Editorial
Front Page - Friday, January 28, 2011
Southern Style
The amazing Mae Axton
Randall Franks
We each in our lives have people who step up and say, “I believe in you.” Sometimes they are family, sometimes friends or business associates.
Through the years, many have stepped into my corner and cheered me along or shared their counsel.
One of the most unique individuals that I ever had the pleasure of meeting and working with was the late Mae Boren Axton.
Many in the public might not know her name, but for those who spent any time in Nashville prior to 1997, she was country and rock and roll royalty. To those who knew her, she was Mama Mae.
As a writer, she had the distinction of writing Elvis’s “Heartbreak Hotel” with the late Tommy Durden.
She was a teacher in Florida who, in her spare time, wrote for publications like Time and Life magazines. An assignment would place her smack dab in the middle of what was then called “hillbilly” music as they sent her to Nashville to do a feature in the early 1950s, where she did interviews with folks such as Minnie Pearl and Roy Acuff. That fateful assignment would place her in a position that would make her one of the best-known behind-the-scenes people in the entertainment world.
As an entertainer or songwriter, to reach any level of success, a performer has to pay their dues in Nashville becoming a part of what makes up the musical fabric of the town.
During the period in my life when I was spending a great deal of time pursuing a mainstream music record deal, Mama Mae became one of my biggest allies and cheerleaders.
She had forged a career in publicity promoting some of country music’s greatest stars such as Hank Snow, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson and Porter Wagoner, as well as Hollywood’s films.
She taught me that there is no one you cannot reach if you know how to do it. In my life I have found that to be true. She once shared with me a story of how she managed to reach one of the biggest magazine publishers in the country and convince him to pull a story on Porter Wagoner minutes before it was to go to press.
Following a performance I did at an Ernest Tubb Record Shop Fan Appreciation Dinner, I met Mama Mae and she invited me to meet with her at her office. As president of DPI records in Nashville, she brought me in and we discussed adding me to the label’s roster.
At the time DPI was one of the most visible independents labels. I would join Mae’s son Hoyt Axton and rising DPI recording artist Mario Martin on the label.
Before the deal could be solidified, Mama Mae’s doctors encouraged her to retire. She suggested I not make the deal with DPI and she would continue to help me.
She continued working with me until she passed away in 1997.
Whenever I was in Nash-ville, her door was always open to me. Her beautiful home reflected elegance and countless memories. Her walls were covered with awards, honors and photos of her favorite people. Walking through the halls was like visiting the Country Music Hall of Fame, from her earliest images with Elvis, Roger Miller, Bill Monroe, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire and so many others. When I stayed at her house I never knew who might be bunking in the room next door, from Milton Berle to Dennis Weaver.
She always kept me in the forefront of what was happening in Nashville, making sure that label heads, producers other stars knew what I was up to.
Mae would make sure when something important was happening, I would be a part of it. She made arrangements for me to appear on Ralph Emery’s Nashville Now just before my network musical debut.
In 1996, while I was living in California, Mae went to the Mayo Clinic. While visiting the offices of the Academy of Country Music in Hollywood, former ACM director Fran Boyd called her to wish her well. I joined in by playing “Orange Blossom Special” on the fiddle over the speakerphone to cheer her up.
On my last visit with her just days before she passed away, I arranged for her to attend Jim and Jesse’s 50th Anniversary celebration being held at the Grand Ole Opry. I escorted her to the event and we had a wonderful evening visiting with friends.
That weekend she was especially supportive of my writing as we sat in her office and went over my recent endeavors. She encouraged me to continue to use my talents no matter what opportunities were ahead of me. In many ways, I think she knew her time was near. She took the time to share many stories with me that she said she hoped someone would remember. One thing she wanted to share with me was an original disc jockey platter of “Heartbreak Hotel.” Since she was not feeling well, I told her we could go down to the basement and get it next visit. Unfortunately, that did not happen.
She arranged her memorial service in advance down to every detail. Ralph Emery hosted; Sandy Brooks, Garth’s former wife spoke; her grandchildren sang.
While I sat in the church before the services, flowers, the original draft of “Heartbreak Hotel” and a large photo of she and Elvis surrounded her. As I waited there several stars arrived to pay their respects, Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius. Lee Greenwood came in from his theater. I remember well the tears he shed as we talked near her casket. Sitting there was like looking at a who’s who gathering of music. During the service I sat next to Steve Wariner, and I believe Gail Davies or Victoria Shaw.
After the service, she had planned a catered dinner at the Axton mansion. I remember Tanya Tucker looking endlessly at Mae’s photo gallery. I shared with Hoyt how much Mama Mae had meant to me and how the mansion was a second home for me in Nashville. He told me as long as he lived, it would be my Nashville home.
So many lives were touched and so many careers were pushed along gently by the loving presence of Mama Mae.
Are you a Mama Mae to someone? Is there someone in your community, club, or family that you are encouraging and sharing your wisdom with? We can’t all write one of history’s biggest songs, or have major stars a phone call away, but we can make a difference in the life of someone and invest our time in their future.
Randall Franks is an award-winning musician, singer and actor. He is best known for his role as “Officer Randy Goode” on TV’s “In the Heat of the Night” now on WGN America. His latest CD release, “An Appalachian Musical Revival,” is by www.shareamericafoundation.org. He is a member of the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame. He is a syndicated columnist for http://randallfranks.com/ and can be reached at rfrankscatoosa@gmail.com.
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