Rhythm and Blues Stolen: White Artists Cover Black Songs, Collect Royalties

In the early 1950s, the practice of white artists recording 'covers' of Black artists' songs for white audiences is systematic and lucrative. Pat Boone covers Little Richard's 'Tutti Frutti,' the McGuire Sisters cover the Moonglows' 'Sincerely,' Bill Haley records versions of Black R&B hits. Radio stations in the early 1950s refuse to play Black artists on mainstream stations. The Black original artists — on small independent labels — receive minimal royalties while white covers on major labels earn far more. Black songwriter and performer Fats Domino, Little Richard, and Chuck Berry build rock and roll; white artists and executives collect most of the wealth.