Presley was always "able to duplicate the open, hoarse, ecstatic, screaming, shouting, wailing, reckless sound of the black rhythm-and-blues and gospel singers", writes Pleasants, and also demonstrated a remarkable ability to assimilate many other vocal styles.
Presley sempre foi quen «de duplicar o son aberto, rouco, extasiante, de gritos, prantos e imprudencia dos intérpretes negros de rhythm and blues e gospel», escribiu Pleasants, e «tamén demostrou unha notable capacidade para asimilar moitos outros estilos vogais».