he wasn't, it wasn't that he didn't have talent, he was just young. No one starts off great. He was, however, an artist right out the gate. That's the thing that gets forgotten in all the controversy of "was he this, was he that?" His voice was very thin as a young man a did lack power and control, it only got better and better as he aged. It's still the Sun Sessions that get the most credit as his best work in the "serious" Elvis quarters.
In some ways, early success may have been the worst thing in the world. He could have done other things if he'd had the necessity. he could have been a much better instrumentalist and I fimly believe he could have written songs but why do any of that when all you have to do is sing?
We can't ignore him being white either though. Little Richard and Chuck Berry played well, sang well and wrote well and both were at least a few years older and more experienced in the business.
The crazy thing about that era is that several musicians, not knowing each other, all at roughly the same time were coming up with the same type of music, it really is a miracle of sorts. As if it was meant to be.
Elvis was not a songwriter, he was not a great instrumentalist but he was an artist and one that took his craft seriously. He's no Frankie Avalon or teen idol who is more akin to what you are trying to say. There is a reason that Pat Boone and Fabian's music doesn't get played today.
