It’s considered the first rock & roll Christmas song, but exactly who is responsible for that is a question that still doesn’t have a definitive answer!  Here are things you didn't know about Jingle Bell Rock.

By 1957, the rock & roll sound was about to hit Christmas music…even if no one actually intended for that to happen.

Jingle Bell Rock was first recorded by country singer Bobby Helms.  He is not recognized as the song’s author, but he and guitarist Hank “Sugarfoot” Garland would both claim right up until their deaths that they co-wrote it.  

You might not know the name Hank Garland, but you’ve heard him play.  Jingle Bell Rock, Wake Up Little Susie, Pretty Woman -that’s Hank Garland.

The official songwriters of record are Joseph Beale and James Boothe.  Both worked in the newspaper business, but would also pitch song ideas to Hollywood producers.

Helms and Garland always maintained that the song Beal and Booth wrote was called Jingle Bell Hop and was just awful.  

The last line of the first verse “now the jingle hop has begun” is a line that likely remained, but much of what was recorded was not on the original page.  
Helms passed in 1997, but he told the Indianapolis Star in ’92 that Jingle Bell Hop was so bad that he didn’t want to record it until after he and Garland rewrote existing lyrics, reworked the melody, upping the tempo and the bridge.  "What a bright time, it's the right time, to rock the night away”…they say they wrote that from scratch.

Paperwork likely played a huge role how things unfolded from there.  Session players would often come up with things on the fly and not take notes, so there’s no paper trail tracing the changes they made to the song…but plenty of people have come forward saying they witnessed Helms and Garland working their magic.

Hank passed in 2004, but his younger brother, Billy has taken up his cause.  It’s estimated that as much as $100 million in royalties were never paid to Bobby Helms and Hank Garland.

Jingle Bell Rock was released on November 28, 1957, debuting at #6 on the charts for that week and has been a Christmas favourite ever since.  

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It’s considered the first rock &amp; roll Christmas song, but exactly who is responsible for that is a question that still doesn’t have a definitive answer!  Here are things you didn't know about Jingle Bell Rock.
By 1957, the rock &amp; roll sound was about to hit Christmas music…even if no one actually intended for that to happen.
Jingle Bell Rock was first recorded by country singer Bobby Helms.  He is not recognized as the song’s author, but he and guitarist Hank “Sugarfoot” Garland would both claim right up until their deaths that they co-wrote it.  
You might not know the name Hank Garland, but you’ve heard him play.  Jingle Bell Rock, Wake Up Little Susie, Pretty Woman -that’s Hank Garland.
The official songwriters of record are Joseph Beale and James Boothe.  Both worked in the newspaper business, but would also pitch song ideas to Hollywood producers.
Helms and Garland always maintained that the song Beal and Booth wrote was called Jingle Bell Hop and was just awful.  
The last line of the first verse “now the jingle hop has begun” is a line that likely remained, but much of what was recorded was not on the original page.   Helms passed in 1997, but he told the Indianapolis Star in ’92 that Jingle Bell Hop was so bad that he didn’t want to record it until after he and Garland rewrote existing lyrics, reworked the melody, upping the tempo and the bridge.  "What a bright time, it's the right time, to rock the night away”…they say they wrote that from scratch.
Paperwork likely played a huge role how things unfolded from there.  Session players would often come up with things on the fly and not take notes, so there’s no paper trail tracing the changes they made to the song…but plenty of people have come forward saying they witnessed Helms and Garland working their magic.
Hank passed in 2004, but his younger brother, Billy has taken up his cause.  It’s estimated that as much as $100 million in royalties were never paid to Bobby Helms and Hank Garland.
Jingle Bell Rock was released on November 28, 1957, debuting at #6 on the charts for that week and has been a Christmas favourite ever since.  
Thanks for joining us! We’re just getting started – for lots more stories and videos Behind the Christmas, hit subscribe!

You probably know every word to your favourite Christmas Songs, but what about where they came from? Join Drew Savage every week for a new story behind the song as he goes Behind The Christmas Hits!

You probably know every word to your favourite Christmas Songs, but what about where they came from? Join Drew Savage every week for a new story behind the song as he goes Behind The Christmas Hits!

Behind The Christmas Hits with Drew Savage

Drew Savage will explore the origins of the most loved and iconic songs and the artists that recorded them. For the first time, listeners get to learn the stories Behind the Christmas Hits.

Drew Savage will explore the origins of the most loved and iconic songs and the artists that recorded them. For the first time, listeners get to learn the stories Behind the Christmas Hits.

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