Rock magazine, Rolling Stone's recent claim that rock legend Elvis Presley was the father of rock & roll has several black artists, including singers Dionne Warwick and Chuck Jackson, crying foul, because they say that it was actually black artists like Chuck Berry and Little Richards who started the genre.
The protesting singers believe that if 'The King' had been alive, even he would have denied that he started rock & roll. The singers belong to the organisation 'Millions for Reparations,' and they will protest outside Rolling Stone's midtown offices for three days.
"I knew Elvis personally, and he would be the first person to say, 'Don't say I started rock 'n' roll. Without black artists like Little Richard and Chuck Berry, Elvis wouldn't have got started. He would be playing country-and-Western," the New York Daily News quoted Jackson as saying.
Elvis featured in the magazine's 50th anniversary issue, which also included pictures of all the singers who have made a significant contribution to the music industry.
Spokespersons for the magazine, however maintain that although black artists were important for rock & roll, it was Elvis who took it new heights due to which they have called him the father of rock & roll.
Source: Email / Updated: Sep 19, 2004