Origins of The Song
The origins of the song are disputed, but the writing is co-credited to singer/songwriter Dave "Curlee" Williams and pianist, bandleader, and songwriter James Faye "Roy" Hall (May 7, 1922 - March 2, 1984). On March 21, 1955, Big Maybelle made the first recording for Okeh Records, which was produced by Quincy Jones.
Roy Hall made a recording of the song in September, 1955 for Decca Records and maintained that he had written it and had secured the legal copyright as co-writer under the pseudonym of "Sunny David." However, a Decca sample copy of Hall's recording lists Dave Williams as the sole writer. On the Pop Chronicles documentary, Jerry Lee Lewis credited Big Mama Thornton. All subsequent recordings of the song list the composers as Sunny David and Dave Williams. Hall was also a Nashville club owner, who later claimed to have employed the young piano player Lewis, at some point around 1954.
Read more about this topic: Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On
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