Elvis to receive gospel honour

NEW YORK (AP) - Music legend Elvis Presley is to be inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame on Tuesday. Already a member of the halls of fame for rock'n'roll and country music, the latest honour will make the singer the only entertainer who has been inducted all three.

Though better known for his numerous rock and pop hits, Presley, who died in 1977 at the age of 42, won three Grammy awards for gospel music - and none for his work in other genres.

How Great Thou Art won the Best Sacred Performance award in 1967, He Touched Me got the Best Inspirational Performance in 1972 and a live version of How Great Thou Art won the Grammy for Best Inspirational Performance in 1974.

'Musical heritage'

Presley is one of eight gospel artists due to be inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame at The People's Church in Franklin, near Nashville, US.
"This year's class of inductees is outstanding and represents the wide diversity and musical heritage of Christian and gospel music," said Frank Breeden, president of the Gospel Music Association.

Hosting the ceremony will be last year's inductees The Oak Ridge Boys and there will be performances from Dr Bobby Jones & The Nashville Super Choir, Shirley Caesar and Jessy Dixon.

Presley was a long-time fan of gospel music, which he heard at the Assembly of God Church when he was growing up. He often worked with gospel quartets including the Jordanaires and, after his family moved to Memphis from his birthpalce of Tupelo, he appeared regularly at Ellis Auditorium to sing gospel songs.
He admired leading gospel singers, and friends have said he took records by artists such as the Golden Gate Quartet wherever he travelled.

"It more or less puts your mind at ease - it does mine," the late singer once said of the music.