). - James Brown asks for 5 minutes with Elvis’ body and casket - EP chose to live in the black side of Memphis, he helped black music to a white audience - he was the last thing from a racist.
He crossed boundaries and loved people
This song was written by Mac Davis, who also recorded it, but I think Elvis' version is more widely known.
As you said, this song was released in 1969.
Elvis always had black singers in his band, and even refused to perform if the owners of certain venues had a problem with that.
His backing rhythm band was called the TCB (Taking Care Of Business) Band. The female backing singers are the Sweet Inspirations. And the male backing singers in this video is the Imperials Quartet. A few years after this, he witched to JD Sumner & The Stamps Quartet for his male backing group.
The members of The TCB Band are as follows:
Piano - Glen Hardin
Drums - Ronnie Tutt
Rhythm Guitar - John Wilkerson
Bass Guitar - Jerry Scheff
Lead Guitar - James Burton
Guitar and Backing Vocal Harmonies - Charlie Hodge
He also had a full orchestra that was conducted at all of his concerts by Joe Guercio.
Elvis sounds like ELVIS. Nobody else comes close to that beautiful baritone voice no matter how much they think they do.
Van, Whitney Houston’s Mom was one of Elvis’ backup singers!
Elvis actually went to church with black people when he was younger. Great person.
Yes! And in a very segregated and racist time too. That's very telling of who he was. Whites didn't do those things back then.
@Christopher Smith Hey asshole he never fucked a 14 year old. That's another bullshit lie about Elvis. He met her when she was 14 while in Germany but married her when she was 22 and she has admitted that he refused to take advantage of her and kept her pure until their wedding night. What they had was innocent and LEGAL.
@Christopher Smith You're judging him off of assumptions when she has gone on record about how she begged him to make love to her and he told her "it's not the right time" that he wanted her to wait and he would one day marry her when the time was right. Nobody around either one of them has ever claimed that they slept together until their wedding night. Besides, the age of consent then in Germany was 14 years old. So even if they had it would have been legal at the time. A pedophile is someone who sexually assaults/rapes a minor.
Christopher Smith do a little research before you open your mouth and reveal how stupid you are. SMFH!!!
Elvis loved everybody. He was good to so man people.😊😊😊
He refused to go anywhere without his back up singers 💚 trust me elvis was far from racist he loved & took great inspiration from the black culture.
hi love
So good to hear people really appreciate Elvis’s music and voice. It’s one of his most poignant records, more so because nothing has changed 50 years later. When we still had JFK, RFK, DR MARTIN LUTHER JR and MALCOLM X we thought that we might have a chance but a few bullets put a stop to those ideas.
Commenting here three years later. I would like to say that I grew up in small town Oklahoma in the sixties and seventies. There were only a handful of black people in town. In my 18 years there, we never had a murder or robbery. I was 7 years old when this song came out. It terrified me!!! I couldn't wrap my head around children starving or stealing just to eat. Elvis introduced white folks to the black community. Elvis didn't write songs, but he made them his own. He intended to shake up people who were clueless about what was happening in America. After graduating from college, I got a job teaching in a school that was 98% black. I'm not going to lie. The kids put me through hell the first several months, but as soon as they learned that I was there because I knew they mattered, they gave me so much love and loyalty! 32 years later, we still have each other's back! I have spent my whole adult life working in the black community. When George Floyd was murdered, I sobbed thinking about how he died calling out for his momma. I could hear Elvis singing, "as her young man dies." This song was monumental. I can't think of any artist who explicitly sang about these issues besides Diana Ross and the Supremes' 1968 song, "Love Child". I certainly can't think of white artist who did.
Chuck D is a Racist
The Jordanaires were his backing band
That was in the 50s
Elvis, at this point in time (the beginning of his touring career following the 68 comeback special) was backed vocally by J.D. Sumner And The Stamps (male chorus) and The Sweet Inspirations (female chorus).
@mary mary nope thats JD Sumner in the glasses. The women were the sweet inspirations
I have loved this song since I first heard it in the early 70s. It is heart wrenching to anyone with a soul who has eyes to see what is going on around them. He does another song that tugs at your heart called "Don't Cry Daddy". I think it was the flip side of the "In the Ghetto" 45 record.
He was a huge supporter of the civil rights movement! What makes me sad is it's been 50 years since this and we haven't changed ANYTHING. What is it going to take to stop this circle repeating
Elvis grew up with his Dad in prison, so poor he grew up in a black neighborhood. Check out his song “If I can Dream” it’s his response to MLKs death. I don’t where this idea that he was racist came from?
I think you'll find that the vast majority of people who make the claim that he was racist will just say "I heard that from somewhere" without ever citing an actual or credible source. Like a fake news story attributed to "unnamed sources" with zero accountability. On the other hand, when you watch the video Elvis & The Black Community, you have real people with real names willing to counter those "unnamed sources". th-cam.com/video/xd1pXw1DmsA/w-d-xo.html
Elvis’ dad only spent 9 months at Parchman farm for forging a check to feed his family. He did not grow up with him in prison. Elvis was only 2 when this happened and most likely didn’t remember that time. He definitely grew up very poor and in a black community even attending at times some of the Black churches, hence the influence on his style.
It came from racists assuming he must be racist because he was white and from the south.
@@MrClobbertime a white newspaper guy made up a story about what Elvis told someone about what he thought about black people in Boston while performing there in the 50s. It turned out Elvis had never been to Boston and only played there once and that wasn't until 71. The rumor did the job it was intended to do if you look at it. Elvis had to answer the questions and a lot of black people believed it. If you look at some of the early pictures of Elvis in the 50s with his fans there are both white and black girls reacting the same. What other big name white entertainers were showing up to black children's charity events in the 50s. Elvis was doing this in Memphis to help out. Even some of the other performers say they were amazed by that but had a lot of respect for him doing it.
MrClobbertime Actually when his music started hitting the air waves, everybody thought he was black.
His "Sweet Inspirations" he called his backup singers.
Elvis loved his brother and sister
The entire point of the song ending as it started (with another child being born in the place of the first) represents the repetitious cycle that, as you mentioned, still continues today...
Without scrolling down, I'll assume that the comment section is full of requests for the '68 Comeback Special version of "If I Can Dream"... Sign me up!
Oh yeah... I'm also sure you've been told the polar opposite of the "racism" rumor... IDK what to tell you except that it's POSSIBLE there was some resentment by the black community for Elvis' success with "Their" style of music in the days when black artists weren't played on rock stations. All it takes is one ripple... It's the only thing I can think of, as Elvis like Sinatra, literally put his reputation and his money on the line more than once when it came to standing up out against racism. Prepare yourself for the stories below! =)
He was beyond human - talent off the scale and a deeply spiritual person.
Elvis was a huge champion of civil rights and proper treatment of black performers
ELVIS (that's all that needed to be said). But he had great back up singers & musicians. You need to youtube what Sammy Davis said about him, BB King, he gave Mohammed Ali one of the most beautiful robs to wear when he would make his way to the ring. Elvis wasn't just a great entertainer, he was a generous man that gave back to people, his story is amazing from government housing in Memphis to one of the most famous entertainer of the 20th century.
Ali said Elvis was the only many he respected.
You should react to Elvis' live Las Vegas performance of Bridge Over Troubled Water. His performance is absolutely excellent and it is an inspirational song.
This was written by Mac Davis, a great singer/songwriter/ actor, who wrote songs for many other artists. Elvis was the only one brave enough to record it in 1969, as it was considered too controversial. It breaks my heart that 53 years later things haven't changed much. This song still makes me cry.
You should react to his song If I can Dream .. a tribute to MLK
Whenever I hear this song, I am saddened. Because this at that time all over America was and is still happening.
There will only ever be one ELVIS, looks moves, giving of people , kindness 🎶🎶🎶🎶