Which Elvis Presley song sparked Harrison's interest in rock and roll in 1956?

The Elvis Presley song that sparked George Harrison’s interest in rock and roll in 1956 was “Heartbreak Hotel.”

Harrison was 13 when he encountered Presley’s recording. He later described hearing “Heartbreak Hotel” as a revelation, and the song helped direct his musical imagination toward the guitar-driven rock and roll that was spreading through Britain. Its stark vocal, stop-time rhythm and blues influence made a powerful impression on the Liverpool teenager.

“Heartbreak Hotel” was released by Presley in January 1956 and became his first major national hit. Written by Mae Boren Axton, Tommy Durden and Presley, it was inspired by a newspaper story about a lonely man, though the precise origin of that story has long been questioned.

The other options are associated with Presley but do not fit Harrison’s remembered turning point. “Blue Suede Shoes” was originally a Carl Perkins song, “Hound Dog” became a famous Presley recording later in 1956, and “Jailhouse Rock” was released in 1957. Harrison’s early Presley inspiration helped lead him toward the guitar and, eventually, the Beatles.