Quote of the Day: Elvis Presley
QUOTE(Calvin @ Sep 21 2007, 12:26 PM) 
Style, Music, etc,he brought black music to the mainstream audience,alot of people think he stoled black music,when actually that wasn’t true,Elvis had alot of respect for quite a few black entertainers,and loved their music,he wasn’t in it to rip them off, he had a presence that was magnetic,he gave to alot of people in need,he had a good heart,i’m a fan of both of them,i just hate to see people tear Elvis apart,and not give him his respect,people who absolutely know nothing about the man, say “oh he was a racist,he stoled black music”,when its all false
Oh so Elvis was singing black folks music to ‘help’ them, huh? Please let’s not go overboard. Elvis and his shark of a manger, Colonel Tom Parker, got fat off the backs of black artists…it’s nothing false about it. Otis Blackwell one the greatest American songwriters ever wrote Elvis biggest hits (Don’t Be Cruel, All Shook Up, Return to Sender). Not only did he write them – Elvis copied the arrangement, the style, the vocal mannerisms, and claimed he co-wrote the songs along with Blackwell (at least Elvis’ name was on the record as co-writer). In truth it was Blackwell’s influence that helped put Elvis on the top of the R&B and pop charts (at the same time)…yet Elvis never bothered to even meet him. Unfortunately for Blackwell – sold Elvis’ biggest hits for 25.00 each. He was the ’soul’ of Elvis Presley – and no one ever heard of him, and he died penniless in 2002. Blackwell also wrote “Fever”, “Great Balls of Fire” (Jerry Lee Lewis’ signature tune), “Breathless”, “Let’s Talk About Us” (two more Jerry Lee Lewis hits). You want to talk about “respect” for Elvis – that’s fine, but where is the respect for the real pioneers (IMO) that he feed off of? And I can’t help but wonder if Elvis respected these pioneers so much why didn’t he go out of his way to at least meet the people that were vital to his success or acknowledge them in any way? Respect is earned – not given. So let’s not make Elvis out to be a civil rights leader. It’s not my intention to just bash on Elvis Presley, I know he has his fans…that’s all well and good. But facts are facts. He wasn’t talented enough for me to whitewash the facts because I liked the way he shook his hips. Otis Blackwell nor his family ever saw a penny of the publishing royalties that helped build his empire and that little miss Lisa Marie Presley is reaping the benefits from to this day. [Remember Mike's wonderful gesture to Little Richard? He bought the publishing rights to his music and GAVE it to him. Made Little Richard cry tears of joy. Now that's what I call respect.]
I think the family of Otis Blackwell knowing that he wrote over one thousand songs – and was one the most prolific songwriters in American history, and had such an impact and influence on rock and roll and the “king” himself, would like to see some respect for him. So, don’t worry Elvis’ legacy won’t be harmed by a few malcontent black folks who feel ripped off. Elvis’ image will never be tarnished, it is well protected, and he will forever be known as the “King”. So let the malcontents grumble, it’s not affecting Elvis, his fame, or his money.
(excerpt via FreakCircusFreak - KOP member)
If Otis sold his songs outright, then legally he wasn’t owed any royalties. Maybe that doesn’t seem fair, but that’s the way the business works (it’s similar to a “work for hire” type of thing). It’s simply not true that “no one ever heard of him.” Otis was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1986 and in 1991 into the National Academy of Popular Music’s Songwriters Hall of Fame, and he was well known and respected in the biz because of having written so many hit songs. Did he really die penniless? It seems unlikely, and as you don’t mention a source for your quote I’ll have to look around some. In a way, I feel he fared better than Elvis because he lived 25 more years than E did. Elvis had stopped making publishing royalties on Otis’ work by then as well, as the Col., in his wisdom sold them off to RCA in ‘73 (huge mistake).
Elvis met plenty of other black artists throughout his career, and in his early years he frequently praised them in interviews (see Guralnick’s Last Train to Memphis and Kevin Phinney’s Souled American). If he didn’t meet Otis…so what? Why should he have to? After his army days he rarely gave interviews.
I always thought the “Elvis stole black music” argument was silly; it’s like saying Chuck Berry stole white music when he wrote Maybelline, which is clearly rockabilly. Artists are influenced by what’s around them. Elvis’ genius is that he synthesized all kinds of musical styles, R&B, C&W, gospel, blues, pop, hymns, into something that crossed over to the mainstream in a big way. He was a great song interpreter.
I only have this to say:
How can you call somebody “the king of rock & roll” when that same artist did a variation of genres: R&B, soul, country, gospel, operatic pop, standards, rockabilly, etc.?
And how can you call someone “the king of pop” when that artist has also done a variation of genres: R&B, soul, the “Motown Sound”, funk, disco, new jack swing, etc.
It’s silly, really. But the founding fathers of today’s music, I’ve always said, were Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Little Richard, Ray Charles and James Brown. Everyone else came after these five.
^ Tim, in regards to ‘King of Pop’. Pop only is short for popular, meaning popular music. So all of the genres of music Mike incorporates are included. Just the way I see it
floacist is a troll, and a trash-articles writer+promoter..
Elvis don’t know anything about otis blackwell after 1977, also otis blackwell didn’t died penniless, he was still working with many artist… He died rich.
That’s All Right
Blue Moon of Kentucky
Good Rockin’ Tonight
I Don’t Care If the Sun Don’t Shine
Milk Cow Blues Boogie
You’re a Heartbreaker
Baby Let’s Play House
I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone
Mystery Train
These songs are recorded+released before Little richard first record “tutti frutti”.. Do you know that Little richard had ripped off Esquerita?
Esquerita was already performing Rock and Roll style around 1954 in a time. That Little Richard was also on stage but…not with Rock and Roll but Gospel.
Little richard took EVERYTHING from him…his way of playing, his haircut even his way of dressing.
Response to 2nd reply:-
Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Little Richard, Ray Charles and James Brown are not fathers.. Because Elvis is before Chuck berry, little richard, bo diddley and james brown here. And Ray Charles was funk, not rock.