News createt: 21-04-2010
April 21, 1956
Photo Credit: scottymoore.net
April 21st,1956 Elvis Presely has his first #1 Billboard record for RCA when "Heartbreak Hotel" hits the top of the charts. The song was written primarily by a Jacksonville school teacher, Mrs. Mae Boren Axton, along with a Jacksonville musician Tommy Durden. Elvis' name was later added to the songwriter's credit to ensure he would see some royalties from the song.
Mae Boren Axton had married a Navy man and had come to Jacksonville in 1949 when she was 35 where she taught English at both Paxon and Alfred duPont High Schools. She became infatuated with the new music she was hearing from the kids, "Rock and Roll," and she became a supporter, in the face of opposition from parents and her employers. She moved into promoting music and introduced a young Elvis Presley to Colonel Tom Parker in 1955. She promised Elvis "Heartbreak Hotel" would be his first #1 song, which it was.
Mae Boren Axton had married a Navy man and had come to Jacksonville in 1949 when she was 35 where she taught English at both Paxon and Alfred duPont High Schools. She became infatuated with the new music she was hearing from the kids, "Rock and Roll," and she became a supporter, in the face of opposition from parents and her employers. She moved into promoting music and introduced a young Elvis Presley to Colonel Tom Parker in 1955. She promised Elvis "Heartbreak Hotel" would be his first #1 song, which it was.
Mrs. Axton explained the song was about a man who committed suicide in Miami. The newspapers account stated he had removed all the tags from his clothes which bore his name so he couldn't be identified. The man left behind a one line note saying "I walk these lonely streets." The story struck Mrs Axton as very sad and she wanted to honor the man by writing a song about it. (The same suicide also inspired The Green Day song "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" which ironically also went to #1).
Mae Axton went on write over 200 songs, 14 of which made the charts.She also produced two sons, John and Hoyt Axton. Hoyt of course went on to become a famous C&W star in his own right and ironically, Elvis later recorded one of his songs, "Never Been To Spain."
Mrs. Axton lived to be 82 when, in 1997, she had a heart attack while she was in her hot tub at her home in Henderson, Tennessee and she drowned. A sad end to an otherwide Cinderella type life and a Jacksonville song that will live in Rock and Roll history forever.
The Complete Word For Word, 1955-77 - Elvis Unlimited Productions (EUP 2001-5)
5 CD-set contains every interview, speech and so fourth that Elvis ever gave during his lifetime.
TRACKS:
July 28. Jacksonville, Florida - Mae Axton Interview, 1955 (Cd 1)
