Iconic Black Artists Whose Work was Eclipsed
Every artist draws inspiration from others, but there’s a difference between inspiration and outright theft. Black music has shaped countless genres, yet when these sounds go mainstream, they often lose their connection to the Black experience and context. We often reduce cultural appropriation to terms like “borrowing” or “sampling,” which can imply an equal exchange. But in reality, there’s a power dynamic at play that involves White musicians covering the work of and overshadowing Black artists who were not known in mainstream music circles.
As Black History Month draws to a close, we’re highlighting four iconic songs that were written by Black musicians and later covered by White artists.
1. “Hound Dog”
Originally written by Big Mama Thornton in 1952
Covered by Elvis Presley in 1956
Big Mama Thornton first recorded the iconic song “Hound Dog” in 1952, but it was Elvis Presley’s 1956 version that made it famous. Although the song has been covered over 250 times, many still believe Elvis was the original artist, overshadowing Thornton’s groundbreaking version. Although Thornton did not receive recognition until recently, she was paid after Elvis made the song famous.
2. “Whole Lotta Love”
Originally written by Muddy Waters in 1962
Covered by Led Zeppelin in 1969
Released in 1969, Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love” became a hit, marking the band’s breakthrough in the U.S. Known for its iconic guitar riff, the song faced controversy due to similarities in lyrics to Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon’s 1962 track “You Need Love.” The band settled a lawsuit in 1985, paying an undisclosed amount for the copyright issue.
3. “Louie Louie”
Originally written by Richard Berry in 1955
Covered by The Kingsmen in 1963
“Louie Louie,” a rock ‘n’ roll classic, was originally written by African American artist Richard Berry in 1955. The song was later popularized by the all-White garage rock band, The Kingsmen, who transformed the laid-back original into the raucous, guitar-driven version we know today. Richard Berry had sold the rights to the song for $750 prior to The Kingsmen’s cover, making it available for others to use.
4. “Surfin’ U.S.A.”
Originally written by Chuck Berry in 1958
Covered by the Beach Boys in1963
The Beach Boys’ 1963 hit, “Surfin’ U.S.A,” is a reworked version of Chuck Berry’s 1958 classic, “Sweet Little Sixteen.” Initially intended as a tribute to Berry, the song was released without proper credit. After pressure from Berry’s publisher, the mistake was corrected in 1966, with both Chuck Berry and Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys credited as co-authors.
Source: Far Out Magazine