The truly saddest part about this interview that is Sam flew away a few short weeks after this interview. But before he passed Sam Gave one of the greatest Elvis interviews ever done.
Sam went to Elvis but they wouldn’t tell Elvis he was there unfortunately his circle and Colonel Parker kept him isolated very sad. If u watch Suspicious Minds and Polk Salad Annie Vegas 1970 u will see the influence from the church spirituals in those performances. I hope as u further explore Elvis and get into his blues, gospel, country and other genres the discovery will be a ride u will enjoy. With over 700 recordings you have just scratched the surface.
It's so wonderful to see you taking the time to discover Elvis' background. Thank you! Because of the way he was raised, he not only wasn't a racist but also never understood why anyone would consider themselves to be better than anyone else. As for stealing black music, how can someone steal something that's been a part of them since day one?
Too bad Mr. Bell passed away before the new movie was finished ... I'm sure he would have enjoyed seeing his old friend's story on the big screen ! Rest in peace Mr. Bell and EP ... the world is seeing your story now !
I was born in 1960 and Elvis was a huge part of my parents music library ❤ Lucky me🥰 But watching your reactions have been SO informative!! Thank You Both Once Again 🥰🙏💕
Elvis was born in Tupelo in 1935, and he moved to Memphis in 1948. Baz used the word fool in the movie, portrayed Elvis as a 12 yr old with the black people in Church, and used the song I’ll Fly Away, and references to it in several scenes. Mr. Bell, was an activist in his community as an adult. It is a shame he passed in Sept., 2021, because he would have loved to see the movie.
Hu guys, thank you so much for taking the time to discover the Magic of this beautiful Man, ELVIS was ONE in a lifetime, never again will there be another like Elvis. He always said I treat others the same way I want to be treated, and that stayed within his heart and soul till the terrible day he left us. I saw ELVIS 3 times in concert and the first time was in April 8 1972, I was only 11 years old, but I was in love with Elvis , and that day is etched in my heart and soul forever, the best day of my life, saw him 2 more times in concert and those were incredible as well, but that first time I will never forget. Sam and all his friends including ELVIS were just the guys, ELVIS mama would make them sandwiches, just like anyone else, Three people who say that ELVIS was racist need to get their homework first, not a racist bone in his body. I've really enjoyed watching your reactions to Elvis and I hope you will stay on the Elvis journey, there's no so much more to learn about the Greatest Showman The World has ever Seen. God bless you both. TCB 1935🕺🕺🕺⚡⚡⚡👑👑👑🎵🎵🎵🎵🙏🙏🙏🙏
Thank you for your wonderful reaction. Been a fan since the 50''s, I will soon be 80. I am so thrilled to see your mind words about this great man. He was so misunderstood and finally people see the truth. Elvis was born in 1935 and in the great depression. He once made the comment that if he and his mom hadn't had wonderful black neighbors giving them vegetables they would have starved to death. His father went to prison for altering a check and they lost their house and moved into Sam's neighborhood. Some how some jealous singers in the 60's started the rumor that he was racist and stole black music. It was picked up by JET magazine. It was debunked but people still believe it. No one in music history tried to promote black music and black singers more than Elvis. He truly loved black people, who at first were the only ones who liked him. Of course all the teenage girls like me loved hom. Men truly hated him, they would ask him for an autograph, then punch him. Men liked him more after he served in the Army in Germany. He never forgot his family given them jobs as body guards or grounds keepers When he died he employed over 100 people. When he started getting truly ill , like his mother 's family who mostly died in their 40's he told his Aunt that he'd like to stop for a while, but he couldn't because too many people depended on him. He read every religious book he could find, and a Bible was on every night stand where he slept, his step brother Ricky took care of his Bibles. When he died he was reading "The Shroud Of Turin" the story of the garment that Christ was buried in. Thanks and Be blessed
Elvis was born in 1935, in the middle of the Great Depression. His dad was sent to jail for passing bad checks trying to buy food for his family. The Presleys lived in this neighborhood until his dad moved the family into the public housing in Memphis when Elvis was 13 years old.
Elvis' family moved from Tupelo (where they had moved within the poor part of the city 13 times) to Memphis in 1948 when Elvis was 13 years old. As a teenager, he was drawn to Beale Street, the hub of R & B. They moved into public housing when he was 15. I would love to see you react to: Elvis: Return to Tupelo (54:02). This details his life from birth through the beginning of his career.
I am so glad that Baz got to talk to Sam Bell. Love their stories. So funny and cute how his gang would take the strap of their overalls off to look cool in front of girls hahah
Sam is the real deal. His grandparents were probably the reason Elvis didn't learn racism. The people of this street were a huge part of his childhood during segregation. I'm guessing the years were early fourty's
Thank you so much for doing this! Loved your guys's commentary 💖🙌 But my favorite part is the enthusiasm you guys have 👍💪💗 Peace & blessings to you & yours 💕
Elvis was born in a 2 room shack of a house his dad built with money he borrowed from his boss on January 8, 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi. 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 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. But he was in denial about the Cherokee blood in his own family tree. 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. When Elvis was 13, the Presley's moved to Memphis. 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.
now you can tell all the people who said Elvis stole our music that he learned it just like all the other black performers when he was young they learned in church when they were young. the problem he became so big i feel jealousy started all the complaining and false rumors. thank you guys for taking the time to seek the truth god bless
It's a shame that Elvis n Sam Never meet up again...I do remember Sam Saying he once was in an area where Elvis was doing a concert years later n he tried to see Elvis in the area where they kept Elvis n ppl he was with until They would go on stage.Sam said security wouldn't let him in ....That would have been great I think Elvis would have flipped out had he known Sam tried to see him n they didn't let him in.... I'm sure he went to his grave not ever knowing. Sad
Hi guys, I just found you today on RU-vid. I’ve been watching your videos all day Elvis Presley was the most gorgeous handsome man to ever walk this earth he was born in 1935 same year as my mother they would’ve both been 89 years old rest in peace Mom and Elvis Presley. I am wondering if you guys knew that Mohammed Ali, is the only person that has his star in the Hollywood walk of fame. On the wall not on the ground and the reason for that is because of his religion and he didn’t want everybody walking on it. i’m going to finish watching all your videos. You guys are great. Keep it up.
They didn't have to go to him because he came to them. His first hit was in 1954 and he did a concert in his hometown in 1956. The link to the concert footage keeps getting blocked in the comments but it's "Tupelo 1956 - Elvis Presley" on the channel tlc1973hawaii
Yes!!! I'm so happy you guys are exploring Elvis. Anyone who takes the time to look at his upbringing would know he was the REAL DEAL. He came by his gifts honestly and from what I've read and heard, was very down to earth and genuinely cared about people. There are several Elvis docs to watch including "200 Cadillacs." I'll stay tuned! Great reaction.
Just a reminder that Elvis moved to Memphis in the fall of 1948 when he was 13 yrs old. TV was new back then, but they were small screens and very expensive, so few families own one. Considering these were poor people, I doubt they even owned record players. Back then kids played outside and did not have many toys.
I didn't know they grew peanuts. Last night I was reading Ginger Alden's book and Elvis showed her that famous picture of him at about 2 in his little hat and overalls with his parents and he said he had a little peanut in his mouth! I thought it was random but makes sense now.
So glad to see this history with someone who really knew Elvis. The Elvis movie is very true with his black history. He could not he separated from his roots. He had to sing blues. He could not understand racism and did not accept it.
To me, appropriating another culture is when you PRETEND that culture is your own, but you have no real connection to it (and, many argue, no right to pretend you do). That's the opposite of what Elvis did. He basically grew up surrounded by blacks and hearing black music, so he sang and danced as he had been taught from a very young age; in essence, this WAS his culture, despite his skin color. He didn't steal anything. Instead, his genuine love of black music heavily impacted his style, and, though there was criticism and backlash and hatred directed at him because of it, he refused to abandon the music he loved. I truly wish everyone who considers him a racist or says he stole black music would learn his history! Thanks, guys, for helping to spread the truth about Elvis!! ❤
I hope you will react to the second part too. You hear about he as a child approached black adults respectfully and polite - even if they didn't expect it and as a white person he didn't have to
Just to help understand, those of us that were poor in the South lived in the ghettos. We didn’t recognize color. In our neighborhood in Lake Charles, LA, we were the only white family. Moving to Texas, we had the addition of the Mexican community. We were all just extended families, surviving.
I'm so happy you reacted to this. I just love to see peoples reactions to seeing how authentic Elvis was. And I am so looking forward to part 2. Thanks again and you did not disappoint.
Elvis just felt the music!! It was in his soul! I dont think he could help it!!! Thing is, that Elvis felt the music til he died! He never changed who he was & where he came from!!! In another interview with Sam, way before the movie. He spoke about how him & Elvis would save there coins to go to the movies. It was separated into white/black sections. So Elvis would sneak over to Sam & they would sit together in the isle. So sad, but love how it shows color should never matter on true friendship! Kudos to there parents! Cant wait for u to do part 2. Also Elvis...A Generous Heart short version and Elvis... King of Kindness
after hearing this , about Elvis moving away then seeing him later in town, "maybe" Elvis and his mom had to move, then stayed with other family-til they got to go to Memphis.when Elvis embarrassed about fibbing to his friend
a good one to look at is (ELVIS WHO A SHORT DOCUMENTARY ON THE KING OF ROCK AND ROLL) if you just put in elvis who you will get the wrong one. the first part is pictures of elvis by himself and also with black entertainers of the time the key is there are sentences where the entertainers say something about elvis most you can read fast only a sentence but there are times where it's almost a paragraph good time to stop the video so subscribers can read the comment. after that there will be live commets by entertainers very informative, sorry for being long winded
In the South when Elvis was young, 'gospel' music was called either 'Southern gospel' (for white gospel) and 'Spiritual music' (for black music). It all collapsed into one category later in time.
Elvis's mothers people were ( Cherokee) native american and extremely poor. Back then native Americans were treated the same as blacks were, that's why Elvis didn't see color. I'm 65 now and when I was young my grandfather told me how our people were treated back then, I was raised not to see color either. I grew up here in the city of St.louis in the hood Back then if you were poor it didn't matter what color you were we all got along because we were all in the same shitty environment. It's a shame Sam Bell died before the Elvis movie came out.
Racism is taught! I am white my mother side of the family wasn’t racist but my father side of family was! My father died in automobile accidents when I was 4 so I didn’t see my father’s family very much but when I did I would hear things they would say and I just didn’t understand! So eventually I quit going around them ! They would get angry with me when I would disagree with what they were saying!
EVERY church should accept all people , or it's not a church of God. If anybody is going to a church that's exclusive as to who they accept, I would advise them NOT to go to that church anymore.
