Untold Gold

The stories behind the luck, inspiration, and timing that brought hits like "Heartbreak Hotel," "Don't Be Cruel," "In the Ghetto," and "A Little Less Conversation" to life are told in this look at some of the world's most popular hits. Fans will be given the inside story of how these and other of the best known rock songs were written, why they were recorded, and how they became hits. Along the way, they will meet and get to know the men and women who wrote songs for the "King," follow the route these songs took to Elvis, and understand how he reshaped the songs to fit his vision. The author spent countless hours interviewing songwriters, digging through dusty charts, and listening to demos in order to uncover the great stories he tells here. Each song in this book is a commentary on where the world was and what was making it tick, making these songs as much a glimpse into the life of America as into the life of Elvis.

Ace Collins is the author of many “behind the songs” books, including Hymns That Have Inspired America; Songs Sung Red, White, and Blue; and The Stories Behind the Traditions of Christmas. His best-remembered nonfiction work is Lassie: A Dog’s Life, which was the basis for a PBS special and an ABC primetime Christmas special. Collins has appeared on such television shows as CBS This Morning, CNN, Entertainment Tonight, Good Morning America, NBC Nightly News, and The Today Show. He has written magazine features for more than 100 publications and has won the Angel Award of Excellence for the nation’s best inspirational magazine feature. He is also a three-time winner of the Golden Quill Award. He is the feature writer for Texas Music Magazine and the editor of World Evangelism. He lives in Hillsboro, Texas.