Cissy Houston (born Emily Drinkard on September 30, 1933) is a gospel and soul singer. Kids & Family, A new restaurant in Marion is offering affordable farm-to-table fare. Estelle, Sweet Inspirations, [all-male quintet back-up group] Stamps, if you dont look up, Im going to kick your ass, he said. For this tour, Elvis had a retinue of background singers in his band, including Kathy Westmoreland, who had sung with Elvis for six years, and a trio known as the Sweet Inspirations. The consensus at the time: He still had it. The Sweet Inspirations (Image: GETTY) Elvis Presley 'spotted' at Graceland's 2019 vigil in Memphis She then went on to describe how she believes Elvis is an angel and still with us. Elvis talks with the Sweet inspirations plus 'Words' August 4, 1970. He simply cracked what he thought was a funny remark about the vocal group eating catfish because he smelled green peppers and onions. Sorry for any embarrassment I might have caused. It was a modification. The Elvis Door has since become something of an inside show biz legend for Elvis-centric performers who play the venue; Tom Petty is but one rocker who has had his photograph taken in front of the door in homage. I just got this photo today from a friend. I LOVE this picture! The gun remained on stage for 20 minutes before being retrieved. Shuffling between recordings and live performances with Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, and Elvis Presley as well as their A record-breaking crowd of 21,600 attended Elvis two shows at the venuehe would return in 1974 and 1976. She has also worked with stars from Aretha Franklin to Van Morrison and has provided the world with some of the best soulful harmonies that have ever been recorded. Periodically, we'd like to share our memories with pictures and stories of our past. Many music historians point to the infamous catfish incident at a Norfolk Scope concert as arguably the lowest point in Elvis career. The TCB Band & The Sweet Inspirations featuring Maarten Jansen: 2006: Willy & Ruth: Mean Woman Blues: Big Fat Snake with TCB Band & Sweet Inspirations: 2003: Elvis Presley with The Jordanaires: My Babe: Elvis Presley with The Sweet Inspirations: October 14, 1969: Florida Normal Industrial Institute Quartet, Little Walter and His Jukes: My Way I just got this photo today from a friend. Featuring Elviss original backing singers The Sweet Inspirations who toured with Elvis from 1969-1977 and featured in concert movies Thats The way It Is, Elvis On Tour and TV special Aloha From Hawaii. In concert, he slurred his words and displayed eccentric, sometimes hostile behavior. Sylvia was an original member of The Sweet Inspirations. The Sweet Inspirations. Elvis Presley's visits to Virginia produced not only the famous 1956 French kiss photograph in Richmond, but memorable tales from Hampton and Norfolk too. Elvis may have left something behind at the arena, tooa special entrance. She will take affection from anybody, any place, any time, he told the audience. Elvis Presley with The Sweet Inspirations and The Imperials Quartet October 14, 1969 Don Gibson Hot Butterfly Sweet Inspirations August 1979 Gregg Diamond Bionic Boogie feat. 2016-2020 Cape Fear Publishing Co. Inc. Robert Gibson Corder, Ph.D., Richmond, VA. A new restaurant in Marion is offering affordable farm-to-table fare. In the world of entertainment, they dont come much bigger than Elvis Presley. Read more, All-in-one emporium offers meal pickup for the entire day. He bounded on stage in a red bell-bottom suit, complete with cape and white shoes that have apparently replaced his by-now-famous white outfit worn at Vegas. The Virginian-Pilot wrote, Still possessed with a good deal of boyish mischievousness, he substituted ad lib lyrics that often set his orchestra members into gales of laughter in mid-performance.. Post by Lakeisha Thu Aug 18, 2005 1:58 am. Read some of the biographies by members of the entourage and you will uncover that Elvis had some deeply-ingrained southern attitudes to black men sleeping with white women. Elvis with the Sweet Inspirations, Kathy Westmoreland, and the Stamps Quartet! Ann worked with Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin. He was off the road for five months. The Drinkard All of them make us what we are today. Led by Cissy Houston, the Sweet Inspirations were highly-in-demand female back-up singers featured on some of the most important pop and soul recordings of the 1960s and '70s. Aside of Sweet Inspirations, Smith sang back up for Elvis in his Graceland recordings as well. Sylvia suffered a stroke in 2001 Estelle, Sweet Inspirations, [all-male quintet back-up group] Stamps, if you dont look up, Im going to kick your ass, he said. "No one who knew Elvis ever thought he was racist"This isn't true. Usually sticking to material by famed soul and pop songwriters, they had about a half-dozen moderate RB hits in the late '60s; the biggest, Sweet Inspiration, was a Top 20 pop single. He reportedly liked to shoot television sets if he saw something he didnt like and often carried weapons on stage with him after receiving a death threat in 1970. Airing Dirty Laundry. A new member, Portia Griffin, brought their number back to four and helped prolong the vocal sweetness for quite a few years. The Sweet Inspirations var ei USA-amerikansk R&B-jentegruppe skipa av Emily Cissy Houston (fdd Drinkard), mor til Whitney Houston, og systera til Lee Warrick (som igjen var mor til systrene Dee Dee og Dionne Warwick). Toward the end of his stint, he had become ornery for a number of reasons. There were good times and, later on, some bad times when the dark side of Elvis came to the fore. For this tour, Elvis had a retinue of background singers in his band, including Kathy Westmoreland, who had sung with Elvis for six years, and a trio known as the Sweet Inspirations. All except Myrna Smith walked off in protest. They perform at Elvis Presley tribute shows and released new material in 2005. Kel Varnsen I was in attendance at one of Elvis'the two performances that night of July 20, 1975 and well remember the so-called "Catfish Incident." Featuring Elviss original backing singers The Sweet Inspirations who toured with Elvis from 1969-1977 and featured in concert movies Thats The way It Is, Elvis On Tour and TV special Aloha From Hawaii. Presley assembled new, top-notch accompaniment, led by guitarist James Burton and including two gospel groups, The Imperials and Sweet Inspirations. Summer Preview Party @Paradise Ocean Club. During the 1970s, Elvis Presley performed a regular Las Vegas residency with backing singers The Sweet Inspirations. In 1975 he insulted Kathy and the Sweet Inspirations on-stage. Sweet Inspirations: The Sweet Inspirations: Primary Artist : 1967 : I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You: Aretha Franklin: Vocals (Background) 1967 : Aretha Arrives: Aretha Franklin: Vocals (Background) 1956 : Elvis [1956] At Elvis final appearance, for two shows in 1976, Greenwell says, Colonel Tom Parker came in advance to preparebut he wasnt here the night of the showand that Elvis was transported to and from the gig in an unmarked police car, not a limo. While appearing in College Park, Maryland, on September 28, 1974, Presleys banter with the audience took on new and even more peculiar twists. The same night Presley belittled Kathy Westmoreland in Norfolk, Virginia, he also turned his sights on the Sweet Inspirations, a quartet of gospel singers who performed with him. All-in-one emporium offers meal pickup for the entire day. The Sweet Inspirations also began recording and touring with Elvis Presley as both background singers and his warm-up act, as well as doing occasional live dates with Aretha Franklin. Watch the Watch the Outtakes from the documentary film THIS TIME. On March 30, 1968, the group scored their first and only top forty hit on the Billboard Top 40 Pop Chart with the song "Sweet Inspiration" on Atlantic Records. Elvis was looking for a female group for his August 1969 Las Vegas engagement, his first live appearances since 1961. Robert Gibson Corder, Ph.D., Richmond, VA During one 1977 concert, Presley was gyrating when a .22 caliber derringer pistol popped out of his boot and landed directly in front of guitarist John Wilkinson. The group found their way onto numerous recordings, including hits by the Drifters, Van Morrison, Wilson Pickett, Solomon Burke, Garnett Mimms, and most famously, Aretha Franklin (with whom they sometimes toured). Direct from the USA, the world's most successful Elvis tribute artist of all time returns to the UK by popular demand. They just put everything he wanted right in there, and thats where he stayeda trailer.. It must be remembered that those in Elvis' entourage who wrote that biography of him did so because they felt that he had wronged them in some way and who were, most likely, also jealous of him; as a result, they tried to demean him (sometimes truthfully and sometimes not). Cissy was a member of the group The Sweet Inspirations which also opened for and sang backup for Elvis Presley. If one was cutting a soul, R&B, pop, rock, or girl group record in New York in the '60s and needed female backup vocals, chances are they'd try to get the Sweet Inspirations first. When one of the Sweet Inspirations, Estelle Brown, grew visibly distraught, Presley lashed out. Original Sweet Inspirations Singer Passes Away! Watch the full movie at Amazon:htt Watch the full movie at Amazon:htt Outtakes from the documentary film THIS TIME. "None of them thought it was racialthey just knew it was hostile, and there was an ugly undertone not just to that comment but to his whole demeanor.". Food & Drink Event Listen to music from Elvis Presley with The Sweet Inspirations & The Imperials Quartet like I Just Can't Help Believin' - 2003 Sony Remaster, I Just Can't Help Believin' & more. The Sweet Inspirations performed, but Westmoreland left the tour. Acts such as Aretha Franklin & Elvis. Sylvia passed away on February 13, 2010. In 1973, Presley was winding down the end of a lengthy residency at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Their 1973 Stax Records album "Estelle, Myrna and Sylvia," produced by David Porter [songwriting partner of Isaac Hayes], as well as their greatest hits are dissected. Stories that he would never work again because of excessive weight gain have also been printed., In Greensboro the next day, Elvis apologized to the band for his outburst. Take a look at a few times the King puzzled audiences as much as he entertained them. The only explanation Elvis ever gave for the bizarre Catfish Incident was, I thought it was funny.. He had such a great sense of humor! The Sweet Inspirations CD from our Official Elvis Presley WebShop. more than 3 years ago. I Sylvia Shemwell, The Sweet Inspirations, died in 2010. The Sweet Inspirations were hired by Elvis Presley in 1969 without an audition, due to Elvis being very familiar with The Sweet Inspirations. No one who knew Elvis ever thought he was racist. I am a fan also of The Sweet Inspirations and I'm trying to find rare pics of Elvis with the Sweets during the 70's, onstage and offstage. Addressing a newspaper reviewer who had complained about Presley's large midsection at the previous nights concert, Presley explained it was from a bulletproof vest and called the writer a son of a bitch. When requests from the audience grew annoying, Presley cautioned them. Elvis stated to his musical associates and entourage that he must otain The Sweet Inspirations. "Neither Kathy nor the Sweets knew exactly what he meant by the 'catfish' remark," Peter Guralnick, Presley's biographer, wrote. Elvis first appearance in Virginia in 16 years was at the Hampton Coliseum. She led a successful career as a backup singer for such artists as Elvis Presley, Mahalia Jackson, and Aretha Franklin, and is now primarily a solo artist. During the 1970s, Elvis Presley performed a regular Las Vegas residency with backing singers The Sweet Inspirations. Cissy Houston left in 1969 to pursue her own solo career but the Sweet Inspirations The Hilton was about to fire a waiter named Mario, whom Presley had grown fond of. Cissy Houston, The Original Sweet Inspirations and Elvis Presley . The Sweet Inspirations had a close, playful and well-respected friendship with Elvis Everybody wanted to see him and meet him. Like this LP from The Sweet Inspirations. Cissy Houston, The Original Sweet Inspirations and Elvis Fans of Presley who showed up for a concert in Richfield, But you can still find traces of the King there. Elvis Presley in concert in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on April 27, 1977. In a hand-numbered edition of only 1000 copies worldwide, this is a great release for us ElvisFans. The Sweet Inspirations is the self-titled debut album by American recording soul/gospel female group the Sweet Inspirations, released in 1967 by Atlantic Records. Ann's health has not been good for several years. Through our music, we express our life and our passion! I have seen only a couple so far, including the 1 I now have as my avatar. Before finishing, Presley made a plea for Mario to remain employed. Find the latest tracks, albums, and images from Elvis The group found their way onto numerous recordings, including hits by the Drifters, Van Morrison, Wilson Pickett, Solomon Burke, Garnett Mimms, Listen to music from Elvis Presley with The Sweet Inspirations & The Imperials Quartet like I Just Can't Help Believin' - 2003 Sony Remaster, I Just Can't Help Believin' & more. At that time, Sylvia Shemwell (sister of Judy Clay) replaced Troy, whil The Sweet Inspirations also began recording and touring with Elvis Presley as both background singers and his warm-up act, as well as doing occasional live dates with Aretha Franklin. But he wasnt averse to racial stereotyping and was against interracial relationships.Like an unfortunate number of people in America today, Elvis's problem also seemed to stem from feeling threatened at times by black men. Musicians who backed Elvis Presleythat still alive and performing? Fans of Presley who showed up for a concert in Richfield, Ohio, on July 18, 1975 were greeted by a singer who apparently had an axor an exto grind. It was released in 1968 under the name "Cissy Drinkard & The Sweet Inspirations." Featuring Elviss original backing singers The Sweet Inspirations who toured with Elvis from 1969-1977 and featured in concert movies Thats The way It Is, Elvis On Tour and TV special Aloha From Hawaii. After several personnel changes in the early 1960s, the remaining members of the group in 1967 became The Sweet Inspirations, who would sing background for the Warwick sisters, Aretha Franklin and Elvis Presley. The singer, who was born on January 8, 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi, had dozens of hit songs like 1969's "Suspicious Minds," starred in several movies like 1957's Jailhouse Rock, and engendered a loyal fan base that flocked to his concerts even as his purported drug use began to have an adverse effect on his healthand possibly his behaviorin the years leading up to his death from heart failure at age 42 on August 16, 1977. Welcoming a new oyster bar to Virginia Beach. Westmoreland walked off the stage but eventually stayed on the tour. The Sweet Inspirations appeared with Elvis in more than 1,000 concerts and featured in the concert movies 'That's The Way It Is' and 'Elvis On'tour', as well as the television specials 'Aloha from Hawaii' and 'Elvis in Concert'. Several of Presleys live appearances have become notorious for his off-the-cuff commentary. more than 2 years ago. According to Andy Greenwell, the man who ran the Coliseum for the City of Hampton from 1975 to 1994, a special door was indeed constructed prior to one of Presleys visits. The Sweet Inspirations broke up near the end of the decade, but reunited in 1994. And one of the original girls, Estelle Brown has shared in a new interview what she claims is a miracle from God that came through The Kings prayer. The ladies of Sweet Inspiration worked with Elvis in Vegas, on his national concert tours, and on recordings from 1969 to 1977. I don't remember Elvis being at all hostile to anyone. Elvis Presley with his background singers, The Sweet Inspirations (Myrna Smith pictured far right) One of the people who loved that song so much was allegedly Elvis himself. Elvis was our life for many years and he is embedded in the heart of the Sweet Inspirations forever. May 9, 2016 - The Sweet Inspirations (1950-2005) founded by Emily "Cissy" Houston mother of Whitney Houston. Fans began to see the devastating effects of the aging singers longtime drug use. Aug 16, 2018 On Franklins 41st and final album, Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva with Franklin and her back-up singers the Sweet Inspirations goofing 9. The Sweet Inspirations were hired by Elvis Presley in 1969 without an audition, due to Elvis being very familiar with The Sweet Inspirations. If one was cutting a soul, R&B, pop, rock, or girl group record in New York in the '60s and needed female backup vocals, chances are they'd try to get the Sweet Inspirations first. I am hoping someone here can tell me of some online. The Sweet Inspirations had a close, playful and well-respected friendship with Elvis Presley. Robert Corder Myrna Smith is one of the original Sweet Inspirations, the backing group who sang with Elvis in concert from 1969 until the end. Presley had been feuding with Kathy Westmoreland, a soprano back-up singer who once dated Presley but had since moved on to another member of the band. In late 1969, Ann Williams replaced Cissy Houston, after Cissy quit The Sweet Inspirations. Weve been performing them while on Tour and theyd be a huge hit with Elvis! In a concert review, a reporter for the Virginian-Pilot wrote, The tension among the fans was noticeable. And which are not longer with us however, left us with the legacy of great music Myrna Smith, The Sweet Inspirations, died in 2010. She stopped touring with the group in The ladies of Sweet Inspiration worked with Elvis in Vegas, on his national concert tours, and on recordings from 1969 to 1977. That night, a jilted Presley introduced her and then offered his personal thoughts. Kathy Provided Background vocals that was in demand among producers, publishers, artists, and songwriters in the early 1960s. They thought he was going to be in the hotel near the Coliseum. Read The sweet inspirations from the story ELVIS by Sskylerr22 (skyler22) with 246 reads. 67 I have followed Elvis' career since 1954 and none of the other biographies I have read, written by either other members of his entourage who were closer to Elvis than his "lackies" or those outside his entourage, mention anything about him feeling threatened by black men. Sylvia suffered a stroke in 2001 that has kept her from performing with the group. Elvis with the Sweet Inspirations, Kathy Westmoreland, and the Stamps Quartet! But they didnt do it just for Elvis there were different people that wanted a private entrance to the stars dressing room. Greenwell says that, in the early days of the Coliseum (which opened in 1969), such additions were common. And one of the original girls, Estelle Brown has shared in Elvis and Westmoreland had had a long, burning romantic affair that went sour, and the King began to replace his witty stage patter with snide asides about his background singer. The Sweet Inspirations were one of the premier female harmony quartets of the 1960s, supporting Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Jimi Hendrix, and Wilson Pickett. According to Elvis.com , Elvis loved the song so much that he contacted the group to have them sing back up for him. This was the final straw in a series of incidents when Elvis insulted Kathy both off-stage and on-stage during introductions. Find the latest tracks, albums, and images from Elvis Presley with The Sweet Inspirations. Already a group of session backing vocalists for years, they only formally became a band when they started recording singles in 1967.