Elvis, The Sweet Inspirations & the 1970 Houston Astrodome Incident

[DobroMojo]

Some of you might be familiar with this story, recounted by Myrna Smith of The Sweet Inspirations in the documentary "He Touched Me" released in 2000.

When Elvis was booked to play six shows at the Houston Astrodome in late February/early March 1970, apparently he was advised to "leave the black girls home". It's not entirely clear who made this request - The Colonel (which is doubtful), the booking agents, the live promoters or the owners of the venue. In response, Elvis countered that he wouldn't be performing if the girls weren't present. The situation was eventually resolved. To make a statement, Elvis insisted on giving The Sweets the star treatment, having them driven around the stadium in an open top convertible.

Myrna Smith talking about the incident:

houston astrodome 1970.jpg

The fact that Elvis took a stand against blatant bigotry speaks volumes. It's a pity this incident isn't common knowledge and used as an example to highlight his progressive attitude for the time. The Colonel probably had nothing to do with it - if he'd had a problem with The Sweets being part of the band, he would have vented his disapproval before the Las Vegas dates in '69.

Is there any other information out there regarding this story? Recollections from other band members or entourage? Reports of similiar incidents on-tour encountered by the Sweets?

[drjohncarpenter]

Some of you might be familiar with this story, recounted by Myrna Smith of The Sweet Inspirations in the documentary "He Touched Me" released in 2000.

When Elvis was booked to play six shows at the Houston Astrodome in late February/early March 1970, apparently he was advised to "leave the black girls home". It's not entirely clear who made this request - The Colonel (which is doubtful), the booking agents, the live promoters or the owners of the venue. In response, Elvis countered that he wouldn't be performing if the girls weren't present. The situation was eventually resolved. To make a statement, Elvis insisted on giving The Sweets the star treatment, having them driven around the stadium in an open top convertible.

Myrna Smith talking about the incident:






The fact that Elvis took a stand against blatant bigotry speaks volumes. It's a pity this incident isn't common knowledge and used as an example to highlight his progressive attitude for the time. The Colonel probably had nothing to do with it - if he'd had a problem with The Sweets being part of the band, he would have vented his disapproval before the Las Vegas dates in '69.

Is there any other information out there regarding this story? Recollections from other band members or entourage? Reports of similiar incidents on-tour encountered by the Sweets?

There's some good information actually here.

I took a look at this a few years ago, determined who most likely expressed the racist request, and Presley's response.

What he specifically chose to do showed both his intelligence and his sense of humor.

I've al ways heard that in 1970 when Elvis played the Astrodome that he was told not to bring the Sweet Inspirations because of their color, yet Charlie Pride was preforming on the same bill. Something there does not make sense...Can someone explain?

Charlie Pride was the next headliner after Elvis finished his run.











Pride was an established, hit-making country artist, one might assume he kind of "blended in" with the general concert-goers.

As for Elvis, there was no issue with the Astrodome per se, it was just a problem with a message he received from one of the rodeo executives, according to Myrna Smith of the Sweet Inspirations.

The first performances outside was the Houston Astrodome. There was a story behind that.

Well, Elvis ... the rodeo didn't want us to come. There was a message sent to "leave the black girls," they "didn't need the black girls." And so Elvis responded with "Well, if they don't come, I don't come." But he was really upset about it.

There was one person in particular who had sent the message. So when we got there, we were greeted by this little blonde in a convertible and she had to drive us around. And she was his daughter.

So Elvis always made sure he got even. I'm sure he said "And I want your daughter to drive them."

But when it was happening, we didn't know. We learned that later.

http://www.elvis.com.au/presley/interview_myrna_smith.shtml

Based on this memory, I suspect the racist request was made by Louis M. Pearce, Jr., who was president of the rodeo in 1967-1969.

He was part of the negotiations to get Elvis signed for the 1970 festivities, took the credit later, and he had a daughter, Anne Pearce.







With Louis M. Pearce, Jr., Houston rodeo president 1967-1969 and M. C. "Buddy" Bray, 1970 president





God bless Elvis.

[DobroMojo]

Some of you might be familiar with this story, recounted by Myrna Smith of The Sweet Inspirations in the documentary "He Touched Me" released in 2000.

When Elvis was booked to play six shows at the Houston Astrodome in late February/early March 1970, apparently he was advised to "leave the black girls home". It's not entirely clear who made this request - The Colonel (which is doubtful), the booking agents, the live promoters or the owners of the venue. In response, Elvis countered that he wouldn't be performing if the girls weren't present. The situation was eventually resolved. To make a statement, Elvis insisted on giving The Sweets the star treatment, having them driven around the stadium in an open top convertible.

Myrna Smith talking about the incident:






The fact that Elvis took a stand against blatant bigotry speaks volumes. It's a pity this incident isn't common knowledge and used as an example to highlight his progressive attitude for the time. The Colonel probably had nothing to do with it - if he'd had a problem with The Sweets being part of the band, he would have vented his disapproval before the Las Vegas dates in '69.

Is there any other information out there regarding this story? Recollections from other band members or entourage? Reports of similiar incidents on-tour encountered by the Sweets?

There's some good information actually here.

I took a look at this a few years ago, determined who most likely expressed the racist request, and Presley's response.

What he specifically chose to do showed both his intelligence and his sense of humor.

I've al ways heard that in 1970 when Elvis played the Astrodome that he was told not to bring the Sweet Inspirations because of their color, yet Charlie Pride was preforming on the same bill. Something there does not make sense...Can someone explain?

Charlie Pride was the next headliner after Elvis finished his run.











Pride was an established, hit-making country artist, one might assume he kind of "blended in" with the general concert-goers.

As for Elvis, there was no issue with the Astrodome per se, it was just a problem with a message he received from one of the rodeo executives, according to Myrna Smith of the Sweet Inspirations.

The first performances outside was the Houston Astrodome. There was a story behind that.

Well, Elvis ... the rodeo didn't want us to come. There was a message sent to "leave the black girls," they "didn't need the black girls." And so Elvis responded with "Well, if they don't come, I don't come." But he was really upset about it.

There was one person in particular who had sent the message. So when we got there, we were greeted by this little blonde in a convertible and she had to drive us around. And she was his daughter.

So Elvis always made sure he got even. I'm sure he said "And I want your daughter to drive them."

But when it was happening, we didn't know. We learned that later.

http://www.elvis.com.au/presley/interview_myrna_smith.shtml

Based on this memory, I suspect the racist request was made by Louis M. Pearce, Jr., who was president of the rodeo in 1967-1969.

He was part of the negotiations to get Elvis signed for the 1970 festivities, took the credit later, and he had a daughter, Anne Pearce.







With Louis M. Pearce, Jr., Houston rodeo president 1967-1969 and M. C. "Buddy" Bray, 1970 president





God bless Elvis.

Thanks for the extra info John, much appreciated! It's great that Elvis stood his ground & seemingly had the balls to request Pearce's daughter drive the convertible! Brilliant!

[elvisjock]

7C795684-C15D-445B-BCC6-834414A5E029.png

There was another session of glad hands and back slaps in 1974. Photo from our beloved Candid Central.

[drjohncarpenter]

Thanks for the extra info John, much appreciated! It's great that Elvis stood his ground & seemingly had the balls to request Pearce's daughter drive the convertible! Brilliant!

According to another Myrna Smith interview, the group got their own Jeep, which seems more likely given the fact that they were playing a major rodeo:

But the highlight of that evening had not yet been revealed, as Myrna explained, "When Elvis rode around the arena in a jeep that night, he made sure we had our own jeep, and a little blonde girl driving us. He made sure we were seen!"

https://blue-suede-connection.blogspot.com/2021/05/elvis-sweet-inspirations.html

As noted, the "little blonde girl" was Anne Pearce, the daughter of Louis M. Pearce, Jr. I tried to find a photo of Anne, ideally circa 1970, but no luck. But she was likely around 21 at the time, the youngest of four siblings.

Some try to claim the suggestion to leave the Sweet Inspirations at home is fanciful, but being driven around in a Jeep throughout the three-day booking by this young lady is quite an astounding detail to be made up.

As is so true of such people, when her father died he was kind of lionized in the media. Below is an example, from the official Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo quarterly . . . "Remembering a Legend."

You can read more about him here as well:


Mystery Revealed --> King of the Houston Rodeo!
http://www.elvis-collectors.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=70587




.

[DobroMojo]

Thanks for the extra info John, much appreciated! It's great that Elvis stood his ground & seemingly had the balls to request Pearce's daughter drive the convertible! Brilliant!

According to another Myrna Smith interview, the group got their own Jeep, which seems more likely given the fact that they were playing a major rodeo:

But the highlight of that evening had not yet been revealed, as Myrna explained, "When Elvis rode around the arena in a jeep that night, he made sure we had our own jeep, and a little blonde girl driving us. He made sure we were seen!"

https://blue-suede-connection.blogspot.com/2021/05/elvis-sweet-inspirations.html

As noted, the "little blonde girl" was Anne Pearce, the daughter of Louis M. Pearce, Jr. I tried to find a photo of Anne, ideally circa 1970, but no luck. But she was likely around 21 at the time, the youngest of four siblings.

Some try to claim the suggestion to leave the Sweet Inspirations at home is fanciful, but being driven around in a Jeep throughout the three-day booking by this young lady is quite an astounding detail to be made up.

As is so true of such people, when her father died he was kind of lionized in the media. Below is an example, from the official Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo quarterly . . . "Remembering a Legend."

You can read more about him here as well:


Mystery Revealed --> King of the Houston Rodeo!
http://www.elvis-collectors.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=70587




.

Thanks John. Great research and another informative read.

[scotch]

I read that article about Pearce before, and saw it had no connection to the disparaging story about him.

Details matter, and memories are fickle. That's how the story of some *who were there* changed from Col Tom asking for just the closing number to be a Christmas song to him wanting the whole NBC special to be Christmas songs... Some actually believe such nonsense.

[pmp]

Some of you might be familiar with this story, recounted by Myrna Smith of The Sweet Inspirations in the documentary "He Touched Me" released in 2000.

When Elvis was booked to play six shows at the Houston Astrodome in late February/early March 1970, apparently he was advised to "leave the black girls home". It's not entirely clear who made this request - The Colonel (which is doubtful), the booking agents, the live promoters or the owners of the venue. In response, Elvis countered that he wouldn't be performing if the girls weren't present. The situation was eventually resolved. To make a statement, Elvis insisted on giving The Sweets the star treatment, having them driven around the stadium in an open top convertible.

Myrna Smith talking about the incident:






The fact that Elvis took a stand against blatant bigotry speaks volumes. It's a pity this incident isn't common knowledge and used as an example to highlight his progressive attitude for the time. The Colonel probably had nothing to do with it - if he'd had a problem with The Sweets being part of the band, he would have vented his disapproval before the Las Vegas dates in '69.

Is there any other information out there regarding this story? Recollections from other band members or entourage? Reports of similiar incidents on-tour encountered by the Sweets?

As stated elsewhere, if you take the video on face value, then it is made clear who made the request. She says "Elvis's people." That's NOT the promoters. And she also said he was told "well, you can leave the black girls home." That's not MUST leave them at home, but you CAN leave them at home. "You don't have to bring them." So, according to Myrna Elvis wasn't being told that they could not go on stage, he was being told that he COULD leave them at home.

This makes things pretty explicit:

1.) The promoters aren't mentioned anywhere.
2.) Elvis's people = The Colonel
3.) Parker viewed the Sweets as expendable on the road, as having such a large group to travel with was going to be costly, and Parker didn't like that. So he told Elvis "well, you can leave the black girls at home."

That means that, yes, Elvis stood up for the Sweets and made sure they were not left behind on the road. But it doesn't mean that the incident was racially led, or that the directive came from the Astrodome promoters.

That's going by the video that you present as evidence. And that all makes far more sense than the promoters somehow getting through to Elvis himself (in itself highly unlikely) and telling the most famous entertainer in the world who he could or could not have on stage with him because of the colour of their skin - when they had already booked Pride.

What's more, DJC's post makes it clear that the Sweets didn't know about the incident at the time; "We learned about it later." So, who told them? How many people at the time would have known about it? If the Sweets didn't know it was going on at the time, who did? Presumably not the other people in the band or the entourage either. And all of that makes the video even more problematic, because she tells the story on the video as if they knew about it at the time.

Stories get exaggerated, twisted, mis-told. Even Myrna doesn't stick to the same story in the version quoted in Doc's post and in the video posted. In the video she says it as if she was aware of what was going on at the time: she says "the first time" they encountered racist issues was at the Astrodome. But in the quote from her in Doc's post, she says she didn't know anything about it until later. So that WASN'T the first time SHE encountered racist issues while with Elvis, as she didn't know about it.

[DobroMojo]

Some of you might be familiar with this story, recounted by Myrna Smith of The Sweet Inspirations in the documentary "He Touched Me" released in 2000.

When Elvis was booked to play six shows at the Houston Astrodome in late February/early March 1970, apparently he was advised to "leave the black girls home". It's not entirely clear who made this request - The Colonel (which is doubtful), the booking agents, the live promoters or the owners of the venue. In response, Elvis countered that he wouldn't be performing if the girls weren't present. The situation was eventually resolved. To make a statement, Elvis insisted on giving The Sweets the star treatment, having them driven around the stadium in an open top convertible.

Myrna Smith talking about the incident:






The fact that Elvis took a stand against blatant bigotry speaks volumes. It's a pity this incident isn't common knowledge and used as an example to highlight his progressive attitude for the time. The Colonel probably had nothing to do with it - if he'd had a problem with The Sweets being part of the band, he would have vented his disapproval before the Las Vegas dates in '69.

Is there any other information out there regarding this story? Recollections from other band members or entourage? Reports of similiar incidents on-tour encountered by the Sweets?

As stated elsewhere, if you take the video on face value, then it is made clear who made the request. She says "Elvis's people." That's NOT the promoters. And she also said he was told "well, you can leave the black girls home." That's not MUST leave them at home, but you CAN leave them at home. "You don't have to bring them." So, according to Myrna Elvis wasn't being told that they could not go on stage, he was being told that he COULD leave them at home.

This makes things pretty explicit:

1.) The promoters aren't mentioned anywhere.
2.) Elvis's people = The Colonel
3.) Parker viewed the Sweets as expendable on the road, as having such a large group to travel with was going to be costly, and Parker didn't like that. So he told Elvis "well, you can leave the black girls at home."

That means that, yes, Elvis stood up for the Sweets and made sure they were not left behind on the road. But it doesn't mean that the incident was racially led, or that the directive came from the Astrodome promoters.

That's going by the video that you present as evidence. And that all makes far more sense than the promoters somehow getting through to Elvis himself (in itself highly unlikely) and telling the most famous entertainer in the world who he could or could not have on stage with him because of the colour of their skin - when they had already booked Pride.

What's more, DJC's post makes it clear that the Sweets didn't know about the incident at the time; "We learned about it later." So, who told them? How many people at the time would have known about it? If the Sweets didn't know it was going on at the time, who did? Presumably not the other people in the band or the entourage either. And all of that makes the video even more problematic, because she tells the story on the video as if they knew about it at the time.

Stories get exaggerated, twisted, mis-told. Even Myrna doesn't stick to the same story in the version quoted in Doc's post and in the video posted. In the video she says it as if she was aware of what was going on at the time: she says "the first time" they encountered racist issues was at the Astrodome. But in the quote from her in Doc's post, she says she didn't know anything about it until later. So that WASN'T the first time SHE encountered racist issues while with Elvis, as she didn't know about it.

What you keep ignoring is that Elvis insisted on having the Sweets driven around stadium in front of the public. This was obviously to make a point. Was it aimed at the Colonel? Why would he stand his ground with the Colonel in private but also insist on making a public display of his motivations? That doesn't make any logical sense. He was obviously creating a spectacle aimed at the promoters.

There's no evidence that the Colonel ever intervened with the selection of Elvis' backing band. Why would he insist on excluding the Sweets when they were already part of a well rehearsed live repertoire from the recent Vegas residency?

And the term "Elvis was told by his people" as featured in the video of Myrna Smith can be interpreted as a message being relayed from the promoters to the Colonel to Elvis. Pretty straightforward and logical.

[pmp]

Some of you might be familiar with this story, recounted by Myrna Smith of The Sweet Inspirations in the documentary "He Touched Me" released in 2000.

When Elvis was booked to play six shows at the Houston Astrodome in late February/early March 1970, apparently he was advised to "leave the black girls home". It's not entirely clear who made this request - The Colonel (which is doubtful), the booking agents, the live promoters or the owners of the venue. In response, Elvis countered that he wouldn't be performing if the girls weren't present. The situation was eventually resolved. To make a statement, Elvis insisted on giving The Sweets the star treatment, having them driven around the stadium in an open top convertible.

Myrna Smith talking about the incident:






The fact that Elvis took a stand against blatant bigotry speaks volumes. It's a pity this incident isn't common knowledge and used as an example to highlight his progressive attitude for the time. The Colonel probably had nothing to do with it - if he'd had a problem with The Sweets being part of the band, he would have vented his disapproval before the Las Vegas dates in '69.

Is there any other information out there regarding this story? Recollections from other band members or entourage? Reports of similiar incidents on-tour encountered by the Sweets?

As stated elsewhere, if you take the video on face value, then it is made clear who made the request. She says "Elvis's people." That's NOT the promoters. And she also said he was told "well, you can leave the black girls home." That's not MUST leave them at home, but you CAN leave them at home. "You don't have to bring them." So, according to Myrna Elvis wasn't being told that they could not go on stage, he was being told that he COULD leave them at home.

This makes things pretty explicit:

1.) The promoters aren't mentioned anywhere.
2.) Elvis's people = The Colonel
3.) Parker viewed the Sweets as expendable on the road, as having such a large group to travel with was going to be costly, and Parker didn't like that. So he told Elvis "well, you can leave the black girls at home."

That means that, yes, Elvis stood up for the Sweets and made sure they were not left behind on the road. But it doesn't mean that the incident was racially led, or that the directive came from the Astrodome promoters.

That's going by the video that you present as evidence. And that all makes far more sense than the promoters somehow getting through to Elvis himself (in itself highly unlikely) and telling the most famous entertainer in the world who he could or could not have on stage with him because of the colour of their skin - when they had already booked Pride.

What's more, DJC's post makes it clear that the Sweets didn't know about the incident at the time; "We learned about it later." So, who told them? How many people at the time would have known about it? If the Sweets didn't know it was going on at the time, who did? Presumably not the other people in the band or the entourage either. And all of that makes the video even more problematic, because she tells the story on the video as if they knew about it at the time.

Stories get exaggerated, twisted, mis-told. Even Myrna doesn't stick to the same story in the version quoted in Doc's post and in the video posted. In the video she says it as if she was aware of what was going on at the time: she says "the first time" they encountered racist issues was at the Astrodome. But in the quote from her in Doc's post, she says she didn't know anything about it until later. So that WASN'T the first time SHE encountered racist issues while with Elvis, as she didn't know about it.

What you keep ignoring is that Elvis insisted on having the Sweets driven around stadium in front of the public. This was obviously to make a point. Was it aimed at the Colonel? Why would he stand his ground with the Colonel in private but also insist on making a public display of his motivations? That doesn't make any logical sense. He was obviously creating a spectacle aimed at the promoters.

There's no evidence that the Colonel ever intervened with the selection of Elvis' backing band. Why would he insist on excluding the Sweets when they were already part of a well rehearsed live repertoire from the recent Vegas residency?

And the term "Elvis was told by his people" as featured in the video of Myrna Smith can be interpreted as a message being relayed from the promoters to the Colonel to Elvis. Pretty straightforward and logical.

Why wouldn't he make a public show of a row with Parker? I'm sure he'd be up for doing it to needle him for interfering in his show.

But I have already answered all of the above on the other thread. i have no idea why we have two of them covering the same ground.

And yes, Parker would clearly intervene. Having a group the size of Elvis's on stage in vegas was one thing, but if Parker had an eye on touring, then the last thing he would want was for all those musicians to be paid, put up in hotels, meals paid for, travel paid for.

And your interpretation of the message coming from the promoters makes no sense. Myrna didn't say he was told to leave the Sweets behind. She said he was told that he "can" leave them behind. That he didn't "have to bring them." That's not a promoter telling him who to bring with him, it's a suggestion that's being made. Therefore, that seems far more likely to be cost cutting by Parker than a directive from the Astrodome.

What you're suggesting is that we should believe the video testimony wholly - except for the bits that don't fit in with the established story/myth, because then she was clearly meaning something else.

If you're going to believe her, then do so. But don't tell us to believe her and then try to rewrite what she was saying.

[scotch]

[pmp]

That's all I could find, too. But there's not enough of it to see if Elvis's other musicians were present as well.

[egilj]

I agree that it wasn't necessarily a racial thing. The stage was small, and the orchestra was excluded, even the horns. And it could be that the same suggestion was made regarding The Imperials.

But there's also the possibility that the management could have made the suggestion/advice based on an assumption of attitudes towards afro-americans in Texas. Or they might have gotten some kind of signals from the promoters.

I don't think the Sweets being driven by a white girl itself prove much. Did any member of the band or The Imperials walk through the mud getting to the stage? They probably didn't, and then they'd all had to be driven by somebody, black or white, male or female.

Seems to me there's something to the story, and I have no problem believing that Elvis might made some kind of statement, but exactly what's facts and what's not is difficult to tell.

[jurasic1968]

Off topic: The Colonel always thought that Elvis had too many backup singers. In August 1971, when the Imperials wanted a salary raise and better accommodations in hotels, the Colonel said no. So they quit and Elvis replaced them with JD Sumner and the Stamps Quartet. Source: Jerry Hopkins,The Final Years.

[drjohncarpenter]

What you keep ignoring is that Elvis insisted on having the Sweets driven around stadium in front of the public. This was obviously to make a point. Was it aimed at the Colonel? Why would he stand his ground with the Colonel in private but also insist on making a public display of his motivations? That doesn't make any logical sense. He was obviously creating a spectacle aimed at the promoters.

There's no evidence that the Colonel ever intervened with the selection of Elvis' backing band. Why would he insist on excluding the Sweets when they were already part of a well rehearsed live repertoire from the recent Vegas residency?

And the term "Elvis was told by his people" as featured in the video of Myrna Smith can be interpreted as a message being relayed from the promoters to the Colonel to Elvis. Pretty straightforward and logical.

Absolutely. But some will question whether the sky is blue, so sometimes you just can't win.

[scotch]

Some questioned the motivation behind Elvis first going to the Memphis Recording Service in 1953... and that was one of the best threads this board ever had.