The world will never see another Ray Charles - super-intelligent and one of the strongest, driven people I've ever read about. Modern people just couldn't cope with the shit he went through as a kid to get to where he got to.
LMFAO What video did you watch? This interview PROVES that Rsy was a mentally disturbed pathological liar and racist. And you not understanding that, speaks volumes about your low IQ and overall mental state.
Ray was a low IQ racist, as evidenced by this interview. And Bob Costas proved that he is a lying left-wing democrat hack, NOT a journalist by any stretch.
It just doesn't get any better than Ray Charles. The man was as GOOD as GOOD gets PERIOD. Ray Charles said something once that I find to be the most profound comment about music that I have ever heard... When he recorded a Hank Williams song, someone said "why are you doing their music?" Meaning "white music"... and Ray said "If I like it, then it's MY MUSIC- Music is UNIVERSAL" . He was right.
I'm late to the conversation, but nobody asked Elvis why he sang "their" music or danced the way "they" did... It was more convenient to ignore that blatant truth and simply fawn over a *socially acceptable* pop sensation. Music IS universal!!!
Ray just didn't like Elvis. Ray basically said Elvis is a culture vulture but he's doing a duet with Tom Jones on RU-vid. Jones, a guy from Wales, white breed, who copied the singing styles and butt shaking of blacks from records and TV. Yet not one word from Ray about Jones copying and being more successful than him. Elvis is raised in Shake Rag the historical black community. Lived with blacks and the music he's called a thief and Jones is not. Go figure.
@werwergtgtg Ray charles is a bitter angry racist and pathological liar Ray himself "stole" white country music. LMFAO Elvis's critically acclaimed recordings were DIVERSE. ELVIS'S soul depth and diversity is WELL DOCUMENTED. Ray charles is a low IQ mentally unstable sheep
@@TheBornnaked Elvis was legendary for stealing other people's music moves and charisma. Do your research my friend. Ray Charles isn't or wasn't stubborn. Elvis was only Elvis because white people didn't want to dance groove or accept Black musicians and artists back in those days. Again, do your research.
@@OTL.podcasthost I understand that you think you’re making a good point, but it’s just racism. Undermining Elvis’ amazing talent is somewhat acceptable coming from Ray Charles, but you?…my friend, Elvis was 100000x the human being you’ll ever be. Since you think you’re “educated” why don’t you think about the instruments used to create black American music. You know any good guitar makers back then from Africa? How about sax? Trumpet? Piano? Trombone? Drum kits? Cymbals? Microphones? PA systems? Ohhh you don’t know about any? What? Those are instruments invented and made by white folk? Did black Americans steal white music?? See how stupid and racist this argument is? Just please try to understand that humanity is a collaborative effort and it only reaches its best and highest points when collaboration is possible. Whites need blacks as much as blacks need whites and all down the line. We are all in this together. Try joining us.
I'm so grateful. As I had the honor, and pleasure. Of having a one on one conversation, with Ray Charles. In I think 1969, while he waited to catch a plane. One Sunday morning, at the Tallahassee Municipal Airport. My memory is crystalized, to me. Ray Charles, and the woman that introduced us. I was an 18 y. o. College freshman, dropping someone off at the airport.which was very small then. And can't picture any other person, at that airport that morning. Really Grateful. Plus I was a fan of his since high school. Wow!!!
I totally agree with Ray Charles. His opinion of Elvis was spot on. Today we have the new Elvis; Justin Timberlake, Robin Thicke, Justin Bieber etc. They studied our artists and culture only to produce a substandard version of soul. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that there aren't any white soul singers. Think about Michael McDonald, Teena Marie, Average White Band, etc... The difference is that they didn't attempt to mimic a style or sound. They just did what they did....
I get what you mean, one group became popular because of a commercial effort to become popular, the others became popular because their music was so good it just happened to get popular. They didn't become popular because they're young, white, good looking and have an outstanding agent, but purely because their music was good. One group of white artists appreciates the art form, the other mimics the art form because it increases the chance of their song becoming a hit. That being said, many of the song writers that write for people like Justin Bieber are black, so they literally need a white boy for it to get popular.
@@ReddoFreddo Justin Beiber owes his success in music to USHER they met when Beiber was very young.Teena Marie was helped by RICK JAMES and SMOKEY ROBINSON while she was with Motown.
The more I hear and watch Ray Charles I am inspired to hear and watch more of him . That's how great he is. I got into his music very late , but it is better late than never.
Looks like you lack intelligence, then, Because this video PROVES that Ray charles was a bitter angry racist and pathological liar. He's mentally disturbed and brainwashed.
I find it funny how so many people in the comments miss the point about what Ray said regarding Elvis. He never said he was a bad singer or a bad musician, nothing of the sort. All he said was, he wasn’t as big as people made him out to be. It’s so true, Elvis was a pretty boy that could sing and dance performing a style of music that wasn’t popularised by the mainstream media of the time. OF COURSE HE WOULD BLOW UP.. when you actually look at what Ray said, none of what he said was a lie and if you can point me to any proof to the contrary then I’m game to trade viewpoints
People can't handle the truth. Instead, they want to make up lies and hold steadfastly to them. It's absolutely craziness. Everyone knows or should know that Elvis mimicked black people's dancing, singing, etc. However, he didn't have soul. He had what white people could tolerate. There are only a few songs I like by Elvis, but I don't believe he's the king of any-damned- thing. What sold his records, is what he copied and stole from black people. Period.
@@hotward2000 in those days you had song writers and singers. Ottis sings would have never been hit sings or played in that time. Elvis paved the way so music wasnt color anymore. Ask keith richards!
I love Elvis music, but Ray put it better than I have ever heard. It was sooo many others more talented, but never could get enough credit because of their skin color. Thanks Mr. Robinson! RIP😇
Yes and their were others much more talented than Ray. Ray knew them but never promoted them because he was threatened by them. He was highly jealous of James Brown. According to Brown Ray was jealous of him because he was young, strong and the closing act when they toured as a collective. Ray was saying negative things about Brown, like he did with Elvis, and Brown didn’t appreciate it. It was only after Brown had a man to man talk with Ray that ended the beef.
Brother Ray definitely had some vital points. People who defend how things were run back then don't understand how hard it was for black musicians who performed similar to Elvis couldn't get what he got. Nothing to do with his talent, he definitely had that and he could cross over to R&B but black artists had to do twice more to cross over to pop...
People who dislike Elvis tend to all be racists especially in this comment thread. They have this very black and white view of the world (pun intended). Elvis was one hell of a performer and the first bonafide rockstar. He played with soul and passion. He felt the weight of super stardom and never gave an uninspired performance. It’s too bad some people can’t see passed the color of his skin long enough to appreciate him.
David Martinez He was saying what black people have been saying for years Elvis was a beneficiary of a white person who helped him get wealthy from playing black music.
True and Michael Jackson even saw through the BS of Elvis being deemed the “King of Rock & Roll”. And the second Michael began to become more popular than Elvis, look at the way the white media treated Michael and tried to destroy his career. But they sure as hell won’t talk shit about white mega stars that stolen a lot from lesser known black musicians, ESPECIALLY Elvis.
I have been listening to black music since I was a kid way before I ever heard an Elvis song but when I did listen to some of his songs I didn't see what the big deal about him was.
madero2025 I’m not gonna sit here and say that he was a bad singer but but for the media to treat him like he was a special singer is asinine to me when there were so many singers black and white, before and after Elvis that we’re much talented than him
@@dr.alexander7039 As stated before I Elvis was the beneficiary of a white person COLONEL TOM PARKER who helped him get rich quick listening to black music.
I think allot of black people are jelous og elvis because he was so big and such a great singer/ preformer that they put so much effort to discredit him and try to compare singers that are much less on elvis level as a great vocalist like Michael jackson who cant touch elvis . ray who wrote great songs but not a great singer.
@@frankfurfaro2165 MJ left Elvis in the dust when it comes to being a WORLDWIDE ENTERTAINER.I have never seen footage of Elvis performing outside the USA why not??????
@@frankfurfaro2165 A movie is about to be made about ELVIS I want to see if this person who has signed up for playing your hero will get a OSCAR NOMINATION.
Oh please, Ray was talking nonsense. Yes, Elvis' style did in part come from Rhythm & Blues but also gospel and country. To dismiss him as lucky and a white copy cat is foolish. Jailhouse Rock was an original track by Elvis, and black men may have been moving but nobody did what Elvis did. Also, check out Ray Charles version of Blue Moon of Kentucky. Was he copying Bill Monroe? Nope, he did it the way Elvis originated it. So please Ray, shut the fuck up.
Applepie6 Yes he told the truth about Elvis and any other white artists they were copy cats and it started with Bill Haley when he did the remake of SHAKE RATTLE AND ROLL from BIG JOE TURNER!!!!
@@MstaMark everyone is built upon the past. Literally every single person. Ray Charles didn’t invent anything new. He just had his style and his touch of originality on things that already existed. That’s how humanity and culture works. Elvis wasn’t a song writer, he was a performer. No one has ever claimed he was a song writer. I don’t understand the hate other than he was white and made “black” music popular and outshined black musicians for a while. Blame society, not Elvis. Plus, to have the opinion that Elvis brought nothing to the table is the delusional thing to believe. He was one of the greatest performers of all time. Period.
@@MstaMark You are a mimic, Elvis was a pioneer. A forefather of modern Gospel, Rock and Roll, Punk Rock, Heavy Metal, Hard Rock and the blues. And even today's hip-hop artists and pop stars were heavily influenced. Shonka, Doja Cat, 3 Six Mafia, Beyonce, Prince, Freddie Mercury, Kanye West, Post Malone, Chamillionaire, and Offset of Migos have gone on record - making statements that they were influenced by Elvis.
Ray Charles was a true original. We are lucky to have lived at a time we to got to see and hear his art. John Babtist is cut from the same cloth, Ray’s legacy lives on through his recordings and those he has influenced. RIP Mr Charles, you are dearly missed.
One thing his daughter should have learned when she say she never had her daddy around to spend time with her is that it is one thing for sure is every man that has kids is not a father fugue, Ray did not mean to not be a dad, he just never had one to begin with. One thing about it he loved his kids and his wife... Tell me that you can see the way that Ray seen his life and his feelings... I loved him and he was before my time but he was also in my time.... R I P Mr Ray Charles Roberson...
Thank you! I have been searching for this honest, enlightening, fantastic interview since RU-vid came on the scene. Quite amazing that I just happened to look this morning and you had posted 3 days ago. Thanks again...GB
sure thing, Greg! glad that worked out. i have a few things on my own youtube "wish list" that i hope to come across some day, too. thanks for checking out the vid!
@@Andrew-eq8wx Elvis is very primitive musically to me. He just doesn’t do anything for me! Just like Metallica doesn’t do anything for me or snoop dog. It’s not a personal thing against those folks, it just their stuff doesn’t get it with me. It’s doesn’t move me!
@@Channel-cm7yc I think “primitive” should be replaced with “exciting”. You sound like a boring person which would make sense considering you don’t enjoy Elvis, Metallica, or snoop dog.
@@frankfurfaro2165 What about Jerry Lee Lewis,Bill Hailey they got started before Elvis!!!!!!! Why weren't they given the title of the KING OF ROCK-N-ROLL.If you really want to know who was King his name was LOUIS JORDAN.Elvis was the king of remakes.
@@dwightlove3704 Dwight the issue was nobody sang as good looked as good and sold as much. Elvis never liked that title and never thought as himsrlf as the king. He thought hecwssxam entertainer unlike m jackson calling radio stations telling djs they have to call him the king of pop.
If Elvis was white breed I would agree but he grew up early on in Shake Rag the historical black community. His next door neighbors were black, black Church, black shanties, black music. These are his roots. He didn't copy or steal he learned, he was taught. Learned from blacks like BB King. Plus he had a white country influence as well. Now what I find telling is Ray is doing a duet with Tom Jones on RU-vid. Jones a white breed guy from Wales who copied black music from records. Yet not word about it from Ray. Why is Elvis put down by Ray and Tom Jones is not. Makes no sense. If you're interested watch the 2 part "Elvis & the black community" on RU-vid. There you will see BB King say, "they didn't make a mistake calling him the king."
B.B. King wrote, “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.”
I dont see a long line of white people pissed off that Ray stole country music. Culture appropriation of white people? Of course not. He deeply appreciated white country music. Thats beautiful! Doesnt mean white people own country music or black people own R&B or pop music. Music does not have a color owner. It has pioneers over time, and white and black musicians spent hundreds of thousands of hours jamming to form Rock and Roll alone, and if Elvis didnt happen, black music might still be stuck in blues clubs in segregated neighborhoods for all we know because Elvis broke the segregation laws in Memphis and in the music business. Elvis could sing play and dance and was more influential to musicians in all three than Ray. I love Ray Charles' work, but Elvis was the greatest music entertainer that ever lived. Ray is definitely one of the all time greats tho. Without a doubt.
Elvis stole and mimicked the style/swagger from the likes of a Chuck Berry & Little Richard If not for them, he'd be a nobody I didn't believe he was that great anyway. "King of What?" He's grossly overrated
@@CooManTunesYou NEED much prayer! Please do not comment on anything else I post. I will not further respond because you and your ignorance and self-hatred is not worth the caca on the bottom of my shoes! P.S. I will report you and block you!
@@sherikalang8662 Pipe down, you ignorant racist. You know nothing about Elvis, or his importance to music history. All you can do is insult a great man, so in light of that, you don't deserve any respect.
Except Ray lied through his choppers. Ray sold rights to two of his songs to Elvis. Elvis did not steal. Unless Ray's people lied to him and never gave him the money....
Elvis is King! I don't believe he would talk about black artists the way Ray spoke about him! Elvis loved black artists and showed Respect! R.I.P Elvis 👑
ELVIS was loved by many people worldwide to them he was a real SUPERSTAR he gave them happy times 💖💖💖 Lots o f peope did not take to elvis they liked frank sinatra nat king cole johnny mathais Bing crosby andy williams ricky nelson johnny cash everly brothers ella fitzgerald sam cooke ray charles the list is endless who was the king who was the queen its a matter of opinion if you like an artist that lots of people dont its ok lots of people like opera n classical music jazz swing lots only lie pop music its cool Ray charles a superstar🌟 Elvis a SUPERSTAR ⭐ There is no king n no queen theres only people who sing dance play musical instruments to make us all feel good inside let the singer sing and the musician play were all listening yeh
**** realty check........ Elvis was NOT an R&B artist, That was only a fraction of the genres he sang.... His first recordings were country, bluegrass, gospel, in addition to R&b....... The songs that first got him stardom were not recycled R&b songs (heartbreak hotel). Most were freshly written songs for him & his early movies. Even Hound Dog (first recorded by Big Mama Thorton) was written by white songwriters Lieber& Stoller, as they did for many blues artists Also compare what happened when Elvis did cover an R&B song, & compare to the original........ The originals were always slow, bluesy & ethnic, which was not appealing to the mass market & the dominant pop chart (Top40)..... it’s also NOT Elvis fault for being born into a segregated society. Elvis was the most inclusive, diverse artist you will find. The fact that he often outdid his contemporaries had little to do with Segregation, and more to do with his interpretation, superb vocals, and rocking instrumentation (see BB Kings comments... Jackie Wilson’s comments, Al Greens comment; and Mohammed Ali’s remarks,,,,, Check out all of his Sun Record recordings and compare with the original R&b versions....... Elvis versions was usually faster tempo, more energetic voice, and overall more polished product. Also note, ALL of the R&B he covered was **AFTER** the original R&B artist already had their own hit with the song. Elvis stole nothing, anymore than artists of color who themselves covered white songs. (Ie: Tina Turner/proud Mary etc) As for Elvis being the king, *statistically* he is. He could outdo country, bluegrass, pop, operatic, and R&B artists on their own turf. This is not based on sentiment, it’s based on his collective body of his work. When you factor-in the following music charts, he still holds the record for most successful artist: HitParade; Cashbox; Top40; Hot100; as well as his simultaneous hits on Country, pop, Adult contemporary, R&b, gospel and International charts Until he appeared on the scene, fighting prejudice and getting his music played on tv , radio, and movies, non traditional mainstream music did not get played. Check out James Browns remarks. After that point artists of color began having their songs played & appear on the Top 40 charts. This is no longer PC, but track chart progress and you’ll see they suddenly appear after Elvis bursting into the scene. Not saying country and blues weren’t morphing in the background beforehand, and other artists contributing, like Bill Haley, but no one did more for popularizing & getting acceptance of Rock than Elvis He is the most influential, significant, and popular artist of popular & Rock music in recorded history
Think most of his biggest hits were originals. He did covers too, yes, but the ones he's known for - Hound Dog and maybe Suspicious Minds aside - were composed for him.
I do not have any problem with Ray's comments about Elvis, and this is coming from someone who really likes a lot of his Sun and early RCA stuff. Ray wasn't wrong - Elvis just copied black music and got a completely different deal out of it because he's white. The proof to me is with What'd I Say. When you watch that clip from Viva Las Vegas where Elvis is shakin it with Ann Margaret, listen to his version closely. They increased the tempo of the song, changed the key to a higher C-major. It sounds like a pop-tart pop tune for innocent teenie bopers. Ray wrote that song intently to be an R&B/soul with a hint of blues in it. Which means laid back tempo and in the more bluesy E-minor. It sounds sexy, like it should be.
Yeah but Elvis redid What'd I Say for his concerts in 69 and it was explosive! Not that toned down version in Viva Las Vegas. He did the same with Blue Suede Shoes. His 56 version had kick and balls to it. He redid it for the movie GI Blues and it was just a movie tone. It was blah
I wonder how much gain his mic had? I don’t know if he was blind but to the point he couldn’t see anything, only 10% or blind people can’t see anything; but he just moves so much that you’d think his mic would have to be real hot
See....for all you rappers out there... listen to a master...rap is not talent.... spoken by a black man about black culture....thank you so much Ray....R.I.P
Loved Ray as an artist. Absolutely incredible, *BUT* with regards to Elvis, I do have to point out Ray sure didn't have a problem cashing the royalty checks he got from Elvis over the years. Ray's co-writer on couple of his hits, Reginald Richard, said of all of the hundreds of other Singers that covered some of Ray's songs they made the most money when Elvis covered one of Rays. He said in some cases the royalty checks working 8 to 10 times bigger $$ from Elvis than when many other reputable singers covered Rays material. Reginald explained it like he himself appreciated Elvis. EP always spoke respect for Ray and put a lot of bread on Rays table over the years. Plus Ray isn't saying anything here that Elvis himself didn't say in his own interviews. All his old interviews are out there easy to find on the internet he always acknowledge rhythm & blues black music was around before he came along, and never shied away from acknowledging black artist he admired and respected as influence. This is why so many of those other greats James Brown, Little Richard, Sam Cooke, BB King, Fats Dominoe, Jackie Wilson all had mad respect for Elvis. So it's just a bit odd that Ray seems so at odds with Elvis when so many of Rays other musical peers went out of their way to speak respect for Elvis. Partly due to all the racist hate Elvis dealt with from white folks back then for publicly doing and promoting black music. If anyone is on Facebook you might want to save this link below and go read it. This group covers a lot about that specific history. A lot of stuff not known. Anyone ever hear about the time Elvis beat up a racist for harassing a black man or called out some his white folks on their bigotry? Probably not. White people in news media never bothered to civer those details. But they're covered on this Facebook group. Come check it and join m.facebook.com/groups/197327014069344?view=permalink&id=876880896113949
I didn't hear anything that put him at odds. Ray Charles was blind, he couldn't see the performance. His hearing was more keen. From a musical genius, he wasn't as great as perceived. Nothing disrespectful about that. And it definitely doesn't put him at odds.
As he should have gotten paid…. He didn’t I feel in anyway disrespect him he simply said he was no king…. Facts being a great mimic was his ultimate talent to a platform that did not allow the originators to present their creativity in the same way was what he did as Mr. Charles gave an example of in the interview…..
Except Ray lied through his choppers. Ray sold rights to two of his songs to Elvis. Elvis did not steal. Unless Ray's people lied to him and never gave him the money....
The only music devils ever owned is the classical music shit that no black person on earth can relate to it. Ray Charles was a legend and and brave honest man.
What? Brother what have you been smoking. There are a multitude of black opera singers, conductors you name it. Even Louis Farrakhan plays classical violin.
Untrue what he said about Elvis. Ray claimed Jailhouse Rick was Big Mama’s song but it was written by 2 white guys specifically for Elvis. Elvis grew up in Shake Rag, the historical black community. He learned and was taught black music. Ray was a bit jealous of Elvis as he was with James Brown. According to Brown they had beef because Ray was envious of his strength, his youth and he was the closer when they toured together as a collective.
@@dwightlove3704 Agree. Louie Jordan is the starting point for all that would come after him. Just Listen to the quick way he spits the lyrics of "Run Joe"( on his mid-50s version produced by Quincy Jones). Also Bro. Ray clearly acknowledged in other interviews that rapping lyrics - as opposed to singing them- he'd already covered that ground back in 1953 with "It Should Have Been Me". RC wrote, arranged, played (mean on the Alto sax & Organ) and sung the shit out of everything. His Genius flowed and he didn't need to try & copy another man's demo tapes sent directly to him- like Elvis did on all those Otis Blackwell songs he recorded & had his name put on those same songs as co writer.
@@MrNewktrane Thank you for saying this the GREAT WHITE LIE still exists in the history of American music that Elvis was the starting point for everyone else to follow when ppl in the industry knows that to be a obvious falsehood that they have benefitted from for decades.Jordan had his fingers in numerous forms of music all the way up to the modern day.Listen to his classic "BEWARE"!!!!!!!!!! Elvis never once wrote, produced,arranged a single song he was connected with.But yet he is given credit for being the driving force behind the success of the American Music Industry.
@@dwightlove3704 Those who don't know American music history- which is Black American music history don't even know that the term ' rock & roll was black slang for love making that was then put in lyrics of R & B songs of the 40s & early 50s(" We're Gonna Rock, We're Going Roll", "Good Rockin' Tonight") as that music was targeted towards the adult black listening audiences. Just listen to Big Joe Turner's original version of "Shake Rattle & Roll" compared to Bill Haley's sanitized, teen- targeted version. Big Joe sings " You wear the dresses that the sun shines through, I can't believe my eyes all that mess belongs to you. Now Shake, Rattle & Roll etc.." Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee Lewis , & Little Richard said if anybody's to lay claim of 'King ' during that 50s time period- there's only one man and that's Mr. Chuck Berry who speeded up the R & B of the previous decade, made the guitar the lead instrument ( the sax was it prior- going all the way back to Illinois Jauquet to King Curtis) & most importantly he tapped a previous unknown market- teens- by writing the greatest song lyrics of the day. Roll Over Beethoven, Johnny B. Goode, School Days, Brown- Eyed Handsome Man, Maybelline, Nadine, etc..... You know I remember a Down Beat magazine interview with Bro. Ray from 1988( I believe that's what he refers to briefly in this interview) where he stated the problem with Presley at that time was he never gave credit to the black singers nor songwriters who sent him demo tapes for him to copy. That would have made such a difference for a number of artists who the American white audience knew nothing about because of the segregated radio stations of the day that refuse to play their original music. So different from all the British who came to this country and proudly stated where they're inspirations- hell, the Stones took their name from an old Muddy Waters tune, the Beatles raved about Chuck Berry, for Rod Stewart to this day, it's all about Sam Cooke, and just one listen to Steve Winwood & Joe Cocker and it's clear they're graduates from the University of Ray Charles. That those across the pond mentioned throughout their careers how much in depth they are to this country's great black artists speaks volumes compared to the silence of the media-appointed "King".
It was a shame to hear Charles downplay Presley and his influence on American music and culture. I enjoyed Charles's songs in the early '60s, but his time and influence were limited and more so than Presley's, regardless of those commenters below with their bigoted views. It was easy for Charles to take cheap shots at Presley, who was dead by that time. And shame on Bob Costas for not calling him on it.
It wasn't a cheap shot. It's an honest opinion from a musical genius. He was blind, so his hearing was more keen. Nothing about Elvis' voice was particularly special to him, he knew hundreds of guys that sound like him.
White culture always has the ability to take black culture and infuse their people in it. In music it happens all the time. It’s a social engineering technique to control history. So years down the line you have people like bob costas telling a living legend like ray charles that Elvis was great. While Ray can give you the honest truth, he was a culture vulture. Ray was there, he has no reason to lie, he is a legend himself. While people still argue to this day that he is the king of Rock and roll. When he stole it like everything else the white American has done for the last 400 years. This isn’t a racial attack. But a factual statement.
Sure black people are the creators but that doesn't mean a non black can't do it or add to it or make it better. Their are black martial arts masters in Japanese arts that added to it and some made it better. Black opera singers are breaking grounds. Plus 9 black classical composers changed the course of white classical music. Just because someone from another race or group, falls in love with the music or karate or whatever doesn't mean they can't do it and sometimes do it better. Plus Ray is wrong about the Jail House Rock being written for Willie Mae. It was written specifically for Elvis by two Jewish white boys. Elvis said during a Jet Magazine interview in 1957, it’s black music, I didn’t invent this music and I couldn’t sing as good as a black person. He called Fat Domino the true king of Rock-n-Roll. His musical hero’s were black and he never denied any of this.
So many people here in the comments are bitter towards Elvis and resent his success. Ray is fantastic and a beautiful person , but he is clearly jealous and understandably so. It’s evident that most who are criticizing Elvis here do not know anything about him, and that is by choice. Maybe listen to BB King, Muhammad Ali, Fats Domino ? Bobby Blue Bland? James Brown..?Virtually every “black” man Elvis came in contact with during his life loved him,respected him, and defended him . Race shouldn’t be an issue here but because it is I’ll make some very obvious points that many of you are clearly unaware of. Jailhouse Rock, Hound Dog, Loving You, and countless other hits of Elvis’ were written by WHITE PEOPLE. Ray says Jailhouse Rock is a black song .. what ? Furthermore, Elvis is considered “The King” due to many factors, most notably his illustrious success. Due to his race ? No..Elvis had 100+ gold records, 20+ films, and most watched live performances in history because of his skill and talent as a singer and an entertainer. to say Elvis stole.. give me a break. Ray recorded one of the greatest country albums ever made, does that mean he stole from Hank Williams ? Ray Price? The Everly Brothers? Moreover, why do we always have to make things about race ? Just enjoy music! The interviewer is wrong for pitching that losing question anyway .
