These Little-Known Facts About Elvis Presley Will Change How You See Him

Elvis didn’t just borrow from Black artists—he built his kingdom atop their foundations. Songs like “Hound Dog” and “That’s All Right” had already been recorded by Black performers like Big Mama Thornton and Arthur Crudup. But it was Elvis who got the airplay, the money, the glory.

To many, he was a thief with a pompadour, repackaging soul for white America. Others argued he helped bridge cultural divides. The truth lives somewhere in the tension. Elvis admired Black music deeply, but in an industry designed to suppress its originators, his rise came at a cost.