No he hasnt! The Inspirations performed at the next night's show in Greensboro, North Carolina, after Elvis apologized, but Kathy Westmoreland did not. A Gamble & Huff composition, "Gotta Find Me A Brand New Lover" appeared on the group's fifth album Sweet Sweet Soul. The DVD Contains recently discovered unreleased film of Elvis performing 6 songs, including Heartbreak Hotel and Don't Be Cruel, live in Tupelo Mississippi 1956. It was beautiful and it stayed that way. Glendale, CA: Glendale House, 1987. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. The Sweet Inspirations worked with Presley until his death in 1977. The concert will feature backup singers Estelle Brown and Portia Griffin of the legendary Sweet Inspirations" who backed Elvis on several nationwide tours. placement: 'Right Rail Thumbnails', Sweet Inspiration is a sweet sexy tale of the eldest son of Santa Claus and how Lucy's sweet treats and unique style drew him in changing the course of his path forever. Learn more about the Soul Explosion celebration: https://found.ee/SoulExplosionSplash-gThe Sweet Inspirations were one of the most in-demand backing acts of . The Sweet Inspirations 345fans Top tracks Playlists People who have been here have said that.. Pat Terry would take Estelle's place on their disco flavored album, Hot Butterfly, which didn't sell much - probably due to the fact that the company had overextended itself by then, and was busy fighting off a lawsuit from those self-same Brothers Gibb. While performing on the "Elvis: The Concert" European tour in March 2010, Smith developed pneumonia which eventually led to kidney failure and a stroke. shrimp, mushrooms, red onions, parmesan and feta cheese. 8. ), which had been written and produced by Barry Gibb and released on RSO records. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images), Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley, 2 Backup Singers Walk Out on Elvis Presley During Performance. Another famous piece . Shemwell suffered a stroke in 2001 that has kept her from performing with the group. Sweet Inspirations is open daily at Zero India Street. An all female American soul quartet, these ladies were some of the most prolific backing vocalists in 60's R&B, literally singing on dozens of hit records for other artists. It was Wexler who dubbed them 'The Sweet Inspirations' and, as he said in the book, 'Rhythm and the Blues', they 'they became one of the pillars of the Atlantic Church of Sixties Soul ultimately it was only a matter of common decency to put them under contract as a featured group'. Neal Matthews died on April 21, 2000. Their sound was defined by the piercing tenor vocals of Archie Watkins and the booming bass of Mike Holcomb. Unrivaled Mac notes apps for fuss-free note-taking, 6 Actionable Tips for Improving Your Websites SEO, Copyright 2023 | WordPress Theme by MH Themes. Smith later married Jerry Schilling, a friend and associate of Elvis who subsequently also managed the Beach Boys at one point. [6], In 1967, the group did backing vocals for the Jimi Hendrix single "Burning of the Midnight Lamp" which was later featured on the album Electric Ladyland in 1968. Lee, who was the mother of Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick, had also adopted another daughter named Judy Guions (who would later become known as Judy Clay). Myrna Yvonne Smith (May 28, 1941 December 24, 2010)[1] was an American songwriter and singer. The Sweet Inspirations continued to work as sessions singers during this period, appearing on classic cuts by artists as diverse as Aretha Franklin (Chain of Fools), Dusty Springfield (Son of a Preacher Man), Van Morrison (Brown Eyed Girl) and Jimi Hendrix (Burning of the Midnight Lamp). Highly recommended. Saturday, 4th March 2023See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive. HOT CAKE AND FRENCH TOAST. You can unsubscribe at any time. ISBN 0-316-33297-6 (pp. You can also hear Estelle's voice on the records of Aretha Franklin, Dusty Springfield, Wilson Picket, Van Morrison and Dionne Warwick. The quartet began in 1964 when Martin Cook, a teacher at Swain County High School, invited several young men to his home for evenings of singing. (21 and over only) Phone: (888) 226-7711 The Sweet Inspirations had success with R&B, gospel and pop. The band backed Elvis on everything from his rock tunes to gospel numbers, from Christmas songs to his movie soundtracks. Kathy Westmoreland, backing vocalist, still active. According to the documentary This Time, The Sweet Inspirations were hoping to resurrect their fortunes with the help of producer Peitor Angell, however, their fame would never be the same without the original King being alive and well. It was released in 1968 under the name "Cissy Drinkard & The Sweet Inspirations. Speaking with Spa Guy in Nashville, Tennessee, Estelle spoke of how at first she thought the opposite of Elvis. She then went on to describe how she believes Elvis is an angel and still with us. They are, left to right: Cissy Drinkard Houston, Myrna Smith, Sylvia Shemwell and Estelle Brown. Latest Audio (and video) updates:Video courtesy of Elvis Presley MP3 Audio Central. Unbowed, they would sign with Stax (a company where it was still okay to be Black) as a trio in 1973. In 1978, The Sweet Inspirations sang background on Frankie Valli's number one smash, Grease (! 'Songs of Faith and Inspiration' by 'Cissy Drinkard & The Sweet Inspirations' would be released in the summer of 1968, right in between 'Tighten Up' by Archie Bell & the Drells and The Midnight Mover by Wilson Pickett. 96 were here. Elvis death: The King's pilot I thought Vernon Presley had died, Elvis Presley bodyguard says King'different'person in private, Elvis Presley Vegas backing singer: I believe The King is an ANGEL and he is still here, Elvis performing in Las Vegas with The Sweet Inspirations, Elvis Presley ALIVE? Estelle Brown sang with Elvis from 1969 until his untimely passing in 1977. The Sweet Inspirations is known for Deadpool (2016), Something Borrowed (2011) and Sandy Wexler (2017). 9. Over the years, Elvis Presley had a number of backing singers, including The Sweet Inspirations. The afternoon show footage is wonderful and electrifying : Here is Elvis in his prime rocking and rolling in front of 11.000 people. A founding member of the group was Dionne Warwick, who was later replaced by her aunt, Cissy Houston. It was released in 1968 under the name 'Cissy Drinkard & The Sweet Inspirations'. Cissy Houston (born Emily Drinkard on September 30, 1933) is a gospel and soul singer. Estelle Brown will be attending a few events in Memphis, Portia Griffin will be singing on these both shows! Estelle Brown, one of the Sweet Inspirations, responded to his remark by hanging her head, and Elvis continued by proclaiming, "Estelle, Sweet Inspirations, Stamps, if you don't look up, I'm going to kick your ass." They began performing again and were in demand by the legions of Elvis fans who had seen them in the seventies with the King, in addition to the Soul intelligentsia overseas, where they retained a huge following. In 1994, original members Estelle, Myrna and Sylvia reformed 'The Sweet Inspirations', adding a fourth singer, Portia Griffin. The Sweet Inspirations were founded by 'Cissy' Houston(Born Emily Drinkard, married to Gary Houston at age 21 for two years) mother of Whitney Houston, and sister of Lee Warrick (herself the mother of well-known sisters, Myrna Smith's cousins Dee Dee and Dionne Warwick). Stay safe. Myrna was still making records with the Sweet Inspirations during her period with Elvis, but with limited commercial success. Widely known for their extensive work behind Aretha Franklin and Elvis Presley, the group is also what links Top Ten pop hits by Van Morrison, Dusty Springfield, and Frankie Valli. The Sweet Inspirations (Estelle Brown, Smith, and Shemwell) got back together again in 1994, with new member Portia Griffin. At that time, Sylvia Shemwell (sister of Judy Clay) replaced Troy, while Cissy Houston took over from Dionne, with Dee Dee Warwick as the group's official leader. They say Elvis has left the building. The Inspirations announced a monumental change in their group, as founder/pianist/group co-owner Martin Cook resigned all of his roles last Wednesday. I do feel his spirit is here, yes. "We've been on Elvis' last six albums and done almost 400 shows with him," explains Sumner. Shemwell died on February 13, 2010. We humbly honor the old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep it alive. Myrna Smith began singing at the age of five she when she sang Jesus Loves Me with her father's gospel group, on 'The Sons of Harmony Radio Show'. Despite excellent songwriting and production from David Porter and Ronnie Williams, 'Slipped and Tripped', the 45 released from Estelle, Myrna and Sylvia failed to dent the charts. iloveoldschoolmusic.com. Elvis Presley and Racism : The Ultimate, Definitive Guide, Interview with Larry Muhoberac Interview with John Wilkinson Interview with Michael Jarrett, songwriter, I'm Leavin' Interview with James Burton Interview with James Burton Sydney Australia 2006 James Burton : First Call For The Royalty Of Rockabilly Interview with Ronnie Tutt Interview with Ronnie Tutt #2 Interview with Jerry Scheff Interview with Glen D. Hardin Interview with Sherrill Nielsen Interview with Terry Blackwood & Jim Murray Interview with Tony Brown Duke Bardwell Interview with Scotty Moore Bill Black Interview with D.J. But U. S. magazines are disappearing. Sausage And Cheese. Estelle Brown, The Sweet Inspirations, still active. She became a member of the Sweet Inspirations, which previously served as Elvis Presley 's backing group. Meanwhile, The Kings ex-wife Priscilla has spoken of how she senses his spirit at Graceland. They Come To Celebrate The King Of Rock & Roll Elvis Presley! Shrimp And Mushroom. Friday, September 30, 2016 Saturday, October 1, 2016Fri, Sep 30, 2016 Sat, Oct 1, 2016, The El Portal Theatre, North Hollywood, CA. Liverpool Echo Arena Auditorium, Liverpool, UK. [3] She died on December 24, 2010.[8]. Menu. In 1951, they would appear with Jackson, Clara Ward, and Rosetta Tharpe at a sold-out Carnegie Hall, after which they would record a few singles for Savoy, in addition to broadcasting live from Symphony Hall in New Jersey every Sunday. KTBS 3 Public File | KPXJ 21 Public File. 1 Oh! There was one person in particular who had sent the message. No wonder that he used to have them open his concerts. "Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground." Theodore Roosevelt. Emily Drinkard, 30th September 1933, Newark, New Jersey, U.S.A.) (above) Finding . Keep the Faith. Marion Keiske Who Discovered Elvis Presley? Estelle Brown Sweet Inspirations In Las Vegas Sweets are headed to the UK for unprecedented Fall Tour starts Nov 3rd Visit http://www.elvisworldtour.co.uk/ for all the information Nov3 Shawn Klush Fall UK Tour Thursday, November 3Thu, Nov 3 Wolverhampton Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, UK Demi Lovato Is Back and Better Than Ever With ' Still Alive ' If you ' re a fan of the iconic Scream movies, you need to give a listen to Demi Lovato ' s new song " Still Alive. _taboola.push({ 'The Sweet Inspirations', four girls from New York, are in Britain to promote their latest recording hit, may be re-printed for public display without permission, Elvis demonstrated his desire for racial reconciliation, Elvis Presley and Racism: The Ultimate, Definitive Guide, Elvis Presley and Racism : The Ultimate, Definitive Guide, Interview with Michael Jarrett, songwriter, I'm Leavin', Interview with James Burton Sydney Australia 2006, James Burton : First Call For The Royalty Of Rockabilly, Interview with Terry Blackwood & Jim Murray. Deep down inside, he knew the deal. We are proud to announce that Heart of the King , A Tribute to Elvis is back and better than ever June 10th for one night only. Myrna also backed Elvis up during his 1976 Graceland recordings, both in February of that year and in the October/November sessions. Thanks for visiting our page! Presley's on-stage behavior became increasingly bizarre, and, on the final night of the tour, he took requests, threw his guitar into the crowd, and gave away a $6,500 ring to an audience member. [2], In a recording session on March 28, 1967, the Sweet Inspirations provided the backup vocals for Van Morrison on his classic hit "Brown Eyed Girl". Estelle Brown Obituary. The track hit number five on the R&B chart and was a top 20 pop hit. 9. Featuring a live band, orchestra and support from the incredible Ben Thompson performing the early years of the King. Both Dionne and Dee Dee were members, as was their cousin Myrna Smith and Judy's sister, Sylvia Shemwell. Her protestations only seemed to increase Presley's determination to embarrass her. click here for contact information. He was replaced by new lead Curtis Young. Hes still here because as long as were here and were keeping him going, hes here. A Gamble & Huff composition, Gotta Find Me A Brand New Lover. Bacharach, of course, would go on to make history with Dionne at Scepter, while Dee Dee and Judy Clay embarked on solo careers themselves shortly thereafter. Aside of Sweet Inspirations, Smith sang back up for Elvis in his Graceland recordings as well. Please Note: Pit Seating includes a Pre - Show Meet and Greet and access into VIP Lounge 960, Saturday, August 13, 2016 Sunday, August 14, 2016Sat, Aug 13, 2016 Sun, Aug 14, 2016. She added: And he continues to. Add to Cart. The remainder of the album was recorded in November 1970, with Shemwell, Brown, Smith, and new member Ann Williams, a friend of Brown's who stayed for what turned out to be the group's last full Atlantic album. Shawn has been busy on the road, with a particularly special stop last year on The Late Show, with David Letterman, however this year Shawn has taken his talents to Hollywood, with a feature role on the HBO hit series Vinyl. Sweets For My Sweet. The comparison between the old and new is obvious as they are both a compilation of the best of Sweet's recordings, satisfaction guaranteed. The Sweet Inspirations evolved from groups such as the Drinkard Singers, Gospelaires, and Gospel Wonders to become top-tier session and touring background singers and an accomplished recording act in their own right.Widely known for their extensive work behind Aretha Franklin and Elvis Presley, the group is what also links Top Ten pop hits such as Franklin's "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural . If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Boston: Little, Brown and Co., 1999. You can send your sympathy in the guestbook provided and share it with the family. Myrna Smith, The Sweet Inspirations, died in 2010. She became a member of the Sweet Inspirations, which previously served as Elvis Presley's backing group. She said: Oh absolutely. The Sweet Inspirations met him when they arrived for the first rehearsals for the '69 engagement. Elvis, emboldened by his own American Studio recordings that had put him back in the top ten in 1969, Elvis decided to return to performing in public. Matters came to a head during an evening performance in Norfolk. They would also overdub their unbelievable background vocals in New York that summer when Atlantic brought back the tapes that they had recorded with Dusty Springfield at American in Memphis. The Sweet Inspirations were one of the premier female harmony groups of the 1960s, supporting Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Jimi Hendrix, and Wilson Pickett. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. They also recorded choir backing for The Killers' 2004 recording, Hot Fuss, on songs "Andy, You're a Star" and "All These Things That I've Done". The Sweet Inspirations Top Songs #1: "Sweet Inspiration" #2: "Why (Am I Treated So Bad)" #3: "Let It Be Me" #4: "To Love Somebody" #5: "Unchained . mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', There was an error processing your request. 3362. Read More. The Sweet Inspirations were an all-female gospel/soul quartet consisting of Cissy Houston, mother of the late Whitney Houston, Sylvia Shernwell, Myrna Smith, and Estelle Brown. Elvis demonstrated his desire for racial reconciliation in the musicians he chose, and in the treatment they received. In 1963 she and three other singers formed a backup group that became known as the Sweet Inspirationsand performed around the country with various headliners. When Jerry Wexler signed Aretha in early 1967, he brought in Cissy (now going by her married name of Houston) to sing background with Franklin's sisters Erma and Carolyn on the timeless 'I Never Loved A Man (The Way That I Love You)' LP. News headlines delivered at Noon Monday - Friday. Elvis dear friend, Jerry Schilling, loved Smith too. . As a backup group, the Sweet Inspirations was in high demand among producers, publishers, artists, and songwriters in the early 1960s. The Sweet Inspirations were top-tier background singers and an accomplished recording act in their own right. The Sweet Inspirations covered I've Been Loving You Too Long, But You Know I Love You, When Something Is Wrong with My Baby, Do Right Woman - Do Right Man and other songs. When they brought down the house at the 1957 festival, they were signed to RCA on the spot, and they released the critically acclaimed 'A Joyful Noise' the following year. The Sweet Inspirations are an American R&B girl group mostly known for their work as backup singers on studio recordings for other R&B and rock artists. Westmoreland had had a relationship with Elvis, and when she refused to pick up where they had left off during a concert tour earlier that year and started dating a member of the band, he began to introduce her at performances using "a string of veiled and not-so-veiled sexual references."