Wanda Jackson sings вЂњHoney Bop,вЂќ from 1958. Additional writers and artists that Axton worked with over the years included Eddy Arnold, Faron Young, Mel Tillis, Willie Nelson, Conway Twitty, Doc Watson, Dolly Parton, Tanya Tucker, Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, The Animals, Albert King, and J. Some of AxtonвЂ™s other writing credits include вЂњWhat Do I Know TodayвЂќ (recorded by Hank Snow in 1956) вЂњPick Me Up On Your Way DownвЂќ (Patsy Cline, 1956) вЂњHoney BopвЂќ (Wanda Jackson, 1958) and вЂњSkid RowвЂќ (Jerry Lee Lewis, 1963). Nevertheless, PresleyвЂ™s former producer, Sam Phillips of Sun Records, was not impressed, judging the record to be a вЂњmorbid mess.вЂќ вЂњHeartbreak HotelвЂќ became ElvisвЂ™s first single released by RCA, in early 1956, and his first number-one record on both the pop and country charts. Mae later said that she was happy to split the songwriting royalties with Elvis.Д®lvis PresleyвЂ™s recording of вЂњHeartbreak Hotel.вЂќ She then played a demo of the tune to Elvis, who recorded it-but only after Parker insisted that Presley get co-writing credit. Mae and her writing partner Durden made history in mid-1955 when they wrote вЂњHeartbreak Hotel.вЂќ Durden started writing the sad song on his own, inspired by a Miami news story about a man who killed himself by jumping out of a hotel window, leaving behind a suicide note that read, вЂњI walk a lonely street.вЂќ Durden showed his partially written lyrics to Mae, and she made the song edgier with her additions. Mae interviewed Elvis on her radio show in mid-1955 and helped him get signed by RCA Victor in late 1955. That was before вЂњColonelвЂќ Tom Parker took over PresleyвЂ™s management later that year.

Mae and country-music promoter Bob Neal worked together to promote Elvis early in his career, beginning in early 1955. The вЂњhillbilly catвЂќ was beginning to attract notice with his recordings for Sun Records and his performances in the South. Mae had a keen eye for performing talent, and she saw something special in a young singer named Elvis Presley. radio disc jockey, and music promoter (including for Hank Snow). During this time, she also worked as a teacher. She also became a songwriting partner with Jacksonville musicians named Tommy Durden and Glen Reeves.Д®rnest Tubb and Perry Como were a couple of the artists who recorded early Axton compositions. The best-known of these connections was music executive, song publisher, and songwriter Fred Rose (famous for his work with Hank Williams). She also began to devote more time to her love of songwriting and music.Д«y the early to mid-1950s, Mae had developed a number of connections in the music industry. Mae worked as a teacher at a Jacksonville high school, where her husband became a football coach. They moved to Jacksonville, Florida, when the elder John became stationed at the naval base there. The couple had two sons-Hoyt and John (who eventually became an attorney). In the mid-1930s, Mae married John Axton, who was an officer in the U.S. senator, and president of the University of Oklahoma.) After her graduation, Mae worked as a reporter for Life magazine and as a teacher of journalism and English. (Her brother David later became an Oklahoma governor, U.S. She obtained a degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma. Her family moved to Oklahoma when she was a child. Mae was born as Mae Boren on September 14, 1914, in Bardwell, Texas. Mae is further known for being the mother of songwriter, singer, and actor Hoyt Axton. The multitalented, high-energy Mae also worked as a music promoter, disc jockey, and high-school teacher. Mae Axton wrote hundreds of songs during her life, but she will always be best known for one-вЂњHeartbreak Hotel.вЂќ That song, which she co-wrote with Tommy Durden, was the first major hit for Elvis Presley, in 1956.

Hoyt tune charts before 1999