Mae Boren Axton

Mae Boren Axton
Born	February 9, 1914(1914-02-09) Bardwell, Texas, United States
Died	August 4, 1997(1997-08-04) Hendersonville, Tennessee
Nationality	American
Occupation	Music promoter Educator
Known for	Co-writing "Heartbreak Hotel"

Mae Boren Axton (September 14, 1914 in Bardwell, Texas – April 9, 1997 in Hendersonville, Tennessee) was known in the music industry as the 'Queen Mother of Nashville'. She co-wrote the Elvis Presley hit single "Heartbreak Hotel"^[1] She worked with the likes of Mel Tillis, Reba McEntire, Willie Nelson, Eddy Arnold, Tanya Tucker, Johnny Tillotson, Kelli Warren and Blake Shelton.

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 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: 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 continued to teach, teaching English at Paxon School for Advanced Studies and Alfred I. duPont High School.^[4]

Music career

Boren is credited with writing approximately 200 songs.^[5]

Heartbreak Hotel

Main article: Heartbreak Hotel

Boren was the link between Elvis Presley 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.^[5]

Death

In 1997 at the age of 82, Mae drowned in her hot tub at her home in Hendersonville, TN after an apparent heart attack.^{[citation needed]}

References

1. ^ "Thomas Durden". Obituaries. The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/1999/oct/28/guardianobituaries2%20The%20Guardian:%20October%2028,%201999-Obituaries%20Thomas%20Durden. Retrieved 30 September, 2011. 
2. ^ Oklahoma Historical Society: Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture-AXTON, LYLE HAGLER
3. ^ Oklahoma Historical Society: Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture-AXTON, MAE BOREN
4. ^ Larry Cohen Productions: North Florida Music Hall of Fame-Axton, Mae
5. ^ ^{a b} Axton, 384.

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

Persondata
Name	Axton, Mae Boren
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	September 14, 1914
Place of birth
Date of death	April 9, 1997
Place of death