Would you say that Elvis Presley paved the way for Michael Jackson by breaking down racial barriers?
Say whether you think he did or not. If you DO think Elvis paved the way for Jackson, give a website, other than Wikipedia, to support the claim. It doesn’t need the be the best website in the world but I need something I can cite in my paper.
No, when Elvis first came onto the scene there were no white singers who were doing rock ‘n’ roll in the way he was. He paved the way for other white singers to attempt the genre of rock ‘n’ roll – The Beatles themselves said they wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for Elvis.
The Jackson 5/Jacksons took what was already seen as black music, the Motown sound, and made it appealing to a white audience as well as maintaining a strong black fanbase too.
Michael Jackson…..well when he went solo he broke every racial barrier….white, black, asian, latino you name it, he did it. THAT’S how strong a phenomenon Michael was.
February 16th, 2010 at 12:36 am
I’m a huge Elvis fan and I honestly don’t think so.. Elvis paved the way for Caucasian people to be more open to different music although he didn’t break any racial barriers.
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February 16th, 2010 at 12:59 am
NO! Elvis was a racist bastard, he stole black people’s music(muddy waters,chuck berry) and called it his own, MIKE WAS ALL ORIGINAL google it if you dont believe me
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February 16th, 2010 at 1:27 am
why would elvis pave the way for black music. he wasnt black. not insulting him cause i like him but. no
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February 16th, 2010 at 1:48 am
Elvis was great, but he didnt break racial barriers.
MJ did that, well some people still have issues about race, but MJ did a good job.
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February 16th, 2010 at 2:17 am
Yes! Elvis laid down a path for all musician!
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February 16th, 2010 at 3:01 am
No, there were many black artists at the same time that made it big that did more to pave the way for future black artists. Chuck Berry, Nat King Cole, Sam Cook, and many others. Elvis was famous as a white artist that did black style music. On that note, he made his mark, but I don’t feel he did anything to help blacks in the music business.
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Jerry Lee Lewis, a superstar in the fifties actually stole his whole style from black musicians he emulated by sneaking out to a black night club in his home town.
Heck the whole genre’ of rock and roll was stolen from black blues players. I am a white musician that admits this, so now no one can call me a racist.
February 16th, 2010 at 3:16 am
Elvis and I go waaaaay back…but no sir, my son broke the barriers, and broke records…Elvis broke my toilet seat!
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February 16th, 2010 at 3:59 am
No, when Elvis first came onto the scene there were no white singers who were doing rock ‘n’ roll in the way he was. He paved the way for other white singers to attempt the genre of rock ‘n’ roll – The Beatles themselves said they wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for Elvis.
The Jackson 5/Jacksons took what was already seen as black music, the Motown sound, and made it appealing to a white audience as well as maintaining a strong black fanbase too.
Michael Jackson…..well when he went solo he broke every racial barrier….white, black, asian, latino you name it, he did it. THAT’S how strong a phenomenon Michael was.
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February 16th, 2010 at 4:48 am
Um no.
Elvis took a lot of his songs (and moves) from black artists.
‘Hound Dog’ being one of them.’
James Brown, Jackie Wilson, Sammy Davis Jr. Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly paved the way for Mike.
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February 16th, 2010 at 5:27 am
MJ broke all racial barriers. Everywhere across the world, people know him. He has become an ambassador, a real icon of music. Artist M.I.A once said that he two first english words were : "Michael Jackson"…like her, many across the world don’t know a single word of english but know MJ. He really used music as an International Language – he is the best example for this.
I don’t think Elvis Paved the way for Michael. Yet, he got his inspiration from the black music of the 1920’s(blues, jazz, etc…), so i don’t think if this could be called ‘paving the way’ for michael…
yet, this is no reason to say that elvis was not as great because at that time making tours around he world was more demanding, there was no internet…the world was big…
michael had an international audience thanks to technology and of course, thanks to his undeniable talent!
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