Remembering Sharon Sheeley

There weren't too many female songwriters in the early days of rock and roll. But in 1958, Sharon Sheley, who died on this day in 2002, became the first female to compose a U.S. # 1 hit � "Poor Little Fool" for Ricky Nelson.

Born in California in 1940, Sheley fell in love with the power and glamour of rock and roll and infiltrated the scene any way she could. In Hollywood, she dated Don Everly, and hung out with Gene Vincent. She got to meet Elvis, and became friends with him and joined his Hollywood entourage.

She told Photoplay magazine in 1959 about an adventure at the move theater with Elvis and the gang: "It was intermission and while people were out buying popcorn and stuff they played records. The first record that came on was 'Don't Be Cruel.' That was followed by three other Presley records. The manager knew Elvis was there and was trying to be nice, but Elvis got embarrassed. I was sitting way down front, but I could hear a voice in the back calling out, 'Ah, lay off that Presley music. C'mon, put on somethin' else!' It was Elvis heckling his own tunes!"