Song by Song: "Heartbreak Hotel" Quiz

Answer: Mae Boren Axton

Mae Boren Axton wrote the song with Tommy Durden. Songwriting credit was also given to Elvis Presley. Axton worked with numerous country artists, including Blake Shelton, Reba McEntire, Tanya Tucker, and Willie Nelson. She died in 1997 at the age of 82 in Herndersonville, Tennessee.

Answer: Chet Atkins

Known as "the Country Gentleman" and "Mr. Guitar," Chet Atkins helped to create what is called "the Nashville sound." He won several Grammy Awards in the Best Country Instrumental Performance category. Atkins died in 2001 at the age of 77 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Answer: Roger Miller

Elvis released his single in January of 1956. Roger Miller recorded "Heartbreak Hotel" in February of 1956 and included it on his album "Words and Music," which was released in October of the same year. Roger Miller is known for such songs as "King of the Road," "Dang Me," "Chug-a-Lug" and "Do Wacka Do."

Answer: Willie Nelson

Their version peaked in the number one position on the Hot Country Songs chart that year. Johnny Cash performed a parody of the song on "Town Hall Party" in 1959. Chet Atkins also recorded his own version of the song for "The Guitar Genius," which was released in 1963.

Answer: dwell

"Well, since my baby left me
Well, I found a new place to dwell
Well, it's down at the end of Lonely Street
At Heartbreak Hotel."

According to Rolling Stone magazine's 2004 "Top 500 Greatest Songs of All Time," article, this song was inspired by "a Miami Herald report of a suicide note that consisted solely of the line 'I walk a lonely street.'" That was the popular interpretation for years, anyway. However, according to Randy Boswell, later writing in Rolling Stone magazine ("Solving the Mystery of 'Heartbreak Hotel'," July 15, 2016), the real inspiration was most likely Alvin Krolik, who was shot and killed while attempting to rob a Texas liquor store. Before his death, Krolik had written (but never published) an autobiography referring to his life as a journey down "lonely street."

Answer: room

"Always though it's crowded, you still can find some room
Those broken-hearted lovers cry away there in their gloom."

In the U.S., "Heartbreak Hotel" made the top five on both the Country and Western chart and the Rhythm & Blues chart.

Answer: The bellhop's

"The bellhop`s tears keep flowing."

A popular singing group, the Wilburn Brothers, turned down the initial chance to record "Heartbreak Hotel" in 1955, finding the song to be too morbid. For Elvis, it went on to become a number one hit on the U.S. Billboard Top 100 and his first every charting single in the UK, where it peaked at number two.

Answer: black

"The bellhop`s tears keep flowing and the desk clerk`s dressed in black
They been so long on Lonely Street, they`re never coming back
I get so lonely baby, I get so lonely, I get so lonely I could die."

Steve Sholes produced the Elvis single, which had "I Was the One" on the B-side. D.J. Fontana played drums while Bill Black was on double bass and Bob Farris served as the sound engineer.

Answer: sad tale to tell

Billy Joel made a version of "Heartbreak Hotel" for the 1992 romantic comedy "Honeymoon in Vegas." The song has been covered by an eclectic range of artists, either live or in studio recordings, including Roger McGuinn, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and Merle Haggard.

Answer: Floyd Cramer

Floyd Cramer joined Elvis Presley for this recording to play piano. The famous pianist has been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame. Elvis was also joined by his backing band The Blue Moon Boys, which included Scotty Moore on electric guitar.