Leiber and Ashford.
Two of the great songwriters of the pop & rock era, Jerry Leiber of Leiber & Stoller and Nickolas Ashford of Ashford & Simpson, died earlier this week.
Leiber was the lyricist to Stollar’s compositions that hit big when Elvis covered their track “Hound Dog”, which was originally recorded by Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton, and for six decades never looked back.
Gotta agree with Leiber, Big Mama’s was a far better, just stronger, dirtier, rawer. Leiber said of Elvis’ version terribly nervous, too fast – and too white
. That’s a classic version above with Buddy Guy on guitar.