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.

Phantograms; Keystone-Mast Collection; Projecting 3-D Ain't Free; Leaves of Photographs; Tim Sullivan; D.I.Y. 3-D; Reel-D; LA's First Family Of Photography; Julius Shulman; Take My Picture; Shooting History

Note from Off-Ramp Dear Listeners, Frank Stoltze is sitting in for John Rabe this week, and we're going to take you on the Off-Ramp Art Walk. We'll visit three notable exhibits in Los Angeles, a city that's become an international center for contemporary centers. Sit back and enjoy! ~ Queena and Frank Stoltze

Don't laugh! The comics are second in readership behind the front page of the newspaper. This week on Off-Ramp, we talk about the not-so-funny pages, learn about LA's society registers, and hear Tim Hawkinson's organ, now installed at the Getty. And by the way, thanks so much for your contribution during KPCC's Spring Fund Drive! -- John Rabe

My Story; The Whole Story; Tai Chi and Sleep; The Unsung Pelon; Harper Woods; Holy Gifts; Holy Icons; Oscar Honors; Oscar Shorts; Russian Pronouncer; Call Sheet

LA Phil Reaches Out; The Phil's Four Seasons ;Blacksmith Rising; The Golden Pig; The City of Mahagonny in Los Angeles; Bark Off; Transportation Trajectories; The Mayor of Gladys Park; Dragon Ball Z; LA Experience; Hip Hop; Call Sheet

Auntie Diluvium; LA River - Take Two; Take Three: Down By the LA River; Vija Celmins; Okies at the Getty; Astronauts and Cupids; Crack Time; Crossing Guard; Mighty Mo; Radio Lolly; Call Sheet; Paolo Nutini

Message from John Rabe With cold and flu season still upon us, we decided to re-run this show on germs. This week, hand washing, flu shots, and the new sneeze. And... oboist, super music agents and more -John

Rabe, baby; LAPD HQ; Populist Critique; Metergate; The View of Us Guys; Wither Jane?; ViewMaster; Paine in the Neck; To Protect and Surf; Strange New World; Poor Howard's Almanac