Re: Elvis Stuff

[Kame'a Media <media...>]

Trudi Goodman wrote:

> >From Trudi Goodman:
> I want to know why you are all so obsessed with who is Jewish???

Well, Trudi, this is aJewish Music list and we're interested in all things
musically Jewish, including  Jewish musicians.  I don't know anyone who  could
be said to be "obsessed" about that, though.  The list has some pretty cool,
creative and well-educated people.It was you who brought up Elvis'
"Jewishnesss" (sic).

> It makes you what, better Yidn?

No, just better informed.

> My response is to try having a sense of humor.  It wouldn't kill you. I'm

> fairly religious, so I am not requesting that someone not care about that.

Double negative. I can assure you, we don't care about religious affiliations
or level s of observance.We are an inclusive community.

> What I am requesting is that people just GET OFF THEIR HIGH HORSES ABOUT
> JEWS.!!!
> WE ARE JUST PEOPLE, NOT BETTER OR WORSE THAN ANY OTHER PEOPLE.

Why are you yelling?

> I am all for celebrating Jewish diversity.  That means everybody's
> diversity.  And if the El was proud of his Jewish relatives, so
> be it.  That is good enough for me.

What are your sources?  Not one of those low-brow sensationalist knock-offs
"written" by one of his cousins or cronies, I  hope.Where did you ever get "the
El" from, anyway?  "The El" is the part of the NY subway that runs above ground
(the elevated), not the King of Rock 'n Roll.Read Peter Guralnick's 2-volume
Elvis bio, the definitive work on Presley written by a respected scholar of
American popular music.

> If you don't like that, and need to see a frum Jew under
> every bush and tree in someone's family tree, I feel sorry for you. Because
> it means that you are short-sighted and unrealistic about what it means to
> be a Jew in the world.

I don't know what prompted this outburst. Who are you to lecture us?"High
horse," indeed.  You sound kinda confused and conflicted to me.

> As for my credentials as a Yid---my first cousin was Joseph Shubow, the
> chief Rabbi of Boston, is that GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU?

No. We don't care about <yikhes> on this list;  too easy to fake.You are
judged solely on your own merits.


> Zei Gezunt.

<Ir, oykh.>

> And how about some discussions about Jewish culture and diversity???
> My mother's family is North African and I would like to hear more about
> that.

So initiate something.  Or take a class and post something you learn.

> As for the slam about Black music?  Why is that chazerei necessary?

The discussion of anti-Semitic song lyrics and their social ramifications is
<khazeray>?

> Good music is good music.  As Mozart said(himself rumored to be a Jew)

Now, who's obsessed with who's a Jew?  Rumors don't get any credence on this
list.We demand proof, at least a citation and we reserve the right to question
the scholarship of the author.

> Love...Love... that is the Soul of genuis.
> So try some love here, as opposed to sectarianism!
> I'm tired of this from you guys and incredibly pissed off about it.

Take some St. John's Wort;  chill.

Wolf

> Shalom and Peace be with you.
> Trudi Goodman
>
> >From: "Kame'a Media" <media (at) kamea(dot)com>
> >Reply-To: jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org
> >To: World music from a Jewish slant <jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org>
> >Subject: Re: Elvis Stuff
> >Date: Wed, 07 Jul 1999 09:18:24 -0400
> >
> >
> >
> >Trudi Goodman wrote:
> >
> > > From: Trudi Goodman
> > > Check his friend George's biography/memoir of the El.
> > > George is Jewish.  Knew Elvis since childhood, grew up in the same hood.
> >  I
> > > believe his last name is Stein???
> >
> >Klein.
> >
> > > The story goes that when Elvis' mother died--according to her wishes,
> > > because her mother was Jewish(El's grandmother) she wanted a Jewish star
> > > puton her headstone.Elvis did this--and his father Vernon freaked and
> > > demanded that it be removed---Vernon didn't want anyone to know that his
> >wife
> > > was part Jewish.
> >
> > > I don't know if the star is actually still on the headstone---many
> >people
> > > knew this story though.
> > > Elvis always maintained that he was part Jewish.
> > > Of course, some of his friends were Jews growing up, like George.  Also
> >when
> > > his family was destitute(I think when his father Vern was in Jail) a
> >local
> > > Rabbi rented his mother and him an apartment--or gave them space to live
> >in
> > > his basement.
> > > So, if he wasn't Jewish he at least wanted to be.  Close enough for
> >Jazz, I'd
> > > say.
> >
> >I beg to differ.  Acknowledging one's family history and blood lines is
> >hardly
> >the same as "wanting to be Jewish".   Elvis  had no Jewish upbringing;  he
> >was
> >raised in the church and at revival meetings. If he had wanted to be
> >Jewish, I
> >don't think he would have recorded all those gospel albums or celebrated
> >Christmas like aSouthern <poretz>, with his legendary lavish gift-giving,
> >do
> >you?'
> >There is no record of any <seder> ever having taken place at Graceland or
> >of
> >Elvis ever exploring conversion...According to the definitive Elvis
> >biography
> >(the two-volumes by American Music scholar Peter Guralnick -- Elvis did
> >indeed
> >have Jewish ancestry on his mother's side.  He also carried  a dozen other
> >blood lines including Native American and several European nationalities.
> >
> >I don't think "close enough for jazz" is either a valid or an accurate
> >statement.
> >The implication is that jazz is some sort of sloppy, half-ass music.  One
> >must
> >be
> >a very good and well-versed player to improvise creatively, no?
> >
> >Wolf
> >
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > >From: Reyzl Kalifowicz-Waletzky <reyzl (at) flash(dot)net>
> > > >Reply-To: jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org
> > > >To: World music from a Jewish slant <jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org>
> > > >Subject: RE: Julio Inglesias Jewish? -Reply
> > > >Date: Sun, 4 Jul 1999 13:00:36 -0400
> > > >
> > > > >My understanding is that Elvis's maternal grandmother was Jewish.
> > > >
> > > >I don't think that this is true.   I know that his mother was born in
> > > >Palestine but that doesn't automatically mean that the family was
> >Jewish.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >Reyzl
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________________________
> > > Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
> _______________________________________________________________
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