Song by Song: "Hound Dog" Trivia Quiz

Answer: Big Mama Thornton

"Hound Dog" was written in 1952 by lyricist Jerry Leiber and composer Mike Stoller, originally for Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton, who had a hit with it. The songwriting partners were only teenagers at the time. They went on to write hits for The Coasters, including "Young Blood" and "Yakety Yak." Their song "Hound Dog" was recorded by Elvis in July of 1956 on the RCA label and produced by Steve Sholes.

Answer: Freddie Bell and the Bellboys

The group, which was founded in 1952, recorded a cover version of "Hound Dog" in 1955. Elvis saw them while they were performing the song in Las Vegas, and he decided to start performing the song and record it also. The group is also known for "Giddy Up a Ding Dong" and "The Hucklebuck."

Answer: The Milton Berle Show

Known as "Mr. Tevlevision" or "Uncle Miltie," Milton Berle drew scores of viewers on Tuesday nights with his variety show, which underwent several name changes. In 1955-56, for a single season, it was the "Milton Berle Show." That season featured two of Elvis Presley's earliest television appearances, including his June 5 performance of "Hound Dog."

Answer: Scotty Moore

"With snarling vocal authority," Rolling Stone magazine writes, "D.J. Fontana's tommy-gun drumrolls and slashing guitar by Scotty Moore, Presley transformed the song's blues changes and put-down rhymes into a declaration of independence from his generation's cold, rigid elders." Elvis released the single on July 13, 1956 with "Don't be Cruel" on the B-Side.

Answer: crying

Big Mama Thornton released her single version of "Hound Dog," on the Radio Recorders Annex label, in February of 1953. It was produced by Johnny Otis and had "Night Mare" on the B-side. The song would go on to become one of the best known and most often recorded rock and roll songs, with over 25 cover versions by 1964 alone.

Answer: a rabbit

"Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit
And you ain't no friend of mine (nothin' but a hound dog)."

Elvis Presely's recording of "Hound Dog" peaked at number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. When released as a single in the U.K. in 1971, it climbed to number 41. It was ranked number one by U.S. Billboard lists in 1956-1957 for the song Most Played in Jukeboxes and Best Seller in Stores.

Answer: high-classed

"Well, they said you was high-classed
Well, that was just a lie."

The song "Hound Dog" has been parodied several times. Mickey Katz, a Jewish American satirist, released a version sung with a Yiddish accent. A version called "Houn' Dawg" was released by Homer and Jethro and another called "Pound Dog" by the "Father of Chciano Music" Pancho Lopez Guerrero. Numerous foreign-language versions of the song have also been produced, in languages ranging from German and Spanish to French and Portuguese.

Answer: Chubby Checker

Born Ernest Evans, Chubby Checker was an American dancer and rock n' roller famous for popularizing the twist. He covered "Hound Dog" on his 1961 album "For Twisters Only." However, it was his single from that album, "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On," that really hit it big.

Answer: The Everly Brothers

The Everly Brothers album "Rock n' Soul" was originally released in March of 1965, but it was re-released in 2005. In addition to "Hound Dog," it contained well known covers of "Susie Q," "Love Hurts," "Kansas City," and "Maybellene," among others. The album was produced by Dick Glasser.

Answer: Billie Holiday

Pat Boone covered the song on his 1963 album "Pat Boone Sings Guess Who?" Conway Twitty's version appears on his 1972 album "Conway Twitty Sings the Blues." And Jimi Hendrix recorded a version which appeared posthumously on the album "Radio One," which was released in November of 1988 and contained songs recorded in 1967.

Other artists who have covered the song live or in the studio include Carl Perkins, Eric Clapton, Jerry Lee Lewis, and numerous others.