Elvis never forgot where he came from and always looked for ways to help people less fortunate. He grew up in extreme poverty. He was a generous, caring, wonderful man.❤❤❤
HE LIVED in the GHETTO my friend! He sings straight from heart!! Elvis person here. I first went to his 2 room shack in 1967 where his was born in Tupelo MS as the 2nd boy of twins. His brother was a still born baby and he was born a few minutes later. No Doctor was in attendance because they were so poor. More to that story. So poor they did not know his Mother was having twins. Finally a neighbor got someone to come to the house that morning of January 8 1935! His Mother worked in the fields and a mill house to feed her family. They were extremely poor living in public housing until he made his first record and became a hit! He gave most of his money away buying his friends, family houses and cars. He told his Father day who was upset at his spending, "Daddy, you see their wants but I see their needs." Amen brother!
@@PlutoPlease certainly! Mac Davis wrote “In the Ghetto “ and was thrilled for Elvis to record it. Made him rich. There is a TH-cam story on here where the great Mac Davis talks about EP.
@@marshalawson Mac Davis originally intended the song for Sammy Davis JR. He said: I can't sing it because I was never poor, I didn't live in a ghetto, after that Elvis sang it.
The biggest Legends in the black community THAT KNEW ELVIS are on record. Here are a few of the biggest, and they actually KNEW Elvis personally and professionally. CHUCK BERRY: “Describe Elvis Presley? He was the greatest who ever was, is or ever will be.” BARRY WHITE: "Elvis Presley saved my life." White continued: "It was like he was telling me: ‘Change your life, Barry, you’re thinking about going another way. It’s now or never.’ I understood that." BEYONCE- Elvis is iconic; a lot of performers today look to him for inspiration. MUHAMMAD ALI - 'Elvis was my close personal friend. He had a robe made for me. I don't admire nobody, but Elvis Presley was the sweetest, most humble and nicest man you'd want to know. We must understand, Elvis did lot for poor people, he cared for people, he had a good heart, he just wasn't a person who was great with talent, but he was great in spirit and with God in his heart. I wouldn't praise nobody if he don't deserve it, because I am the greatest of all time in boxing, in boxing. I said boxing ! But I'm telling you, I'm Black, I'm a Islamic, I'm 100% different from you. But I’ll tell the world Elvis was the greatest of all time. I'm a Muslim who's black who stands up for what he believes. I don't have to say what I don't feel, I'm not false, I don't have to say this. I have no Bosses. I'm free. He to me, is one of the greatest singers, actors and all round men of all time.” ~ "THE GREATEST" MUHAMMAD ALI. BB KING: 'Let me tell you the definitive truth about Elvis Presley and racism', The King of the Blues, B.B. King said in 2010. 'With Elvis, there was not a single drop of racism in that man. And when I say that, believe me I should know'. -- BB KING The "GODFATHER OF SOUL" JAMES BROWN: “I wasn’t just a fan, I was his brother. He said I was good and I said he was good; we never argued about that. Elvis was a hard worker, dedicated, and God loved him … I love him and hope to see him in heaven. There will never be another like that Soul Brother”. During Elvis' private family wake, James was the LAST ONE TO LEAVE. 3 hours and 30 minutes later -- it took several of his security guards to physically help him out of the room. James was devastated -- James and Elvis sang Gospel together many a night to all hours of the morning at each others' homes. James Brown was considered family by the Presleys because they were so close. After the wake, back to the studio to cut a personal tribute to his lifelong friend, a song they sang together privately th-cam.com/video/TCH_OROH_WI/w-d-xo.html -- but JB changes the words as only he can. JOHN LEE HOOKER actually called Elvis "The ROCK AND ROLL KING" in his music studio during one of his songs to tribute his close personal friend, EP. Listen to it here -- th-cam.com/video/cczYlw8XWZY/w-d-xo.html&t= "One of the greatest entertainers. He was the King. One of the greatest people to ever been born." -- JOHN LEE HOOKER JACKIE WILSON: "A lot of people have accused Elvis of stealing the black man's music, when in fact, almost every black solo entertainer copied from Elvis." --- JACKIE WILSON Elvis quietly paid for Jackie's medical expenses until the day he passed away in 1977. Before Jackie's stage accident he would carry a small signed photo of Elvis in his pants pocket. Every day, bar none. LITTLE RICHARD - "He sung my Tootie Frutti & by him singing it, made it bigger & made ME bigger" And then he said: “I thank God for Elvis Presley. I thank the Lord for sending Elvis to open the door so I could walk down the road...”- Little Richard CISSY HOUSTON: "Elvis loved gospel music. He was raised on it. And he really did know what he was talking about. He was singing Gospel all the time - almost anything he did had that flavor. You can't get away from what your roots are." - Cissy Houston (The Sweet Inspirations co-founder & member & sang vocals for Elvis, also mother of Whitney Houston) RANDY JACKSON of the JACKSON 5: "Elvis used Rock and Roll to bridge the gap between whites and minorities. He was a wonderful person." ISAAC HAYES - "Elvis was a giant and influenced everyone in the business." - Isaac Hayes WHITNEY HOUSTON - " Elvis was very nice to my mother, Cissy. I would see him backstage, he was amazing to look at!" ESTELLE BROWN of the SWEET INSPIRATIONS: "When I first started working with Elvis, I made the mistake once of calling him "BOSS" Elvis replied back to me, "Estelle, I'm not your boss, I'm your brother." After that exchange --- the bond between Elvis and the Sweet Inspirations strengthened into a lifelong bond. Estelle said that "We felt like equals." The Sweet Inspirations spent the rest of their lives explaining whenever the questions arose how wonderful Elvis was to them. SHONKA DUKUREH - "I hope people [watch the Elvis movie] with an open heart and be willing to learn or unlearn some things that they may have thought they knew about Elvis, his life and his legacy.”
Depper, I think you should copy and paste this in the comment section when reactors are unaware or have preconceived notions of who Elvis was. The only comment I had not seen before was from Shona Durureh.
He was born during the depression in 1935. He was born in a small shotgun house in Tupelo Mississippi. They moved from there to Memphis when Elvis was 14 years old into government housing. Sometimes they didn’t have enough to eat said his longtime friend since 8th grade George Klein who was his friend until he passed away. Elvis never forgot where he came from. He gave to people he didn’t even know to so many charities. In 1964 he was one of the first celebrities that donated big money for Saint Jude hospital in Memphis Tennessee. And the Presley foundation still gives money to Saint Jude’s. There is a trauma wing at the hospital. It’s called the Elvis Presley trauma wing.
Thanks for your reaction. What did Elvis know about the Ghetto? Well, let me tell ya. Elvis was born on January 8, 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi, in a 2 room shack of a house his dad built with money he borrowed from his boss. That's how dirt poor they were. He was one half of identical twins; the other boy - Jesse Garon - was stillborn. They were so poor, that Jesse Garon was buried in a shoebox in an unmarked grave. At Graceland they have a plaque with his name on it in his memory. Elvis always got along with the black community and learned a lot about music from his friends of color. Also, according to the one drop rule, Elvis would not be considered white, since he has Cherokee ancestors on both the Smith (his mother) and the Presley (his father) sides of the family. His paternal grandfather, Jesse Dunning Presley, was not happy that his two sons, Elvis' father Vernon and his brother Vester, married two sisters, Gladys and Clettes who were known to have Cherokee blood in their family tree. J.D. Presley was quite the racist a-hole, often drunk and a philandering husband to Minnie Mae (they were actually separated long before they finally divorced in 1954) who was always competing with his sons Vester and Vernon and who was known to abuse his kids when drunk. J.D. was was publicly against race mixing and was in denial about the Cherokee blood in his own family tree. It was more publicly known that the Smith family had Native blood in their family tree, so when both his sons fell for 2 Smith sisters and Vernon, on top of that, was still a minor at 17 when he eloped with Gladys who was 4 years older than him, Jesse was totally pissed off. As a child, Elvis already had many friends in the black community at the time his family was one of 4 "white" families that lived in the predominantly black neighborhood The Hill, just across from Shake Rag. His childhood friend Sam Bell said that some of the (black) kids in that neighborhood had lighter skin than Elvis (th-cam.com/video/LrFCyNMvZWk/w-d-xo.html). One of Elvis' bodyguards once said that he thought it was a miracle Elvis got into Humes High School in Memphis, because it was "lily white". Elvis wanted to be more open about his Native ancestry, but his manager "colonel" Tom Parker (real name Andreas van Kuijk) was against it because he was afraid it might cost Elvis fans (and himself money). They did have Elvis play characters in his movies though where he had Native American blood (Flaming Star, G.I. Blues, Stay Away Joe). Once Elvis had his own (apprentice) job learning to be an electrician, he saved up his money and bought his clothes in the same style that many of his friends of color wore. He was called a (forgive me, just stating facts here) "n-lover" and got beaten up several times too. Later, when he was an established star, he would not perform at places where the members of color of his back-up band/orchestra weren't allowed.
Elvis grew up during the time of segregation when only the poorest of the poor lived in mixed neighborhoods. Elvis was raised in the ghettos of Tupelo, Mississippi until moving to the ghettos of Memphis, Tennessee at the age of 13. A move into government housing when he was 15 was a huge step up for his family. Elvis released "In the Ghetto" a year after MLK, Jr.'s assassination. His record label advised against his recording of the song, and his manager told him it would ruin his career. But he was determined to deliver its message. I'd like to put in a request for you to react to: Martin Luther King & Elvis Presley - "THEY HAD A DREAM" (8:02).
Elvis was raised in the poorest section of Tupelo, MS. He didn't have an indoor bathroom until he was 14 when his family moved to Memphis and he lived in the projects.
Elvis never forgot where he came from. ❤ He was poor as dirt in Tupelo. When his family moved to Memphis they lived in the projects aka "the ghetto". 😎
1935 on January 8 a huge star was born, but sadly in 1977 on august 16 we lost a great musician, a amazing singer, but we also lost a amazing humanitarian that helped so many people that he did not even know. Today over 46 years after his death, people are still calling Elvis the King of Rock'n'Roll (he said that Chubby Checker was the one that should be called King of Rock N roll, if any human should), Elvis didn't like that title and he believed that the only King was God and he actually told this to his fans several times, he said: I believe that God is the only true king, sometimes he added Jesus Christ. I think that Elvis is and only the king of Rock'n roll, he is the king of music because he can sing very well in any genre, but what do you think, is he good enough to be called a music king? Elvis was really in my mind, the King of GOSPEL and other music, no one does it better then him, he is best known for making Rockn roll famous, so he was called The King of Rockn roll, but he never liked that people called him that, he repeatedly stopped fans who said that he was the king of rock'n roll, telling them: I'm just an entertainer and singer, God is the only true King (sometimes he also said Jesus Christ is the only King)... He also never liked the "so called joke" Elvis the Pelvis, he loved Jokes, but that was for him very hurtful to hear people say, or write. Elvis was born in the poor parts of Tupelo Mississippi (in a shotgun house) and it was mainly Afro Americans living there, at the place where Elvis family lived there only lived 3 more white families, the rest was colored people, his family was dirt poor until he became an artist after singing in a mainly colored peoples church during his childhood. Did you know that he had several friends that where Afro Americans, one of his friends where James Brown, yes THAT James Brown (The King of Soul), another artist was B.B King, yes that B.B King... He also was a good friend with Mohamed Ali, yes the GREATEST boxer of all time, he even had a Robe made for him, but it was to much bling on it so Ali wouldn't where it more then one time to a fight. He really admired Martin Luther King very much, Elvis felt that all people are equal, unfortunately he never got to meet him, that would have created to much problems for both of them at that time. He had several medical problems, Glaucoma, (Insomnia) sleeping problems, irritable bowel syndrome, things that affected his real life and made him need medication to function. Yes, he took medicines that today are considered to be called drugs, but at that time doctors prescribed it to him and to ordinary people, they did not know of the problems it could give people (side effects). He never took any so-called street drugs, but unfortunately he did not realize that those medications would be a problem for him, he thought that they where ordinary medicine because his doctor prescribed them to him and to everyone else that needed it. Many out of his relatives died at a relatively young age, so even if he wouldn't have the medication, he might have died at about the same age. He could never be alone and thus himself, at that time the word superstar did not exist, so nothing could prepare him for that kind of life. Did you know that a big group of white people actually smashed his records and wanted to ban his music, just because they called the music he did so called N... music, that is so painful to think that some people actually can think like that, skin color is just color and nothing more, when will people start to realize that? There are some videos of when Elvis joking and messing up, he loved to joke around and pretend that he did not have control, but he had total control, he actually conducted his musicians and back up choirs all the time ! He is the only person to have 2 records gone to sell Gold and 2 to to sell Platinum since he died. Elvis is also in almost every genre of Music Hall of Fame (5 that I'm sure of Rock 'n' Roll, Country, Gospel, Rockabilly and Rhythm and Blues), if Gospel is a genre in Music Hall of fame, then he should be in there to, but no one else is in more then perhaps 2 genres. Not bad for someone who never took a single singing lesson, yes he sang in church so perhaps he learned a little there, right? Something else that people tend to overlook: He always conducts his musicians and backup singers, he never gets credit for being able to do that. Imagen you are a singer, you have great Musicians, you have great backup singers, no Guest Artists, no Auto tune, no Lip singing and no Fireworks, now all is about your skill, could you handle that pressure? At the time when Elvis started to perform, Auto tune did not exist yet and when it became available, then he still did not use it, he did not need to, he always sang so that you could hear every word that he sang, the Fans always felt that he sang to just you ! That is what Elvis did in over 1600 concerts (during his 20 years as an artist), despite having problems with his health, like his Glaucoma, the headlights must have hurt his eyes like crazy. He sang over 800 songs, I wonder how he could remember them all, he never wrote a song himself, so he had to remember other peoples lyrics, well that is amazing in it self. By the way he had Glaucoma and that must have been difficult being in the headlights all the time, that could be why he sometimes closes his eyes, but also sometimes squinting! This unfortunately made him temporary blind after the shows, that is why they led him of the stage and into his car, that is something that not many people knew about Elvis. Elvis suits was made of 100% Polyester, or 100 cotton (I'm not sure witch one), it was originally a karate suit, it was very light, but it was hot, so it made him sweat a lot, he got some bad press about that, but if you give it all then you will sweat, it should be positive, right? About the deep base voiced JD Sumner (a member of The Stamps Quartet) he is a Basso Profundo, I think it's called that, it is the deepest base singer there is. A video about him helping others, look at this: th-cam.com/video/CrJ1c9tm-C0/w-d-xo.html Elvis made a show where all the money went to build the Memorial after Pearl Harbor, he talked to the nations about taking the Polio vaccine, Elvis took the first injection himself, he helped by donating a big amount of money to St Jude hospital, they fight against cancer (especially children with), he also gave away juwelery, gave away cars, he even gave away some houses to total strangers. Elvis started an organization that helps people to get out of Homelessness (Presley Charitable Foundation), this organization helps people even now close to 50 years after he passed away. A thing that you perhaps did not know: Elvis ALMOST NEVER did a show OUTSIDE OF USA, yes he did sing a few times in Canada: 4 concerts, 2 times in Toronto, 1 time in Ottawa and 1 time in Vancouver (during the 50:s?). When the Aloha From Hawaii (Live in Honolulu 1973) was showed it had close to 1.5 Billion viewers from around the whole world and 3.7 billion people lived on earth at this time, so it was close to 1/3 of all of the population on the earth that viewed the show, it was the first time a single artist was shown LIVE around the globe. Video of Mohammad Ali speech after Elvis died: th-cam.com/video/PO8Kq_3KTyI/w-d-xo.html I have to say that I loved being at Graceland and seeing his home, first we were at the shotgun house in Tupelo where he lived in his early years, he was born there ! You don't have a guide taking you on a tour, you can go all over yourself, but stay outside of the ropes and do not attempt to go upstairs, the outside is huge, so is the house, but you don't realize that from the front of the house. I don't regret for a second that I was there, or that I stood at his grave site and said out loud that this is for the humanitarian Elvis/the person/the man and then I gave him a military salute, the others there just looked at me and asked if I didn't like his music. So I told them that he was clearly one of the best singers and artists ever, but I loved his big heart more, he helped so many people without getting credit for it, he didn't want the credit of helping others, he did it out of love and respect and to me that is what true charity is all about. This PLACE (GRACELAND) should be a protected part of music history and also American history forever, I think that people will keep coming for years and years and years to come ! Elvis did lots of things for America to, he helped in a big way to avoid getting Polio (he took the vaccine in a TV show and that made the interest for taking the vaccine to go up from 0,6 % all the way up to 80 % in 6 months), so in 6 months he got 79.4 % more of the American people take the Polio vaccine and shortly after it was eradicated from USA, he also helped in the fight to defeat Cancer by helping to build up St Jude's children cancer treatment clinic by donating a huge amount of money to them, he also helped to build the Memorial over Pearl Harbor and many other things!
Must be remembered...Elvis sang the song but he didn't write it. MAC DAVIS wrote this. Many singers were also songwriters but Elvis was not one of those. He simply brought the words to life.
Elvis was born into extreme poverty in a tiny one room "house" built by his dad. When he was very young his dad went to prison for supposedly forging a check. When his family moved to Memphis, he lived in housing projects.
He knew, because he was dirt poor, lived maybe 2 blocks from the ghetto, played with ghetto kids. Watch the program The Echo Will Never Die, you will learn a lot from famous people about Elvis ❤
Sammy Davis Jr. was given this song by a writer but he turned it down. Sammy said, ‘In all authenticity, I can’t do this song because I never lived this way, but I will tell you who did: Elvis Presley.'” He passed the song onto Elvis
Elvis grew up in what was basically a black Ghetto in Mississippi. It was during the great depression. He and his mother, his father went to prison for passing a bad check. See the interview with Elvis childhood black neighbor Sam Bell. He said "Elvis and his mom were so poor even blacks felt sorry for them. Elvis tried his whole life to promote black artists. See Elvis Presley and the Black Community". I lived in that era in the 50's when black stations wouldn't play black artist till Elvis changed that. He was also a great generous humanitarian, see " Elvis Presley King of Kindness". Thanks you for your reaction. Be Blessed.
Just started watching your reaction and I had to comment. Elvis grew up as a child, and as a teenager in the ghetto. Father was sent to jail for forging a check in order to survive. They lived in a shotgun shack amongst the black community. Black friends, black church living a black life in a white boys body. This was what caused all the discrimination against Elvis in the early 1950s. He sounded black he danced black and he acted black and the white audience found it unacceptable during that time everything was segregated. So Elvis was banned, threatened to be put in jail because he would not stop because he felt he was doing nothing wrong. I would highly suggest watching a reaction to Elvis and the black community. It’s a short 10 minute documentary that would not explain everything but it would touch base on what I’m saying. Another song you could check out is if I can dream he’s in a white suit from the 1968 comeback special. It’s a song he dedicated to Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy after their assassinations. God bless have a great evening
Elvis was born in Mississippi,probably the poorest State in the USA.He loved Gospel music too.He understood what being poor was all about too.He had natural raw talent and loved the juke joints and places where traditional rhythm and blues was played and he took that sound and elevated Black music to a greater world audience.
ELVIS GREW UP IN A SHOT GUN HOUSE ,NO RUNNING WATER ,OUTHOUSE FOR BATHROOM ,THEN LOST IT AT THREE ,LIVED IN A BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD ,TILL HE WAS 13 ,THEN MOVED TO Memphis ,IN GOVERMENT HOUSING ,HE GREW UP VERY POOR ,HIS MAMA TAGHT HIM TO BE HUMBLE TREAT EVERBODY WITH TOTAL RESPECT ,AND TO ALWAYS HELP YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR FELLOW MAN ,HE WAS A GREAT HUMANITARIAN ,
In The Ghetto was written by Mac Davis. What I read was that Davis had a black friend when he was a child and wondered why his friend's life was so different from his own. Davis also a man who grew up in the segregated South realized people depending on the color of their skin were treated differently. Not all Southerners were racist and that goes for Elvis as well. Mac Davis first offered the song to Sammy Davis Jr but Sammy said I can't relate to that environment but I know who can...Elvis. Thanks for exploring the phenomenon that is Elvis. ❤
I tried to tell people to do their homework when Elvis lived in Tupelo Mississippi he lived in the projects and when he moved to Memphis he still lived in projects so Elvis wouldn't always at rich man thank you for taking your time keeping Elvis music alive
Yes, Elvis knew what he was singing about. It was his life. He was such a special man that the world still needs. He never saw colour or race. He was raised singing in an all black Baptist Church in Tupelo Mississippi. Way before he moved to another Church in High School.
Elvis Was Brought Up In Poverty, He Lived In Poor Neighborhoods and Lived In Public Housing In His High School Years ! He Never Forgot His Poor Upbringing ! And He Became Famous, Which Was Never His Goal, He Just Truly Enjoyed Singing And Entertaining, He Knew He Had Something Special, And Saw It As A Way To Help His parents Out Financially, Which Was Very Important To Him !
I saw a TV doco on Elvis. They interviewed young Elvis' next door neighbour and childhood friend. The boy's father after meeting Elvis for the first time said to his son, That was the first time in my life I had been called Sir by a white person.
Nice reaction. You will react to many fine artists on your journey, but this guy is possibly the most versatile in the different genre. he covers and does well.
This is the creation from the genius of MAC DAVIS. I was shocked the day I found out that this song comes from the man who had a wide variety of his own Hit songs such as "Baby, Don't Get Hooked on Me" & "Oh Lord, It's Hard to be Humble"
Watch the mini doc , Elvis and the Black Community. He grew up dirt poor in Mississippi and sang at the local Black church. Watch the interview with the Pastor in the doc! ❤
Mac Davis wrote it n no other singer would perform it, too nervous. Elvis said Hell ya I'll do it. Elvis would visit Black Churches in his young life. He Loved the Music n The ppl who attended The Church❤❤
The crap you spread belongs on the front page of every newspaper. It was offered to Sammy Davis first. Sammy refused it. WTF does a white guy know what it is like to be black and be black and live in the ghetto. He then said give it to that white boy Elvis.
Very few singers wrote their own songs at that time. This song was written and offered to Sammy Davis Jr. He declined to do this song but suggested that his friend Elvis might be interested in it.
Elvis is from the ghetto , he was born in a shot gun house with no electricity or running water in Tupelo Mississippi v, and he never forgot where he came from , Elvis was a dreamer , always searching for the way to get out of the ghetto and housing projects , cause he wanted to buy his mama her own house and Pink Cadillac , even though she couldn't drive he made that Dream come true and the only thing that really hurts me is when he did his time in the army at the peak of his career , his mama passed away , he was never the Same , I don't know if you have watched the video of Elvis singing If I Can Dream in the 68 comeback special in the white suit , a tribute to MLK and RFK , MLK was assasanition In Memphis TN , not far from the home of Elvis Graceland which is a museum toured by more people than any other person other than the White House , People travel all over the world just to see the Love and Mystic of this Beautiful MAN Among Men Elvis is an eternal flame 🔥 that burns brightly forever and Always TCB 1935
Elvis was raised poor as a can be. Back when no one gave a crap about the ghetto, there was this man who was brought to awareness of it and made a conscious decision to record this song and perform it live in Las Vegas. The controversial thing about it was that it wasn't popular for any white star performers to give any props or attention to those societal problems in the black community. He cared enough to go outside the norm and bring awareness to the masses no matter the backlash. Consider the times and context. Written and also performed by Mac Davis
Elvis lived half this song. He grew up in a BLACK community in Mississippi. His best friend until he moved to Memphis was Black. He knew what is was like to go hungry. Elvis had a dream to get out of the ghetto, and he did. He was a shy person who had a very hard time making friends. It was hard for Elvis to get on stage for his shows. He was just has nervous getting on stage for his live show, to his last. He would always say, this is a different crowd, they might not like me.
This man totally walked the walk..... God Blessed him, because God saw a special soul. he was raised in such a poor environment, you new to this party, check out his background Enjoy!
If you're going to host this and make comments you read some books. He grew up hungry and slept with his parents. Before he died he had 100 people on his payroll and many were family.
Of course, he grew up in the Ghetto/projects amongst black people in the deep south in 30s and 40s going to church everyday after school and singing gospel. He grew up in a smaller house than my 1 room apartment that i am living in now, that his father have built
He used to have pink Cadillacs custom built for him and delivered to a dealership. Once when he was picking one up an elderly black woman said she wished she had a car like that. Elvis had one built and delivered to her.
Elvis grew up in a different kind of Ghetto...He grew up in Country version of the ghetto...no central heat and air, no tv, maybe had a radio. usually did not have a phone or car...grew much of their own food ...even hunted their own food at times...Elvis family was Dirt Poor...Elvis was able to buy his parents their fist home, after he became succesful as a performer...You wanna get a visual idea of how Elvis grew up, and their economic condition. Watch the movie..."Walk the Line" about the life of his friend and at times, early on. Co-Star....Johnny Cash.
The song was originally presented to Sammy Davis Jr. He told the writer that he didn't relate to the song because he didn't grow up in the ghetto. Mr Davis then said you know who comes from that life? Elvis. present the song to Elvis. He's from that life.
You have to remember Elvis was born in a 2 room shack on the black side of Tupelo. He knows the ghetto well. The question you should ask is what did Mac Davis ( who wrote the song ) know about the ghetto. I think the lyrics pretty much answer that question.
Everything about Elvis upbringing was within the black community, where he lived, his friends, his church. He sought advice from the likes of BB King, who whilst both growing up were close friends in Memphis, he hung on Beale St, was looked down ups on because he embraced Black style… and yes, although he didn’t write these songs, experienced first hand
He Knew a Lot about the Ghetto , The Southern Version ,Rural Version, Born in a House No Electricity ,No Plumbing ,Out House ,Lived in Housing Projects and Tiny Apartments where He slept in the Living Room on the Couch ,Worked in HS Part Time jobs in Factories etc.He Knew
Very good reaction, i think you should watch and review Elvis and the black community, i feel you would get a true understanding of how this man started out and the trials he had to go through to become the man we know now as the king of rock and roll.
The song was written by Mac Davis....a white man from Lubbock, Texas. Not likely Davis spent much time in a ghetto but probably touched and saddened by the cycle of life.
Just subscribed to you channel while watching Elvis. You need to watch If I Can Dream from his 1968 Comeback Special. This song was done after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King which occurred in his hometown of Memphis TN and also the assassination of Bobby Kennedy. I think you will enjoy it.
Elvis grew up dirt floor poor and hungry in shot gun shacks and his daddy in and out of jail for petty crimes like check doctoring to feed his family and his twin brother died and they couldn't afford a coffin so he was buried in a shoe box and this song is Raceless and colorless poverty and crime knows no color or zip code and he's native American and that jim crow crap affected us too people forget and Elvis was always kind to everyone and would refuse gigs if his backup singers weren't allowed in and cissy Houston was one of his singers and Elvis was Whitney's godfather and you should watch the documentary Elvis in the black community it'll make you think and Im honored to call him my cousin albeit distant but family is family and he passed before I was born..but I grew up poor too but not like him he was share croppin poor..my branch was govt cheese and food stamps that looked like monopoly money in semi rural texas poor..not the inner city but still sucked to have great depression poverty in the 80s and 90s..but that crap keeps you humble and grounded and genuine to others..but if any moron tells you he was rascist no he wasn't and them calling him that shows their rascism and how they think oh a southern man must be a bigot nope...and this song was written by mac davis from El paso Tx son of a preacher they was poor but not like Elvis but mac grew up and saw how his African American friends were like him in poverty or worst and how his family welcomed them to dinner and it stuck with him and he dedicated it to his friends who he still had after making it big and sammy davis jr turned this down because he grew up fairly upperclass but he knew who exactly grew up like this and should cover it he suggested Elvis and col tom and others told Elvis not to cover it Elvis was like screw you im cutting it and the rest is history and one of his better songs
Yes, it`s true, Elvis has spent his childhood in poverty. But does one have to be born in poverty to understand how difficult such a life can be? I don`t think so. I don`t have to break my leg to understand someone`s pain who broke his. I may not feel it, but I can comprehend it.
Also you should react to Elvis and his daughter Lisa Marie doing in the ghetto and where no one stands alone... After Elvis passed Lisa Marie put their two versions of both songs together before she passed and they're both beautiful❤ Elvis's first love of music was actually Gospel music...
Greetings from germany🇩🇪🤝🇺🇸. The king he is with a reason! Selfmade artist, grown up in poverty … no guitar lessons or vocal coach!!! Look on wikipedia… interesting facts about him👌 but, ladys and gentlemen, he presentet that song 1969??? How many generations between since… remenber ww2 black soldiers hat to fight theyr right to fight… first students allowed on college… saw many reaction videos from you! Interesting is, no matter how old the content creator is, nearly all of you expierienced exactly the same too.. 4 generations ? We have to break the circle! 😔🇩🇪🤝🇺🇸
Im not going to be an echo of all the other beautiful said comments. Please react to If I Can Dream in white suit 68 Comeback Special and You'll Never Walk Alone. ❤
Does it matter what he knew? You only know about the ghetto if you LIVED in one... but you can feel other people's hearts and suffering. He felt the song mattered, the rest is History. Besides, his background singers were (in 1969) four black girls and one white. Also, it doesn't have to be a black ghetto, white people also live in ghettos around the world. Furthermore, you can't fool people like James Brown, Muhammad Ali, B. B. King and many others that knew him... those famous black celebrities loved Elvis, so if this is not enought, than I don't know what it is. We all (black and white people) should learn from Elvis and thank God for what he did.
Yes it does matter to me personally, just to answer your question. I can respect more if he could relate to what he is singing about, opposed to reading lyrics from a paper that someone wrote for him. And based off the other comments, he was raised in a similar environment and he could relate. So my question was very valid 😃
@@PlutoPlease ... Yes, valid (I admit) but relatively. Because maybe for you is something of personal interest, because you probably had/have suffered racism or know someone who had. But generally, anyone can sing about something he/she feels is relevant - and for Elvis it was so, because he decided to record it (and this is true) against the advice of some people... considering that it was 1969 and the racial issue was very strong in those days. He was poor indeed, but I guess he would had did it anyway even if he had been a rich boy ... He continued to sing "Ghetto" throughout 1969 and 1970.
Another Elvis that you should listen to is “If I can Dream”. It was written by Mac Davis & sung by Elvis at the end of a nationwide TV Christmas special on NBC. It was his tribute to both MLK & Robert Kennedy after their deaths earlier that year. The lyrics are very poignant.
Thanks for mentioning Kennedy regarding "If I Can Dream" -- most people never even mention his name, some don't even realize what took place prior to the composition of that song.
@@toodlescae Yup, thanks to Steve Binder & Elvis' lengthy discussions into the middle of the night when Binder asked Brown to compose a song based on what Elvis expressed about out tumultuous world @ time. Binder was amazing -- had it been someone other than him producing the show, who knows what the outcome might have been. What we do know is that Elvis poked Binder in the rib & said I'll be damned if I'll end w-a Christmas song -- thank goodness he stood up to & against what Parker wanted.
The best songs are those that connect poetry with reality in the most seemless of ways. I`m English - and don`t know what a ghetto is. Oh, I know what the definition is and have seen people living in ghettos over here. But ( thank God ) I`ve never had to live in one - Yet ! I`ve seen ghettos - in New York City but much more in Mexico City. I think that the only way in knowing what a ghetto is is to live in one. I`m going to say something now that might make some people livid and exercise some bile : The Ghetto ( in the northern United States cities sense ) is a result of ( I think ) the American Civil War. One result of that war was the new found freedom from slavery of the black population in the southern `States. But now being free they not only had no Master but no job. They thus headed north into the motor towns / cities in the north - eastern United States. This is what I was led to believe whilst I was attending school here in England. As to Elvis and In the Ghetto, I`d rate it one of his most visceral songs and it is counted as one of his best here in England.
It has to be in perspective. Elvis was not born into an environment described in this song. Yes, he was dirt poor, yes - his neighbourhood was predominantly black - his best friend at the time Sam Bell described them (the times) as being poor but happy. as the rev Herman Brewster said of Elvis "Like most black people from the south, Elvis had the bent, the inclination, the attitude". Elvis was OF the community - the colour of someone's skin just didn't matter to ANYONE within that close knit community. Elvis didn't love them because of any social awareness, he did so because they were people - his people. When Elvis became ill and Gladys had to work, his neighbours nursed him, fed him - cared for him. They didn't have a thought of that baby being white, or that his family was white - the ladies in the neighbourhood just knew they were poor people in need of the community. His upbringing was not one of desperation, it was of love and unity - albeit equally poor. This is why Elvis commented to Mary Jenkins many years later that he would rather help a black person ten times before a white person - because he remembered the love of his friends and neighbours. Elvis was NOT a tourist in the black community - there was his home. The reason Elvis wanted In The Ghetto was because he was absolutely aware of the social disparity when it came to the treatment of those with, and those without - black and white. Skin colour meant nothing to Elvis - because that was how he was raised.
Elvis never forgot where he came from and always looked for ways to help people less fortunate. He grew up in extreme poverty. He was a generous, caring, wonderful man.❤❤❤
must have been hard being a white boy in a black ghetto.
HE LIVED in the GHETTO my friend! He sings straight from heart!! Elvis person here. I first went to his 2 room shack in 1967 where his was born in Tupelo MS as the 2nd boy of twins. His brother was a still born baby and he was born a few minutes later. No Doctor was in attendance because they were so poor. More to that story. So poor they did not know his Mother was having twins. Finally a neighbor got someone to come to the house that morning of January 8 1935! His Mother worked in the fields and a mill house to feed her family. They were extremely poor living in public housing until he made his first record and became a hit! He gave most of his money away buying his friends, family houses and cars. He told his Father day who was upset at his spending, "Daddy, you see their wants but I see their needs." Amen brother!
Wow thank you for sharing this information, I never knew he was a twin. He had Such triumphant story!
@@PlutoPlease certainly! Mac Davis wrote “In the Ghetto “ and was thrilled for Elvis to record it. Made him rich. There is a TH-cam story on here where the great Mac Davis talks about EP.
@@jounisyrjanen2226 Yes that what I said in my comment!
@@PlutoPlease His family were dirt poor when he was a child.
@@marshalawson Mac Davis originally intended the song for Sammy Davis JR. He said: I can't sing it because I was never poor, I didn't live in a ghetto, after that Elvis sang it.
He grew up in the ghetto and in deep poverty...yes he experienced it!
The biggest Legends in the black community THAT KNEW ELVIS are on record. Here are a few of the biggest, and they actually KNEW Elvis personally and professionally.
CHUCK BERRY: “Describe Elvis Presley? He was the greatest who ever was, is or ever will be.”
BARRY WHITE: "Elvis Presley saved my life." White continued: "It was like he was telling me: ‘Change your life, Barry, you’re thinking about going another way. It’s now or never.’ I understood that."
BEYONCE- Elvis is iconic; a lot of performers today look to him for inspiration.
MUHAMMAD ALI - 'Elvis was my close personal friend. He had a robe made for me. I don't admire nobody, but Elvis Presley was the sweetest, most humble and nicest man you'd want to know. We must understand, Elvis did lot for poor people, he cared for people, he had a good heart, he just wasn't a person who was great with talent, but he was great in spirit and with God in his heart. I wouldn't praise nobody if he don't deserve it, because I am the greatest of all time in boxing, in boxing. I said boxing ! But I'm telling you, I'm Black, I'm a Islamic, I'm 100% different from you. But I’ll tell the world Elvis was the greatest of all time. I'm a Muslim who's black who stands up for what he believes. I don't have to say what I don't feel, I'm not false, I don't have to say this. I have no Bosses. I'm free. He to me, is one of the greatest singers, actors and all round men of all time.” ~ "THE GREATEST" MUHAMMAD ALI.
BB KING: 'Let me tell you the definitive truth about Elvis Presley and racism', The King of the Blues, B.B. King said in 2010. 'With Elvis, there was not a single drop of racism in that man. And when I say that, believe me I should know'. -- BB KING
The "GODFATHER OF SOUL" JAMES BROWN: “I wasn’t just a fan, I was his brother. He said I was good and I said he was good; we never argued about that. Elvis was a hard worker, dedicated, and God loved him … I love him and hope to see him in heaven. There will never be another like that Soul Brother”.
During Elvis' private family wake, James was the LAST ONE TO LEAVE. 3 hours and 30 minutes later -- it took several of his security guards to physically help him out of the room. James was devastated -- James and Elvis sang Gospel together many a night to all hours of the morning at each others' homes. James Brown was considered family by the Presleys because they were so close. After the wake, back to the studio to cut a personal tribute to his lifelong friend, a song they sang together privately th-cam.com/video/TCH_OROH_WI/w-d-xo.html -- but JB changes the words as only he can.
JOHN LEE HOOKER actually called Elvis "The ROCK AND ROLL KING" in his music studio during one of his songs to tribute his close personal friend, EP. Listen to it here -- th-cam.com/video/cczYlw8XWZY/w-d-xo.html&t= "One of the greatest entertainers. He was the King. One of the greatest people to ever been born." -- JOHN LEE HOOKER
JACKIE WILSON: "A lot of people have accused Elvis of stealing the black man's music, when in fact, almost every black solo entertainer copied from Elvis." --- JACKIE WILSON
Elvis quietly paid for Jackie's medical expenses until the day he passed away in 1977. Before Jackie's stage accident he would carry a small signed photo of Elvis in his pants pocket. Every day, bar none.
LITTLE RICHARD - "He sung my Tootie Frutti & by him singing it, made it bigger & made ME bigger" And then he said: “I thank God for Elvis Presley. I thank the Lord for sending Elvis to open the door so I could walk down the road...”- Little Richard
CISSY HOUSTON: "Elvis loved gospel music. He was raised on it. And he really did know what he was talking about. He was singing Gospel all the time - almost anything he did had that flavor. You can't get away from what your roots are." - Cissy Houston (The Sweet Inspirations co-founder & member & sang vocals for Elvis, also mother of Whitney Houston)
RANDY JACKSON of the JACKSON 5: "Elvis used Rock and Roll to bridge the gap between whites and minorities. He was a wonderful person."
ISAAC HAYES - "Elvis was a giant and influenced everyone in the business." - Isaac Hayes
WHITNEY HOUSTON - " Elvis was very nice to my mother, Cissy. I would see him backstage, he was amazing to look at!"
ESTELLE BROWN of the SWEET INSPIRATIONS: "When I first started working with Elvis, I made the mistake once of calling him "BOSS" Elvis replied back to me, "Estelle, I'm not your boss, I'm your brother." After that exchange --- the bond between Elvis and the Sweet Inspirations strengthened into a lifelong bond. Estelle said that "We felt like equals." The Sweet Inspirations spent the rest of their lives explaining whenever the questions arose how wonderful Elvis was to them.
SHONKA DUKUREH - "I hope people [watch the Elvis movie] with an open heart and be willing to learn or unlearn some things that they may have thought they knew about Elvis, his life and his legacy.”
Depper, I think you should copy and paste this in the comment section when reactors are unaware or have preconceived notions of who Elvis was. The only comment I had not seen before was from Shona Durureh.
Rest in peace Elvis ❤
Love your comment why don't u write a book Elvis king forever RIP!!
@@tlo3571 it is all copy and paste that is all he does. he even has stolen the identity of a dead man and claiming as his own.
👏👏👏👏👏👏
He was born during the depression in 1935. He was born in a small shotgun house in Tupelo Mississippi. They moved from there to Memphis when Elvis was 14 years old into government housing. Sometimes they didn’t have enough to eat said his longtime friend since 8th grade George Klein who was his friend until he passed away. Elvis never forgot where he came from. He gave to people he didn’t even know to so many charities. In 1964 he was one of the first celebrities that donated big money for Saint Jude hospital in Memphis Tennessee. And the Presley foundation still gives money to Saint Jude’s. There is a trauma wing at the hospital. It’s called the Elvis Presley trauma wing.
Thanks for your reaction. What did Elvis know about the Ghetto? Well, let me tell ya.
Elvis was born on January 8, 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi, in a 2 room shack of a house his dad built with money he borrowed from his boss. That's how dirt poor they were. He was one half of identical twins; the other boy - Jesse Garon - was stillborn. They were so poor, that Jesse Garon was buried in a shoebox in an unmarked grave. At Graceland they have a plaque with his name on it in his memory.
Elvis always got along with the black community and learned a lot about music from his friends of color. Also, according to the one drop rule, Elvis would not be considered white, since he has Cherokee ancestors on both the Smith (his mother) and the Presley (his father) sides of the family. His paternal grandfather, Jesse Dunning Presley, was not happy that his two sons, Elvis' father Vernon and his brother Vester, married two sisters, Gladys and Clettes who were known to have Cherokee blood in their family tree. J.D. Presley was quite the racist a-hole, often drunk and a philandering husband to Minnie Mae (they were actually separated long before they finally divorced in 1954) who was always competing with his sons Vester and Vernon and who was known to abuse his kids when drunk. J.D. was was publicly against race mixing and was in denial about the Cherokee blood in his own family tree. It was more publicly known that the Smith family had Native blood in their family tree, so when both his sons fell for 2 Smith sisters and Vernon, on top of that, was still a minor at 17 when he eloped with Gladys who was 4 years older than him, Jesse was totally pissed off.
As a child, Elvis already had many friends in the black community at the time his family was one of 4 "white" families that lived in the predominantly black neighborhood The Hill, just across from Shake Rag. His childhood friend Sam Bell said that some of the (black) kids in that neighborhood had lighter skin than Elvis (th-cam.com/video/LrFCyNMvZWk/w-d-xo.html). One of Elvis' bodyguards once said that he thought it was a miracle Elvis got into Humes High School in Memphis, because it was "lily white". Elvis wanted to be more open about his Native ancestry, but his manager "colonel" Tom Parker (real name Andreas van Kuijk) was against it because he was afraid it might cost Elvis fans (and himself money). They did have Elvis play characters in his movies though where he had Native American blood (Flaming Star, G.I. Blues, Stay Away Joe). Once Elvis had his own (apprentice) job learning to be an electrician, he saved up his money and bought his clothes in the same style that many of his friends of color wore. He was called a (forgive me, just stating facts here) "n-lover" and got beaten up several times too. Later, when he was an established star, he would not perform at places where the members of color of his back-up band/orchestra weren't allowed.
Elvis grew up during the time of segregation when only the poorest of the poor lived in mixed neighborhoods. Elvis was raised in the ghettos of Tupelo, Mississippi until moving to the ghettos of Memphis, Tennessee at the age of 13. A move into government housing when he was 15 was a huge step up for his family.
Elvis released "In the Ghetto" a year after MLK, Jr.'s assassination. His record label advised against his recording of the song, and his manager told him it would ruin his career. But he was determined to deliver its message.
I'd like to put in a request for you to react to: Martin Luther King & Elvis Presley - "THEY HAD A DREAM" (8:02).
Elvis was raised in the poorest section of Tupelo, MS. He didn't have an indoor bathroom until he was 14 when his family moved to Memphis and he lived in the projects.
Elvis never forgot where he came from. ❤
He was poor as dirt in Tupelo. When his family moved to Memphis they lived in the projects aka "the ghetto". 😎
1935 on January 8 a huge star was born, but sadly in 1977 on august 16 we lost a great musician, a amazing singer, but we also lost a amazing humanitarian that helped so many people that he did not even know.
Today over 46 years after his death, people are still calling Elvis the King of Rock'n'Roll (he said that Chubby Checker was the one that should be called King of Rock N roll, if any human should), Elvis didn't like that title and he believed that the only King was God and he actually told this to his fans several times, he said: I believe that God is the only true king, sometimes he added Jesus Christ.
I think that Elvis is and only the king of Rock'n roll, he is the king of music because he can sing very well in any genre, but what do you think, is he good enough to be called a music king?
Elvis was really in my mind, the King of GOSPEL and other music, no one does it better then him, he is best known for making Rockn roll famous, so he was called The King of Rockn roll, but he never liked that people called him that, he repeatedly stopped fans who said that he was the king of rock'n roll, telling them:
I'm just an entertainer and singer, God is the only true King (sometimes he also said Jesus Christ is the only King)...
He also never liked the "so called joke" Elvis the Pelvis, he loved Jokes, but that was for him very hurtful to hear people say, or write.
Elvis was born in the poor parts of Tupelo Mississippi (in a shotgun house) and it was mainly Afro Americans living there, at the place where Elvis family lived there only lived 3 more white families, the rest was colored people, his family was dirt poor until he became an artist after singing in a mainly colored peoples church during his childhood.
Did you know that he had several friends that where Afro Americans, one of his friends where James Brown, yes THAT James Brown (The King of Soul), another artist was B.B King, yes that B.B King...
He also was a good friend with Mohamed Ali, yes the GREATEST boxer of all time, he even had a Robe made for him, but it was to much bling on it so Ali wouldn't where it more then one time to a fight.
He really admired Martin Luther King very much, Elvis felt that all people are equal, unfortunately he never got to meet him, that would have created to much problems for both of them at that time.
He had several medical problems, Glaucoma, (Insomnia) sleeping problems, irritable bowel syndrome, things that affected his real life and made him need medication to function.
Yes, he took medicines that today are considered to be called drugs, but at that time doctors prescribed it to him and to ordinary people, they did not know of the problems it could give people (side effects).
He never took any so-called street drugs, but unfortunately he did not realize that those medications would be a problem for him, he thought that they where ordinary medicine because his doctor prescribed them to him and to everyone else that needed it.
Many out of his relatives died at a relatively young age, so even if he wouldn't have the medication, he might have died at about the same age.
He could never be alone and thus himself, at that time the word superstar did not exist, so nothing could prepare him for that kind of life.
Did you know that a big group of white people actually smashed his records and wanted to ban his music, just because they called the music he did so called N... music, that is so painful to think that some people actually can think like that, skin color is just color and nothing more, when will people start to realize that?
There are some videos of when Elvis joking and messing up, he loved to joke around and pretend that he did not have control, but he had total control, he actually conducted his musicians and back up choirs all the time !
He is the only person to have 2 records gone to sell Gold and 2 to to sell Platinum since he died.
Elvis is also in almost every genre of Music Hall of Fame (5 that I'm sure of Rock 'n' Roll, Country, Gospel, Rockabilly and Rhythm and Blues), if Gospel is a genre in Music Hall of fame, then he should be in there to, but no one else is in more then perhaps 2 genres.
Not bad for someone who never took a single singing lesson, yes he sang in church so perhaps he learned a little there, right?
Something else that people tend to overlook:
He always conducts his musicians and backup singers, he never gets credit for being able to do that.
Imagen you are a singer, you have great Musicians, you have great backup singers, no Guest Artists, no Auto tune, no Lip singing and no Fireworks, now all is about your skill, could you handle that pressure?
At the time when Elvis started to perform, Auto tune did not exist yet and when it became available, then he still did not use it, he did not need to, he always sang so that you could hear every word that he sang, the Fans always felt that he sang to just you !
That is what Elvis did in over 1600 concerts (during his 20 years as an artist), despite having problems with his health, like his Glaucoma, the headlights must have hurt his eyes like crazy.
He sang over 800 songs, I wonder how he could remember them all, he never wrote a song himself, so he had to remember other peoples lyrics, well that is amazing in it self.
By the way he had Glaucoma and that must have been difficult being in the headlights all the time, that could be why he sometimes closes his eyes, but also sometimes squinting!
This unfortunately made him temporary blind after the shows, that is why they led him of the stage and into his car, that is something that not many people knew about Elvis.
Elvis suits was made of 100% Polyester, or 100 cotton (I'm not sure witch one), it was originally a karate suit, it was very light, but it was hot, so it made him sweat a lot, he got some bad press about that, but if you give it all then you will sweat, it should be positive, right?
About the deep base voiced JD Sumner (a member of The Stamps Quartet) he is a Basso Profundo, I think it's called that, it is the deepest base singer there is.
A video about him helping others, look at this: th-cam.com/video/CrJ1c9tm-C0/w-d-xo.html
Elvis made a show where all the money went to build the Memorial after Pearl Harbor, he talked to the nations about taking the Polio vaccine, Elvis took the first injection himself, he helped by donating a big amount of money to St Jude hospital, they fight against cancer (especially children with), he also gave away juwelery, gave away cars, he even gave away some houses to total strangers.
Elvis started an organization that helps people to get out of Homelessness (Presley Charitable Foundation), this organization helps people even now close to 50 years after he passed away.
A thing that you perhaps did not know: Elvis ALMOST NEVER did a show OUTSIDE OF USA, yes he did sing a few times in Canada: 4 concerts, 2 times in Toronto, 1 time in Ottawa and 1 time in Vancouver (during the 50:s?).
When the Aloha From Hawaii (Live in Honolulu 1973) was showed it had close to 1.5 Billion viewers from around the whole world and 3.7 billion people lived on earth at this time, so it was close to 1/3 of all of the population on the earth that viewed the show, it was the first time a single artist was shown LIVE around the globe.
Video of Mohammad Ali speech after Elvis died:
th-cam.com/video/PO8Kq_3KTyI/w-d-xo.html
I have to say that I loved being at Graceland and seeing his home, first we were at the shotgun house in Tupelo where he lived in his early years, he was born there !
You don't have a guide taking you on a tour, you can go all over yourself, but stay outside of the ropes and do not attempt to go upstairs, the outside is huge, so is the house, but you don't realize that from the front of the house.
I don't regret for a second that I was there, or that I stood at his grave site and said out loud that this is for the humanitarian Elvis/the person/the man and then I gave him a military salute, the others there just looked at me and asked if I didn't like his music.
So I told them that he was clearly one of the best singers and artists ever, but I loved his big heart more, he helped so many people without getting credit for it, he didn't want the credit of helping others, he did it out of love and respect and to me that is what true charity is all about.
This PLACE (GRACELAND) should be a protected part of music history and also American history forever, I think that people will keep coming for years and years and years to come !
Elvis did lots of things for America to, he helped in a big way to avoid getting Polio (he took the vaccine in a TV show and that made the interest for taking the vaccine to go up from 0,6 % all the way up to 80 % in 6 months), so in 6 months he got 79.4 % more of the American people take the Polio vaccine and shortly after it was eradicated from USA, he also helped in the fight to defeat Cancer by helping to build up St Jude's children cancer treatment clinic by donating a huge amount of money to them, he also helped to build the Memorial over Pearl Harbor and many other things!
Must be remembered...Elvis sang the song but he didn't write it. MAC DAVIS wrote this.
Many singers were also songwriters but Elvis was not one of those. He simply brought the words to life.
Elvis was born into extreme poverty in a tiny one room "house" built by his dad. When he was very young his dad went to prison for supposedly forging a check. When his family moved to Memphis, he lived in housing projects.
He knew, because he was dirt poor, lived maybe 2 blocks from the ghetto, played with ghetto kids. Watch the program The Echo Will Never Die, you will learn a lot from famous people about Elvis ❤
Sammy Davis Jr. was given this song by a writer but he turned it down.
Sammy said, ‘In all authenticity, I can’t do this song because I never lived this way, but I will tell you who did: Elvis Presley.'”
He passed the song onto Elvis
Yes sir! Poor as poor can be. His 2 room shack in Tupelo, MS will bring tears to your eyes! How did someone come from that to fame? Unbelievable.
Yes that is crazy to think how far he came, and what he had to endure. Talent and hard work, he was destined to be great🙏🏾🚀
Elvis grew up in what was basically a black Ghetto in Mississippi. It was during the great depression. He and his mother, his father went to prison for passing a bad check. See the interview with Elvis childhood black neighbor Sam Bell. He said "Elvis and his mom were so poor even blacks felt sorry for them. Elvis tried his whole life to promote black artists. See Elvis Presley and the Black Community". I lived in that era in the 50's when black stations wouldn't play black artist till Elvis changed that. He was also a great generous humanitarian, see " Elvis Presley King of Kindness". Thanks you for your reaction. Be Blessed.
Just started watching your reaction and I had to comment. Elvis grew up as a child, and as a teenager in the ghetto. Father was sent to jail for forging a check in order to survive. They lived in a shotgun shack amongst the black community. Black friends, black church living a black life in a white boys body. This was what caused all the discrimination against Elvis in the early 1950s. He sounded black he danced black and he acted black and the white audience found it unacceptable during that time everything was segregated. So Elvis was banned, threatened to be put in jail because he would not stop because he felt he was doing nothing wrong. I would highly suggest watching a reaction to Elvis and the black community. It’s a short 10 minute documentary that would not explain everything but it would touch base on what I’m saying. Another song you could check out is if I can dream he’s in a white suit from the 1968 comeback special. It’s a song he dedicated to Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy after their assassinations. God bless have a great evening
Elvis was born in Mississippi,probably the poorest State in the USA.He loved Gospel music too.He understood what being poor was all about too.He had natural raw talent and loved the juke joints and places where traditional rhythm and blues was played and he took that sound and elevated Black music to a greater world audience.
Elvis was the real deal and Still is today, Please keep watching about Elvis, I'M A Elvis Fan
ELVIS GREW UP IN A SHOT GUN HOUSE ,NO RUNNING WATER ,OUTHOUSE FOR BATHROOM ,THEN LOST IT AT THREE ,LIVED IN A BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD ,TILL HE WAS 13 ,THEN MOVED TO Memphis ,IN GOVERMENT HOUSING ,HE GREW UP VERY POOR ,HIS MAMA TAGHT HIM TO BE HUMBLE TREAT EVERBODY WITH TOTAL RESPECT ,AND TO ALWAYS HELP YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR FELLOW MAN ,HE WAS A GREAT HUMANITARIAN ,
The singer, Mac Davis, wrote this song and Elvis made it a hit. Elvis grew up poor anyway.
In The Ghetto was written by Mac Davis. What I read was that Davis had a black friend when he was a child and wondered why his friend's life was so different from his own. Davis also a man who grew up in the segregated South realized people depending on the color of their skin were treated differently. Not all Southerners were racist and that goes for Elvis as well. Mac Davis first offered the song to Sammy Davis Jr but Sammy said I can't relate to that environment but I know who can...Elvis. Thanks for exploring the phenomenon that is Elvis. ❤
There's film of Mac telling the story about this song. On TH-cam.
I tried to tell people to do their homework when Elvis lived in Tupelo Mississippi he lived in the projects and when he moved to Memphis he still lived in projects so Elvis wouldn't always at rich man thank you for taking your time keeping Elvis music alive
Yes, Elvis knew what he was singing about. It was his life. He was such a special man that the world still needs. He never saw colour or race. He was raised singing in an all black Baptist Church in Tupelo Mississippi. Way before he moved to another Church in High School.
He grew up in the projects. And he saw what was going on at the time. I believe Mack Davis wrote the song
Elvis Was Brought Up In Poverty, He Lived In Poor Neighborhoods and Lived In Public Housing In His High School Years ! He Never Forgot His Poor Upbringing ! And He Became Famous, Which Was Never His Goal, He Just Truly Enjoyed Singing And Entertaining, He Knew He Had Something Special, And Saw It As A Way To Help His parents Out Financially, Which Was Very Important To Him !
One of the few artists who lived in poverty n knows the trials n tribulations of struggling to live in society.
Elvis grew up impoverished but you don't have to live a problem to call it out!
He lived in a predominantly black community in poverty but found gospel and BB King and the rest is our gift.... Peace x
I saw a TV doco on Elvis. They interviewed young Elvis' next door neighbour and childhood friend. The boy's father after meeting Elvis for the first time said to his son,
That was the first time in my life I had been called Sir by a white person.
Straight from the ghetto of Tupelo Mississippi, Elvis was born poor and grew up attending black church, he does some beautiful Gospel music too..
Yeah. I grew up in Tampa. And, he grew up in the slums of Tupelo Mississippi. Trust me, he knows exactly what he's talking about ❤
Elvis grew up in the Ghetto..tupelo mississippi❤
Nice reaction. You will react to many fine artists on your journey, but this guy is possibly the most versatile in the different genre. he covers and does well.
Only artist to be in 5 Hall of Fames for music genres.
My favorite Elvis song...simplicity...voice is perfect....it hits your heart...iconic song of the 60's
now,try if I can dream from the 1968live tv special white suite version, then what now my love live from aloha from hwai 1973.😢
This is the creation from the genius of MAC DAVIS.
I was shocked the day I found out that this song comes from the man who had a wide variety of his own Hit songs such as "Baby, Don't Get Hooked on Me" & "Oh Lord, It's Hard to be Humble"
Watch the mini doc , Elvis and the Black Community. He grew up dirt poor in Mississippi and sang at the local Black church. Watch the interview with the Pastor in the doc! ❤
You mean a few black people that met him.
Mac Davis wrote it n no other singer would perform it, too nervous. Elvis said Hell ya I'll do it. Elvis would visit Black Churches in his young life. He Loved the Music n The ppl who attended The Church❤❤
The crap you spread belongs on the front page of every newspaper. It was offered to Sammy Davis first. Sammy refused it. WTF does a white guy know what it is like to be black and be black and live in the ghetto. He then said give it to that white boy Elvis.
The live version of this is even better.
Very few singers wrote their own songs at that time. This song was written and offered to Sammy Davis Jr. He declined to do this song but suggested that his friend Elvis might be interested in it.
Elvis is from the ghetto , he was born in a shot gun house with no electricity or running water in Tupelo Mississippi v, and he never forgot where he came from , Elvis was a dreamer , always searching for the way to get out of the ghetto and housing projects , cause he wanted to buy his mama her own house and Pink Cadillac , even though she couldn't drive he made that Dream come true and the only thing that really hurts me is when he did his time in the army at the peak of his career , his mama passed away , he was never the Same , I don't know if you have watched the video of Elvis singing If I Can Dream in the 68 comeback special in the white suit , a tribute to MLK and RFK , MLK was assasanition In Memphis TN , not far from the home of Elvis Graceland which is a museum toured by more people than any other person other than the White House , People travel all over the world just to see the Love and Mystic of this Beautiful MAN Among Men Elvis is an eternal flame 🔥 that burns brightly forever and Always TCB 1935
Elvis was raised poor as a can be. Back when no one gave a crap about the ghetto, there was this man who was brought to awareness of it and made a conscious decision to record this song and perform it live in Las Vegas. The controversial thing about it was that it wasn't popular for any white star performers to give any props or attention to those societal problems in the black community. He cared enough to go outside the norm and bring awareness to the masses no matter the backlash. Consider the times and context. Written and also performed by Mac Davis
Elvis lived half this song. He grew up in a BLACK community in Mississippi. His best friend until he moved to Memphis was Black. He knew what is was like to go hungry.
Elvis had a dream to get out of the ghetto, and he did. He was a shy person who had a very hard time making friends.
It was hard for Elvis to get on stage for his shows. He was just has nervous getting on stage for his live show, to his last. He would always say, this is a different crowd, they might not like me.
Yes Elvis was born in the Ghetto in Miss. The Presley was dirt butt poor, God give Elvis that bless voice that we all hear.
This is my favorite elvis video, besides jailhouse rock video. ❤wow.
This man totally walked the walk..... God Blessed him, because God saw a special soul. he was raised in such a poor environment, you new to this party, check out his background Enjoy!
If you're going to host this and make comments you read some books. He grew up hungry and slept with his parents. Before he died he had 100 people on his payroll and many were family.
One of my favourite if not favourite songs of Elvis. I was very young at the time, 11 or 12 years old, and this song made me cry.
Of course, he grew up in the Ghetto/projects amongst black people in the deep south in 30s and 40s going to church everyday after school and singing gospel.
He grew up in a smaller house than my 1 room apartment that i am living in now, that his father have built
He knew because he lived in the ghetto of Tupelo MS 1935-1948 as well as the Memphis TN ghetto 1948-1954
He used to have pink Cadillacs custom built for him and delivered to a dealership. Once when he was picking one up an elderly black woman said she wished she had a car like that. Elvis had one built and delivered to her.
Elvis grew up in a different kind of Ghetto...He grew up in Country version of the ghetto...no central heat and air, no tv, maybe had a radio. usually did not have a phone or car...grew much of their own food ...even hunted their own food at times...Elvis family was Dirt Poor...Elvis was able to buy his parents their fist home, after he became succesful as a performer...You wanna get a visual idea of how Elvis grew up, and their economic condition. Watch the movie..."Walk the Line" about the life of his friend and at times, early on. Co-Star....Johnny Cash.
He was born and raised in the getto of Tupelo Mississippi
Elvis.yes
The song was originally presented to Sammy Davis Jr. He told the writer that he didn't relate to the song because he didn't grow up in the ghetto. Mr Davis then said you know who comes from that life? Elvis. present the song to Elvis. He's from that life.
Elvis was born and raised in the ghetto, born in tupelo Mississippi in 1935 and moved to the poor area of Memphis TN when he was 10 or 11.
Cuz he grew up there in Memphis.
Told that many times
The year he was born in he was born in tupelo Mississippi him and his family was in a dirt-poor in Mississippi tupelo Mississippi
Elvis was born in the projects
I love him
You have to remember Elvis was born in a 2 room shack on the black side of Tupelo. He knows the ghetto well. The question you should ask is what did Mac Davis ( who wrote the song ) know about the ghetto. I think the lyrics pretty much answer that question.
He knew quite a bit about it, actually. As I'm sure you know by now from reading posted comments!
elvis grew up dirt poor in the black part of town in mississippi
Everything about Elvis upbringing was within the black community, where he lived, his friends, his church. He sought advice from the likes of BB King, who whilst both growing up were close friends in Memphis, he hung on Beale St, was looked down ups on because he embraced Black style… and yes, although he didn’t write these songs, experienced first hand
Elvis grew up in the ghetto, in Memphis Tennessee as a matter of fact public housing which we would call the projects today
He Knew a Lot about the Ghetto ,
The Southern Version ,Rural Version,
Born in a House No Electricity ,No Plumbing ,Out House ,Lived in Housing Projects and Tiny Apartments where He slept in the Living Room on the Couch ,Worked in HS Part Time jobs in Factories etc.He Knew
Very good reaction, i think you should watch and review Elvis and the black community, i feel you would get a true understanding of how this man started out and the trials he had to go through to become the man we know now as the king of rock and roll.
The song was written by Mac Davis....a white man from Lubbock, Texas. Not likely Davis spent much time in a ghetto but probably touched and saddened by the cycle of life.
Just subscribed to you channel while watching Elvis. You need to watch If I Can Dream from his 1968 Comeback Special. This song was done after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King which occurred in his hometown of Memphis TN and also the assassination of Bobby Kennedy.
I think you will enjoy it.
Thanks for the mention of Kennedy -- rarely anyone ever does, & hardly anyone knows the story behind the composition of the song.
Mac Davis wrote this wonderful song.
Though written by Mac Davis Elvis knows the ghetto, great reaction.
You should watch the movie Elvis
Elvis was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, in a 1 room home.
I think people mistake that a ghetto has to be in a city, I disagree.
Elvis was raised in the kind of squalor that made the ghetto look like Beverly Hills by comparison.
What matters is the songwriter got it right, at least for a kid who took that path!
Bridge Over Troubled Waters 1970 Live in Vegas is a must for vocals…..and of course 1968 Comeback Special (white suit) If I Can Dream…..
Look up Shake Rag in Mississippi Elvis lived there.
Yep
Elvis grew up dirt floor poor and hungry in shot gun shacks and his daddy in and out of jail for petty crimes like check doctoring to feed his family and his twin brother died and they couldn't afford a coffin so he was buried in a shoe box and this song is Raceless and colorless poverty and crime knows no color or zip code and he's native American and that jim crow crap affected us too people forget and Elvis was always kind to everyone and would refuse gigs if his backup singers weren't allowed in and cissy Houston was one of his singers and Elvis was Whitney's godfather and you should watch the documentary Elvis in the black community it'll make you think and Im honored to call him my cousin albeit distant but family is family and he passed before I was born..but I grew up poor too but not like him he was share croppin poor..my branch was govt cheese and food stamps that looked like monopoly money in semi rural texas poor..not the inner city but still sucked to have great depression poverty in the 80s and 90s..but that crap keeps you humble and grounded and genuine to others..but if any moron tells you he was rascist no he wasn't and them calling him that shows their rascism and how they think oh a southern man must be a bigot nope...and this song was written by mac davis from El paso Tx son of a preacher they was poor but not like Elvis but mac grew up and saw how his African American friends were like him in poverty or worst and how his family welcomed them to dinner and it stuck with him and he dedicated it to his friends who he still had after making it big and sammy davis jr turned this down because he grew up fairly upperclass but he knew who exactly grew up like this and should cover it he suggested Elvis and col tom and others told Elvis not to cover it Elvis was like screw you im cutting it and the rest is history and one of his better songs
Yes, it`s true, Elvis has spent his childhood in poverty. But does one have to be born in poverty to understand how difficult such a life can be? I don`t think so.
I don`t have to break my leg to understand someone`s pain who broke his.
I may not feel it, but I can comprehend it.
Elvis was raised dirt poor and was brought up right by Christian parents
yes elvis was born in the ghetto in tupelo ms.
Also you should react to Elvis and his daughter Lisa Marie doing in the ghetto and where no one stands alone... After Elvis passed Lisa Marie put their two versions of both songs together before she passed and they're both beautiful❤
Elvis's first love of music was actually
Gospel music...
Greetings from germany🇩🇪🤝🇺🇸. The king he is with a reason! Selfmade artist, grown up in poverty … no guitar lessons or vocal coach!!! Look on wikipedia… interesting facts about him👌 but, ladys and gentlemen, he presentet that song 1969??? How many generations between since… remenber ww2 black soldiers hat to fight theyr right to fight… first students allowed on college… saw many reaction videos from you! Interesting is, no matter how old the content creator is, nearly all of you expierienced exactly the same too.. 4 generations ? We have to break the circle! 😔🇩🇪🤝🇺🇸
If you can, please do " Elvis and the black community that echo will never die"
why?
Go away@@bwana-ma-coo-bah425
He grew up going to all black churches. And he was poor, soo.
YES HE WAS BORN IN GHETTO...
Im not going to be an echo of all the other beautiful said comments. Please react to If I Can Dream in white suit 68 Comeback Special and You'll Never Walk Alone. ❤
CC Huston, Whitney’s Mother is there singing back up !
Mac Davis actually wrote this song... Poor in the South and his father did go to prison for writing a $2 check that was forged
Does it matter what he knew? You only know about the ghetto if you LIVED in one... but you can feel other people's hearts and suffering.
He felt the song mattered, the rest is History. Besides, his background singers were (in 1969) four black girls and one white. Also, it doesn't have to be a black ghetto, white people also live in ghettos around the world. Furthermore, you can't fool people like James Brown, Muhammad Ali, B. B. King and many others that knew him... those famous black celebrities loved Elvis, so if this is not enought, than I don't know what it is. We all (black and white people) should learn from Elvis and thank God for what he did.
Yes it does matter to me personally, just to answer your question. I can respect more if he could relate to what he is singing about, opposed to reading lyrics from a paper that someone wrote for him. And based off the other comments, he was raised in a similar environment and he could relate. So my question was very valid 😃
@@PlutoPlease ... Yes, valid (I admit) but relatively. Because maybe for you is something of personal interest, because you probably had/have suffered racism or know someone who had. But generally, anyone can sing about something he/she feels is relevant - and for Elvis it was so, because he decided to record it (and this is true) against the advice of some people... considering that it was 1969 and the racial issue was very strong in those days. He was poor indeed, but I guess he would had did it anyway even if he had been a rich boy ... He continued to sing "Ghetto" throughout 1969 and 1970.
What is the story about the four black girls?
Another Elvis that you should listen to is “If I can Dream”. It was written by Mac Davis & sung by Elvis at the end of a nationwide TV Christmas special on NBC. It was his tribute to both MLK & Robert Kennedy after their deaths earlier that year. The lyrics are very poignant.
Thanks for mentioning Kennedy regarding "If I Can Dream" -- most people never even mention his name, some don't even realize what took place prior to the composition of that song.
If I Can Dream was written by Walter Earl Brown specifically for Elvis during production of the '68 Comeback Special.
@@toodlescae Yup, thanks to Steve Binder & Elvis' lengthy discussions into the middle of the night when Binder asked Brown to compose a song based on what Elvis expressed about out tumultuous world @ time. Binder was amazing -- had it been someone other than him producing the show, who knows what the outcome might have been. What we do know is that Elvis poked Binder in the rib & said I'll be damned if I'll end w-a Christmas song -- thank goodness he stood up to & against what Parker wanted.
So glad you're reaching to the adio version it's gorgeous
The best songs are those that connect poetry with reality in the most seemless of ways. I`m English - and don`t know what a ghetto is. Oh, I know what the definition is and have seen people living in ghettos over here. But ( thank God ) I`ve never had to live in one - Yet ! I`ve seen ghettos - in New York City but much more in Mexico City. I think that the only way in knowing what a ghetto is is to live in one.
I`m going to say something now that might make some people livid and exercise some bile :
The Ghetto ( in the northern United States cities sense ) is a result of ( I think ) the American Civil War. One result of that war was the new found freedom from slavery of the black population in the southern `States.
But now being free they not only had no Master but no job. They thus headed north into the motor towns / cities in the north - eastern United States. This is what I was led to believe whilst I was attending school here in England.
As to Elvis and In the Ghetto, I`d rate it one of his most visceral songs and it is counted as one of his best here in England.
As a white man I can totally relate to this
Elvis was born extremely poor...and one of his best friends was a black kid...he ran around with no shoes with
What did Micheal Jackson know about street gangs? Not much obviously. But he still recorded a great song called "Beat it"..
You need to check out the information, to where he grew up
👑✌️
It has to be in perspective. Elvis was not born into an environment described in this song. Yes, he was dirt poor, yes - his neighbourhood was predominantly black - his best friend at the time Sam Bell described them (the times) as being poor but happy. as the rev Herman Brewster said of Elvis "Like most black people from the south, Elvis had the bent, the inclination, the attitude". Elvis was OF the community - the colour of someone's skin just didn't matter to ANYONE within that close knit community. Elvis didn't love them because of any social awareness, he did so because they were people - his people. When Elvis became ill and Gladys had to work, his neighbours nursed him, fed him - cared for him. They didn't have a thought of that baby being white, or that his family was white - the ladies in the neighbourhood just knew they were poor people in need of the community. His upbringing was not one of desperation, it was of love and unity - albeit equally poor. This is why Elvis commented to Mary Jenkins many years later that he would rather help a black person ten times before a white person - because he remembered the love of his friends and neighbours. Elvis was NOT a tourist in the black community - there was his home. The reason Elvis wanted In The Ghetto was because he was absolutely aware of the social disparity when it came to the treatment of those with, and those without - black and white. Skin colour meant nothing to Elvis - because that was how he was raised.