- Otis Blackwell was a Black musician popular for his talented songwriting skills and unique sound.
- Blackwell wrote hit records for a plethora artists, most notably Elvis Presley.
- Though Blackwell never met Presley, he is responsible for some of The King’s most famous songs, including “All Shook Up” and “Don’t Be Cruel.”
From the late 1950s throughout the 1960s, Elvis Presley became known as The King of rock ‘n’ roll. From his sexually-driven lyrics to his controversial dance moves, the Nashville native became popular amongst his fans and critics for liberating the conservative mainstream music scene. His greatest controversy, however, is not tied to his PG-13 performances, but instead, to the origins of his sound, lyrics, and dance moves. Presley has been criticized for deriving much of his early music from Black musicians.
Otis Blackwell, a Black American singer and songwriter who also settled into the Nashville music scene, wrote “All Shook Up,” “Don’t Be Cruel” and “Return to Sender,” three of Elvis’ most famous early recordings, which were sung similarly to how Blackwell had performed them on his demo records.
