Mae Axton was co-writer with Tommy Durden of Heartbreak Hotel. In November 1955 in Nashville, she played a demo of Heartbreak Hotel sung by Glenn Reeves for Elvis in her suite. Durden was a steel guitar player with the Johnny Tillotson's band. While reading the Miami Herald on day in 1955 he ran across the photograph of a suicide victim whose identity was a mystery. The headline asked, “Do you know the man?” In the dead man's left hand was a note that read. “I walk a lonely street” which inspired Durden and Axton to compose Heartbreak Hotel. There was a real historic hotel in Florida named the Heartbreak Hotel which also may have inspired Durden to compose the song. The two of them wrote the song in about 20 minutes and Glen Reeves was called to record the demo. After hearing the demo Elvis was ecstatic and promised Axton that he would record the song the time he was in the recording studio. Elvis recorded Heartbreak Hotel on January 10, 1956 at RCA's Nashville studio. Instrumental backing was provided by Scotty Moore (guitar) Floyd Cramer (piano) Bill Black (bass) and DJ Fontana on drums. Heartbreak Hotel was released on 27 January 1956 it become a national number one hit and stayed there for seven weeks
