I Just Give 'Em Away

Two things that endears me to Elvis are his spiritual roots and love of people. Elvis made a lot of mistakes in his life. But I have too. I choose, like many fans, to focus on the good things in his life and the many lives he touched and still touches through his music.

Because of Elvis' love of gospel music, he had the opportunity to sing with many popular gospel groups in his day. One of those groups was The Imperials. I had the privelege of meeting one of the group's members, Joe Moscheo.

Joe is an incredibly talented singer and author in his own right who recently wrote a book called, "The Gospel Side of Elvis". It was also made into a PBS documentary with the same title. I highly recommend the book and the movie because it shows Elvis in a whole new light and just how much he searched for the Lord and found peace in the music.

One of the funniest stories in Joe's book that I often tell at my shows is the time Elvis bought gold watches for every member of The Imperials. This wasn't just your average gold watch. Elvis never did anything average. These watches were valued at probably $5,000 a piece. And that was in 1969!

Well Joe graciouslly accepted his expensive watch and examined it closely. He couldn't help but notice it wasn't working. Everyone else's in the group worked but Joe's. Now Joe was in a dilema. Should he say anything about it to Elvis or just let it go?

Joe just couldn't help himself and went to Elvis' room with his very valuable gold watch that coudn't keep time. Joe said, "Hey E, my watch doesn't work."

Elvis looked at him with that sligh grin and said, "Hey man. I just give 'em away. I don't fix 'em."

With that, Joe took his watch and probably his pride too and left. I think that is one of the funniest stories I've heard about Elvis. But it was this same giving heart that helped thousands of children over the years in Memphis through his charity work and the hundreds of cars and pieces of jewelry he gave to even total strangers that truly shows you the man he was.

He was humble, loving and a giver. That is why God inspired me to write a screenplay about him called, "The King". My dream and prayer is to get it produced on the big screen one day so the whole world can see the spiritual side of Elvis.

You may not be able to give away expensive pieces of jewelry, or fix them for that matter. But you can give something to the faces you meet every day.

Even if it's just a smile.

Chuck Baril
http://www.nashvilleelvis.com/
http://www.nashvillebookingagency.com/