elmer said:

TylerHippie said:

MJ(everyone claims he's the greastest entertainer of all time). Now, doing Prince's performance, he was really interacting with the crowd, playing a little bit of keyboards, doing some sexy as dance moves, hell, he even tried catching flowers with his mouth.

Second is Freddie Mercury, he was a far better entertainer than MJ. Simply because of his personality, and he was doing something different every show.

Point is, what makes a artist a great entertainer? Because there's no way in hell MJ was better than Prince or Freddie Mercury.

All of the worst music ever was by Queen. Seriously.

MJ was without doubt one of the worlds greatest entertainers, even after the 76-87 golden period when all started to go horribly wrong.

That's your opinion. Damn, did you really just say Queen suck?

[Edited 8/3/11 10:55am]

namepeace said:

bboy87 said:

It's all subjective

I prefer Michael but you can't deny someone like Sammy Davis Jr. the title either. Hell, he's the originator of that title

Like Graycap said, Sammy had IT altogether. The man lived, breathed, and DIED entertainment. He was show business to the day he died. He was a great singer, a great dancer, and a great actor. The original Mr. Entertainment. It annoys me that he doesn't get the recognitiion and respect he truly deserves. Before Michael, Prince, Jackie Wilson, and James Brown, it was Sammy. You really have to look back at Sammy's career to see how great he was.

Indeed. SD Jr. was a musician, singer, dancer, and comedic talent. He could really do it all, and that can't fully be said about the Princes, MJs and James Browns of the world.

But as you said, there are so many great entertainers who could vie for that title.

Louis Armstrong is widely credited as a founding father of modern entertainment. he was not only a powerhouse, innovative musician, but he also had the stage presence to hold a crowd in the palm of his hand. Most of the artists mentioned here owe him a debt of gratitude.

But so many others could vie for that title.

And, for the record, EVER? Can we look for another moniker, like, "of the modern era" or "last century"?

Agreed of a couple of counts.

In terms of "entertainment", Sammy was a quintuple-threat

A modified repost from when a similar question was posed some time ago:

[img:$uid]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/audience/Music/tip1_5174.jpg[/img:$uid][img:$uid]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/audience/Music/sammydj.jpg[/img:$uid]
[img:$uid]http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b59/jbodine/Covers%20II/goldenboy1.jpg[/img:$uid][img:$uid]http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b59/jbodine/Music%20II/big.jpg[/img:$uid]

~ Actor
~ Dancer
~ Singer
~ Impressionist/Comedian
~ Musician

There are very few performers that can get on a stage with a simple band (sans any elaborate stage production or props except for maybe a cigarette) and perform live in front of an audience (no vocal aids) for an extended period of time and keep them entertained in a number of ways.

[img:$uid]http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b59/jbodine/Music%20II/584900_356x237.jpg[/img:$uid]

...Sammy Davis Jr. was one of them.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

The other thing I agree with you on is specificity in forming these questions.
As soon as the word "best" is included, you've almost guaranteed that a fact based discussion will not be had. "Best" based on what?
These type of posts/questions generally end up as nothing more than a pissing contest for each participant's favorite artist.


Music for adventurous listeners

tA

Tribal Records

I hate how Sammy has been almost TOTALLY forgotten like 21 years after his death. People in this modern age have an image of Sammy that wasn't totally what he was and looking at footage from his heyday, no doubt he definitely still holds that "World's Greatest Entertainer" title.

Timmy84 said:

I hate how Sammy has been almost TOTALLY forgotten like 21 years after his death. People in this modern age have an image of Sammy that wasn't totally what he was and looking at footage from his heyday, no doubt he definitely still holds that "World's Greatest Entertainer" title.

You know, I was never a huge fan, but I grew up watching Jerry Lewis' MDA telethons every Labor Day weekend, and he was on many of them, and many other 70's/80's TV as well. Putting on a show. He was just some oldie artist/celeb to me then. I have great respect for him now.

Trying 2 be objective, I'd say Sammy was the single most talented individual period.

He left no stones unturned in the entertainment world.

mjscarousal said:

Their is no logic to understand.

Elvis had the it factor.

Good looks and a descent voice.

However he thrived during a time where racism and prejudice ran rapid. With that being said alot of his music as well as dance moves was stolen from alot of legendary black acts that Ive mentioned and NO credit has ever been given to them. Alot of this credit is falsely given to Elvis. The crown of "rock n roll" when the REAL kings are never spoken of who HE stole and admired himself. Their was nothing original or innovative about anything he did during the time. He brought the genius' of the artists I mentioned to the forefront and because he was white he became what he was DURING that period. Now we can look back and really put his talent and so called genius in its right perspective. Those African American acts innovated it all and was doing it long before Elvis but because he was popular and ... white DURING THAT PERIOD he became a big deal. BUT if I want to see the real masters behind his swagger jacking style then I will flip on Jackie Wilson or turn on Fats Dominos.

Please do not compare Elvis to Prince, MJ, and James You love comparing everybody to them to support an arguement. This has nothing to do with them.

Once people begin to realize that every single musical artist was influenced by other musicians, people with negative and biased opinions against Elvis Presley will stop.

You keyed in, Elvis Presley "thrived during a time where racism and prejudice ran rapid." IMO, I feel it took courage for this young white musician to translate the music he loved into a music that people all over the world loved. He had the gift of musical fusion. (if you look today at what run dmc and aerosmith did aka:fusion).

What african american musician Elvis chose to immulate could have become famous world wide during that space in time in the"history of american music?" sorry, this is how it was. let it gooooooooooooooooo. be aware and move forward with knowledge of the past. it's called moving forward.

please make with the past.

Anyway back on feedback to your post. Using the race-card is getting played out when it comes to Elvis Presley. my grandmothers kids, my mom had pictures of Elvis Presley on their closet doors along with Paul Anka, The Four Seasons, Del Shannon, and Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, the Beachboys, Smokey Robinson and that Miracles and the world famous Supremes. It didn't matter to these kids the color of music groups in this space and time.

you must by this time realize Elvis Presley's music style was meant for white rock n roll. (In the beginning it was consider raw by the press/media, but it sold to the masses.) However his talent surpassed the record companies expectations. Do your realize the very clothing style he wore also catapulted some black clothing designers. Elvis Presley created revenue all over the U.S. Black record store owners sold Elvis. Many of our predecessors and very people you key in about created revenue for the community barbers and beauticians.

I'm expressing here the process to the hair, aka: the conk. Conks were often styled as large pompadours. Many of the popular musicians of the early to mid 20th century, including Chuck Berry,Little Richard, James Brown, and the members of The Temptations and The Miracles, were well known for sporting the conk hairstyle. Elvis added a boost to the area's econmy. I learned this from my grandmother in that the first movie she took me and my sister to see was "love me tender" starring Elvis Presley.

follwing paragrah from paragraph titled: Teenage Life in Memphis at

http://en.wikipedia.org/w...is_Presley

Elvis shared with the masses, yes it was from the music of African American musicians mostly. However he was influenced by other music of his time. Presley, who never received formal music Training or learned to read music, studied and played by ear. He frequented record stores with jukeboxes and listening booths. He knew all of Hank Snow's songs^[and he loved records by other country singers such as Roy Acuff, Ernest Tubb,Ted Daffen, Jimmy Rodgers, Jimmie Davis, and Bob Wills. The Southern Gospel singer Jake Hess, one of his favorite performers, was a significant influence on his ballad-singing style.

So what i'm sending in response here is, Elvis did what he did (i think he did it good). the man acheived greatness that gave back to each and every person in some way or another. (look were able to create paragarphs in his name )

Maybe his history did not in the ways some of us feel on an individual level. Point is the man gave and had the courage to give. For that IMO he deserves respectful kudos.

^ THANK YOU!

Some say Al Jolson is the greatest entertainer, I say, WHAT THE F__ is up with this album cover???

Anyways, whoever decides who's the greatest entertainer is truly subjective, plus some people are so much into artists of their OWN generation that sometimes it's not easy to see why someone from a different time period is better so again it's all in how you see things.

^^^That's from al Jolson's infamous "blackface" role when he sang "Mamie."

theAudience said:

namepeace said:

Indeed. SD Jr. was a musician, singer, dancer, and comedic talent. He could really do it all, and that can't fully be said about the Princes, MJs and James Browns of the world.

But as you said, there are so many great entertainers who could vie for that title.

Louis Armstrong is widely credited as a founding father of modern entertainment. he was not only a powerhouse, innovative musician, but he also had the stage presence to hold a crowd in the palm of his hand. Most of the artists mentioned here owe him a debt of gratitude.

But so many others could vie for that title.

And, for the record, EVER? Can we look for another moniker, like, "of the modern era" or "last century"?

Agreed of a couple of counts.

In terms of "entertainment", Sammy was a quintuple-threat

A modified repost from when a similar question was posed some time ago:

[img:$uid]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/audience/Music/tip1_5174.jpg[/img:$uid][img:$uid]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/audience/Music/sammydj.jpg[/img:$uid]
[img:$uid]http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b59/jbodine/Covers%20II/goldenboy1.jpg[/img:$uid][img:$uid]http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b59/jbodine/Music%20II/big.jpg[/img:$uid]

~ Actor
~ Dancer
~ Singer
~ Impressionist/Comedian
~ Musician

There are very few performers that can get on a stage with a simple band (sans any elaborate stage production or props except for maybe a cigarette) and perform live in front of an audience (no vocal aids) for an extended period of time and keep them entertained in a number of ways.

[img:$uid]http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b59/jbodine/Music%20II/584900_356x237.jpg[/img:$uid]

...Sammy Davis Jr. was one of them.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

The other thing I agree with you on is specificity in forming these questions.
As soon as the word "best" is included, you've almost guaranteed that a fact based discussion will not be had. "Best" based on what?
These type of posts/questions generally end up as nothing more than a pissing contest for each participant's favorite artist.


Music for adventurous listeners

tA

Tribal Records

NY Guy, Sammy would get my vote and I just "discovered" him via youtube this year. He was an unbelievably talented man.

-

Graycap23 said:

Trying 2 be objective, I'd say Sammy was the single most talented individual period.

He left no stones unturned in the entertainment world.

Gray have you read the book "Sammy"? It's a combo of his 2 autobiographies with more parts added on. It's a great read. It was like he had to try every form of entertainment. It's a shame that he's sometimes forgotten

bboy87 said:

Graycap23 said:

Trying 2 be objective, I'd say Sammy was the single most talented individual period.

He left no stones unturned in the entertainment world.

Gray have you read the book "Sammy"? It's a combo of his 2 autobiographies with more parts added on. It's a great read. It was like he had to try every form of entertainment. It's a shame that he's sometimes forgotten

I, for one, won't forget him. I have fond memories of his TV concerts and movies from childhood. I was in awe of his dancing ability. My favorite song to roller skate to was "Candy Man," which was voted most popular on Tuesdays at the roller rink.

bboy87 said:

Graycap23 said:

Trying 2 be objective, I'd say Sammy was the single most talented individual period.

He left no stones unturned in the entertainment world.

Gray have you read the book "Sammy"? It's a combo of his 2 autobiographies with more parts added on. It's a great read. It was like he had to try every form of entertainment. It's a shame that he's sometimes forgotten

And he FOUGHT so hard to simply be LOVED too. You have to understand he was basically, like Michael, RAISED in show business. He wasn't raised socially in a way that he couldn't really relate to society even though he tried hard to do that as well (with results that didn't go over in the world he lived in). His father basically worked with him but I don't think he raised him, neither did his mother.

So from age 3 and a half he was put on the stage to entertain, get money, and go home. After he was tortured by racist soldiers during his WWII tenure, he decided he was gonna fight his way into people's hearts with love so he poured out ALL of his talent and then some, sweating bullets night after night doing amazing dance moves that would make even Jackie Wilson and James Brown blush, then telling jokes (he was a great comic), doing impersonations of other actors (VERY well), then being a musician both in the studio and onstage (playing various instruments). He then would create drama in his shows where people would be in awe, and yet the places he wanted to be near people he was told to go to the back, he had to be forced to eat in his car, when he began dating white women, he caused a lot of ire both black and white, same when he converted to Judaism following his car accident. Later, he tried to appeal to young blacks and young Vietnam protestors adapting a hippie type of persona but due to him appealing to everyone, the Black Panthers hated him, despite Jesse Jackson supporting him, blacks were angry when he not only performed for then President Nixon but also was seen hugging (AND kissing) him (from the cheek) in pictures but he still wanted people to love him and they just never did. No wonder he died so young because he performed (and lived the way he lived) until even performing became a struggle. In the end when he got SICK, that's when all those motherfuckers (well not all of them, some of the younger ones in the entertainment field really respected him, Michael included) wanted to pay tribute and even more so after he died.

But after that, nothing. Sammy paid the price for being the greatest entertainer because it came with more baggage than Michael or Prince could've ever imagined but I'm sure they knew because they read about it and heard about it. So did James.

DakutiusMaximus said:

For the current conversation I will say it has to be Prince but back in the early 70's there was a guy named Napolean Murphy Brock who had it all- incredible stage presence, killer dance moves, fantastic vocal range and agility, played sax and flute to boot.

He was the lead singer in Frank Zappa's band at the time which also included Gerorge Duke, Ruth Underwood on vibes/percussion and drummer Chester Thompson.

I saw him perform on the Roxy and Elsewhere tour and I was absolutely blown away. I'm sure he could have easily led his own band and been a big star if he wanted to go in that direction. Not a lot of video exists from that time but here's the best I could find for yas:

[Edited 8/3/11 0:54am]

Another stimulating thread here, for sure.

Imma reply to my own previous post to add that I interpreted the original question to be about stage presence and talent as opposed to level of fame achieved.

Napolean has to be the least famous entertainer of any mentioned in this entire conversation but I'll tell you what, when I was at that Zappa show I knew without a doubt I was in the presence of a world class entertainer.

That phenomena is all too common in the world of musicians. Sometimes you go to a small club to see a local band and they are every bit as good or sometimes even better than some huge A list touring acts. It takes you by surprise.

That's happened to me a few times in my life and it has always raises the question of how it is that some musicians wind up at the top of the heap making millions while players just as good need to keep their day jobs and never "make it."

Murphy Brock it turns out was one of the lucky ones; he was discovered by FZ doing soul covers at the Red Noodle lounge in Honolulu. Frank wanted him to join the band on the spot and leave for Europe in a couple days but that was too much for Napi to digest havng never heard of Frank before so he invited Frank to call him when he got back.

Frank did and 3 months later Napi was fronting for the band.

Napolean is still out there doing his own thing and also playing regularly with many of the Zappa tribute bands that are continually touring the world.

It's a niche in the purest sense of the word.

He's of course grown beyond his youthful good looks and he's not sporting the big 'fro anymore but the vocal gymnastics that FZ's music demanded are still his stock in trade and there is certainly a demand for it with so many bands covering FZ's music. Napoleon goes from band to band as a guest performer.

After Frank disbanded his 70's lineup, NMB went on to perform with George Duke's jazz/funk/pop aggregation for a few years. Because George sang lead on a lot of songs NMB was mostly an ensemble vocalist in that band (which also contained Sheila E) but this video certainly shows his remarkable charisma.

Enjoy!

I can't say he's the "greatest ever" but I think an honorable mention should go to Jaime Foxx. He can sing, dance, do comedy, drama, impressions, write music and was an all-star athlete at one stage. Yes, he's got a reputation for being a bit of a jerk in Hollywood (from what I've read) but he basically knows how to master a lot of different areas of entertainment. He's a real entertainer. But, I still stand by my thoughts that Charlie Chaplin is the greatest ever because he gave future generations an idea of what true entertainment was and had it documented on film, something that was cutting-edge during his era.

[Edited 8/3/11 15:43pm]

Hero0101 said:

All due respect, the best live performances I have ever seen have come from this woman:

[img:$uid]http://files.myopera.com/jekav/blog/tori-amos.jpg[/img:$uid]

Either solo or with a band, this woman brings it. Easily the most intense, emotional, powerful thing I've ever seen.

=0P

Ok, I have to confess my lack of hipness here. I don't know the face.

Just who is "this woman" that delivers the best live performances?

DakutiusMaximus said:

Hero0101 said:

All due respect, the best live performances I have ever seen have come from this woman:

[img:$uid]http://files.myopera.com/jekav/blog/tori-amos.jpg[/img:$uid]

Either solo or with a band, this woman brings it. Easily the most intense, emotional, powerful thing I've ever seen.

=0P

Ok, I have to confess my lack of hipness here. I don't know the face.

Just who is "this woman" that delivers the best live performances?

If I'm not mistaken, that's Tori Amos. But if you want intense, emotional and powerful, you can always see Patti Smith. Now that girl can put on a show.

free2bfreeda said:

mjscarousal said:

Their is no logic to understand.

Elvis had the it factor.

Good looks and a descent voice.

However he thrived during a time where racism and prejudice ran rapid. With that being said alot of his music as well as dance moves was stolen from alot of legendary black acts that Ive mentioned and NO credit has ever been given to them. Alot of this credit is falsely given to Elvis. The crown of "rock n roll" when the REAL kings are never spoken of who HE stole and admired himself. Their was nothing original or innovative about anything he did during the time. He brought the genius' of the artists I mentioned to the forefront and because he was white he became what he was DURING that period. Now we can look back and really put his talent and so called genius in its right perspective. Those African American acts innovated it all and was doing it long before Elvis but because he was popular and ... white DURING THAT PERIOD he became a big deal. BUT if I want to see the real masters behind his swagger jacking style then I will flip on Jackie Wilson or turn on Fats Dominos.

Please do not compare Elvis to Prince, MJ, and James You love comparing everybody to them to support an arguement. This has nothing to do with them.

Once people begin to realize that every single musical artist was influenced by other musicians, people with negative and biased opinions against Elvis Presley will stop.

You keyed in, Elvis Presley "thrived during a time where racism and prejudice ran rapid." IMO, I feel it took courage for this young white musician to translate the music he loved into a music that people all over the world loved. He had the gift of musical fusion. (if you look today at what run dmc and aerosmith did aka:fusion).

What african american musician Elvis chose to immulate could have become famous world wide during that space in time in the"history of american music?" sorry, this is how it was. let it gooooooooooooooooo. be aware and move forward with knowledge of the past. it's called moving forward.

please make with the past.

Anyway back on feedback to your post. Using the race-card is getting played out when it comes to Elvis Presley. my grandmothers kids, my mom had pictures of Elvis Presley on their closet doors along with Paul Anka, The Four Seasons, Del Shannon, and Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie Wilson, the Beachboys, Smokey Robinson and that Miracles and the world famous Supremes. It didn't matter to these kids the color of music groups in this space and time.

you must by this time realize Elvis Presley's music style was meant for white rock n roll. (In the beginning it was consider raw by the press/media, but it sold to the masses.) However his talent surpassed the record companies expectations. Do your realize the very clothing style he wore also catapulted some black clothing designers. Elvis Presley created revenue all over the U.S. Black record store owners sold Elvis. Many of our predecessors and very people you key in about created revenue for the community barbers and beauticians.

I'm expressing here the process to the hair, aka: the conk. Conks were often styled as large pompadours. Many of the popular musicians of the early to mid 20th century, including Chuck Berry,Little Richard, James Brown, and the members of The Temptations and The Miracles, were well known for sporting the conk hairstyle. Elvis added a boost to the area's econmy. I learned this from my grandmother in that the first movie she took me and my sister to see was "love me tender" starring Elvis Presley.

follwing paragrah from paragraph titled: Teenage Life in Memphis at

http://en.wikipedia.org/w...is_Presley

Elvis shared with the masses, yes it was from the music of African American musicians mostly. However he was influenced by other music of his time. Presley, who never received formal music Training or learned to read music, studied and played by ear. He frequented record stores with jukeboxes and listening booths. He knew all of Hank Snow's songs^[and he loved records by other country singers such as Roy Acuff, Ernest Tubb,Ted Daffen, Jimmy Rodgers, Jimmie Davis, and Bob Wills. The Southern Gospel singer Jake Hess, one of his favorite performers, was a significant influence on his ballad-singing style.

So what i'm sending in response here is, Elvis did what he did (i think he did it good). the man acheived greatness that gave back to each and every person in some way or another. (look were able to create paragarphs in his name )

Maybe his history did not in the ways some of us feel on an individual level. Point is the man gave and had the courage to give. For that IMO he deserves respectful kudos.

I don't wanna seem snide here but does it really take "courage" to take from another culture and try to pass it off as if it were your own? Wasn't Pat Boone doing this way before Elvis did anyway? I really think it didn't take courage for Elvis to play his kind of music because he didn't have black skin as an obstacle to keep him from being accused of playing "race music" In other words, he was the predecessor to New Kids on the Block, Britney Spears, both Justins (Bieber & Timberlake). I think it takes more courage for a black entertainer to try to delve into areas of music that are typically not associated with black artists, it's a bigger hurdle to overcome.

Jesus here we go again...lol

bboy87 said:

Graycap23 said:

Trying 2 be objective, I'd say Sammy was the single most talented individual period.

He left no stones unturned in the entertainment world.

Gray have you read the book "Sammy"? It's a combo of his 2 autobiographies with more parts added on. It's a great read. It was like he had to try every form of entertainment. It's a shame that he's sometimes forgotten

Another good, although sadder book...

[img:$uid]http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b59/jbodine/Covers%20II/sammy.jpg[/img:$uid]

...Deconstructing SAMMY


Music for adventurous listeners

tA

Tribal Records

Whoever you like the best is The Greatest Entertainer Ever.

Mine is a tie between Prince and Springsteen.

RodeoSchro said:

Whoever you like the best is The Greatest Entertainer Ever.

Mine is a tie between Prince and Springsteen.

Honestly, if Tyler had asked that question, I think the majority in here would've picked Prince (including me) with FEW exceptions.

SeventeenDayze said:

free2bfreeda said:

Once people begin to realize that every single musical artist was influenced by other musicians, people with negative and biased opinions against Elvis Presley will stop.

You keyed in, Elvis Presley "thrived during a time where racism and prejudice ran rapid." IMO, I feel it took courage for this young white musician to translate the music he loved into a music that people all over the world loved. He had the gift of musical fusion. (if you look today at what run dmc and aerosmith did aka:fusion).

So what i'm sending in response here is, Elvis did what he did (i think he did it good). the man acheived greatness that gave back to each and every person in some way or another. (look were able to create paragarphs in his name )

Maybe his history did not in the ways some of us feel on an individual level. Point is the man gave and had the courage to give. For that IMO he deserves respectful kudos.

I don't wanna seem snide here but does it really take "courage" to take from another culture and try to pass it off as if it were your own? Wasn't Pat Boone doing this way before Elvis did anyway? I really think it didn't take courage for Elvis to play his kind of music because he didn't have black skin as an obstacle to keep him from being accused of playing "race music" In other words, he was the predecessor to New Kids on the Block, Britney Spears, both Justins (Bieber & Timberlake). I think it takes more courage for a black entertainer to try to delve into areas of music that are typically not associated with black artists, it's a bigger hurdle to overcome.

i'm trying to get your point. what do you expect? i'm not passive to what has happened in the past. however to dwell on the negative only creates more. but hey it's you and i don't want us to argue. so please lets agree to dis-agree. all due respect. that's all i wish to express about this.

Timmy84 said:

Jesus here we go again...lol

yeah, i'm hoping not to think in the P/R mindset. (see my last post ) swon't go there again.

Timmy84 said:

RodeoSchro said:

Whoever you like the best is The Greatest Entertainer Ever.

Mine is a tie between Prince and Springsteen.

Honestly, if Tyler had asked that question, I think the majority in here would've picked Prince (including me) with FEW exceptions.

It really is all about the way one asks the question, isn't it?

free2bfreeda said:

Timmy84 said:

Jesus here we go again...lol

yeah, i'm hoping not to think in the P/R mindset. (see my last post ) swon't go there again.

I feel ya. I just hate when things turn that way.

purplethunder3121 said:

Timmy84 said:

Honestly, if Tyler had asked that question, I think the majority in here would've picked Prince (including me) with FEW exceptions.

It really is all about the way one asks the question, isn't it?

Exactly! Plus if it had been that question, this thread would be over but some people just wanna see themselves type words...

free2bfreeda said:

SeventeenDayze said:

I don't wanna seem snide here but does it really take "courage" to take from another culture and try to pass it off as if it were your own? Wasn't Pat Boone doing this way before Elvis did anyway? I really think it didn't take courage for Elvis to play his kind of music because he didn't have black skin as an obstacle to keep him from being accused of playing "race music" In other words, he was the predecessor to New Kids on the Block, Britney Spears, both Justins (Bieber & Timberlake). I think it takes more courage for a black entertainer to try to delve into areas of music that are typically not associated with black artists, it's a bigger hurdle to overcome.

i'm trying to get your point. what do you expect? i'm not passive to what has happened in the past. however to dwell on the negative only creates more. but hey it's you and i don't want us to argue. so please lets agree to dis-agree. all due respect. that's all i wish to express about this.

Ok, when I point out certain facts, it's "dwelling in the negative past" but to mention Elvis as some type of hero isn't dwelling in the negative past?