Background
Mae Boren was born in Texas to Mark L. and Nannie Boren.
Mae Boren was born in Texas to Mark L. and Nannie Boren.
She attended East Central State College and the University of Oklahoma, where she earned a bachelor"s degree in journalism.
She co-wrote, with Tommy Durden, the Elvis Presley hit single "Heartbreak Hotel". She worked with Mel Tillis, Reba McEntire, Willie Nelson, Eddy Arnold, Tanya Tucker, Johnny Tillotson, and Blake Shelton. Boren is credited with writing approximately 200 songs.
"Skid Row" a song recorded by Jerry Lee Lewis is perhaps her most famous song after "Heartbreak Hotel".
"Heartbreak Hotel"
Boren was the link between Elvis Presley and Radio Corporation of America Victor. She introduced a 19-year-old Presley to Colonel Tom Parker after a performance in Jacksonville, Florida. She worked on behalf of Bob Neal to promote Presley and pressured Radio Corporation of America 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. Durden presented the idea to Mae Axton, from a newspaper article he had read about a man who had killed himself, leaving behind only the message "I walk a lonely street." lieutenant 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 rock n rolls greatest hits.
In 1997 at the age of 82, Mae drowned in her hot tub at her home in Hendersonville, Tennessee, after an apparent heart attack.