ELVIS THE PELVIS!

On this day in music history: June 5, 1956 - Elvis Presley appears on comedian Milton Berle’s “Texaco Star Theater” variety show on NBC performing his then current hit single “I Want You, I Need You, I Love You”, and the about to be released follow up “Hound Dog”. It is Presley’s performance of the latter that thrusts the singer into controversy. Backed by his band featuring Scotty Moore (guitar), Bill Black (bass) and D.J. Fontana (drums), Elvis sings the song with it seguing into a slow grinding tempo while he gyrates and thrusts his hips. Television critics and most adult viewers react with complete shock and outrage calling Presley’s performance “vulgar” and “obscene”. The appearance earns Elvis the infamous “Elvis The Pelvis” nickname much to his annoyance and displeasure. However, the program draws such high ratings that Elvis is immediately booked to play “The Steve Allen Show” (also on NBC) a month later on July 1, 1956. Presley again performs “Hound Dog”, but in a much tamer performance with the singer wearing a white and black tails while singing the song to a basset hound in a bow tie and top hat. The footage of Elvis performing “Hound Dog” on Milton Berle’s show is featured in the documentary feature “This Is Elvis” and in the film “Forrest Gump”. 

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BIG MAMA!

Elvis who . . . ?

On this day in music history: August 13, 1952 - “Hound Dog” by Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton is recorded. Written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, it is the biggest hit for the Alabama born Rhythm & Blues singer. Recorded at Radio Recorders in Hollywood, CA, the track features legendary R&B bandleader Johnny Otis (featured on drums) along with members of his band. Otis (“Willie And The Hand Jive”) co-produces the record with Leiber and Stoller. Released on Houston, TX based Peacock Records in March 1953, the single is an instant smash, spending  seven weeks at number one on the Billboard R&B Best Sellers chart selling nearly two million copies. Four years and one week to the day that the original version is recorded, Elvis Presley’s cover version of the song hits number one on the Pop chart. In time, “Hound Dog” is regarded as one of the most important and influential rhythm and blues songs in music history. Big Mama Thornton’s version of “Hound Dog” is inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame in 2013.