My Grandaunt Mae wrote this but had Elvis in mind to record it. Hoyt & his little brother were her talent scouts at fairs. When they saw Elvis they ran & got Mom. Girls were going nuts. Her inspiration was an obituary in a Fl paper. She wrote it in 5 minutes. She brought in a guy for music. She played it for Elvis 3 times. He begged her to do it. Of course she loved Hoyt singing. But she encouraged him to write his own songs. He did pretty dang good. I hear Joy to the World every day. I miss them both! 💙
Hi, Bonnie! I miss Hoyt, too. I met him in my teens and sang backup with him for a few years around L.A., on tour (in his camper van with Donna and a few other band members), and on a couple of albums (including Less than the Song). Yep, he did pretty dang good! :)
I once saw a version of Heartbreak Hotel that was shot in a prison type set. It blew me away. Grittiest version I have ever heard, very reminiscent of Nick Cave at his best. Unfortunately I cannot remember who did it.
My Grandaunt Mae wrote this but had Elvis in mind to record it. Hoyt & his little brother were her talent scouts at fairs. When they saw Elvis they ran & got Mom. Girls were going nuts. Her inspiration was an obituary in a Fl paper. She wrote it in 5 minutes. She brought in a guy for music. She played it for Elvis 3 times. He begged her to do it. Of course she loved Hoyt singing. But she encouraged him to write his own songs. He did pretty dang good. I hear Joy to the World every day. I miss them both! 💙
Thank you so much for leaving this comment. Getting to hear little stories like this keeps the history alive!
Thanks for sharing that story
Hi, Bonnie! I miss Hoyt, too. I met him in my teens and sang backup with him for a few years around L.A., on tour (in his camper van with Donna and a few other band members), and on a couple of albums (including Less than the Song). Yep, he did pretty dang good! :)
You can see that Hoyt had fun on these videos, wishing he was still with us.
That was great! You don't see outfits like those anymore!!
Hoyt's mom really did write it.
Oh Hoyt you handsome handsome devil! I sure hope your entertaining in the heavens!
Hoyt totally owns this song, senusous
The best. How is this not on Itunes!
wa2k99 it is in the UK most likely because the album was published by a European record company
Mae Boren Axton had to of Had Hoyt in mind when she wrote this song. She is even in the Video as Mom in the end.
I once saw a version of Heartbreak Hotel that was shot in a prison type set. It blew me away. Grittiest version I have ever heard, very reminiscent of Nick Cave at his best. Unfortunately I cannot remember who did it.
Never heard another version of Heartbreak Hotel. Sure love it, nothing like Elvis
though.
@JettRink50
The Orlons did a great version on Cameo Parkway.