Jenny Beth McCullough (jenbmccu@mars.utm.edu) from 170.143.229.166 at 09/30/99 09:27AM
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    When I think about people responsible for southern music, Elvis is the first person that comes to my mind. Even though Elvis ultimately became very famous, it was his origin that impressed me the most. People don't remember Elvis as a very moral person, but that is not how he started out. Elvis's music career started through gospel music. When Sam Perkins first heard him, he was recording a gospel song for his mother. Elvis also was very much a part of black music. Uncharacteristic of his time and against the beliefs of many prejudice people, Elvis did so much for black music. It has been told that he would sneak out of his church and go to a black church just to be a part of their music. Sam Perkins was looking for a white person to lead the way for black musicians, and he found that in Elvis. I really feel like that Elvis showed much character by rising above the prejudice views of most of the people of his time. Even though Elvis may be the best musician ever, I am mainly impressed with what most people never see.