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.

Rabe: It's (still) Cold Outside!; Animated Conversations; Drawing the Line; These Kids are Alright; And These Kids Aren't; Food for Thought; Go West Chef; Hammer Time; A Modern Collection; Low Merlot; Brad's Secret

Rabe: It's Cold Outside!; King in a Temple; Johnie's No More; A Little Night Music; Colombian Folk with a Twist; Eating in the City of Angels; Eating in 1984; No Big Deal; Apple Pared; Reporter's Roundtable

Off-Ramp Makes Friends and Influences People; Take a Hike; How Great Thou Art; Call Your Bookie; The emerging bank of America; Cheveux au natural; Beat It; Princess of Whales; So You're a Marine Biologist?; Rocky Un-Robed; Hit 'Em Where They Feel

Future City; Back to the Future; Mirror, Mirror; The Making of a Queen; Rose Rustler; Edward Scissorhands; New Art; Sana Sana; Resolutions; Call Sheet

A Christmas Carol Redux

Message from John Rabe This week we are doing a virtual broadcast from the Alhambra's Apocryphal Mall. (It's not on a map, hit "listen to entire program" to get there) Listen in as Off-Ramp regulars drop in to talk, share and scuffle! -John

Our Lady of the Ladle -- On DVD; Nunsense; Sweet Deal; The Making of "Sweet Land"; Eeny Meenie Mighty Mo; Menorah on a Mazda; OCMA Biennial; Reporter's Notebook; Mars Water Sponsor; A Public Good-Bye; Call Sheet; WEB EXTRA: Eye of the Tiger

It isn't easy being Green; Cello Fellow; Crime Buster; How Great Art Thou; Road to Hollywood; Blade II; Wining and Dining; Bozo The Bling-Bling Clown; Call Sheet; Reporter's Roundtable; WEB EXTRA: A Year-Round Winter Wonderland