‘Jailhouse Rock’ Songwriter Mike Stoller Reveals His Favorite Memory Working with Elvis Presley (Exclusive)
‘Jailhouse Rock’ Songwriter Mike Stoller Reveals His Favorite Memory Working with Elvis Presley (Exclusive)
Tereza Shkurtaj, Alex CramerSun, February 22, 2026 at 1:00 PM UTC
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From left: Mike Stoller and Elvis Presley in 1957
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty
In February, Mike Stoller attended the Los Angeles premiere of EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert
Director Baz Luhrmann, John Stamos, Austin Butler, Bob Odenkirk, Tallulah Willis and Scout Willis were also present
During the event, the 92-year-old songwriter and producer talked to PEOPLE about his favorite memory of working with Elvis Presley
Iconic songwriter and producer Mike Stoller remains closely tied to one of music’s most enduring legacies. During the Los Angeles premiere of EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert on Feb. 18, 2026, the 92-year-old paused to reflect on the artist who helped define a generation.
Having worked with Elvis Presley during some of his most productive studio years, Stoller witnessed firsthand the singer’s discipline and drive. “He had great strength, had great stamina, and he could keep going and going,” Stoller tells PEOPLE exclusively.
As one half of the influential songwriting and producing partnership with the late Jerry Leiber, Stoller helped craft some of Presley’s most memorable recordings. The duo wrote 1957's “Jailhouse Rock” and 1952's “Hound Dog,” two songs that became central to Presley’s catalog and helped solidify his mainstream appeal.
From left: songwriters and producers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller in 1959
David Attie/Getty
Beyond their work with Presley, Leiber and Stoller also penned Ben E. King’s iconic “Stand By Me,” a 1961 track that continues to resonate with audiences and is still covered by artists across genres today.
While speaking to PEOPLE, Stoller revealed that one of his favorite memories with Presley comes from the recording session for “Jailhouse Rock.” In April 1957, he and Leiber stepped in to guide the session and quickly found their rhythm with the King of Rock ’n’ Roll.
“We were working on ‘Jailhouse Rock’ and we got it going and we got to take nine,” Stoller recalls. “At take nine, we said, ‘Oh, Elvis, absolutely.’ He said, ‘No, no. I can do it better.’ We got up to take 38 or something. He said, ‘Well, let me hear that take you guys liked.’ We played take nine and he said, ‘You're right. That's a good one.' "
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The moment, Stoller suggests, captured Presley’s perfectionism. Even when those in the control room were satisfied, Presley pushed himself through dozens of takes before ultimately agreeing with his collaborators.
Mike Stoller in Hollywood, Calif. on Feb. 18, 2026
Kevin Winter/Getty
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EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert spotlighted the next chapter in preserving Presley’s story for modern audiences. The 2025 documentary is directed by Baz Luhrmann and serves as a follow-up to his 2022 biographical film, Elvis. The evening underscored how Presley’s story continues to evolve onscreen decades after his passing.
For Stoller, the event prompted memories of seeing Presley, who died at age 42 in 1977, live onstage during his Las Vegas residency at the International Hotel in 1969. Although the that defining chapter of Presley's career was marked by elaborate staging and a larger-than-life presentation, Stoller still remembers the unforgettable personal touches.
“I saw him a few times [in Vegas]. I hadn't worked with him for a while. But I brought my wife out to meet [Presley] and he said, ‘Mighty glad to meet you, ma'am,’ ” Stoller tells PEOPLE. “But it was interesting. He was also doing a take on himself in the Vegas situation. But I knew him before that. Worked with him earlier. In a way, it was almost fun to see him do a take on himself.”
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
