I was really happy to come across this article by Peter Guralnick in the New York Times the other day because I love Elvis Presley. It’s bummed me out for years hearing the unsubstantiated “Elvis was a racist” rumor . This article clarified a lot of things for me and I definitely recommend the read.
I found some quotes on my own from Elvis’s contemporaries:
“Elvis was an integrator. Elvis was a blessing. They wouldn’t let Black music through. He opened the door for Black music.” – Little Richard.
“I wasn’t just a fan, I was his brother. Last time I saw Elvis alive was at Graceland. We sang ‘Old Blind Barnabus’ together, a gospel song. I love him and hope to see him in heaven. There’ll never be another like that soul brother.” – James Brown.
I’ve pulled together some clips of Elvis and his Attraction in honor of the 30th anniversary of his passing yesterday.
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zunoed?
Yes! Hi Donita! Hi Fini!
Hey there dakine01!
his last show was in Indy, wasn’t it?
30 years, hard to believe…
Donita!!
I was dancing to elvis all night at the Blackhearts cafe in Second Life last night.
Thanks for the music.
I love Elvis.
Hi Donita.
I like some of the Elvis music. But I first learned it from Stitch & Lilo.
I’ve always had some mixed feelings about Elvis. Some of his stuff is among the greatest music ever made and some of it is pure cr*p. I think a lot of folks put the divide as pre-Army and post-Army but some of his after Army music was great so I have no idea where the break point is.
Ok everyone….. is it “Elvis’s contemporaries” or “Elvis’ contemporaries”?
Just watched the first video – is that what it’s like just before YOU go out onstage, Donita?
Donita Sparks @ 10
My English teacher said both are OK.
OT: Texans
HOUSTON (AP) – Fuel trucks are headed toward coastal towns and evacuations routes are being cleared as Texas braces for a possible direct hit from Hurricane Dean.
Donita Sparks @ 10
apostrophe after the one s… Elvis’
jacqrat @ 11
Exactly, only I have one person blotting my sweat and another putting more powder on.
ccmask @ 13
My brother is down there! They set up his unit in Harligen so they can help with evacuations.
Donita Sparks @ 15
(squeals) Ooooh! I can just SEE it!
Keith Olberman’s conversation with Uri Gellar and the speculation about Elvis being alive just cracked me up. Charlane Harris has written a series of vampire novels and one of the vampires is “The King,” who was brought back from the brink by a vampire EMT on the fateful night of his alleged demise. Unfortunately “Bubba” came through the process with most of his memories gone, and is portrayed as a bit of a halfwit. To be honest, that is one of the best “Elvis is alive,” theories I have heard. It is certainly entertaining.
jayt @ 4
Yessiree, we have a huge marker and everything. In fact my friend Dan Niswander just did a video addressed to David Letterman on YouTube about this. That is Market Square Arena in that first video. I know a bunch of people who were there.
I will never forget where I was on that day in ‘77. Tulsa, OK, across the street from Oral Roberts University. We stayed up late and watched an extended Nightline on ABC. My mother cried and cried, then she cried some more.
ccmask @ 13
Oh like we need more rain down here, huh? Jeebus. We only got eight plus inches yesterday in San Antone after having the second rainiest Julys after having the rainiest first seven months of a year. Sure, why not more rain?
Donita Sparks @ 10
Strunk & White say it’s Elvis’s.
jacqrat @ 14
Hmm… I don’t know if I trust you Jacqrat
for my money, the best elvis tunes were the sun sessions. very raw, almost primal, undiluted by background singers, etc.
Donita Sparks @ 23
(crestfallen)
This is the new way: apostrophe after the one s… Elvis’
This is the old way: Strunk & White say it’s Elvis’s.
My teacher said either one is fine.
elvis is dead, and donita’s just pretending, badump-bump!
I’m torn too on the apostrophe. I’ve used both rules, but FWIW the Associated Press Stylebook says both are acceptable.
dakine01 @ 21
Well, Dean will be dropping a whole lot more water onyou, unfortunately. Better get ready (battery backup for tv & laptop, clean bathtub, fill water bottles, stock up on tuna & saltines, etc. etc. etc.) I was going to do all that Sunday but if you are getting it instead, well…
My Nephew is on leave for 3 days (based in Georgia). I just hope he isn’t coming to tell us he is leaving for Iraq. He is the only son of my sister who died of breast cancer. I’m so nervous. I’m driving to Boca in the morning. I wonder if the storm can still turn this way (Gulf of Mexico/Florida?)
OT for Cassie
from end of prior thread:
Re allan at 90
Hi, Cassie.
I agree with allan: get as much math (including statistics) and science as you can stomach.
A good research project might be to examine how the MSM has ignored all the good research and analysis that’s been done on the John F. Kennedy assassination. (There has been lots of bad analysis that has been trumpeted by the MSM.)
And to examine why the MSM has behaved this way.
For more info on the assassination, see (for example) the Assassination Science website maintained by Professor James Fetzer.
Of all his songs I just love A Little Less Conversation,
Marretta @ 18
The book “Is Elvis Alive?” is really great and comes with an audio cassette of Elvis’s phone messages from the late 1980’s. He talks about how he’s “been doin’ alot a karata”.
My brother went down to the gulf yesterday for ERIN but just when they were finished, they were given 6 hours to sleep and now they are on duty for DEAN.
Donita
English lesson aside, the clip of Andy Kaufmann is a mindblower. Wow. never saw that, mesmerizing. His voice is actually really good. You a fan of his as well?
Thanks Jonathan.
Donita Sparks
I never heard those. Had they really been that widespread?
You need to watch the Andy Kaufmann video!
Absolutely a dynamite Elvis!! I remember when it was on. Hard to believe 30 years!
Millineryman @ 29
Mine is “Can’t Help Falling in Love With You”
SnarKassandra @ 26
What can I say.?.. I’m old school.
Thanks
(see Jacqrat!)
Millineryman @ 29
I’m partial to Viva Las Vegas but A Little Less Conversation is a close 2nd. I think as he went Vegas he actually became a better singer than in his early career from a technical perspective. He was breathing properly and increased his range considerably and also kept up the performance aspect despite not being a youngster anymore and couldn’t gyrate his hips like he could when he was 20.
ccmask @ 29
Well, I was living outside of Tampa in ‘04 and went through Charlie, Frances, and Jeannie so Dean won’t be that foreign an experience. It just gets real old since I haven’t quite gotten the gills and web fins fully grown in as yet.
I was in Negril knocking back a bowl of conch chowder and a Red Stripe when it came over the radio. He was a favorite when I was a kid but his Nixon connection and schlock soured me.
Cassie-there are some messages from you downstairs–including from ET (and me)….As someone else said, write on….
nicelyput @ 34
Huge Andy fan. I think that clip is touching as well as funny. Andy was a big Elvis fan. The fact that he was performing that in front of a Johnny Cash audience is so amazing. A true performance artist.
Donita Sparks @ 39
Hey Snark, please check back in the last thread for a little comment about “Dispatches”.
Elvis began his career by standing on street corners in Memphis and singing. His family was fairly poor and when the Colonel found him it all began. Are any of you old enough to remember his first appearance on Sullivan show?
finifinito @ 38
That’s an intersting perspective I never thought about it that way.
I’ve always thought that the persistent rumors about Elvis being alive came from fans stuck in the denial stage of grief. He was one of a kind, which makes it all that much more amusing that there are so many impersonators out there.
Donita Sparks @ 15
Do you still get stage fright? OK, that’s off topic. You don’t need to answer.
Twain @ 46
Yup
Some of my Elvis favorites (which I have on original vinyl):
It’s Now or Never
A Big Hunka Love
Are You Lonesome Tonight
Elvis is everywhere, man.
OK, I went back and looked. Thanks for the advice.
Jonathan @ 51
In the Ghetto
Millineryman @ 31
I like that one too. Someone did a remix a while ago. I’ll try and find it.
Man oh man my Momma just loved Elvis. I did too but not like her. She also loved Freddie Fender.
Freddie made it longer than Mom, but she only beat Elvis by three years, they are all gone now.
RIP, all of ‘em.
raven @ 52
And at about the same time (late 1960s):
Cold Kentucky Rain
Dakein01: Those three storms were unbelievable. Crazy times, for sure. I’m in Lake Placid and we never get hit but that year every one of them hit us.
Jonathan @ 57
Right before he went republican :)
Twain @ 36
There’s so many classics. In the Ghetto had a profound impact on me as a kid. To this day whenever I hear that song it brings me back to the first time I heard it.
Seriously, is there anyone male or female who can watch young Elvis in Jailhouse Rock and it doesn’t get them going?
When I was a little kid — and I mean a little kid, like 4 years old — my babysitters got me into Elvis and my minister dad would take me to the Saturday matinees at the Fitchburg movie theater to see Elvis movies. He would come home a bit bewildered by all these young girls who just pulled each others’ hair and screamed through the whole film, but he kept taking me.
As a fellow poor kid from Tennessee, however, I think he always kinda felt “good on ya” for ol’ Elvis.
Hmm.
My mom is a huge Elvis fan herself. I grew up with the movies as much as the music as well. I think right now, the favorites that stick with me are:
Return to Sender
A Little Less Conversation
I grew up to those songs on the car radio. I grew up learning to sing to classic rock as well as the usual nursery rhymes. Made for a very interseting childhood. hehe. I was born about 10 days after he died, so i’m obviously a bit young to do much more than ponder in wonder over the concert reruns, the movies and the wonder of it all.
Music is Music, and Elvis is one of those i respect for what he ushered in. *grins*
SnarKassandra @ 26
I like your English teacher, Cassie!
Language Log is one of my faves. Bunch of academic linguist types being snarky and informative. But don’t tell jacqrat…they’ve completely discredited Strunk and White many, many times over.
FunnyD
I heart Elvis.
Not as much as I heart Bill Monroe, but pretty damn close.
raven @ 57
And went to the White House. Met with Nixon (unplanned). And asked to become a U.S. marshall to wage war against drugs in the U.S.
Donita Sparks @ 53
That would great. I think it was very innovative for Elvis, and for music in 1968.
Nixon and Elvis
And I’m Father Flanigan of Boys Town.
Donita Sparks @ 54
Junkie XL. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNvzT_yWg9Y There’s the vid. :D
happy friday donita!
my mom was in sitting in an outdoor cafe in Italy when the waiter said to her: “did you hear—the king is dead!” my mom thought he was talking about some old crusty royal……he then added: ELVIS! she told me her eyes welled up and she just sat there—in shock, crying.
that line in Public Enemy’s “fight the power” always irks me…..
love,
nora
Do drug addicts get treatment more in places where drugs are legal?
Actually, that wasn’t the vid. *ponders* Lets see if i can find the orignal on youtube somewhere. But that IS JunkieXL’s remix. Not the vid i remember from M2 at the time.
Jane Hamsher @ 61
Jailhouse Rock was on TCM last night – I think yesterday was Elvis day on there. Except I think my favorites are GI Blues and Blue Hawaii
Found IT! bhahaha~
Go Here!
I always liked the video cause it was fairly clever, and the remix is just stellar.
Bossa Nova Baby
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-yZifpgCR0
Aloha, Ya’ll!!! Happy ‘Admissions Day’!!! 8-)
FunnyDiva at 61
Writing for the public is tricky.
Here on FDL, where there’s a range of ages from Cassie’s to Mayfly’s, pretty much anything goes.
If, OTOH, you’re writing for well-educated folks north of age 70, of which I do a lot, better stick to old school.
SnarKassandra @ 70
Thats a tough question honey.
A lot depends on the geographic location, ie, close to big cities that have more resources.
There are a ton of places that can help, I’m not so sure some states aren’t much harder to get to treatment because of the local laws being more draconian.
King Creole for me.
Bustednuckles @ 78
i meant other countries like in Europe.
That I couldn’t say, I stick close to home.
*g*
“Jailhouse Rock” also reminds me of those dancing Korean inmates you had here recently, Donita.
SnarKassandra @ 79
There have been mixed results, I suggest you look at Amsterdam
SnarKassandra @ 70
I believe that there is less addiction in places were drugs are legal. When things are normalized then they become less of a temptation. Therefore less treatment is needed.
Is Jenna really pregnant, or is that merely speculation?
Did Elvis ever try to get sober?
Donita: I’m still loving Tay Zonday from last week. Especially “Internet Dream“
Jane Hamsher @ 62
Very sweet memory there, and Jailhouse Rock gets me goin’ fo sho.
SnarKassandra @ 85
He was addicted to pills.
Jane Hamsher @ 79
Holy CRAP! Can you imagine the Filipino Fosse making the prisoners do Jailhouse Rock? AHHHHH!
Jonathan @ 76
Understood. As long as you’re not Grammar Policing around here, you’re safe from me!
Language Log is still well worth reading in any case. And it’s just posts, no comment threads, so relatively quick reading.
FunnyDiva
who sits on hands at the lake over
its/it’s and
there/their/they’re, etc.
Ed*ard Teller @ 83
it’s speculation… personally, I think she’s just eatin’ a few too many cheetos and drinking a few too many beers…
what I can’t figure out is why, in the Land of Traditional Values, her parents are jumping up and down and dancing for joy all over the media…
Did Elvis ever try to stop taking pills? Did he ever do treatment or NA or anything?
SnarKassandra @ 8
Heh. That would have to change one’s perspective, wouldn’t it???
Bob in HI
Ed*ard Teller @ 84
I posted a pic yesterday and someone commented she looked pregnant. I blamed it on beer because I didn’t want to spread any rumors. How bout that, heh.
Jonathan @ 66
heavily medicated himself, I’m sure.
SnarKassandra @ 92
I don’t think any of those “self-help” organizations except for AA existed then.
SnarKassandra @ 83
You should check out his 1968 “comeback” video. He is amazingly healthy and good. Fantastic live music in an intimate setting.
my favorite elvis tune is “jailhouse rock”. i’ve heard it covered several times over but the people singing are shouting rather than singing.
Thanks for a great thread Donita. I have to go. I always The Spin.
SnarKassandra @ 92
There was a ton of controversy over his being addicted to so many pills after his death.
IIRC he had a private physician who came under a lot of heat.
SnarKassandra @ 8
Heh. I was never into his music, my mother was. I’m old enough to remember this, but not old enough to have appreciated his music.
dakine01 @ 21
Oh you’re the folks taking our rain, then….
I can remember playing his 45’s over and over again on my little record player in my backyard. He was just so dreamy.
dakine01 @ 9
I put the quality divide on Colonel Tom, Elvis’ illegal alien carny ‘manager’…who actually made Brian Epstein look competent.
The testament to the talent of Elvis is that whether he was following his heart (gospel, rockabilly) or churning out dreck (Do the Clam, and 99% of the soundtrack songs)…He made it palatable.
Wow, the “Elvis is a racist” myth is debunked. I’ve heard that story all my life, pervasive to the point that I never seriously questioned it. Snopes has the goods here.
Thanks, Donita!
Well, what do you know?
NEW YORK – “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” whose phony news coverage has long included phony “remotes” from war-torn Iraq, will be reporting from Iraq for real next week.
raven @ 94
You got to examine the times. This was the Golden Age of Big Pharma getting their addiction grip on in the US. Rich white folks who had no qualms with locking up the long hairs for 20 years for possession of marijuana would in the same breath as condemning the DFH’s be throwing 4 V*li*m and a swig of Stolichnaya down their own throat without batting an eye. Pills are LEGAL therefore if you want to get high you go see a doctor and get the nice prescription! Same logic applies to this day.
Edited ** and released by Mod
Bustednuckles @ 98
It seems that 30 years ago, we were just beginning to get the idea of how dangerous prescription drugs could be… it was seen as a much less serious problem…
I’m no Elvis expert, but I think his best lyric was hunka hunka burnin’ love.
i saw an elvis documentary last night. elvis wasn’t serious about becoming a DEA agent. he was fascinated by police badges and had several in his collection. the feds made a badge for elvis, but, instead of reading “DEA agent” it just read “elvis presley”
aliasofwestgate @ 72
Really nice slideshow however.
Fuuny Diva at 88
I understand about not being a grammar nazi.
In my work as a tax lawyer, which involves application of a lot of logic, however, I’ve learned that lots of times if you get the language wrong, you get the logic wrong.
do-si-do @ 106
and Thank ya, Thank ya vury much.
Donita Sparks @ 106
It was, wasn’t it? *grins* I did find the vid a few posts below that one by the way.
OldCoastie @ 91
Are you KIDDING? Talk about a distraction to take the eyes of the masses off of the sh**storm that is starting to break over this maladministration.
FunnyD
As long as we’re loving Elvis, let’s be sure to lay some appreciation on Scotty Moore, Elvis’ guitar player, who was so integral to Elvis’ sound, and so influential to future rock guitarists.
Hi, Donita! Yeah! Wonderful post!
Elvis was great! A great musician, a great man, a great soul. I’m sad to see that the people say false rumors about him, the most recent says that he’s alive and he lives in Argentina… My God, the people speak a lot of aberrations… Well, but speaking about the true Elvis, I was listening the music “Almost in Love”, recorded by Elvis in the 60’s years, and I reminded that it was composed by a Brazilian, Luiz Bonfá! And in 1976, Elvis played at studio the music “Feelings”, of the Brazilian Morris Albert. A not-concluded version circulates among fans.
FunnyD – that should have been “aren’t jumping up and down”… they are treating it as a “private family matter” – not much joy in mudville.
Don’t forget the Elvis appetite! One of our local radio stations used to feature “Breakfast with Elvis” with soundbites of what he had for breakfast, something like steak, bacon, donuts, etc. and “Shake Rattle and Roll”
One of my kids favorite things to eat is “The Elvis” sandwich. PB, bacon & banana! Good and good for ya!
finifinito @ 105
Actually, that era was pre-Stoli. If they were tossing ‘em back with anything in the v*dka line, it was Sm*rmn*ff. But more likely it was some b*urb*n for the manhattans.
“PB, bacon & banana!”
I swear, I’m going to go make one of those right now.
RonD @ 119
I’ll take one Ron!
ccmask @ 120
With extra mayo, j/k!! Elvis was quite the health nut, eh? /s
Jonathan @ 111
Just look at Dubya……
ccmask @ 94
You know what freaked me out about the first pic at this link? The profile of the “lucky” guy looks like a young Dubya!!!
aieeeya!
Jonathan @ 98
hubba hubba
Damn…no bacon. But I see a sandwich field experiment in my future.
Thanks Mods, I forgot the filters again. [sheepish grin]
If Elvis were alive he would be seventy one and 400 pounds…
RonD @ 121
I think, Gladys, his mother said that she grilled them for him – like a grilled cheese.
RonD @ 126
Quick, check the frig door–any bacon bits?
:P
Elvis WAS a secret agent for Nixon. Elvis asked if he could be one and Nixon said “yes” not sure if he actually DID anything.
RonD @ 119
Hey!
RonD @ 116
Totally tastty guitar player!
Suggestion
If you’re going to make an Elvis sandwich:
use organic peanut butter
use a ripe banana of any brand (bananas don’t absorb pesticides)
use bacon that hasn’t been cured with nitrites
use some good (no preservatives) whole wheat bread
That Andy Kaufman vid is from about the time he went on Johnny Carson and became the first Tonight Show guest to ever completely stump Johnny (who was one sharp cookie). He brought a “Dick, Jane and Spot” child’s book to show Johnny how good he was at reading. Got up, pulled off his outwear to reveal an Elvis suit, did his imitation, then sat back down again and started reading to Johnny from the kid’s book. Johnny could not shake him out of character and ended up looking completely bewildered. It was priceless.
On December 21, 1970, Presley met with President Richard Nixon at the White House (Presley arrived with a handgun, a present for Nixon. It was accepted, but could not be taken into the Oval Office for security reasons). Peter Guralnick details how Presley engineered the encounter, a somewhat bizarre attempt to express his patriotism, his contempt for the hippie drug culture and his wish to be appointed a “Federal Agent at Large”. His priority was apparently to obtain a Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs badge, to add to other law enforcement badges and guns he had begun collecting. He not only offered to “infiltrate hippie groups”, he also claimed that The Beatles “had come to this country, made their money, then gone back to England where they fomented anti-American feeling”. [144] Nixon was uncertain and bemused by the whole episode, twice expressing concern during their conversation that Presley needed to “retain his credibility”.[145]
I like this song by Steve Goodman- Elvis Imitators
Elvis trying to infiltrate the Merry Pranksters on behalf of Richard Nixon.
The mind reels.
Do you think it is safe for Jon Stewart to go to Iraq? You don’t think some wingnut would do a friendly fire thing, right?
SnarKassandra @ 136
it’s not Stewart who will be in Iraq, but one of his “reporters” (who in real life is a Marine reservist)
OldCoastie @ 138
Oh that is better.
Elvis had one of his aids check on the price of getting a contract on his wife’s lover. Apparently the price was too high- as Elvis decided to let it go.
Yes- Elvis was a right wing whacko! Fixated on putting hippie druggies in jail while killin himself with dope. Go figure.
RonD @ 114
Too right. No “I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone”, no Keith Richards.
…and props also to James Burton, Jerry Scheff and Ronnie Tutt.
SnarKassandra @ 139
Dang, Cassie, pretty cynical question…!!! ;-)
Cassie @ 139
Great question about the safety issue, in my opinion.
In say, 1971, you could have dropped down into Saigon. It was a game of chances, but you could have gone to a good restaurant, maybe seen some interesting activities, and holed up in a (relatively) safe hotel for a good night’s sleep.
My take on the troops in Iraq: they get no break whatsoever. There is no zone that’s relatively OK. They are constantly stressed.
FYI, new post
Jonathan @ 145
Yeah, my brother is always on the phone or IM or webcam with mechanics over there from the units that started out at his base here. They are really stressed, and they’re on bases there and not going house to house with the marines.
Jonathan @ 145
Jonathan @ 145
Can’t feel the love on this one. To me, Elvis was a cracker goodie-two-shoes who took the easiest way out on Vietnam. Muhammed Ali? He was brave. Elvis? Cowardly douchebag.
Interesting that Donita quotes Little Richard, who found Jesus instead of dealing with being gay, and James Brown, who beat his wife while voting Republican. Elvis was as phony as both of them—a true Republican.
“Suspicious Minds” is his only song worth remembering. Flush the rest down the toilet he died on. If Elvis were alive today, he’d be on George Bush’s A-list for White House dinners.
Jonathan @ 97
You should check out his 1968 “comeback” video. He is amazingly healthy and good. Fantastic live music in an intimate setting.
Was there ever a sexier man than black leather clad Elvis in the ‘68 special? It made you forgive him for all of the sub-par movie music.
I remember when “Aloha from Hawaii” was first on. It was a big deal because it was live “via satellite”. My mom and her girlfriend were in a tizzy, taking over the tv for the evening while the men rolled their eyes. You have to remember, no cable, just the 3 major networks, no VCR’s, you had to be there to see it, prime time, it was an EVENT!
“Lord almighty, I feel my temperature rising!”
Veritas78 @ 149
Whatever the politics of these guys, they did an enormous amount culturally, by making black culture accessible and/or attractive to generations of young whites, who as a consequence, make rascism less and less culturally acceptable in this country. And just as Ray Charles did country albums, perhaps they felt that by being politically “in the mainstream” would open more doors for blacks than being confrontational. Whether correct or not, I respect their choices and believe that they were forces for positive change.
busted knuckles at 100
his private physician was “dr. nick.”
iirc, peter guralnick indicates in his biography of elvis, that elvis started on the pills when he was in the army. apparently, soldiers were encouraged to take them so they could function better.
personally, i’m partial to “mystery train.”
relurking.
Veritas78 @ 149
You have no sense of history.
Elvis was in the U.S. army from 1958 to March of 1960…Five years before the Marines hit the beach at Da Nang.
Using your logic, one could imply that Jimi Hendrix was a traitor to some nebulous progressive cause for serving with the 101st Airborne.
How was Little Richard supposed to ‘come out’ in 19-Fifty-f*cking-Seven, 12 years before Stonewall… Exactly?
Also, James Brown supported Republican causes because they supported small business, low taxes on the individual (not just corporate privateers) and individual achievement back in the 1960s…Two things that JB thought were very necessary for people to get out of the burning ghettoes of that time and succeed.
Conflating his latter spousal abuse with that to make a cheap shot…
>:(
If you don’t dig the music or the personalities, fine…But don’t try to reinvent the past to fit your point.
Veritas78 @ 149
You use ethnic slurs while showing your ignorance of history. Are you sure that you aren’t a Republican yourself?
I’ve got enough sense of history to remember that Elvis Presley’s vaunted “war record” was thrown in Cassius Clay’s face, and that Presley’s unquestioning support of the Vietnam War was cited by Republicans until it ended. Thanks, Elvis. He was the Toby Keith of his day, and as talented. No apologies here.
Little Richard broke with Pat f*cking Boone because Boone wasn’t fundie enough. Little Richard is deeply f*cked up. He sure wasn’t expected to come out in 1957, but my comment is entirely valid: he found Jesus instead of dealing with being gay. He’s still alive and welcome to come out any time. No apologies on that count.
Yes, James Brown opposed taxation: he cheated on his own taxes to the tune of $4.5 million—a true Republican. He also tried to bribe a radio station and attempted to murder his wife. We’ll excuse the multi-state fugitive flight and the 5 drug arrests in 10 years as “misunderstandings”. But voting for George W. Bush, twice?? And proud of it? No apologies here, neither. If we’re going to glorify wife-beating, tax-cheating Republican assholes, he should be in our pantheon.
I lived through the years with these jerks. You may have read about them. Acquire your own sense of history at your leisure.
Donita:
I don’t know if you will see this–I came late to this party.
Peter Guralnick wrote the definitive biography of Elvis. This first volume “Last Train to Memphis” won a bunch of awards. I wasn’t particularly interested in reading about Elvis, but when this book came out Guralnick said to reporters that he was influenced by Taylor Branch’s first volume of MLK’s biography, “Parting the Waters.” HELLOOOOO!
Yes, it was deserving of all the accolades. It took Elvis from his birth until he went into the Army. The second volume, “Careless Love” was much less edifying. It dealt with his drug addictions (which he picked up in the Army) through his weird relationships with women.
Seriously, if you are interested in Elvis as a whole, these are must-reads.
‘I’ve got enough sense of history to remember that Elvis Presley’s vaunted “war record” was thrown in Cassius Clay’s face, and that Presley’s unquestioning support of the Vietnam War was cited by Republicans until it ended.’
So, Elvis is responsible for Muhammad Ali’s draft woes (Not ‘Cassius Clay’, as that name ceased to be used by Ali some years prior) and the Vietnam war itself?
Bad Elvis, no PBJ.
‘Little Richard broke with Pat f*cking Boone because Boone wasn’t fundie enough. Little Richard is deeply f*cked up. He sure wasn’t expected to come out in 1957, but my comment is entirely valid: he found Jesus instead of dealing with being gay. He’s still alive and welcome to come out any time.’
A shame indeed that Richard Penneman didn’t take advantage of the huge ‘dealing with being gay’ industry available to him at the time…Oh wait, perhaps he dealt with it by using personal religion as a morality guide to abstain from his sexual urges…Silly antiquarian him.
‘Yes, James Brown opposed taxation: he cheated on his own taxes to the tune of $4.5 million—a true Republican. He also tried to bribe a radio station and attempted to murder his wife.’
JB paid it all back, 7 times over. By that standard, Willie Nelson and Redd Foxx must be Republicans then. And ‘murder’? My, what colorful language.
‘We’ll excuse the multi-state fugitive flight and the 5 drug arrests in 10 years as “misunderstandings”. But voting for George W. Bush, twice?? And proud of it?’
How gracious of you to excuse such things, and I trust you will provide some proof of James Brown’s voting record as soon as you are up to it.
‘I lived through the years with these jerks. You may have read about them. Acquire your own sense of history at your leisure.’
1) No, you didn’t. 2) Perhaps I have. 3) Thank you, I will.
Elvis’s early death has been actively and deeply mourned for decades now–more than any other public figure’s death has. Maybe, it’s occurred to me, he was claimed to the core by his country, good ole boy, christian southern culture, and could have (if he’d lived long enough and given up health destroying ways) led that culture into acceptance of the other.
Thanks for the education, darkblack! After all these years, I’ll never look at these liberal icons the same way again.