A group of writers from Asean on a reporting excursion of Pluralism and Religious Freedom in US took a visit to Elvis Presley’s Graceland. The tour emphasized the influence of Elvis’ religious beliefs on his early singing career. When he was in his teenage years, he had worn bright, loud clothes and sported long sideburns. The king of rock and roll was born on January 8, 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi, and died on August 18, 1977.

During the tour on Graceland, one had constantly reminded that Elvis started by singing every Sunday in church. In 1951, some years before he became a rock ’n’ roll sensation, he attended youth organization at the “First Assembly of God” (a church in Memphis’ McLemore Avenue) “He came in late,” said Blackwood, Stamps (one of the popular Blackwood Brother Quartet).  Stamps, the only 2nd baritone in the 63-year history of the Southern gospel’s renowned quartet, became the best friend of Elvis when they were sixteen and high-school mates in Memphis.

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