The Sweet Inspirations; the girl group that so wonderfully blended their beautiful
voices to the Elvis mix from 1969 until 1977.

The Sweets can be heard on numerous CDs including,"Elvis Aloha from Hawaii" and "Elvis Recorded Live at Madison Square Garden."

They can be seen, as well as heard, on the documentary, "Elvis on Tour," as well as "Elvis: That's the way it is," both the 1970 edition and the new revised 2001 "Special Edition."

Before working with Elvis, The Sweets Inspirations sang as the background group for Aretha Franklin.

The original members were of the group were: Emily (Cissy) Houston, (mother of superstar Whitney Houston), Myrna Smith, Estelle Brown and Sylvia Shemwell.

They recorded such songs as "Let it be Me" in 1967 and "Unchained Melody" in 1968. Both were later recorded by Elvis. Their diversity had made them known to the music industry in R&B, gospel and pop circles.

In the meantime Elvis' movie contract was coming to an end and he was planning his return to the stage with a concert in Las Vegas.

In 1969 the Sweets hit the top of the charts with "Sweet Inspiration." The moment Elvis heard it, he knew they were exactly what he'd been looking for. Even though he'd never seen them perform, he knew the soul sound of the Sweets would blend beautifully with his male group, The Imperials.

On January 14, 1969 Elvis made his official return to the stage with "The Sweet Inspirations" as his opening act. Their songs on that first night were reportedly "Born Free," "The Impossible Dream" and "How High the Moon."

Cissy left to go solo after that first that stint with Elvis in 1969, but Myrna, Estelle and Sylvia remained until his death in 1977.

Elvis reportedly once gave each member of the group a $5,000 ring as an apology for an on-stage incident involving something he said.

Since Elvis' death the Sweets have worked with such greats as Carole King, Burt Bacharach, Wilson Pickett, the Bee Gees and Rick Nelson.

They appeared in the 1979 TV movie "Elvis," and the 1980 movie "The Idolmaker".

The Sweets went there separate ways for a few years as solo artists but reunited in the 90s.

Portia Griffin joined Estelle Brown, Sylvia Shemwell, Myrna Smith in the mid-90s.

The four members of The Sweet Inspirations are made up today of Estelle Brown, Myrna Smith, Sylvia Shemwell and Portia Griffin.

Estelle began singing in New York at the tender age of five in a well known family church group known as The Twilight Gems.

Later Estelle joined a group known as Cissy's Girls, which was led by Whitney's Houston's mother, Cissy. The group eventually also included Myrna Smith and Sylvia Shemwell. They did backgrounds for such famous artists as Aretha Franklin, Dionne Warwick, Wilson Pickett and King Curtis.

They also recorded songs on their own producing their big hit, "Sweet Inspiration" which was also around the time they changed the name of their group.

Estelle now enjoys life as an ordained minister.

Born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Sylvia Shemwell also began singing at the young age of 5-years-old.

By the time She had turned 14, she'd won a contest for the Apollo Amateur Hour.

She married her childhood sweetheart at seventeen, and is now the proud mother of four and has several grandchildren.

She has worked with such greats as, Little Esther, Solomon Burke, Wilson Pickett, The Drifters, Gene Pitney, Connie Francis, the Bee Gees and Aretha Franklin.

Sylvia began singing with the "Gospellaires" in 1959. The group consisted of Dionne Warwick, Sylvia's little sister DeeDee, and her brother John Utley.

Dionne Warwick eventually joined Burt Bacharach on tour. She was then replaced by Whitney's mother, Cissy Houston.

Sylvia organized her own jazz trio after Elvis death, and shared the stage with the Bee Gees for four months.

Myrna grew up in Newark, New Jersey. She also started singing at the age of five when she when she sang "Jesus Loves Me" with her fathers gospel group, on "The Sons of Harmony Radio Show."

By the time Sylvia was 8-years-old she was singing in a youth group called C.H. Walters Choir. Cissy Houston (Dionne Warwicks aunt) and Sylvias sister Dee Dee, became the directors of the group.

Dionne Warwick, Sylvia, her brother John and her sister Dee Dee formed a gospel group called the Gospellaires. Estelle Brown also became a member of this group. The group eventually consisted of Cissy Houston, Syliva Shemwell, Estelle Brown and Myrna Smith.

Myrna now has a son and a grandchild.

Says her love for singing also started at the age of five. By the time she was 17 she was singing in local bands in Pittsburgh.

She's worked on numerous albums with Neil Diamond, Hall & Oats, Kenny G, Celine Dion, Jeffrey Osborne, Bobby Brown, Dionne Warwick, James Ingram, Luther Vandross, as well as Elvis.

She was married to Khaliz Glover in July 18, 1982. They have one son. Portia became a member of the Sweet Inspiration in October of 1995.

Originally published on Suite 101.com