The origins of this song are disputed, but the writing is co-credited to African American singer/songwriter Dave "Curlee" Williams, and white 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; it's produced by the young 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 "Sonny 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.
Other early recordings include Dolores Frederick and The Commodores (no relation to the '70s Motown group). However, none of these early recordings found much commercial success. All subsequent recordings of the song list the composers as Sonny 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.
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