Musicians Vocals (groups)

[Polk-Salad-Annie]

The Blossoms (Backing singers)
- Jean King
- Fanita James
- Darlene Love


The Imperials (Backing singers)
- Jake Hess
- Jim Murray
- Gary McSpadden
- Arnold Morales
- Terry Blackwood
- Joe Moscheo
- Sherrill Nielsen

Jake Hess founded The Imperials in 1964.
Armond Morales became the leader of The Imperials following Jack Hess' departure.
The Imperials quickly became the biggest group on the Gospel music landscape, never shying from trying new things vocally or expanding their musical boundaries.


The Stamps (Backing singers)
- JD Sumner
- Ed Enoch
- Ed Hill
- Donnie Sumner
- Bill Blaize
- Larry Strickland
- Buck Buckles
- Dave Rowland
- Richard Sterban


The Sweet Inspirations (Backing singers)
- Sylvia Shemwell
- Estelle Brown
- Ann Williams
- Marna Smith

The Sweet Inspirations performed with Elvis on almost every show.
They also worked with Elvis' in the studio and on his last recording session at Graceland.
The group evolved from the '50s gospel group the Drinkard Singers.
At various points, soul singers Doris Troy, Judy Clay, Dionne Warwick, and sister Dee Dee Warwick were members.
By the time they began to record on their own in 1967, their leader was Cissy Houston (mother of Whitney), and the women were renamed the Sweet Inspirations.
As an Atlantic recording act, the group cut some fine sides that rank among the clearest illustrations of the close links between soul music and gospel harmony.
Usually sticking to material by famed soul and pop songwriters, they had about a half-dozen moderate R&B hits in the late '60s; the biggest, "Sweet Inspiration," was a Top 20 pop single.
Houston left the group at the end of the '60s and the Inspirations left Atlantic in the early '70s and in addition to working with Elvis, recording an album for Stax in 1973.


Voice (Backing singers)
- Donnie Sumner
- Tim Baty
- Sherrill Nielsen

[Getlo]

Also: The Hugh Jarratt Singers.

[rhythmknights]

i know this doesn't pertain but just a teeny-weeny bit, but in Clambake, the song Confidence () there are children singing along with Elvis on hte cd i have. are they professional singers - or just actors who can sing?
and as long as you're covering backing singers, were the Amigos only backing singers for his movie(s)? [i can't remember if it was 1 or 2 movies]

[KPM]

Wasn't Larry Gatlin in the Stamps or The Imperials for a short while? Or did he just audition?
I keep remembering him talking in an interview where he says he met Elvis through an audition or actually joining one of the groups-just can't recall the details.
Also where are the Jordanaires?

[Lisarose]

Interesting question about Larry Gatlin. Didn't he also write a song or two that Elvis sang?
The Blackwood Brothers, I know they were never Elvis' backing vocals, but didn't a member or two sing with Elvis in the very beginning? Or did they just sing at his mother's funeral?
Which Gospel quartet did Elvis audition for before striking it big with SUN?
As far as bass singers go, wasn't Morales from The Imperials, one of Elvis' favorite? I know that Elvis was wanted to be a bass singer at times. Sorry to hi-jack this thread, but inquiring minds want to know.