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August 13, 2009

The Gospel According to Elvis Presley: Elvis' gospel recordings (gospel videos included)

The Gospel According to Elvis Presley

Born and raised in the Bible belt and baptized at First Assembly of God Church in Tupelo, Mississippi, Elvis grew up singing in church, reading the Bible and developing his life-long interest in spiritual matters. According to elvisgospel.com, Elvis held Bible studies at his home in Bel Air, California, where he lived while making films during the mid 1960s, and Wikipedia indicates "It is well known that Elvis Presley was a devout Christian."

As reported in Who Was Elvis Presley? Elvis had a fascination with gospel music from his childhood and he named gospel pioneer Sister Rosetta Tharpe as an early influence. Rolling Stone once reported, "Gospel pervaded Elvis' character and was a defining and enduring influence all of his days." According to Christian Century, Elvis wrote more than 50 gospel songs and recorded many classic hymns in his career. 

Elvis recorded and performed with gospel groups throughout his long career. Some of the gospel groups Elvis worked with would include: the Blackwoods, the Songfellows, the Imperials, The Jordanaires, the Sweet Inspirations, and J.D. Sumner and the Stamps Quartet.

In 1957 Elvis released his first gospel EP as well as a Christmas album. The best-known gospel song Elvis recorded and performed is probably the hymn "How Great Thou Art" released on a 1967 album and again as a single. Elvis would sometimes personalize the song by singing "my God how great I think You are." His live version of "How Great Thou Art" won Elvis Presley a Grammy award in 1974.

 

In total, Presley won three Grammy awards for his gospel recordings: "How Great Thou Art" the album, "How Great Thou Art" the single, and the album "He Touched Me."

Although Elvis Presley turned to spiritualism in his later years, he never completely turned from his Christian roots. According to his friend and background singer Joe Moscheo, not only was being a gospel performer the first dream of his life, it was one one Elvis never fully left. His last gospel recording was Promised Land in 1975. Two years later, on August 16, 1977, Elvis Presley was dead.

Elvis Presley's gospel albums and EPs

A list of gospel albums and EPs recorded by Elvis Presley would include:

1957  Elvis' Christmas Album - this album was reissued and repackaged several times over the years
1957  Peace in the Valley - released as an extended play
1957  Elvis Sings Christmas Songs - released as an extended play
1958  Christmas with Elvis - released as an extended play
1960  His Hand in Mine
1967  How Great Thou Art - How Great Thou Art was Presley's second full-length gospel album and won a Grammy Award in 1967 for Best Sacred Performance
1971  Elvis Sings The Wonderful World of Christmas
1972  He Touched Me
1975  Promised Land

Another popular gospel music video on YouTube is Elvis Presley singing "O Happy Day."

 

 

For more info: 
GMA 2004 Year-End Release (features Elvis)
The Gospel According to Elvis Presley: Elvis' gospel recordings (gospel videos included)