Trivia

He wrote more than 1,000 songs that were recorded by performers such as Ray Charles, Billy Joel, The Who, James Taylor, Otis Redding, Peggy Lee and Jerry Lee Lewis. Some of Blackwell's other credits include "Great Balls of Fire" and "Breathless", both recorded by Lewis; "Handy Man" by Taylor; "Fever" by Lee; "Daddy Rolling Stone" by The Who; and "Return to Sender", "Don't Be Cruel," and "All Shook Up", each recorded by Presley.

Also wrote songs under name of John Davenport.

Said in 1989 that his favorite singer had long been Tex Ritter (father of actor John Ritter).

Voted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1986.

Won talent contest at Harlem's Apollo Theater as a teenager and was encouraged by NYC songwriter Doc Pomus. Wrote and sang own songs, played piano, but without much success until Chistmas, 1955 when he sold six tunes for total of $150. One of them was Elvis's #1 smash "Don't Be Cruel. Other hits for Elvis included "All Shook Up" and "Return to Sender", but he never met 'The King'. Also recorded by James Taylor, Stevie Wonder and The Who.

Suffered from the effects of a debilitating stroke from 1991 to his death in May 2002.

Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1991.