In 1956, Elvis Presley released what would be one of his most commercial successes and a thermometer for the rock ‘n’ roll revolution. “Hound Dog” was an instant hit, with Presley’s provocative performance at The Milton Berle Show (featuring his signature hip swing) only cementing his status as the King of Rock and Roll. Even though his version of “Hound Dog” is the best known out of the many variations put out since, many would be surprised to uncover that the song was originally recorded by an R&B artist four years prior to Presley’s version. Big Mama Thornton put out “Hound Dog” in 1952, becoming the first artist to ever perform the song written by Jerome Lieber and Michael Stoller.
