The verdict
Documented Sampling History
Confirmed songwriters and a confirmed publisher (Wixen). The significant racial dynamic around Pat Boone’s whitewashed cover out-charting the originator is important historical context in the Receipts — it doesn’t change that a clear rights holder exists today.
Used by independents?
Unconfirmed — the page doesn't yet document enough sampler detail to tell.
Quick Facts
Released1955
GenreRock and Roll, R&B
LabelSpecialty Records
ProducerRobert "Bumps" Blackwell
Recorded atJ&M Studio, New Orleans
More infoWikipedia → · Discogs →
Who you need to ask
The current administrator — Wixen Music Publishing
Songfacts → · checked Jul 2026
The songwriters — Little Richard, Dorothy LaBostrie & Joe Lubin
Wikipedia → · checked Jul 2026
Has it been reused?
Yes — covered by Elvis Presley, Pat Boone, Queen and many others; #2 R&B / #17 pop on release; in the Library of Congress National Recording Registry (2009)
Do they allow reuse?
No standalone policy found, but a confirmed publisher (Wixen) and decades of legitimate cover licensing
Who Owns It
Licenses explained →The two permissions you need, and who holds them
The song itself (the writing)Little Richard, Dorothy LaBostrie & Joe Lubin
The recording (current administrator)Wixen Music Publishing
Receipts
Every public mention of terms, policy, or past deals we've found
A whitewashed cover that out-charted the Black originator
Pat Boone recorded a competing cover, further sanitized by Joe Lubin, that reached #8 on the Hot 100 — higher than Little Richard's own #17 original. Many listeners at the time knew the song only through Boone's version. Presented as documented history.
SecondHandSongs · read it →
Little Richard's own account of this dynamic
In a 1984 Washington Post interview, Little Richard described feeling the industry deliberately used a white artist to limit his access to white households — even though many young white listeners preferred his version — because their families were uncomfortable with what he represented.
American Songwriter · read it →
A more complicated picture of Boone, for fairness
Separately, Boone is reported to have featured many Black artists on his 1950s TV show and to have walked away from hosting after being told to reduce how many he featured — worth noting alongside the chart story rather than flattening him.
Tim's Cover Story · read it →
Can You Use It for Free?
How to check PD →Is it public domain?No
Sample History
—
Times sampled
Elvis Presley · Pat Boone · Queen · many others
Covers
1955
First flip
Who to Contact
WX
Wixen Music Publishing
The confirmed current publisher
What they'll chargeNobody's shared numbers yet
Don't Want the Hassle?
Sample something pre-cleared insteadCheck Tracklib →
Find a similar sound that's 100% freeBrowse the catalog →
References
Every source cited on this page — 7 in total
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Page history · 2 updates
Jul 2026Page created — full research (Deep Batch 2)
Jul 2026BPM/Key pending a separate manual keyfinder pass