Wise men say only fools rush in to a debate on Elvis’ oeuvre. The man could, and did, sing just about anything, including the phone book (cue up “Memphis, Tennessee”).
Elvis Presley adopted Mario Lanza-inspired romantic pieces, Arthur Crudup’s down-and-dirty blues, pop tunes from Brill Building wiseacres Leiber and Stoller, Jackie Wilson R&B and several shades of country – and spit them out as rock ‘n’ roll.
Along the way, there would be cool Christmas songs, blue-eyed soul, soundtrack snoozers and enough schlock to make you “Do the Clam.” Plus, he knew gospel, chapter and verse. Lord, could Elvis sing gospel.
He was Americana before we knew the word.
