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.
The following year, "Judy's Turn to Cry", which she co-wrote with Edna Lewis, was recorded by Lesley Gore and became another hit.
[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.