Was Elvis early hits and songs written performed first by black artists?

Yes. Many of Elvis Presley's early hits were covers of songs written and originally recorded by Black artists. During Rock 'n' Roll's early era, he was one of the most successful white singers to perform blues, R&B, and doo-wop songs typically associated with Black culture.

Examples of notable songs that Elvis covered include:

* "That's All Right (Mama)," originally recorded by Big Boy Crudup

* "Baby Let's Play House," by Arthur Gunter

* "Good Rockin' Tonight," by Roy Brown

* "Hound Dog," by Big Momma Thornton

* "Don't Be Cruel," by Otis Blackwell