MUSIC LEGEND OR THIEF? Elvis Presley Accused of Stealing Music from Black Artists — And Paying to Keep It Quiet

Leaked sources claim hit songs like “Hound Dog” were uncredited covers; lawsuits in the 1960s were quietly settled. Fans now ask: “Icon or cultural thief?”

Elvis Presley — the undisputed “King of Rock & Roll” — is now at the center of a growing controversy that challenges the very foundation of his musical legacy. According to newly leaked documents and insider testimonies, Elvis may have built parts of his career on songs originated by Black artists, allegedly without giving them proper credit.

At the heart of the storm is the hit single “Hound Dog,” a song many fans know as one of Elvis’s signature tracks. However, the track was originally performed in 1952 by blues singer Big Mama Thornton. While the music industry has long acknowledged that Elvis “popularized” many Black-inspired styles, these new revelations suggest something far more deliberate — and troubling.

The Origins of the Songs

“Hound Dog” wasn’t the only track Elvis allegedly borrowed. Historians and critics point to multiple early songs in his discography that were originally written or performed by lesser-known African American musicians. Songs like “That’s All Right,” “Mystery Train,” and even “Don’t Be Cruel” have been tied to earlier blues or gospel roots.

In many cases, Presley’s versions became international sensations — while the original artists remained in relative obscurity.

One leaked contract draft from the mid-1960s reportedly shows an out-of-court settlement between Elvis’s label and a blues musician’s estate, following a copyright complaint. The settlement included a nondisclosure clause and a “one-time payment” in exchange for dropping the case.

Music journalist Carla Jenkins, who has studied Presley’s career for over a decade, explains:

“Elvis didn’t just draw influence from Black music. He recorded entire arrangements almost note-for-note. Some of these cases were legally murky back then, but today they would be outright copyright theft.”

Quiet Lawsuits, Silent Payments

According to one music industry insider who spoke anonymously, multiple lawsuits were filed in the 1960s against Presley’s management and record label over song ownership disputes. “We paid them off quietly,” the source claims. “It was about preserving the Elvis brand.”

One document allegedly uncovered in the RCA archives refers to a “dispute involving blues standard adapted without license.” The resolution line is redacted, but a handwritten note reads: “Handled. Maintain image integrity.”

Another source close to Presley’s estate claims some settlements may have totaled tens of thousands of dollars — a significant sum at the time — just to avoid headlines.

Fans React: “Legend or Liar?”

As the revelations spread, fans are divided. Some are outraged, feeling betrayed by the idea that Elvis’s fame was built — at least in part — on uncredited work. Others argue that Presley helped bring Black music to mainstream audiences during a time when racial segregation kept talented artists in the shadows.

“He was a bridge,” one Twitter user wrote. “He gave the world music they wouldn’t have heard otherwise.”

But others see it differently.

“Elvis got rich off Black voices and never gave them the credit they deserved,” another post read. “That’s not influence — that’s theft.”

The phrase “Cultural Thief?” even trended online for a brief time following the leaked reports.

The Industry’s Complicity

Music scholars note that Elvis wasn’t the only artist in the 1950s and ’60s to profit from the work of Black musicians — he was simply the most visible. Record labels often bought rights from Black songwriters at low prices or simply recorded covers without formal permission.

However, Elvis’s superstardom has made him the focal point of this reckoning. As one expert put it:

“He wasn’t the only one, but he was the biggest. And the biggest has the biggest responsibility.”

A Complicated Legacy

There’s no denying that Elvis Presley changed music forever. His charisma, voice, and stage presence revolutionized rock & roll. But the new revelations demand a deeper look at the roots of that revolution.

Did Elvis knowingly participate in covering up copyright violations? Or was he simply following the guidance of his management in an era of industry-wide exploitation?

Presley himself once acknowledged his debt to Black musicians, stating in a 1957 interview:

“A lot of people seem to think I started this business, but rock & roll was here a long time before I came along… I just put it out in front of more people.”

Yet critics argue that recognition without reparations rings hollow — especially when the original artists never saw the same fame, money, or legacy.

What Comes Next?

Activists and music historians are now calling on RCA and the Presley estate to formally recognize the contributions of the original creators behind some of Elvis’s biggest hits. There are also growing calls for streaming platforms to credit original artists when playing Presley’s versions.

Meanwhile, some younger fans are choosing to revisit the original recordings by artists like Big Mama Thornton, Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup, and others — giving overdue recognition to the voices behind the music.

Final Note: Icon, Influence, or Injustice?

As more stories come to light, one thing is clear: Elvis Presley’s legacy is more complex than the myth. He remains a musical icon — but also a symbol of a larger cultural system that often rewarded white artists while marginalizing Black pioneers.

Whether he was an intentional thief or an industry-made star, the truth now demands to be heard — just like the songs that once echoed through juke joints long before they hit radio.

And fans everywhere must ask themselves:

Is it still love for the King — or time to face the stolen crown?