On this day in 1956, Elvis Presley became the first rock artist to replace himself at the #1 position in the charts

Presley’s double sided smash “Don’t Be Cruel”/“Hound Dog” had held the top spot for 11 weeks. “Love Me Tender” had appeared in mid-September and debuted at the number 2 spot before quickly overtaking the previous hit. 

The song put new words to a new musical adaptation of a Civil War song named “Aura Lee” from 1861 by George R. Poulton and W.W. Fosdick. The lyrics were adapted and modernised by Ken  Darby and was given to Presley to record. Presley received co-songwriting credit as per an agreement in his publishing deal where writers gave Presley credit to record the song. Despote this Ken Darby later said of Presley’s role in the songs creation, “He adjusted the music and the lyrics to his own particular presentation. Elvis has the most terrific ear of anyone I have ever met. He does not read music, but he does not need to. All I had to do was play the song for him once, and he made it his own!”

On the same day, Presley returned to the Ed Sullivan Show for a second time where he was presented with a Gold record for “Love Me Tender” by Sullivan.