'Elvis Presley'

I like hearing folks (mostly African-American) who hate Elvis Presley because he got rich and famous by ripping off black musicians who were doing the music before the King was doing it.

Let's be real: There probably isn't one Elvis fan who thinks he invented rock music much the same way that British people don't think Queen Elizabeth II invented the monarchy.

It's just odd that people would get angry about some good-looking white boy copying some black artists and taking their art and legacy to the biggest stage in the world. And getting filthy rich and famous doing it. Imitation is the highest form of flattery.

On the other hand, if Elvis should pay the families of those black artists he ripped off, who should he pay for his gospel influences? The church? The pope? God?

Trust me, the black musicians Elvis ripped off ripped someone else off along the way. It's how it works. Little Richard wasn't getting on the Ed Sullivan Show any time soon.