Dixson, who owned the master and had produced the demo, then agreed to let RCA Records release it as by "Ronald and Ruby".
The pair's version rose up the chart reaching no.20,[1] but when it was learned that Ronald and Ruby were an inter-racial duo, television appearances that had been previously booked got cancelled.
As a successful young songwriter, Ross was interviewed at the time, and said:[7] In this country it is taboo to express sexuality, and our adolescent population is very inhibited.
The song was first released as the B-side of a single by Charlie Blackwell, before being covered in 1960 by Presley, whose version — first issued on his album Elvis Is Back!
[8] At Hill & Range Ross met aspiring songwriter Phil Spector, and began collaborating with him on songs and demo recordings.
[12] The song was recorded by Roy Orbison as the B-side of "Crying" in 1961, and was re-recorded by Mickey Gilley and Charly McClain in 1984 when it reached no.5 on the US country music chart.
[3] After some years away from the music business, Ross received a BMI award in 1985 for writing "Candy Man", and in 1989 set up home in Nashville.
[14] She wrote songs with Archie Jordan, Mark Dreyer, and others, which have been recorded by such artists as Engelbert Humperdinck, Bonnie Raitt, and Shelby Lynne.
[15][17] In April 2013, Ross' memoir I Was the First Woman Phil Spector Killed, described as a "tell all book" in a "Gonzo journalistic style" about life in the Brill Building between 1958 and 1961, was published and was featured at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.