Hound Dog

Hound Dog helped to launch the career of Elvis Presley. The song was written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stroller. The duo wrote the song for Big Mama Thornton to suit her personality. In an interview in Rolling Stone in April 1990, Stoller said: “She was a wonderful blues singer, with a great moaning style. Read More

Viva Las Vegas

When thinking of Nevada the place that most often comes to mind is Las Vegas. Elvis introduced the song Viva Las Vegas in 1963, which has continued to be popular for the grand strip. Viva Las Vegas was written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman. Elvis Presley released the song in 1963, as a vehicle Read More

Hawaiian Wedding Song

Hawaiian Wedding Song is a traditional pop song. The song was first adapted from the 1926 operetta, Prince of Hawaii, by Charles E. King. The song was originally titled “Ke Kali Nei Au” which is Hawaiian for Waiting Here for You. Al Hoffman and Dick Manning translated the original Hawaiian words into English and renamed Read More

Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear

Elvis Presley recorded {Let Me Be Your} Teddy Bear for his second movie, Loving You, in 1957.  He performs the song on screen. The song was written by Kal Mann and Bernie Lowe and published in 1957.  More than likely the duo wrote the song for the movie. The song became a huge hit for Read More

Crying in the Chapel

Crying in the Chapel was one of Elvis Presley’s hit songs.  However, it was written by Artie Glenn. Artie Glenn wrote it for his son, Darrell, who recorded the song in 1953.  The high schooler recorded the song with his group, The Rhythm Riders. After being rejected by several publishing companies, the song was published Read More

Profile of a Performer: Elvis Presley– The Comeback King

In remembrance of the anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death, we will finish his profile this week. We’ve already discussed the younger years and his return from the Army. After a decade in films, Elvis Presley was considered a joke by both fans and critics. Now, it was time for some damage control. Colonel Parker made Read More

Profile of a Performer: Elvis is Back!

    After serving two years in the Army, the time had come for Elvis to return to his public.  Would he be able to make the comeback he hoped for? Elvis returned to the United States and was honorably discharged in early March 1960. Less than three weeks later he was in the recording Read More

Profile of a Performer: The Young Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley was an early and important figure in changing the landscape of music in his day.   The King of Rock n Roll grew up listening to spirituals and crooners such as Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra. However, he would usher in a new generation of music for the post World War II youth. Elvis Read More

The Untold Story: Tutti Frutti

The invention of Rock n’ Roll has no definite founder.  We all know that Elvis was the King of Rock n’Roll, but others such as Bill Haley and Little Richard also form the foundation of Rock n’Roll. Little Richard has gone so far as to call himself the “Architect of Rock and Roll.” On September Read More