Elvis Presley Unravelled #31
Elvis was nearly a gospel star
Just as he was starting out on his rock’n’roll career, Elvis unsuccessfully auditioned for the Songfellows – Elvis was nearly a gospel star.
15 to 21 July – Elvis was nearly a gospel star
guest feature on the Mop Tops and The King show
Steve Chelmsford presents the Mop Tops and the King radio show. Certainly, a great name for a show that is all about the music of The Beatles and Elvis Presley.
Every other week, author of Rock’n’Roll Unravelled Derek Shelmerdine presents The Beatles Unravelled, alternating with Elvis Presley Unravelled.
The podcast provides this 1-minute segment of a little bit of Beatles and Elvis Presley history. Moreover, the Unravelled stories take a look at some of the more obscure parts of the story.
The MTK Network broadcasts the show, with 100 radio stations around the world. Consequently, the Mop Tops and The King show is playing somewhere in the world, every day of the week.
Show Schedule for times and radio stations.
(Times on the Show Schedule are Eastern Time. Consequently, the UK is five hours ahead.)
Listen Again – PODCAST
Elvis was nearly a gospel star…
Elvis was nearly a gospel star
Before becoming the King of Rock’n’Roll, Elvis nearly joined a very popular gospel group. In the summer of 1954 he unsuccessfully auditioned for gospel group the Songfellows.
In 1950 the very popular Blackwood Brothers Quartet gospel group relocated to Memphis. During this time, Elvis regularly went to their shows. Sadly, tragedy struck the group on 29 June 1954. Two group members, RW Blackwood and Bill Lyles were killed in a plane crash. Elvis attended their funeral.
The Songfellows was an offshoot of the Blackwood Brothers. Consequently, the deaths in the Blackwoods created a vacancy in the Songfellows. Elvis knew some members of the group and as a result was invited to audition for the Songfellows. The audition didn’t go well for Elvis because the group felt that Elvis had trouble harmonising.
This audition was shortly after he recorded his first single at Sun Records. Not long after this, the Songfellows had a change of heart. They decided to offer Elvis a place in the group. However, Elvis’s rock’n’roll career was really taking off. He was on the way to becoming the King of Rock’n’Roll.
Although, Elvis he did later sing with The Blackwood Brothers.
The Blackwood Brothers were one of the most popular gospel groups around. Who knows, if Elvis had passed that first audition, maybe gospel’s gain would have meant there would have been a different King of Rock’n’Roll. Maybe, Little Richard… Jerry Lee Lewis…
Extracts from Rock’n’Roll Unravelled
All of the Elvis Presley Unravelled and The Beatles Unravelled podcasts are based on extracts from Derek Shelmerdine‘s book Rock’n’Roll Unravelled.
The Beatles – Extracts taken from Rock’n’Roll Unravelled
Elvis Presley – Extracts taken from Rock’n’Roll Unravelled
These extracts are only a small fraction of the Beatles and Elvis stories to be found in the book.
About the book – Rock’n’Roll Unravelled
Rock’n’Roll Unravelled tells the story of rock’n’roll from its roots to mid-1970s punk.
In addition to the music, the book looks at the social factors influencing the music. The Vietnam War, fear of communism and Civil rights struggle certainly helped to shape the sounds of the time.
If it’s relevant to the music of the 1950s. ’60s, ’70s and its roots – it’s in the book. For example, there are stories about bands and artists. Also, a look at classic albums and singles, landmark recording sessions. Not forgetting memorable gigs and festivals. Plus stories about influential managers, how bands came together, lineups and – SO MUCH MORE…
Rock’n’Roll Unravelled‘s unique three-part structure
Rock’n’Roll Unravelled has three sections: Timeline, What Happened Today and Pocket Histories.
What Happened Today – looks at the events happening on a day-by-day basis.
Consequently, as the review in Record Collector magazine puts it in its review of the book, “Shelmerdine has made a painstaking effort to documented pretty much every event that will prove significant in shaping popular music”. In addition, the review went on to describe the book as, “comprehensive… invaluable”.
Moreover, the cross-referenced events in What Happened Today create the other two sections, Timeline and Pocket Histories.
Timeline – consequently provides a date-order listing of all of the events in What Happened Today.
Pocket Histories – further extends the cross-referencing. As a result, this builds a picture of the lives and times of the artists, bands and events in What Happened Today.
TO BUY – a signed copy of Rock’n’Roll Unravelled
For all previous editions of…
The Beatles Unravelled and Elvis Presley Unravelled
First Broadcast: Elvis was nearly a gospel star
The show played on 100 radio stations during the period, 15 to 21 July 2022, on the MTK network.
