Ray Charles True Feelings About Elvis
The 2022 Elvis Movie received accolades by critics and honored with many awards. It centered new attention on the phenomenon known as Elvis. Like the Beatles in the 60s, Elvis commanded universal acclaim in the 1950s/early 60s. White women and girls swooned over him and White men and boys envied and imitated him.
Ray Charles was not a fan.
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In this rare interview, the normally congenial musician, expressed rare public scorn for the so-named King of Rock & Roll. His words express deep resentment at the success and accolades and acceptance Presley received relative to the anonymity of pioneer Black musicians like Sister Rosetta Thorpe, Willie Mae Thornton, Nat King Coke and others.
He doesn’t mince words.
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Re cultural appropriation in music, here's a quote from Robert A. Clift's documentary 'Blacking Up: Hip-Hop's Remix of Race and Identity' (he names names) -- "racial and cultural ownership and authenticity – a path that begins with the stolen blackness seen in the success of Stephen Foster, Al Jolson, Benny Goodman, Elvis Presley, the Rolling Stones – up to Vanilla Ice ... and Eminem".
Ray Charles was very brave to speak out against Elvis. But I guess it worked out -- Elvis died and Charles kept making his great music.
