Most that knew Elvis, Gospel was what he preferred to sing and listen too. This type of music along with the blues, country, pop and of course rock n roll was all in the ability of Elvis to do and do great. 

This love of gospel started out early in Elvis’s life. His first exposure was at the First Assembly of God’s Church in Memphis on McLemore Avenue.  To the benefit of Elvis’s musical development the gospel quartet known as the Blackwood Brothers also attending this church and graced their voices to the music that Elvis would hear when he attend the services

Over the years of the recordings, he used many gospel singers as his backup singers for the concerts and albums. Some of the better known ones included the Blackwood Brothers, Sweet Inspirations, The Imperials, Songfellows, Stamps Quartet and J.D. Sumner.

It was inevitable that Elvis would produce a gospel album, which finally occurred in 1960 with the release of “His Hand in Mine”. This was not his bestselling album, but it was the one that was recognized by the critics the most. In 1967 he released his second Gospel album named How Great Thou Art”. This was the album he earned his first Grammy Award with.

In 1972 he released “He Touched Me” and again won another Grammy award. Elvis’s third Grammy was for the single “How Great Thou Art”.

These were the only Grammies Elvis ever won. Kinda ironic for the King of Rock n Roll but it is a fact that cannot be disputed.

Elvis Gospel is still being performed today by the backup band that played with Elvis in Las Vegas including the Imperials and the Morrison Orpheus Choir. This is the Elvis music that truly has soul in it.

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