"(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear" is a popular song recorded by Elvis Presley and published by Gladys Music. It was written by Kal Mann and Bernie Lowe and published in 1957 by Gladys Music, Elvis Presley's publishing company. Clear melodic roots of this tune can be heard in the many early recordings of Boll Weevil, a traditional blues song.
The song was a US number-one hit for Elvis Presley during the summer of 1957, staying at number-one for 7 weeks, and his third of the four that he would have that year. "(Let Me be Your) Teddy Bear" would also hit number one on the R&B Best Sellers List, becoming his fourth number one on that chart. In addition the song would hit number one on the country charts for a single week." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teddy_Bear_(song)
And Elvis - from the film Loving You 1957
" Clear melodic roots of this tune can be heard in the many early recordings of Boll Weevil, a traditional blues song."
""Boll Weevil" is a traditional blues song, also known by similar titles such as "Boweavil" or "Boll Weevil Blues." Although many songs about the boll weevil were recorded by blues musicians during the 1920s, '30s and '40s, this one has become well known, thanks perhaps to Lead Belly's rendition of it as recorded by folklorist Alan Lomax in 1934. A 1961 adaptation by Brook Benton became a pop hit, reaching number two on the charts." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boll_Weevil_Song
and Leadbelly
The Writers of Teddy Bear
"Kal Mann (May 6, 1917 - November 28, 2001) was an American lyricist. He is best known for penning the words to Elvis Presley's "Teddy Bear", plus "Butterfly", a hit for both Charlie Gracie and Andy Williams. Born Kalman Cohen in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Mann began his career in entertainment as a comedy writer for Danny Thomas and Red Buttons, until his friend and songwriter, Bernie Lowe, encouraged him to try writing lyrics for the music industry. Mann co-wrote songs with Lowe and Dave Appell, yielding a number of major rock and roll hits such as Charlie Gracie's "Butterfly," which sold more than two million copies and also become a million seller for the crooner, Andy Williams, and also a minor hit for Bob Carroll, whose cover version peaked at #61. In addition he co-wrote Elvis Presley's "Teddy Bear," Bobby Rydell's "Wild One", and Chubby Checker's "Let's Twist Again and Limbo Rock." Mann wrote a number of songs for Checker, including "Popeye (The Hitchhiker)" and "Slow Twistin'" plus Pat Boone's "Remember You're Mine", and the much covered "You Can't Sit Down". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kal_Mann
"Bernie Lowe (November 22, 1917 - September 1, 1993) was an American songwriter / record producer / arranger / pianist and bandleader.Born Bernard Lowenthal in Philadelphia, Lowe started Teen Records and in 1955 was working with Freddie Bell and the Bellboys. He asked Freddie Bell to rewrite the lyrics of "Hound Dog" to appeal to a broader radio audience. Teen Records and the group had a regional hit with this version of the song, which was one of four songs the group did with Lowe. It was this same version that Elvis Presley heard in Las Vegas, Nevada, adopted, recorded, and made his own. Lowe went on to co-pen with Kal Mann the chart-topping song, "Teddy Bear", for the same singer.
Lowe founded Philadelphia, Pennsylvania's Cameo Records in 1956, and Cameo was later expanded into the Cameo-Parkway Records label. The owners then signed a then unknown singer, Ernest Evans, to their burgeoning label. Evans would soon change his name to Chubby Checker, whose success helped Cameo-Parkway become one of the largest independent record labels in the United States. Lowe is credited with co-writing the song "Butterfly" which helped launch and further the career of Charlie Gracie, the eminent 1950s rock and roller, just as the term was entering into the cultural lexicon. Lowe also launched the careers of Dee Dee Sharp, Bobby Rydell, The Orlons, The Dovells, and The Tymes." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernie_Lowe
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