GOD Bless Elvis Presley | Elvis Presley & The Black Community - The Echo Will Never Die | Reaction 

Because Elvis was a lone warrior in an era of stolen music it’s very difficult to explain why Elvis didn’t steal black music. The answer is found in understanding that rock is a mixture of cultures. Elvis was white and doing gospel in the 1940s. He came from black and white gospel churches. Elvis was not culture appropriating. Elvis WAS a pioneer. Its not culture appropriation / culture vulture when you are a pioneer of a sound, dance and stage presentation. Elvis never stole a song. He credited everyone. He paid royalties to black songwriters THAT ASKED ELVIS to sing their song and vice versa. Elvis created A WHOLE NEW STYLE AND SOUND that was VERY CREATIVE.... by merging GOSPEL, R&B, Pop music, Rockabilly and Country. Rock was a MERGING OF CULTURES and GENRES. Everyone was yearning for a new sound and Elvis' style was a FIRST, and he merged everything together the BEST. Young people white black and even middle eastern and Asian and Spanish cultures pioneered Rock. Elvis sang, arranged, produced, danced, acted, and had a God crafted voice that was entirely UNIQUE and sought after. Elvis was already honing his voice and skills in the 1940s in the church scene long before Little Richard or Chuck Berry ever cut a single record. BB King: 'If anyone says Elvis Presley was a racist', charged B.B. King in the 2010 interview. 'Then they don't know a thing about Elvis Presley or music history. 'Many nights after we finished our sets and I'd go up to his suite', King stated. 'I'd play Lucille (on Elvis' guitar) and sing with Elvis, or we'd take turns. It was his way of relaxing'. 'I'll tell you a secret', King winked and laughed. 'We were the original Blues Brothers because that man Elvis knew more blues songs than most in the business - and after some nights it felt like we sang everyone one of them. B.B. also said: 'Elvis didn't steal any music from anyone. He just had his own interpretation of the music he'd grown up on, same is true for everyone. I think Elvis had integrity'. That interpretation became ROCK AND ROLL!!! 'Let me tell you the definitive truth about Elvis Presley and racism', The King of the Blues, B.B. King said, 'With Elvis, there was not a single drop of racism in that man. And when I say that, believe me I should know'.

Elvis never called himself King. He always disliked it. He once told a group of girls in the audience that there was only 1 king and that was Jesus Christ..🥰 Definitely check out part 2. ❤

No one knows how much shit Elvis Presley had to endure during his career. He shook society, started a cultural revolution, paying the ultimate price, with isolation, desperation, and ultimately, his own life. As one reporter commented after his death, «how could we ever felt estranged from Elvis, he was one of our own». So true. He was totally unique, irreplaceable, never hurting a soul, but himself.

It has always bothered me that Elvis was accused of stealing the style of black people because he was so popular while many black artists were ignored. I actually think it's an unfair criticism against Elvis. Elvis, like a lot of singers, tended to sing in ways that reflected his musical influences. It wasn't his fault that racism and bigotry prevented black artists from receiving the recognition they deserved. Elvis did not create those systemic injustices and I don't even think he exploited the injustices. Did he benefit from them? Perhaps, maybe. Elvis was a great vocalist and entertainer. He had a powerful stage presence. There's a reason one billion people tuned in to the Aloha Hawaii concert: Elvis was undeniably gifted. And just in case anyone is wondering, I'm black.

Elvis didn’t “steal” anyone’s music.

I'm 74. Love him. They hated him because he loved black people and promoted black people and had black ladie back up singers. Some placed wouldn't let him sing with his black singers so he would tell them then were leaving and I don't sing without my girls!

Elvis was the first real rock star. He was the first to make all the mistakes so everyone else could learn from. He was a great and cool guy that was so damn talented. He kicked the color barrier down and took a lot of shit for it. Elvis is king

Elvis was born very poor! He was only 1 of 4 white families in a prominently black neighborhood. His twin brother died at birth and was buried in an unmarked grave in a shoebox. Unfortunately, it was an awful time of segregation. The neighborhood helped his family. There was no color, within there neighbors, it was Kindness. The way it should be. It's all he knew growing up. Black music/musicians were not getting what they deserved. Elvis opened doors for music/musicians. He was very supportive and charitable. Didnt matter what color or religion. Thank you for reacting to Elvis and learning the truth. Your a stand up man! God bless TCB ⚡ Please react to If I Can Dream in white suit 68 Comeback Special.

Doing a cover of someone's song is not stealing. If you record it, the writer gets a piece of the action, prior performers do not unless they have some kind of arrangement with the songwriter. Most songwriters are thrilled if people do covers of their songs. They get money and recognition if not from the public, then from other musicians. Elvis, because of his popularity and color, was able to bring black music to white audiences, which helped open the doors for black artists to cash in directly by starting to be recognized by the much larger and wealthier white audience.

That guy that said that was very wrong and jelouse he helped the black community more then any other person of his time he loved them !!

I find it so sad that as a 35 year old British woman I know more about it than an American person. Why do you not appreciate him as much as Europeans do

As another nice accompaniment to this video: HERE ARE THE FACTS: The great legends of color in his era: BB King - Jackie Wilson - James Brown were there to witness Elvis‘ creativity. He was a one-of-a-kind super talent that grew up in the black community during the Great Depression and segregation in the deep South. Born in 1935 in a shack his father built (no electricity or plumbing). His twin brother died at birth. The Presleys were so poor that they buried his stillborn twin brother in a shoe box. So Elvis experienced the depths of poverty from the day he was literally born. He grew up playing with black friends on the streets and in black and white southern Baptist churches, in the poorest mixed and black neighborhoods in Tupelo -- a potentially deadly activity back in the 1940s-60s down South. Elvis' support for the civil rights movement was real and is not known by the greater population in America. The new Elvis 2022 movie examined this part. This is why almost all black musicians from that era absolutely loved Elvis because he was able to take that Memphis sound all around the country and then the world. Little Richard credited Elvis Presley multiple times for opening up the door for black music and creating a path that he could travel and so he could make his mark. Clearly a terribly racist time Elvis put poverty and racial socialization on his platform. But he did it all through Music and his behind the scenes actions alone. He never got political I think that’s what actually made him so powerful and able to succeed. FAMOUS QUOTES BY THE MOST KNOWN BLACK MEN and WOMEN OF THE 1940s-80s and beyond WHO ACTUALLY KNEW ELVIS: JOHN LEE HOOKER - "Elvis was a really good friend of mine.... He was the king." -- John Lee Hooker 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 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 they were so close. 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.) RANDY JACKSON (of the Jackson 5): "Elvis used Rock and Roll music to bridge the gap between whites and minorities. He was a wonderful person." LITTLE RICHARD "He sung my Tootie Fruti & 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) ISAAC HAYES - "Elvis was a giant and influenced everyone in the business." - Isaac Hayes

Elvis was a decent human being as well as a HUGE star. He never forgot where he came from.

I love watching people discover who Elvis really was! Beautiful growth!

Definitely check out Part 2 of this video. Hear what James Brown had to say about Elvis. Whitney Houston's mother was a backup singer with Elvis for a while. Elvis always had black women as backup singers because of his experiences while singing in the church choir. Gospel, soul, rock & roll, blues, etc. were in his DNA. Elvis eventually went on to primetime TV variety shows like The Ed Sullivan Show which was watched nationwide on Sunday evenings in primes time. After Elvis appeared on his show and sang these songs, artists like Little Richard were discovered and his career took off. He began appearing on these shows. Elvis himself never claimed to be the king of rock & roll. His "If I Can Dream" song was written for him to perform at the end of his national TV special in 1968. His agent, Tom Parker, warned him not to. Elvis insisted because he wanted to express his feelings about the losses that year of MLK & Robert F Kennedy, both assassinated that year. He was born in Tupelo, Mississippi and moved to Memphis, TN by high school age. They lived-in dirt-poor neighborhoods in both cities where there were only a few white families. He grew up in these black communities and naturally absorbed their culture. Many of the whites criticizing Elvis heard his songs on radio or 45 rpm records before he started appearing on TV. Many of them assumed he was black because of the style of songs he sang.

Elvis was a great man.The King. He was boss enough to do whatever the F he wanted to do. And he stood up for everyone. All the "little" people as they say. Countless stories of him helping those who worked for him, apricated him, or just passing by. that's a good man right there. rich and still cared about everyone

62 yr old white woman who loves Elvis and rap music 🤷🏻‍♀️

Elvis may be associated with Memphis, but he was born in Mississippi where the blues was born. The Mississippi Delta produced some of the best musicians in the history of blues. Elvis opened the doors for acceptance. I was born and have lived in Mississippi all of my life. All 69 years of it. You were shocked by the attitudes of the people shown in the beginning of the video. I lived in that era. I was taught by my parents that people were people no matter the color of their skin. The ignorance of the 50's and 60's was epic. But not all of us agreed with that.

Elvis was , is and will always be the King of Rock and Roll because he didn’t steal anything, no one said he invented Rock and Roll but he was the most successful rock and roll exponent, and like Steve Wonder said back on those days Elvis was able to somehow put that music in the world market because he was caucasian, even though he never felt any different from anyone else. He was a great artist and also a great person.

What made him the King was his overall person! He opened doors for the music industry for even musicians yet today! Can you imagine what it would be like if he hadn't broke out of the mold that parents of my generation wanted to keep. Music would be a lot different today!!! God bless you and keep delving into him! You will be amazed!!! RIP Elvis We all still love ❤❤❤❤you

Because of where racism was at in the 1950s, there was no way that kind of music was going to break through to a wide audience with someone like Chuck Berry as its key representative, as great as he was. Elvis opened doors for everyone. He made the music cool, so suddenly it became easier for black artists to be seen on mainstream TV shows like Ed Sullivan. Sullivan calling Elvis a “decent, fine boy,” rather than the punk kid playing that n-word music legitimized everything. There’s a reason they called it the “devil’s music.” It was a not so subtle dig. I grew up with a lot of racial slurs, and they never get easier to hear.

Thanks for taking time to learn who Elvis really was. That means so much to us fans. We only want people to realize what a change and difference Elvis made in the word. Check out Elvis a generous heart. He gave away so much to help others. There will never be another Elvis. Again thanks for keeping Elvis alive.

One thing I found out, Elvis was born in Tupelo Mississippi in a 1bedroom shake in wood he had a twin that was stillborn .He was as poor as a 75 year old pair of shoes 👟, he didn't "Stell" anything from nobody, the proof he never got sued .

Here’s an interesting fact… Elvis only won three Grammy awards in his lifetime. All three of them were for his gospel albums! His Gospel recordings are some of his best material ever! Especially how great thou Art live in 1972 and even better one in 1977.

Little Richard and Elvis became great friends and LR stayed a long long time at his funeral.

They made a movie about Elvis, I highly recommend watching it.. they did an amazing job

He never stole music! He was brought up in it! Back in the day it wasn’t popular to associate with the black community but he did! Because he loves the music and the human race.

And just the fact that there are still so many performances and documentaries on the Internet, fan clubs worldwide, Elvis impersonators, etc. almost a half century since his death, is testament enough to his huge effect on music and the culture in general.

My beautiful Elvis, inside and out, and such a generous soul

Little Richard & Elvis became great friends. On U tube, there’s an interview with him and he is effusive with his praise for Elvis. He said he was his baby, he loved him and he misses him to this day. James Brown was so distraught at Elvis’s funeral, he had to be removed several times to get himself together. There’s story after story by people themselves of their love of Elvis’s kindness, generosity to a fault and his love for all his fellow man. He was not only a great God gifted talent but a gentle soul and extremely spiritual. He had his Bible on tour with him. He was seen on his knees praying many times. He prayed over one of his black backup singers who was told she had a mass in her abdomen and he gathered everyone around her and even did a laying of his hands while everyone prayed. Next day the Drs. did another scan and the mass was gone. These stories are told by the actual people and are not here say. He had such a belief in the hereafter he’d ask people do you think God forgives us for our sins when we die. He was a cultural icon. If you can watch the Elvis blockbuster movie (2022). and learn a lot about his life. The ups and downs. His friendship with BB King and how he was followed by a Senator against integration and others reported back that Elvis was hanging around all those n--rs. At that time he was breaking the law. Everyone covers others songs today. You even saw the group use his song the Ghetto, added to it and made it their own. They call him the King, but he never liked that. He told a bunch of fans holding up a sign that there was only one King & that was Jesus. He said King of Rock and roll etc was ok but not the King. When you see the movie there are parts that brought me to tears. When he says” no one will remember me, I’ve never done anything lasting “. I just hiccuped one of those unexpected sobs because it was so sad. Anyway, thanks for your fairness and understanding and love your reactions. You’re very authentic. ❤❤😊🎸🎸🕺🏻🕺🏻🎤🙏🏼

As a life long Elvis fan thank you for taking the time to learn about the real Elvis.

In 1954 the society of the US was so much different than today-so I know its hard to believe the change Elvis brought to culture by combining country, blues, gospel and pop, and by the hip shaking gyrations that earned him the nick name Elvis the Pelvis. Rock and Roll is not just R&B........ other genres of music are rolled into the ball called Rock and Roll Another difference in 1954 was that songwriters wrote and performers sang their songs, As the 50s headed to the 60s more and more songwriters were becoming performers doing their compositions. Many modern artists did not write their own material, Whitney Houston,did not, Celine Dion, Tom Jones, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Bing Crosby etc-songwriters made their living by getting big artists to record the song and were paid royaltees for each song sold, Little Ricards Tutti Frutti was originally about gay men and his producer Bumps Blackwell contacted local songwriter Dorothy LaBostrie to revise the lyrics, with Little Richard still playing in his characteristic style. The reason so many 50s rock hits sound so much alike is because they were basic 3 chord songs. As the 50s progressed the songs became more complicated. For Elvis songwriters were contracted to write songs for him Otis Blackwell wrote many hits for Elvis and when asked was very happy with his arrangement with Elvis. Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller were also huge rock songwriters they wrote, Love Me, Jailhouse Rock, Dont, Treat Me Nice, etc for Elvis and they also wrote Iconic songs for many other artists. Elvis being called the King started when teenagers gave him that nickname. He himself never called himself by that name, he would point upward and say "The only true King is Jesus" The reason he got the nickname is a combination of looks, free wheeling dance moves, Charisma,....... and a 3 octave voice that could literally sing any style. To quote great legendary Black Bluesman, BB King, "They did not get it wrong calling him the King"

AS far as elvis is concerned he grew up in both white and black churches and when they had there revival meetings Elvis at 6 years old to 10 years old or more was up there dancing with the grown ups and other black children .so when they say he stole other black performers moves he learned it just like they did in church. they were called tent revival meetings .

There is no one that make Music that had songs on R&B, Gospel music,Rack&Roll,country music

At the end, he said, "He was a bundle of energy, set to music--and that echo will never die."

You can't steal something that is your experience. Anyone who does their own research can see what he was exposed to. If you want to get rid of unfair/unbalanced treatment of individuals based on sex, race, ethnic origins then STOP labeling everyone and everything. There should be ONE set of rules that apply to all people! Take every issue independently, based on that situation's specific set of circumstances. I'm so worn out from all these snowflakes and people who don't do their own research... They just regurgitate something they've seen or read, allowing someone's else's opinion to upset them and then they, in turn, feed that narrative forward, giving it energy. Just stop labeling people and try to see everyone with your heart instead 💗

Elvis attended the Assembly of God Church as a child. Elvis won 3 Grammys. All for gospel music.

Thank you for Elvis!!!!!!!💖💖💖💖💖💖

Going to a black church doesn't automatically give you sole, rhythm, singing ability, etc. You have to be born with it, and Elvis was. Like the guy said, Elvis came out with a style of his own. As far as announcing who's song he's singing, very few singers did that. Maybe a few country singers. And NO ONE does it today. Singers have done other peoples songs since way back. A lot of my favorite singers and groups have done songs that started in the 40"s. Do I dislike them for it? NO. You need to watch his documentary's, his rehearsals, his funny clips. Get to know him. See all he did, and all he went through. How alone he really was.

Elvis was also lifelong friends with James Brown and B.B. King as well as a later friend with Dr. King..he was destroyed when Dr King was killed and after the If I Can Dream song he balled up in a fetal position on the floor backstage and cried for a long time.

Yes...this is what Elvis was up against.

Elvis Presley almost did go to jail once in 1956, where both he, and the gas station manager Hopper along with his assistant, got into a fight! Elvis Presley won both the fight, and court case! Ever since then Elvis then realized that he couldn't go out like he used to, and he was forever always followed by his fans.

I’ll be blunt. I was raised by a very racist father. I’m 64 now. I remember when I was 13, puberty sitting in, and he coming into the living room while I was enjoying Leslie Uggams singing, (google her). Called her the n word in so much hate. He left, but I didn’t turn the channel. That type of hate, thankfully didn’t sink in, but I admit did a number on my head. Negatives you are taught as a very young child have an impact. You are not born with it, but taught it. My father was not a good man. Horrible and abusive, but that’s what changed me. Putting down others when he was so awful. Teaching to judge by color of skin is, in my opinion, mental child abuse. I love Dr. King. Judge by not color of skin, but content of character. That is what should be taught to the future generations today. United we stand, divided we fall. I lived it. I know.

It's hard to see color when you are color, what I mean by that is Elvis's mothers people were native american (Cherokee). Elvis's father and mother were dirt poor, Elvis grew up with black people so all he mostly hear was black gospel and black blues, supposedly a black man taught him how to play a guitar. So to me it would be hard to say he stole music when in fact black people influenced him. You should watch the new Elvis movie that just came out you'll see how ruff it was for Elvis and black folks back in that time. Hell they were going to lock Elvis up back in the fifty just because he hung around black people . Anyway that was a good reaction, I subbed.

Wow such a great reaction. There is so much more to learn but now you get the idea. The truth of course is that Elvis did not appropriate or steal music from black people. That is a lie told by people who are purposefully spreading mistruths or uneducated to who the bad guys really were, the execs of record companies, radio stations and concert venues. Elvis battled ALL THREE for the betterment of the black community, fellow musicians who were not getting heard nor paid, and society a whole. No one else was stepping up. Elvis opened the door for a lot of black musicians. Elvis CREDITED EVERY SONGWRITER on EVERY SONG, on EACH ALBUM. EVERY SONG WRITER GOT PAID, and some paid really well (Little Richard, Chuck Berry and especially Otis Blackwell made a fortune on royalties) Black songwriters SOLD SONG RIGHTS TO ELVIS to perform their artwork, Elvis didn't steal or appropriate any song. The truth? Elvis was a pioneer. One of the architects of Rock and Roll. He did not steal black music. The 1950s was an era of music and culture experimentation and many thousands of hours jamming melding of R&B, Gospel and Rockabilly. Elvis was in the churches in the 1940s putting together new sounds, before Chuck Berry and Little Richard ever cut a record. Elvis was a genuine part of this era and new sound. He was a pioneer. Not first. But still a pioneer. In that era, it was an age of legendary song writers. Elvis performed some ~700 songs. He was a musician who played great rhythm guitar and piano and boy could HE SING. Legendary sought after rich baritone. ZERO of his works were stolen. Legends such as Al Green, BB King, James Brown, Jackie Wilson, Sammy Davis Jr, Chuck Berry and Little Richard roamed the Earth at the same time Elvis did and they all knew Elvis, loved him, and praised him very highly. Elvis merged black and white music to help form Rock and Roll jolted a youth movement and civil rights movement to the forefront so both could succeed. Oh and I love hearing you talk man !! Elvis was about creating music to bring people together - and thanks to your channel we can do that!

One of his black childhood friends, Sam Bell was interviewed by the producer of the 2022 Elvis movie about Elvis childhood in Tupelo Miss. Check out the RU-vid Baz Luhrman interviews Sam Bell. Sam died at age 87, in Sept 2021, so he never got to see the movie and how Baz used some of what he learned from Sam, as content for the movie. Mr. Bell was beaming when recollecting about his boyhood friend and the neighborhood group of kids.

You need to watch the recent Elvis movie. Elvis grew up in a ghetto with the black community…..you will see a video of his best friend who is an older man now, talk about their childhood……In a sense Elvis was as Black as his community because that is where he learned music…

(Third comment, sorry!) I really think you would enjoy the Sam Bell (Elvis childhood friend ) interview available on RU-vid . It's a beautiful, beautiful video! Mr Bell is the most charming person like EVER! Lol. I love him!

Elvis was an enigma. There will never be anyone like him.

You need to see the new movie about Elvis

Glad you know the real Elvis..loved your reaction to this...spread the word ...Elvis is fire ❤🔥❤🔥

Make sure you do part 2 of Elvis and the Black Community; equally enlightening.👍👍

Elvis Presley was a God fearing man and had conservative views. I love that man. There is a video of Bob Joyce singing American trilogy. He is Elvis Aron Presley

When you get a chance you need to watch the new Elvis movie with Austin Butler as Elvis. It will tell you a lot about his life. Not all of it is verbatim, but it is very close.

Elvis said in an interview that if he had to choose between Rock and Roll or Gospel that he would choose Gospel without and doubt. Ant one of his background singers for a little bit was a woman named Cissy Houston. Whitney's mother... He has many Gospel songs. And Happy Thanksgiving.

Thank you for trying to learn about Elvis. I appreciate how you do research on the artists

He didn't l8ke to be called the king. He said only Jesus is the King! He lived in the ghetto and went to a black church!

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 (ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-LrFCyNMvZWk.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 lived for music, he knew from a young age what time he was growing up in and he knew once he became popular that he could help his brothers and music community get attention and exposure for their music and try to bring his generation forward. Elvis did not like being called the King of Rock n Roll, he said only God is king.

There's also part two of Elvis and the black community, Whitney Houston mom was one of Elvis backup singers.

So glad you watched the Elvis documentary!!!! Peace brother

LOVED your reaction - keep'em coming! I think that Chuck D was not offering any criticism of Elvis - he was talking about the people in the media who chose to call Elvis “The King of Rock and Roll.” In the 1960’s, with rock and roll so obviously not going away (actually getting bigger by the day) the media - after realizing that their attempts to kill it were failing badly - chose to call Elvis the KORR instead of giving that acknowledgement to one of the many, many black performers who pioneered that musical style. Elvis grew up in an environment of wonderful music performed by people he loved and he chose to continue showcasing the music (and the people) that had made him who he was. Being true to your roots isn’t taking anything away, it’s being honest about who you are and what (and who) you value and love. Listen carefully to the words that Chuck D used - Chuck D nailed the right target (“…THEY called him “The King”), and his target was not Elvis. Elvis never referred to himself as “The King” - he believed in only One King and he knew that wasn’t him. The media had a different agenda, and Chuck D called them out on it - and of course, in many people’s minds he must have been criticizing Elvis - it couldn’t have been the media, could it? By the way, Elvis won 3 Grammys - all of them in the Gospel category, none of them in Rock and Roll.

I am 9 monts late, but your heart is so big. People love you and i love you. HUMANITY ❤

Thank you for not judging him before you get the facts. He was a wonderful human:)

Here's the thing about covers back in the day - most songs were covers. Songs were almost always written by professional songwriters, not the artists themselves. Sometimes an artist was the first person to perform a song and sometimes a song was written specifically for that artist (or for someone with a similar life story), but at a concert you would expect all the songs to be covers. So saying who the original artist was wasn't standard practice. Elvis certainly didn't take credit for songs and I've seen him talk about how much he loved versions that so and so did before him (ex. when talking to friends), but I don't know if he said 'This was by so and so' at concerts and that's not really something that people did.

Great reaction! I call Elvis the King and the most misunderstood artist, and funny that people call him racist to especially when some of the greats like Ali, James Brown, BB King, Little Richard just to name a few just loved him! Check out what Ali said about him;-)

Elvis did not steal songs from what I understand he paid them when he used their songs. Today everyone covers other artists songs

❤❤❤ yep Chuck D-- Public Enemy, Fight the Power--- straight up called Elvis a racist! biggest bunch of BS

Music is for everyone!!!! We are all still human beings at ...the end of the day.

He and his mama went to church every time they had a service when they were in Tupelo Mississippi. He had a very strong faith. I'm not saying he didn't stray from time to time but he would keep his entire band after a concert and they would sing gospel music as well as practice some of his songs but his favorite songs were the gospel songs. He also disliked it when someone called him the King. He would say, "There is only one and that is God." It made him very uncomfortable.

I love that elderly preacher- his way of speaking, his cadence. Is that Chuck D talking about him? You might enjoy Elvis’ early performances- you’ll see the FIRE!!!!

You should check out Buz Luhrman's interview with Elvis a childhood friend, Sam Bell. Sam talks about EP at church and how their friend group carried on.

He didn't knick a style he grew up with it.

Thanks for sharing. Elvis will live on forever. His love for all people and relating to them made him real. Elvis is the King of Rock N Roll. We all stand on giants shoulders... some stand taller and are able to jump higher on those shoulders.

Elvis admitted many times that he was influenced by black music in a big way, but instead of being proud of that fact, some blacks still call Elvis a racist and say that he stole from black music ...Elvis didn't steal anything and the way he led his life PROVES that he wasn't a racist. If he moved like blacks and covered some of their songs , how is that stealing ? That kind of thing is done all the time by entertainers. What about all the people who imitate Elvis ? ...Are they stealing from him ? ...Of course not ! There's a saying that goes, " imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" , so WHY do some blacks take offense at it ? Every entertainer was influenced by someone who came before them, whether they want to admit it or not. And the fact that his fans gave Elvis the title of the king of rock and roll also upsets some people. Why are they not upset that Michael Jackson is called the King of pop, or that James Brown is refered to as the Godfather of Soul , or that Aretha Franklin is called the Queen of Soul ?...It sounds to me that the folks who hate on Elvis are the racists. Next time I hear a good black song that makes me want to sing along with it, or get up and dance to it, I better think twice about it... I might be called a racist or be accused of theft.

The guy that said this wasn't even alive back then, the hatred and jealousy against this man Elvis was a great man 🐐🐐🙏💙

It is even more than his experience in the Black Gospel church in Memphis. Elivs grew up in Tupalo, Mississippi in the porrest sections of town. Literally, in a shack. He lived in middle of the Black section, as he was not considered white. Whites considered him the bottom of the barrel. Look up an interview (there are several) wth Sam Bell - Elvis's chidhood friend. You have to listen close as Sam is in his 90's. One is an intereiew with Baz Lurhman. There are more with other people over the years but that interview, you really get that this is who Elvis was. Elvis spent many days in the section of town that was right next to The Hill called Shake Rag whiere Muddy Waters lived. Elvis woud listen to Muddy, and learned from him. Sam Bell said that we didn't know wher Elvis was until he came up from Shake Rag? Sam was Black (he has since passed away) yet he wasn't into and the rest of the boys, into Muddy, or Spirituals. Elvis was. Sam said that he and the rest of the gang Elvis belong to, didn't think it was cool. "You couldn't" Sam said, "get Elvis off the stage and stop him from singing, dancing and feeling the music." That would be a good one to watch and react to. You could just watch on your own. Many people think Elvis got into Black music and gospel when his family moved to government housing in Memphis - but that isn't true. This is who Elvis was. Elvis's ancertors were all dirt poor. They worked as share croppers from town to town alongside the freed Black slaves. There was no separation between Elvis's family history and what the Black community endured expecially in the deep Soutth. Mississippi after the Civil War, had a huge popylation of freed slaves ttherefore, did not get equal funding that other states did to rebuild after the decimation of the Civil War. If anyone said anything racist or to put down African Americans, Elvis pointed to the door. He said "You insult and put down them, you are insulting and putting me and my family down too." When you know the history of this family, you undertand where he was coming from. Elvis's family was mixed race. He and Abraham Lincoln (who he was a descendent of his grandfather) are both the two most famous Melungeons in American hstory. Melungeons are a little talked about or known race. They are considered tri-racial being Native American, white and Black. Very good raciton ~ Thank you!

The man that criticised did not live through the Time he broke through it was epic and world wide it was his unique voice, charisma and performance was true to his roots and what he grew up loving.

Elvis himself believed he or he said he didn't like to be called "The King" They make it sound like He went around and bragged about himself. I'm sure he bragged about but strangers Cadillacs too. He wasn't a Taker He was giver.

That’s why he’s the King. Now you know.

In a very basic way, Elvis understood the gospel -- that all humans are created equal, "red and yellow black and white, all are precious in His sight" -- and when his singing and living expressed that objective eternal truth, healing happened. And still happens when that message is spread. Your reaction to "Elvis Presley & the Black Community" is perfect for Thanksgiving. Am looking forward to Part 2. Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!

Elvis loved singing gospel more than rock & roll.

First white man to be called that on national Television

IMHO Whitney didn't steal "I will always love you" just because she didn't announce on stage that the song was a cover of Dolly Parton's hit record, and that Dolly wrote the song in the first place.

What happened with the almost going to jail thing is that he was flagged by the FBI as a public endangerment. 😬

Hello, I'm a French fan only of Elvis and black American music. I send you this comment from my country France and I subscribed to your RU-vid channel.

Please Do "If I Can Dream" Next, it was Elvis's Heartfelt, Powerful Tribute to Dr Martin Luther King Jr after his Assasination in Memphis Tennessee where Elvis Lived. It was based on MLK's I Have A Dream Speech, Elvis spoke to Song writer Earl Brown and told him how much he Respected Mr King and Loved his I have a Dream Speech and this song was the result. Elvis Closed his 68 Comback Special with the Song Honoring Dr King and Robert Kennedy who was also Assasinated that same year. By Singing this song, he was endangering himself and his career but he insisted. Elvis If I Can Dream ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-xA142IsjQiE.html 1968 Comback Special

When Elvis was first on Ed Sullivan he was filmed from the waste up. I was required to stand in the kitchen so that I couldn't see the screen, but at least I could listen. It was 1956.

ELVIS LIVED IN THE BLACK GHETTO WITH HIS MOTHER WHEN HIS FATHER WAS INCARCERATED, AND HE ATTENDED A BLACK CHURCH AND SANG IN THE CHOIR. REV. BROWN RECOGNIZED HIS TALENT AND SAID HE WAS AN ECHO THAT WILL NEVER DIE...

You would love the interview with his childhood friend Sam Bell. Elvis was fully integrated into the black community when he was a kid.

I heard Elvis say many times he was not the King of Rock and Roll. He called Fats Domino the King. And Elvis sang every genre. Pop, country, gospel etc. Back then, singers hardly ever wrote their own songs and everyone sang every song no matter who had the hit. That's fact. It wasn't considered stealing. Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Johnny Mathis did not write their own music and sang one another's songs. They were all big stars and friends. Elvis grew up with black folks. Their music was his music too. I'm from Brooklyn, NYC. I grew up with black Doo Wop music. I'm white. Till this day in my 70s, it's still my favorite music.

I agree with another comment ..if I can dream from his 68 comeback special. It is a tribute to the great Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy. Elvis was devestated when they were assasinated. There are 2 versions..but the one where he is wearing the white suit is breathtaking. I love this reaction. I grew up an Elvis fan and to see others not only discovering his music but who he truly was is so wonderful..Tha knyou for sharing this with us. Wishing g you a blessed day

Please may I add, he never stole anything, it's what he grew up with, it was what he knew and what he heard every day. It was part of him and in his soul.

Yes from public enemy yes it’s him

he also has a beautiful gospel album.

Elvis never stole any One's Music. Elvis lived In Memphis, in the Getteo with all the Black People and they went to Church together. It is the Music and Songs he heard in The Cotton Fields.,He is as Black as Blacks are, their up bringing, values and Love for God.

Great reaction. Thank you

The lady back up singer was Cissy Houston, Whitney's mother.

Elvis would be happy in lots of ways about this production, I think. As Little Richard, is a superstar, but not in early-mid 50's. A lot of artists dream of getting a song recorded by a superstar. Hell, Dolly Parton offered "I will always love you" to Elvis before Whitney made it the biggest hit in the world, a #1 hit for 12- I don't know- 15 weeks? On charts forever. Read Dolly sent Whitney a dozen roses every Sunday morning that the song stayed no.1#. Gotta feeling they both were pretty happy. I'm your newest SUB. Thanks for the great work.

There is a Elvis Presley and the black community part 2. Also check out Elvis Presley, the king of kindness and elvis presley a generous heart.