Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley
By: Stacy
Elvis Presley was obviously a very talented artist that inspired people through his music. This is because he played different verities of music. He played rock and roll, pop, rockabilly, country, blues, gospel, R&B. And him doing that impacted many people around the world. But what inspired him to do the things he used to do?
Elvis Aaron Presley was born on Tuesday, January 8, 1935 in East Tupelo, Mississippi. Presley got his first guitar at the age of 10, and soon after, had his first taste of musical success when he won a talent show at Humes High School in Memphis. After graduating in 1953, he worked a number of jobs while pursuing his musical dream. Elvis took odd jobs working as a movie theater usher and a truck driver for Crown Electric Company. He began singing locally as "The Hillbilly Cat", and then signed with a local recording company, then in 1955 with RCA. He did much to establish early rock and roll music, bringing black blues singing into the white, teenage mainstream. By 1956, he was an international sensation. With a sound and style that uniquely combined his diverse musical influences and blurred and challenged the social and racial barriers of the time. In 1957, Elvis Presley was accused of being racist. While in Boston (or during an interview with Edward R. Murrow on CBS), he uttered the now-infamous declaration, “The only thing niggers can do for me is buy my records and shine my shoes.” But according through my research, and others (Rob Rabiee) never said such things. Reasons?
1) At this time in 1957, Elvis had never been to Boston, nor had he ever been interviewed on CBS, by Edward R. Murrow or anyone else
2) This sort of racism is completely out of step with his character and actions. In fact, famous civil rights photographer Ernest Withers remembers that Presley “had respect for people and had respect for black people.”
3) Photos of Presley with various black artists,
Elvis Presley was obviously a very talented artist that inspired people through his music. This is because he played different verities of music. He played rock and roll, pop, rockabilly, country, blues, gospel, R&B. And him doing that impacted many people around the world. But what inspired him to do the things he used to do?
Elvis Aaron Presley was born on Tuesday, January 8, 1935 in East Tupelo, Mississippi. Presley got his first guitar at the age of 10, and soon after, had his first taste of musical success when he won a talent show at Humes High School in Memphis. After graduating in 1953, he worked a number of jobs while pursuing his musical dream. Elvis took odd jobs working as a movie theater usher and a truck driver for Crown Electric Company. He began singing locally as "The Hillbilly Cat", and then signed with a local recording company, then in 1955 with RCA. He did much to establish early rock and roll music, bringing black blues singing into the white, teenage mainstream. By 1956, he was an international sensation. With a sound and style that uniquely combined his diverse musical influences and blurred and challenged the social and racial barriers of the time. In 1957, Elvis Presley was accused of being racist. While in Boston (or during an interview with Edward R. Murrow on CBS), he uttered the now-infamous declaration, “The only thing niggers can do for me is buy my records and shine my shoes.” But according through my research, and others (Rob Rabiee) never said such things. Reasons?
1) At this time in 1957, Elvis had never been to Boston, nor had he ever been interviewed on CBS, by Edward R. Murrow or anyone else
2) This sort of racism is completely out of step with his character and actions. In fact, famous civil rights photographer Ernest Withers remembers that Presley “had respect for people and had respect for black people.”
3) Photos of Presley with various black artists,