Subject: Pat Boone vs. Elvis vs. The Isleys Sent: Sunday, June 17, 2001 7:12 AM From: reynos You are correct, Pat Boone was marketed to circa 1950's white America by singing "sanitized" versions of black R&B songs. You are correct, he was a paler version of Elvis who essentially did the same thing with blues songs. However, Pat Boone is ON RECORD (1950s video interviews and print interviews) for saying he refused to sing the original "BLACK" versions of songs by Little Richard and others because he felt they were rude, vulgar, inappropriate and not culturally evolved. Mr. Boone is ON RECORD saying his versions were more appropriate for white audiences. You are correct, The Isleys Brothers at one point, essentially did black versions of songs by white artists, i.e., Seals and Croft, Neil Young, Cosby Stills and Nash and others. However, The Isleys have CONSISTENTLY recorded music for the VALUE of the music and have never DEVALUED the ethnicity of the creator(s) of the songs they sing. Similarly, Hall & Oates, Tom Jones, Mick Jagger, The Righteous Brothers, Janie Joplin, Tina Marie and other White artists have recorded music written by BLACK people with great appreciation and acknowledgment to their genius. Just like The Isley Brothers, Smokey Robinson, Isaac Hayes, The Temptations, Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and other Black artists have recorded music written by White people with great appreciation and acknowledgment to their genius. Therefore, Pat Boone should be held as an "exploiter" and The Isleys as "interpreters." Yes, there really is a difference and now you know why! I welcome your feedback. Trip Reynolds trip.reynolds@yahoo.com Reynolds' Rap Sunday, June 17, 2001 © 2001-2021 Tripoetry. All Rights Reserved. First Amendment to the United States Constitution - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.