Two of the, arguably, most successful songwriters of the early rock era describe themselves as a pair of Jewish boys who liked to listen to and write music for the African American audience. We are talking about Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Stoller played the piano and Leiber wanted to write the blues.

They got together at 16 years of age and, over the years, wrote some of the most popular songs of early rock music, including Kansas City, Charlie Brown, Spanish Harlem, On Broadway and many others. They wrote top hits for Elvis and songs that were also recorded early on by the fab four. Their early songs helped launch the King's career.

One of the songs that they wrote was recorded by a well-known R&B singer. The song went to #1 on the R& B charts in 1952. The song, and we all know it now, was called Hound Dog. It became, perhaps, Elvis's signature song over the years. Elvis first heard the song, a cover, performed by a Vegas bar band.

It was early in his career, when he heard that cover -- Elvis was not the superstar he would become. Regardless, he wanted to play Hound Dog and record it. The rest is history. His version of Hound Dog and Don't Be Cruel opened the flood gates for Elvis Presley's popularity.

Yes, it is time for Twin-Pick. This your your chance to strut your stuff. A question is below. Get it right and you see the original artist perform the song. Get it wrong and my cyber assistants will humiliate you in public. No need to ask for the correct answer, merely click on the choices below and you will find out if you are right or wrong instantly.

Question: Which R&B artist was first to record Hound Dog, and had a #1 hit with it on the soul charts, four years before Elvis stirred the masses with his rendition of  the same song?

A. Ruth Brown

B. Big Joe Turner

C. Willie Mae Thornton

D. Dinah Washington

E. Ray Charles

E. Billie Holiday

For more "Stories Behind the Music" click on the guitar

Steven L. Smith

Bellingham WA Home Inspections