Elvis Presley is largely considered “The King.” But as Ray Charles so poignantly questioned in a 1994 interview with Bob Costas, “the king of what?"

Ray Charles put Elvis Presley in his place… I love Black people haha ✊???? pic.twitter.com/cAhGmWsKHF

— LJ (@ljmackjr) March 10, 2020

Presley's 1956 hit, "Hound Dog" is easily one of his most famous songs. It was dubbed by Rolling Stone as 19th greatest song ever. However, the song’s history is a bit more complicated.

Songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, who once said they saw themselves as Black, originally wrote and gave the song to Willie "Big Mama" Thornton.

Though Thornton’s version was a hit when released, like many Black artists, her initial fame and lack of royalties contributed to her living her later years in poverty. Presley's rendition, however, took off.

“It just sounded terribly nervous, too fast, too white," Stoller said of Presley's edition of "Hound Dog." But you know, after it sold seven or eight million records it started to sound better."

Led Zeppelin

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