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The Gospel Side of Elvis

by Joe Moscheo



      If you are looking for gossip and malicious intimacies about The King, this is not the book for you. Moscheo writes with great empathy and respect about this man with whom he was bound by their professional association and friendship. Inspirational music played a significant role in who Elvis became and his evolution as a man and an artist, and Moscheo gives us a synopsis of Elvis' love of gospel music throughout his life.

As Elvis' popularity continues to engage fans throughout the world, hundreds of books have been written to explore the man and his troubled life. Movies and documentaries abound, but none have explored his love of gospel music until now. Moscheo believes that Elvis was the greatest gospel singer of all time, and he is certainly my favorite. His velvet voice imparts a feeling and spirit to the songs that few others can equal. The Gospel Side of Elvis takes a look at Elvis' roots and the part that gospel music played in his formative years and artistic growth, as well as being a source of solace and strength throughout his troubled life.

The Imperials were a backup group for Elvis when he played the International Hotel in Las Vegas, and Joe Moscheo was a member of that group. The Imperials still exist as a Southern gospel contemporary Christian group. From 1969 to 1971, the group performed with Elvis for ten weeks every year. Moscheo also attended the intimate, personal sessions after the concerts up in Elvis's room nearly every night, lasting into the wee hours of the morning. Elvis would listen to a gospel recording sometimes nearly 100 times to understand the musical intricacies before putting his own spin on it. Moscheo remembers when Elvis would ask his back-up singers to sing a gospel song a cappella, and have the audience bow their heads in submission. This is a very personal and entertaining exploration of Elvis' private life from a friend's point of view.

While acknowledging Elvis's strengths and weaknesses, Moscheo mostly pays homage to his spiritual leanings. He writes about the things that made him great as well as the things that brought about his downfall in interpretations that are uniquely the author's own. Photographs of Elvis with The Imperials during their performances add visual perspective to the narrative.

As a lifelong fan of Elvis, it was refreshing to read a book that did not capitalize on his faults and life's mistakes.

The Book

Center Street / Hachette Book Group USA
August 13, 2007
Hardcover (Reviewed from the paperback ARC)
1-59995-729-9 / 978-1-59995-729-6
Biography
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Excerpt
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The Reviewer

Beverly J. Rowe
Reviewed 2007
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© 2006 MyShelf.com