April 21, 1956

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.
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.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.

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)

Summer of 1955. Gladewater, Texas - Radio Commercial, 1955 (Cd 1)


August 31. Memphis, Tennessee - Bob Neal WMPS Radio Interview, 1955 (Cd 1)


March 24. New York, NY. Warwick Hotel - Robert Brown Interview, 1956 (Cd 1)


April 9. Wichita Falls, Texas. Municipal Auditorium - Jay Thompson Interview, 1956 (Cd 1)


April 15. San Antonio, Texas - Charlie Walker Interview, 1956 (Cd 1)


May 14. Lacrosse, Wisconsin. Sawyer Auditorium - Interviewer unknown, 1956 (Cd 1)


May 16. Little Rock, Arkansas. Robinson Auditorium - Ray Green Interview, 1956 (Cd 1)


June 8. Los Angeles, California. Shrine Auditorium - Lou Irwin Interview, 1956 (Cd 1)


July 1. New York, NY. Warwick Hotel - Hy Gardner Telephone Interview, 1956 (Cd 1)


July 9. New Orleans, Louisiana - WNOE Radio Interview, 1956 (Cd 2)


July 10. New Orleans, Louisiana - Jim Stewart Radio Interview, 1956 (Cd 2)


August 5. Tampa, Florida - Ray and Norma Pillow Interview, 1956 (Cd 2)


August 6. Lakeland, Florida. Polk Theatre - Poul Wilder Interview, 1956 (Cd 2)


August 7. St. Petersburg, Florida - Bob Hoffer Interview, 1956 (Cd 2)


August 9. Daytona, Florida - Ed Ripley Interview, 1956 (Cd 2)


August 29. Hollywood, California - (The Truth About Me) + Out Takes, 1956 (Cd 2)


Sep. 26. Tupelo, Mississippi - Jack Christal Interview, 1956 (Cd 3)


September 1956 - NBC´S Monitor, 1956 (Cd 3)


October 14. San Antonio, Texas. Country Coliseum - Al Hickock Interview, 1956 (Cd 3)


October 25. RCA Victor Albums (Perfect for Parties) , 1956 (Cd 3)


November 1956 - Radio Commercial for RCA, 1956 (Cd 3)


Telephone Interview 1956, 1956 (Cd 3)


January 2. - Radio Spots for (March of Dimes), 1957 (Cd 3)


April 3. Ottawa, Canada - Mac Lipson Interview, 1957 (Cd 3)


September 2. Portland, Oregon - Interviewer unknown, 1957 (Cd 3)


March 24. Memphis, Tenn. Draft board - Directed by Mayor Elbert Turner, 1958 (Cd 3)


March 24. Fort Chaffee, Arkansas - Interviewer unknown, 1958 (Cd 3)


Sep. 22. Brooklyn, NY. Library at U.S.S Randall - Pat Hernon Interview, 1958 (Cd 3)


October 1. Bad Homberg, Germany - Unknown Interviewer, 1958 (Cd 3)


October 1. Friedberg, Germany - Arrival in Friedberg, 1958 (Cd 3)


March 1959. Friedberg, Germany - Dick Clark Phone Interview, 1959 (Cd 3)


June 19. Munich, Germany - Unknown Interviewer, 1959 (Cd 3)


July 1959 - Bad Nauheim, Germany - Don Owens WAHL Radio Interview, 1959 (Cd 3)


August 1959. Friedberg, Germany - Dick Clark Phone Interview, 1959 (Cd 3)


Germany 1959 - German Reporter Interview, 1959 (Cd 3)


March 1. Friedberg, Germany - Interviewer unknown, 1960 (Cd 4)


March 1. - Johnny Paris AFN Radio Interview, 1960 (Cd 4)


March 3. Fort Dix, New Jersey - Interviewer unknown, 1960 (Cd 4)


November 1960 - Film Commercial for G.I. Blues, 1960 (Cd 4)


March 8. Nashville, Tennessee, 1961 (Cd 4)


March 24. Honolulu, Hawaii - Award Presentation to Elvis, 1961 (Cd 4)


April 7. Honolulu, Hawaii - Elvis Arrives in Hawaii for the filming of Girls! Girls! Girls!, 1962 (Cd 4)


August 1962. Hollywood, California - Lloyd Shearer Interview, 1962 (Cd 4)


August 1962. Hollywood, California - Lloyd Shearer Interview, 1962 (Cd 4)


April 26. - Elvis's Message to his Fans in the UK, 1964 (Cd 4)


August 18. Honolulu, Hawaii - Elvis & Peter Noon, 1965 (Cd 4)


Pre Recorded Message for Elvis Christmas Radio Program, Aired December 3. 1967 (Cd 4)


January 16. Memphis, Tennessee. Ellis Auditorium, 1971 (Cd 4)


March 30. Hollywood, California. RCA'S Studios, 1972 (Cd 5)


March 1972. Hollywood, California. RCA'S Studios - Elvis Talks about his childhood, 1972 (Cd 5)


April 11. Roanoke, Virginia. Airport, 1972 (Cd 5)


April 15. Macon, Georgia, 1972 (Cd 5)


April 16. Jacksonville, Florida, 1972 (Cd 5)


April 17. Little Rock, Arkansas - Elvis talking with members of his entourage, 1972 (Cd 5)


April 18. San Antonio, Texas - Elvis talking with members of his entourage, 1972 (Cd 5)


Summer 1973. DJ Tony Prince talks with Elvis (Cd 5)


1972 Or 1973 - DJ Tony Prince Interview (Cd 5)


November 1973. Memphis, Tennessee. The Home of Linda Thompson's (Cd 5)


January 30. Las Vegas, Nevada. Elvis' suite Hilton Hotel, 1974 (Cd 5)

June 21. Rapid City, South Dakota, 1977 (Cd 5)