Heartbreak Hotel - Elvis Presley

The story of how Heartbreak Hotel became **Elvis Presley**'s first hit record is quite interesting. It all began with the friendship between music business publicist **Mae Boren Axton** and DJ/performer **Glenn Reeves**. They wrote songs together in the 1950s, focusing on hillbilly music.

Glenn introduced Mae to **Tommy Durden**, a songwriter and professional musician, in mid-1955. Shortly after, Tommy brought up an idea for a potential new song for Mae at her home. In just one evening, they wrote and recorded a demo of Heartbreak Hotel.

The song had emotional connections for both writers and didn't fit into an obvious genre. Tommy loved it, but Mae thought it needed something more to catch Elvis' attention. Mae asked her friend Glenn to tape a new demo in a dramatic fashion, which he did. Elvis heard Glenn's demo in November 1955 and instantly connected with the song. He then worked on a new arrangement and recorded his era-defining version in January 1956.

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**Transpose by -10**
**Tempo: 94 BPM**

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Piano tutorial by [**Piano Go Life**](https://youtu.be/QKfUPF9rtXY "")