Boren was born in Texas to Mark L. and Nannie Boren. The only daughter out of nine children, she was the sister of United States Congressman Lyle Boren.[2] 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.[3]
Boren married John T. Axton, an officer in the US Navy, and they had two sons: folk music singer-songwriter, guitarist, film and television actor Hoyt Axton and John, who became an attorney. The family lived in Comanche, Oklahoma during the children's pre-teen years. In 1949, Axton was stationed in Jacksonville, Florida and the family moved there. Boren taught English at Dupont High School, Paxon High School and Ribault High School in Jacksonville, Florida.[4]
Music career
By the early to mid-1950s, Mae had developed a number of connections in the music industry. The best-known of these was music executive, song publisher, and songwriter Fred Rose (famous for his work with Hank Williams). She also became a songwriting partner with Jacksonville musicians Tommy Durden and Glen Reeves. During this time, Boren also worked as a radio DJ and music promoter.
Boren is credited with writing approximately 200 songs.[5] Artists who recorded her early compositions include Perry Como and Ernest Tubb. In 1983, Mae also discovered a young Tiffany Darwish singing country songs at the Palomino Club in Los Angeles. Mae brought the singer to Nashville, and soon afterwards Tiffany would set a record for the youngest female artist to top the Billboard charts with a debut album. Since 1998, The Academy of Country Music (ACM) has presented the Mae Boren Axton Service Award to "an outstanding country music artist, duo/group or industry leader in recognition of years of dedication and service to the Academy of Country Music." Recipients include Paul Moore, Barry Adelman, Bob Kingsley, Reba McEntire and Keith Urban.[6]
Boren was the link between Elvis Presley and RCA Victor. She introduced a 19-year-old Presley to Colonel Tom Parker after a performance in Jacksonville, FL. She worked on behalf of Bob Neal to promote Presley and pressured RCA Victor's Nashville division head Stephen H. Sholes to sign Presley. In 1955 Boren co-wrote the Elvis Presley hit-song "Heartbreak Hotel" with Tommy Durden.[5] Durden presented the idea to Mae Axton from a newspaper article he had read in which criminal and painter Alvin Krolik said, "This is the story of a person who walked a lonely street."[7] It was Boren who suggested there be a Heartbreak Hotel at the end of the man's lonely street, thus creating Elvis' first #1 record and one of the greatest rock and roll hits.[8]
boren, axton, september, 1914, april, 1997, known, music, industry, queen, mother, nashville, wrote, elvis, presley, single, heartbreak, hotel, with, tommy, durden, worked, with, tillis, reba, mcentire, willie, nelson, eddy, arnold, tanya, tucker, johnny, till. Mae Boren Axton September 14 1914 April 9 1997 was known in the music industry as the Queen Mother of Nashville She co wrote the Elvis Presley hit single Heartbreak Hotel 1 with Tommy Durden She worked with Mel Tillis Reba McEntire Willie Nelson Eddy Arnold Tanya Tucker Johnny Tillotson and Blake Shelton Mae Boren AxtonBornMae Boren 1914 09 14 September 14 1914Bardwell Texas U S DiedApril 9 1997 1997 04 09 aged 82 Hendersonville Tennessee U S NationalityAmericanOccupationsMusic promotereducatorKnown forCo writing Heartbreak Hotel Contents 1 Personal life 2 Music career 2 1 Heartbreak Hotel 3 Death 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksPersonal life EditBoren was born in Texas to Mark L and Nannie Boren The only daughter out of nine children she was the sister of United States Congressman Lyle Boren 2 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 3 Boren married John T Axton an officer in the US Navy and they had two sons folk music singer songwriter guitarist film and television actor Hoyt Axton and John who became an attorney The family lived in Comanche Oklahoma during the children s pre teen years In 1949 Axton was stationed in Jacksonville Florida and the family moved there Boren taught English at Dupont High School Paxon High School and Ribault High School in Jacksonville Florida 4 Music career EditBy the early to mid 1950s Mae had developed a number of connections in the music industry The best known of these was music executive song publisher and songwriter Fred Rose famous for his work with Hank Williams She also became a songwriting partner with Jacksonville musicians Tommy Durden and Glen Reeves During this time Boren also worked as a radio DJ and music promoter Boren is credited with writing approximately 200 songs 5 Artists who recorded her early compositions include Perry Como and Ernest Tubb In 1983 Mae also discovered a young Tiffany Darwish singing country songs at the Palomino Club in Los Angeles Mae brought the singer to Nashville and soon afterwards Tiffany would set a record for the youngest female artist to top the Billboard charts with a debut album Since 1998 The Academy of Country Music ACM has presented the Mae Boren Axton Service Award to an outstanding country music artist duo group or industry leader in recognition of years of dedication and service to the Academy of Country Music Recipients include Paul Moore Barry Adelman Bob Kingsley Reba McEntire and Keith Urban 6 Heartbreak Hotel Edit Main article Heartbreak Hotel Boren was the link between Elvis Presley and RCA Victor She introduced a 19 year old Presley to Colonel Tom Parker after a performance in Jacksonville FL She worked on behalf of Bob Neal to promote Presley and pressured RCA Victor s Nashville division head Stephen H Sholes to sign Presley In 1955 Boren co wrote the Elvis Presley hit song Heartbreak Hotel with Tommy Durden 5 Durden presented the idea to Mae Axton from a newspaper article he had read in which criminal and painter Alvin Krolik said This is the story of a person who walked a lonely street 7 It was Boren who suggested there be a Heartbreak Hotel at the end of the man s lonely street thus creating Elvis first 1 record and one of the greatest rock and roll hits 8 Death EditIn 1997 at the age of 82 Mae drowned in her hot tub at her home in Hendersonville Tennessee after an apparent heart attack 9 References Edit Thomas Durden Obituaries The Guardian Retrieved 30 September 2011 Oklahoma Historical Society Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture AXTON LYLE HAGLER Archived 2009 01 05 at the Wayback Machine Oklahoma Historical Society Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture AXTON MAE BOREN Archived from the original on 2009 11 09 Retrieved 2008 10 09 Larry Cohen Productions North Florida Music Hall of Fame Axton Mae Archived from the original on 2017 08 20 Retrieved 2008 10 09 a b Axton 384 Reba to receive ACM honors Mae Boren Axton award Boswell Randy July 15 2016 Solving the Mystery of Heartbreak Hotel Rolling Stone London Retrieved July 16 2016 DeMain Bill Elvis First 1 Hit Heartbreak Hotel Performing Songwriter Cossar Neil 2011 This Day in Music An Everyday Record of 10 000 Musical Facts London Omnibus Press p 109 ISBN 9781780381855 Further reading EditAxton Mae Boren Country Singers as I Know Em Hurst Sweet Publishing Co 1973 External links EditMae Boren Axton at AllMusic Mae Boren Axton discography at Discogs Mae Boren Axton at IMDb Mae Boren Axton from Black Cat Rockabilly Europe Obituary from The Independent Oklahoma Women s Hall of Fame Oral History Project OSU Library Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mae Boren Axton amp oldid 1137636021, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
