There is little doubt that Elvis Presley possessed one of the greatest singing voices of all time. Beyond music, he was a tremendous humanitarian. Few musicians have utilized the power of music to bridge divides like Elvis Presley. Beyond his famed voice and electrifying performances, Elvis was a passionate equality advocate who used his platform to question society standards. When the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll prepared for a historic concert in the Houston Astrodome in 1970, he received an unexpected ultimatum.
What occurred next solidified his image as a musical legend and humanitarian partner in the struggle against racism. In 1970, Elvis Presley was scheduled to appear in the Houston Astrodome. ‘The Dome’, which opened in 1965, was a massive arena with several activities other than music. The concert was unique in many ways. Colonel Parker, Elvis Presley’s enigmatic manager, chose the Houston Astrodome for Elvis’ debut performance outside of Las Vegas.
Interestingly, the Houston Astrodome was also the first arena where The Sweet Inspirations performed outside of Las Vegas, marking an important milestone in their career. The Sweet Inspirations were a breakthrough African-American female vocal group that emerged in the 1960s, famed for their soulful harmonies and strong performances. In 1969, they were approached with a fantastic opportunity: to tour with Elvis Presley. They were initially unable to accept it as true.
“I said ‘Elvis Presley!'” During an interview with the Associated Press in 1974, Myrna Smith, one of the group’s three skinny and attractive ladies, asked, “What does he want us for?” The band were apprehensive that their rhythm and blues and soul styles may clash with the Mississippi-born entertainer. Elvis primarily appealed to white audiences who were more familiar with country and rock music.
First meeting. However, there was no need to worry, as it turned out. They had evident chemistry from the moment they met Elvis. “We’ve never had another doubt,” said Sylvia Shemwell, adding, “He’s a wonderful person, and he doesn’t care what color you are.” The Sweet Inspirations first encountered Elvis in Las Vegas during rehearsals for their 1969 tour. Elvis looked incredibly stunning in his chocolate-colored suit and great tan during their first meeting.
He approached them and introduced himself, as if they didn’t already know: “Hi, my name is Elvis Presley.” Since then, anytime he saw them, he would greet them with a hearty kiss. According to rumors at the time, Presley sought The Sweet Inspirations because they were energetic, handsome, and, most importantly, extremely skilled. However, not everyone was as enthused by the band.
When Elvis made his debut in Texas at the Astrodome, the lead singer, Myrna Smith, claims he was told, “Well, you can leave the black gals at home. “You do not have to bring them.” The myth that Elvis was ra=cist has persisted for years. In 1957, a magazine published a fabrication about him, claiming he made a statement he never did. This was only one of numerous falsehoods that persisted over time, implying that the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll had anything against African Americans.
“Well if they don’t come, I don’t come” However, the truth is that Elvis actively sought racial reconciliation through the musicians he selected to collaborate with and how he treated them. When the Houston Astrodome hosted its first Elvis show, it coincided with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Due of racial biases, rodeo organizers requested that he leave behind his African-American female backing group. However, Elvis responded quickly.
“A word was given to leave the black females; they did not need them. So Elvis replied, ‘Well, if they don’t come, I don’t come’. But he was quite furious about it. One person in particular had sent the message. So when we arrived, we were greeted by a tiny blonde in a convertible who had to drive us around. She was his daughter. So Elvis always made sure to get even. I am sure he said, ‘And I want your daughter to drive them’. However, we were unaware of what was happening. “We found out later,” Myrna Smith told interviewer David Adams, according to Elvispresleymusic.com.
It was a moment that spoke much about Elvis’ character, as he refused to desert his friends or allow bigotry to impair his performance. True to his word, Elvis not only brought the Sweet Inspirations to the stage, but also ensured that they were celebrated. This was more than just a concert; it was a forceful statement against racial prejudice, a declaration of equality in an era of separation. For Elvis, they were more than just backup singers; they were family.
During the performance, the group members were perplexed by the warm welcome they received. Nobody wanted to say anything that could hurt their feelings, so Elvis’ crew stayed silent about what had transpired. It wasn’t until years later that Muyrna Smith and the band discovered Elvis had advocated for them, ensuring they were treated with the respect they deserved.
The Astrodome was not designed to host a performance as Elvis had promised, yet Elvis sang his best, and according to many who attended, it was a lovely concert. Following the final show, Elvis conducted a press conference at Astroworld for approximately 100 journalists. He remarked how much he appreciated performing in the Astrodome, saying it gave him a great rush.
Elvis left Astroworld wearing a blue, Easy Rider-inspired suede jacket and black jeans. He went with an astounding 20 luggage and three guitars, $1.2 million richer than he was three days before. But it wasn’t just about the money; Elvis had demonstrated that he was more than just the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll; he was a true mensch who cared about those around him.
Myrna remembers Elvis having a special relationship with his African-American female backing ensemble. Myrna Smith recalls a cherished experience with Elvis that completely encapsulates his warmth and charisma, as well as their deep friendship. During their first meeting in 1969, the singer took them to his apartment. The atmosphere was relaxed, with laughter and the energetic sounds of 45s playing in the background. Elvis approached Myrna and asked if she wanted to dance.
“This was a slow record. So I said, ‘Okay’. And I don’t think Elvis had ever danced with a black lady before, because when he started dancing with me, his entire body trembled, and I wanted to grab him and embrace him. But he was, you know, shy regardless. But all these girls he’d been around, and he’s this macho lover, whatever, and he was only a young boy at the time. But it is who he was, you know.
I stared at him as if he were one of my family members. When he died and I screamed, my mother answered, ‘He’s not from the family. What are you crying about, and why are you breaking up? Because I adore him, he’s like a brother. You already have a brother. She didn’t understand before, but she does now,” Myrna explained. Myrna Smith’s cause of death
From 1969 to 1977, The Sweet Inspirations accompanied Elvis on his Las Vegas shows, national concert tours, and recording sessions.
They performed over a thousand gigs with Elvis. Their harmonized vocals enhanced his iconic sound, resulting in outstanding songs together. Notably, Myrna Smith contributed her expertise to Elvis’ 1976 Graceland recordings, appearing in both the February and October/November sessions.
These collaborations resulted in two outstanding albums that highlighted Elvis’ distinctive style and the group’s soulful impact. Myrna Smith died Friday of kidney failure, which she suffered in 2010. She was 69.