Elvis Presley’s Backup Singers Once Walked Out On Him After Disturbing Rant

The rock and roll King, Elvis Presley, left his indelible mark in the music industry and is one of those to have sold the most albums in history. However, Elvis once experienced a self-orchestrated flaw during his performance, leading to his backup singers walking out on him during a concert.

Elvis’ talents and performing prowess made him very confident and to a fault, as he was known to sometimes act unhinged onstage. Although the tale of him firing his manager Colonel Tom Parker on stage was false, the “Suspicious Minds” singer had a few public outbursts that left an impression about him.

Elvis insulted his backup singer, Kathy

In July 1975, Elvis performed in Richfield, Ohio, with his backup singers, including one of them who he was romantically involved with. Kathy Westmoreland and Elvis were an item for a while; however, they split, and the music legend went on to date another musician that toured with him. It was assumed that Elvis resented Kathy for also moving on to someone else.

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On the first night, he said that she would “take affection from anybody, any place, any time” and even claimed she had relations with every member of the group. He continued to pass snide comments about her the next night at Uniondale, New York, but she was patient and kept her calm. However, on the third night, Presley insulted Kathy onstage in Norfolk, Virginia, and she decided to walk off the stage when she could not take it anymore.

He continued to jest the rest of his singers

Elvis also had a quartet of gospel singers called The Sweet Inspirations on tour with him in 1975. After Kathy walked off stage, Elvis directed his insults at the gospel group. Many people considered his remarks racist because they were African American, and he claimed they had been eating catfish. However, a Presley biographer named Peter Guralnick did not think Elvis was trying to be racist.

“None of them thought it was racial— they just knew it was hostile, and there was an ugly undertone not just to that comment but to his whole demeanor,” he said. One of the quartet members was visibly provoked, and this only spurred Elvis to continue his mean speech. He claimed the all-female group was male and threatened to attack one of the singers if she did not look at him. She then walked off the stage in annoyance, after which Elvis apologized, but more singers walked out on him regardless.