Mae Boren Axton
Encyclopedia
Mae Boren Axton was known in the music industry as the 'Queen Mother of Nashville'. She co-wrote the Elvis Presley hit single "Heartbreak Hotel
" She worked with the likes of Mel Tillis
, Reba McEntire
, Willie Nelson
, Eddy Arnold
, Tanya Tucker
, Johnny Tillotson
, Kelli Warren and Blake Shelton
.
. When Boren was two years old the family moved to Oklahoma. She attended East Central State College
and the University of Oklahoma
, where she earned a bachelor's degree in journalism. She obtained a public teaching certificate and taught English and journalism at schools throughout Oklahoma.
Boren married John T. Axton, an officer in the US Navy, and they had two sons: country star Hoyt Axton
and John, who became an attorney. The family lived in Comanche, Oklahoma
during the children's pre-teen years. In 1949, the family moved to Jacksonville, Florida
when Axton became stationed there. Boren taught English at Landon High School.
and RCA Records
. She introduced a 19-year-old Presley to Colonel Tom Parker
after a performance in Memphis. She worked on behalf of Bob Neal to promote Presley and pressured RCA Nashville division head Stephen H. Sholes
to sign Presley. In 1955 Boren co-wrote the Elvis Presley hit-song "Heartbreak Hotel
" with Thomas Durden. However, former WQIK owner and DJ Marshall Rowland, who knew both Axton and Durden, said the song had already been written and performed by Durden long before Axton added her name to it.
at her home in Hendersonville, TN after an apparent heart attack.
Heartbreak Hotel
"Heartbreak Hotel" is a song recorded by American rock and roll musician Elvis Presley. It was released as a single on January 27, 1956, Presley's first on his new record label RCA Victor. His first number-one pop record, "Heartbreak Hotel" topped Billboards Top 100 chart, became his first...
" She worked with the likes of Mel Tillis
Mel Tillis
Lonnie Melvin Tillis , known professionally as Mel Tillis, is an American country music singer. Although he recorded songs since the late 1950s, his biggest success occurred in the 1970s, with a long list of Top 10 hits....
, Reba McEntire
Reba McEntire
Reba Nell McEntire is an American country music artist and actress. She began her career in the music industry as a high school student singing in the Kiowa High School band , on local radio shows with her siblings, and at rodeos. As a solo act, she was invited to perform at a rodeo in Oklahoma...
, Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
, Eddy Arnold
Eddy Arnold
Richard Edward Arnold , known professionally as Eddy Arnold, was an American country music singer who performed for six decades. He was a so-called Nashville sound innovator of the late 1950s, and scored 147 songs on the Billboard country music charts, second only to George Jones. He sold more...
, Tanya Tucker
Tanya Tucker
Tanya Denise Tucker is a female American country music artist who had her first hit, "Delta Dawn", in 1972 at the age of 13...
, Johnny Tillotson
Johnny Tillotson
Johnny Tillotson is an American singer and songwriter. He enjoyed his greatest success in the early 1960s, when he scored 9 top-ten hits on the pop, country and adult contemporary billboard charts including "Poetry In Motion" and the self-penned "It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin'"...
, Kelli Warren and Blake Shelton
Blake Shelton
Blake Tollison Shelton is an American country music artist. In 2001, he made his debut with the single "Austin". Released as the lead-off single from his self-titled debut album, "Austin" went on to spend five weeks at Number One on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts...
.
Personal life
Mae Boren was born in Texas to Mark L. and Nannie Boren. The only daughter out of nine children, she is the sister of United States Congressman Lyle BorenLyle Boren
Lyle Hagler Boren was a U.S. Democratic Party politician and a member of the United States House of Representatives from Oklahoma, serving from 1937 to 1947 and was defeated for renomination in 1946...
. When Boren was two years old the family moved to Oklahoma. She attended East Central State College
East Central University
East Central University is a four year public university in Ada, Oklahoma, located in the south central region of the state. The university also has courses available in McAlester, Shawnee, Ardmore, and Durant....
and the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
, where she earned a bachelor's degree in journalism. She obtained a public teaching certificate and taught English and journalism at schools throughout Oklahoma.
Boren married John T. Axton, an officer in the US Navy, and they had two sons: country star Hoyt Axton
Hoyt Axton
Hoyt Wayne Axton was an American country music singer-songwriter, and a film and television actor. He became prominent in the early 1960s, establishing himself on the West Coast as a folk singer with an earthy style and powerful voice. As he matured, some of his songwriting efforts became well...
and John, who became an attorney. The family lived in Comanche, Oklahoma
Comanche, Oklahoma
Comanche is a city in Stephens County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 1,556 at the 2000 census.-History:Comanche is a small city in southwest Oklahoma set in rolling prairie land interspersed with oil fields, ranches, farms, pecan orchards, and timbered areas...
during the children's pre-teen years. In 1949, the family moved to Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
when Axton became stationed there. Boren taught English at Landon High School.
Heartbreak Hotel
Boren was the link between Elvis PresleyElvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
and RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
. She introduced a 19-year-old Presley to Colonel Tom Parker
Colonel Tom Parker
"Colonel" Thomas Andrew "Tom" Parker born Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk, was a Dutch-born entertainment impresario known best as the manager of Elvis Presley...
after a performance in Memphis. She worked on behalf of Bob Neal to promote Presley and pressured RCA Nashville division head Stephen H. Sholes
Stephen H. Sholes
Stephen H. Sholes was a prominent recording executive with RCA Victor.-Career:He was born Stephen Henry Sholes, in Washington, D.C.. His family moved to Camden, New Jersey, where his father worked in the RCA Victor plant. Sholes started work at RCA Victor as a messenger boy in 1929...
to sign Presley. In 1955 Boren co-wrote the Elvis Presley hit-song "Heartbreak Hotel
Heartbreak Hotel
"Heartbreak Hotel" is a song recorded by American rock and roll musician Elvis Presley. It was released as a single on January 27, 1956, Presley's first on his new record label RCA Victor. His first number-one pop record, "Heartbreak Hotel" topped Billboards Top 100 chart, became his first...
" with Thomas Durden. However, former WQIK owner and DJ Marshall Rowland, who knew both Axton and Durden, said the song had already been written and performed by Durden long before Axton added her name to it.
Death
In 1997 at the age of 82, Mae drowned in her hot tubHot tub
A hot tub is a large tub or small pool full of heated water and used for soaking, relaxation, massage, or hydrotherapy. In most cases, they have jets for massage purposes. Hot tubs are usually located outdoors, and are often sheltered for protection from the elements, as well as for privacy....
at her home in Hendersonville, TN after an apparent heart attack.
Further reading
- Axton, Mae Boren. Country Singers as I Know 'Em. Hurst: Sweet Publishing Co. (1973).
External links
- Mae Boren Axton from Black Cat Rockabilly Europe
- Obituary from The Independent