#TBT On this day in 1956, The King of Rock n Roll, Mister ELVIS PRESLEY 's double-sided hit "Don't Be Cruel / Hound Dog" soared the top spot on the US pop chart. The single stayed there for an incredible 11 weeks - a record that would not be broken for 36 years, until Boyz II Men's hit 'End of the Road' came around in 1992.

"Hound Dog" was initially released as the B-side to "Don't Be Cruel", but just a month later, the single was re-released with "Hound Dog" first and in larger print on the record sleeve - a double A-sided single. "Hound Dog", although not originally by Elvis, went on to be widely regarded as one of the key songs that shaped rock n roll.

Written by 19 year olds Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, the first to sing "Hound Dog" was Willie Mae Thornton (known as "Big Mama" Thornton), who released the song via Peacock Records in 1953. "Hound Dog" was a hit even before Elvis got his hands on it - though it was Big Mama's only hit record, the song achieved 14 weeks in the R&B charts, including 7 weeks at #1. Thornton's recording of "Hound Dog" is listed as one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's "500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll", and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2013.

"Hound Dog" has been recorded more than 250 times.