They told Elvis not to sing "In the Ghetto."

"It's too political." 

"You're a white guy singing about a black kid." 

Etc. Etc. 

They were wrong.

Who wrote it? Mac Davis, who is Part Two of Off-Ramp's Summer Songwriter Series, as we sample the 2010 inauguration of the Grammy Museum's Songwriter Hall of Fame.

Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live; and bythe Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

Off-Ramp theme music by Fesliyan Studios.

Lamont Dozier, the middle of the celebrated Holland-Dozier-Holland team that wrote and produced “You Can’t Hurry Love,” “Heat Wave,” and dozens of other hits and helped make Motown an essential record company of the 1960s and beyond, died Monday at age 81.

Duke Fakir, a close friend and the last surviving member of the original Four Tops, said, “I like to call Holland-Dozier-Holland ‘tailors of music.' They could take any artist, call them into their office, talk to them, listen to them, and write them a Top Ten song.”

From 1963-1967, Dozier and brothers Brian and Eddie Holland crafted more than 25 Top Ten songs and mastered the blend of pop and rhythm and blues that allowed the Detroit label, and founder Berry Gordy, to defy boundaries between Black and white music and rival the Beatles on the airwaves.

For Off-Ramp, we're listening back to his appearance at the kickoff of the Songwriters Hall of Fame at the Grammy Museum at LA Live in 2010. Songwriter Paul Williams was the emcee for the event. 

And I have lots more tape from that event, featuring Williams, Ashford and Simpson, Mac Davis, and Hal David. We'll listen to that in coming weeks. 

Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live; and bythe Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

Off-Ramp theme music by Fesliyan Studios.

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The World Was In Color; William Shatner, the Listener; Gustavo Takes the Baton; Brace for Unemployment; Obama Vendors; Millions at the Mall; Korean BBQ Tacos?!; Tracking the Heroin Trade; Making History at the Mall; The Man Behind MoLAA; Song for Night; On the Righteous Path; Watching the L-Word is Code for I'm Gay!; The Obama Quest For A Puppy!

Busted?; Graffiti Artist or Vandal?; Graffiti Removal; Malibu Heroes; Living with your Mother-In-Law; Tuskegee Airmen celebrate Obama; Good-Bye LA; Famed Songwriter Lamont Dozier; Chip Off the Old Block; MOCA Update; Off-Ramp Music Recommendations

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Meet Angel Joy Blue; A Tribute to Theme Songs; He's Alive; A Down-to-Earth Angel; Jazzing up the Classics; It's A Good Day to Be a Songwriter in L.A.; Angel Gets her Wings; Mock Me Gently; Queen of Disco in LA

A Christmas Carol Redux

LA Goes Live; Clarence McDonald: Follow My Lead; The Schlepometer, Explained; Living the High Life; 21st Amendment Rights; Hey, Cabbie!; They Built It. Will We Come?; Crunchy or Smooth?; Cafe Tacuba; Coldplay Stole My Song!; He's THE Fox