Remembering Myrna Smith on the anniversary of her passing.

(May 28, 1941 - December 24, 2010)

Myrna was a member of the Sweet Inspiration and a friend to Elvis. She later was married to Elvis’ friend Jerry Schilling. Myrna was a sweetheart.

to be fair, according to marty, elvis had firmly believed that blacks and whites should be separate romantically. he dated joan blackman and when marty asked about her, he said she revealed she'd gone on a date w/ a black man and it turned him off. elvis was known to be contradictory and hold other ppl to standards he didn't hold himself to and i think his attraction to black woman was another example. that's probably why marty claimed that about the flirting.

I mentioned Marty Lacker specifically because in the Alanna Nash book whenever race is mentioned, it just seems like it is always him who has something to say about black people and Elvis. He just seemed hyper-fixated on race and that’s why I believe he may have held some prejudice and wanted to extinguish the idea that Elvis found black women attractive because he didn’t agree with that himself. Like for example when asked about if Elvis dated Maggie Smith (a black woman) Marty alluded that she wasn’t attractive enough for Elvis, and then also telling that Diana Ross story and saying that Elvis found her unattractive… it just comes off as strange to me personally

I’m not hating against Marty or saying that he lies about everything, I just wanted to point out that all of these men have their own biases and will only tell stories as they see them, even if it the situation had a different reality

but I have read that story about Joan Blackman and it was also what ended the relationship between him and Mindi Miller in the late 70s

“But then Elvis found out she’d been involved with black actor-football star Fred Williamson, and while it preceded their own relationship, he pulled the plug, just as he had on Joan Blackman when he heard she’d dated a black man, too. “He wasn’t a racist person,” Mindi Miller clarifies. “That’s just the way he was raised.”

(excerpt from BLPH by Alanna Nash)

This is obviously a touchy and complicated subject, like Mindi clarifies I genuinely don’t believe he was racist however I’m not saying he wasn’t without his prejudices whether it was conscious or sub-conscious

And we also have to remember this man was born in 1935 in the conservative and religious south and was most likely just a product of his time/environment. I have also read every Memphis Mafia member and some girlfriends say that Elvis held homophobic views but again that can be attributed to his environment and something that was just sub-conscious because of how he was raised and what he was taught. But I don’t believe that he would ever mistreat a gay person or be outwardly homophobic against them despite what he was probably taught to believe

Billy Smith said “I hate to say it, but Elvis was prejudiced about homosexuals…He wouldn’t mistreat them for anything”

I think that having an opinion is very different from actively expressing it

So I don’t believe that he strongly thought that black and white people should be separate romantically because to my knowledge he never said an unkind word about Myrna Smith (a black woman) and Jerry Schilling (a white man) dating. If he was so against it, why would he still be friends with them?

But like you said Elvis could be contradictory and hold others to standards that he didn’t hold himself to

However I think that actions speak louder than words and I’ve never read a story where he mistreated a black person or publicly expressed any racist views. I want to remember him for the good that he did and there are so many beautiful stories where he helped the black community and uplifted and defended black artists

most notably when he threatened to pull out of playing at Houston as they expressed they didn’t want him to bring his black back up singers, the Sweet Inspirations.

Elvis was having none of that so he straight up gave them an ultimatum and of course Houston caved in and allowed the Sweet Inspirations to perform

And there is no doubt in my mind that Elvis loved the Sweet Inspirations and that they loved him. They have said nothing but good things about him and his character (also have y’all seen the video where he kisses them all before rehearsal in Elvis on tour <3 ?!?!)

Like Elvis once wrote “To judge a man by his weakest deed is like judging the power of the ocean by one wave”

Elvis Presley joking around with The Sweet Inspirations while singing "Suspicious Minds" in Elvis: That's The Way It Is (1970)

Little Wanderer

68' Comeback Special Blurb - Requested

Ada finds her way downstairs to watch Elvis' band rehearse

It was the last few shows of Elvis' tour and Ada has had the time of her life. She enjoyed spending so much time with Elvis and having him all to herself for the most part. But what she enjoyed more than ever was watching him perform, she was always so proud of him and even his band. She loved the Sweet Inspirations and any chance she got she wanted to talk to them and even wanted to watch them rehearse. She was always in awe of how pretty they were and how amazing they all sang. “I wanna be just like them, daddy!” she’d exclaim.  They all thought she was the cutest little thing. Sometimes she would go down with Elvis when he would rehearse with them, but sometimes they rehearse just on their own with the rest of the band. One morning Elvis had decided to sleep in for a bit and since he and Ada had shared a bed she was woken up by his snoring. She giggled to herself and pressed a little kiss to his cheek. “Daddy.. Daddy..” she whispered as she tried to wake him up, but he didn’t budge. She huffed and carefully climbed out of his bed and took her little teddy bear with her as she shuffled out quietly in her pajamas. She looked around the hotel room not knowing what to do with herself and she thought maybe she could call you, but then realized she didn’t know the number. She sighed softly, just wanting him to wake up so they could play. But then she remembered that his band would be rehearsing downstairs and her smile was beaming more than ever. She tapped her little index finger against her chin and then she quietly went back into the room to put her little shoes on deciding she was going to find her way down to the rehearsal where she knew her new best friends would be. 

She managed to climb back into bed and put her little teddy bear in Elvis’ arms while he slept and she smiled before she climbed back down and hurried on her merry way. She snuck out of the hotel room and curiously walked her way down the halls, watching as people walked by to get to their rooms and they all looked at this strange little girl just roaming the halls in her pajamas. She eventually made it to the elevators and she stood there staring at the up and down buttons, unsure of what to do at first until she remembered seeing Elvis do this a dozen times and she reached up to press the down arrow and she rocked back and forth on heels of her feet, humming softly to herself until the doors opened and she got inside. Now she was even more unsure and confused when she saw all the elevator buttons, she was doing her best to remember which one Elvis would press, but she couldn’t remember and decided to just press all the buttons giggling to herself and jumping up and down like she was on a carnival ride as the elevator took her up and down a few times and the doors opening and closing until she finally recognized one of the floors and she hurried out. She continued to wander around the hotel and getting looks from everyone wondering whose child was roaming the hotel. 

She knew exactly where she was now and could hear the faint sounds of the music coming from the little auditorium and she approached the doors jumping up to try to reach the handle. One of the hotel staff notices her and walks over. “Are you lost, hun?” the woman asks. Ada shakes her head and lies. “My daddy is in there!” she said, still trying to reach the handle. The woman raised an eyebrow not knowing whether to believe her or not, but she opened the door anyway on the good chance that she was telling the truth.The moment she opened the door Ada went running inside excitedly seeing all the familiar faces of the people she considered friends and then she saw the Sweet Inspirations and she went running straight toward them. Everyone stopped what they were doing when they saw little Ada running down to them and when no one saw any sign of Elvis they grew concerned. Myrna got up from her seat and approached Ada and kneeling down toward her. “Where’s your daddy, sugar? Does he know you’re down here?” she asked. Ada had to think quickly and she smiled wide, nodding. “Daddy said I could come down here.” she said happily. “All by yourself?” Myrna asked with an eyebrow raised. “Mhm!” Ada exclaimed. Myrna was a bit suspicious of that because she knew Elvis would never let Ada go off anywhere by herself, but she chose to believe her. “Okay, sweet pea.” she said with a smile as she stood back up. Ada held her arms out to her, wanting to be picked up. Myrna laughed softly and lifted Ada into her arms and she clung to the woman. “Can I sing with you, Miss Myrna?” Ada asked sweetly. “Of course, sugar.” Myrna smiled and carried Ada along with her back to her seat and she sat Ada in her lap as the band continued to play the Inspirations began to sing again with Ada happily clapping along.

Elvis had finally woken up to see Ada’s teddy bear in his arms and he furrowed his brow a bit when he opened his tired eyes fully to see her not beside him. He glanced around the room and noticed how quiet it was now. “Addy? Honey?” he called out for her and when he got no response he got up now and began to look around the entire hotel room. “Ada?” he said worriedly. When there was no sign he was now in full panic mode. He grabbed the phone and called up Joe Esposito demanding that he and the guys come to his room. Now they were worried because Elvis sounded unusual. When they all made it up to his room he let them inside and began yelling. “Has anyone seen Ada!? I woke up and she was gone.” he said frantically. The room was silent.  “Haven’t seen her, EP. We all thought she was in here with you.” Joe said. “How the fuck did no one see her!? She must have left out of here at some point and no one saw a little girl just roaming the goddamn halls!! My little girl. Elvis continues to rant, curse and yell because he begins to fear something happened. That is until Jerry walks in to see Elvis completely freaking out and he tries to calm him. “Apparently she’s downstairs watching the band rehearse from what I heard from Charlie.” Jerry said. “What?! How did she get down there all by herself?? Ugh nevermind!” he grumbles as he runs into his bedroom, throwing his robe on and hurrying out of the room and down to his little girl. 

When Elvis finally made it downstairs he was pissed and he stormed in like a man on a mission seeing Ada in Myrna’s lap clapping and trying to sing along with them. But his anger was always so loud that it got everyone to stop when he slammed the auditorium door shut. Ada knew she was in trouble the moment she saw him. “What the hell!? Did no one think it’d be important to inform me that my little daughter wandered down here by herself?! Did no one find it a bit strange!? I was worried sick!” Elvis hollered. No one knew what to say because Ada had told them that he allowed her down there. Ada began to feel bad because everyone was getting yelled out for her lies. She slipped out of Myrna’s lap and went walking over to Elvis, pouting and looking down at her feet like she always did when she knew she was in trouble or wrong. “I’m sorry, daddy. It’s my fault… I told them you said I could come down here.” she mumbled. Elvis sighed and kneeled down beside her. “Now why on earth would ya do and say a thing like that? You know daddy does not allow you to go off by yourself, young lady.” he said sternly. “I was bored because daddy was sleeping.” she pouted. “Honey, ya can’t just run off like that. Anythin’ could’ve happened to ya. Don’t do it again. Do ya understand me, Addy?” he said, giving her a serious look. She sighed and nodded her head. “Yes, daddy.” she whispered as she looked up at him. “Can I still stay to sing with my friends?” she pouted at him. He chuckled softly because he knew how much she adored The Inspirations. “Sure honey, go ahead.” he smiled as he watched her run back happily to them and ready to sing her little heart out.

*

Tagging: @prayerstopresley @18lkpeters @mrspresleybutler3591 @jfkkenndy @re3kin @memphis-mania @kendralavon7 @powerofelvis @vintageshanny @kiankiwi @elvisblueshoes

My Book Review 

In her interview with The Atlantic, veteran music journalist, Danyel Smith, said: "To just shine bright on behalf of myself is new." A number of our musical greats never experienced that lasting impression in the end on a timeless centerstage or their light was dimmed in exchange for their obstacles being elevated instead. This book presents them their vibrant bouquet as a start.

Shine Bright: A Very Personal History of Black Women In Pop is the music biography I’ve always longed to see as a book pay homage to our stapled Black American female powerhouses — from ‘60s girl groups to solo acts (not limited to those pictured above) — who head their own chapters in this book, with many of the other iconic songbirds weaved throughout to create a beautiful tapestry that holds each other’s imprints at some point in their own musical journey.

Danyel manages to tie in her own story as well, shaping this into an unconventional, fitting read. We see the pivotal stages of her blossoming into a young music enthusiast leading to her coming-of-age and veteran career in music journalism. Peeling back the layers of our highlighted vocalists that experienced pivotal highs and dipped lows, Danyel never shies away from their lasting impact and the beauty of their humanity and incomparable craft. She also unveils many intimate moments of her own journey where our legends are taken along for the ride, playing a part in her life that's highly relatable in so many ways because haven't we all done it? The song that got us through dark times? Takes us back to a nostalgic moment?

In the concluding chapter, she affirms a stance that is undeniable:

“There is this deep fear of stopping. Of resting in the rests. [...] Because if we stop, we will be forgotten. That is the fear. And it’s not an irrational fear, because so many Black women and so much of Black women’s work is undervalued and strategically un-remembered. We cannot sit quietly while everyone dresses like us and sings like us and writes like us and just kind of steals us from ourselves. That’s the part that makes us tired. But what’s even more heartbreaking than that is the thought that people may not truly know us, or the details of our lives. What if no one ever gets us right? What if our spirits and stories are never truly known? It could so easily be that we—except for our songs, our art, our children—were never here at all.”

We must take the lead in upholding our stories, especially those that are the history of our lineage, to sustain our presence for future generations even after we've passed on. A firm platform with an endless spotlight. Shine Bright is a celebratory playlist that I will cherish in my collection. Thank you, Danyel. Now if only this can be turned into a documentary as well. *cough cough* 👀 

Photoset: The Dixie Cups, Etta James, Leontyne Price, The Supremes, Labelle, Phyllis Hyman & Aretha Franklin, Donna Summer, Tina Turner, Dionne Warwick, Whitney Houston, The Sweet Inspirations

cute new behind the scenes pics from senayt, one of the women who played a sweet inspirations girl in the movie (-:

Elvis and a very young Whitney Houston, circa 1969 or 1970. Her mama Cissy sang with The Sweet Inspirations who did backup vocals for Elvis in Vegas and on tour.

estelle brown is 2 hours away from me until sunday. nobody talk to me.

Play ▶ Songs from Duane Allman – Skydog: The Duane Allman Retrospective 

Comin’ Down (Demo Version) - Eric Quincy Tate Cryin’ For My Baby - John Hammond Me - Otis Rush Get A Little Order - The Sweet Inspirations That Can’t Be My Baby - Arthur Conley Nothing But Tears - Hour Glass Voodoo In You - Johnny Jenkins You’ll Be Mine - John Hammond Going Up The Country - Duck And The Bear Born To Be Wild - Wilson Pickett A Lucky Loser - Wee Willie Walker Sweep Around Your Own Back Door - Lulu Sing My Way Home - Delaney & Bonnie & Friends Me And Bobby McGee - Sam Samudio The Weight - King Curtis Toe Hold - Wilson Pickett  Tell Daddy - Soul Survivors Soul Shake - Delaney & Bonnie & Friends Goin’ Upstairs - Sam Samudio Marley Purt Drive - Lulu I’m Coming Today - The Lovelles Have You Ever Loved A Woman - Derek & The Dominos Reap What You Sow - Otis Rush Goin’ Down Slow - Duane Allman Loan Me A Dime - Boz Scaggs

One big thank you to Elliot Knight. Thank you for playing Kyle and thank you for looking like a fucking Greek God and being the hottest MW character and though the Gaz nation isn't as big, we're definitely the luckiest bc GOD DAMN BOY I'M GOING FUCKING INSANE-

(I'm literally Greek so I can confirm, I sacrifice goodies to him every good ol' Tuesday evening)

the reason clora doesnt wear her hair up 👅💕