[3] "Paul" was the song's writer, Ray Hildebrand,[4] a student at Texas' Howard Payne University, a Baptist institution in the city of Brownwood.
"Paula" was Jill Jackson, the niece of the owner of the boarding house where Ray lived.
[citation needed] They went to a studio in Fort Worth, Texas, and by chance found a producer.
Major Bill Smith had studio time and musicians booked and was waiting for lead vocalist Amos Milburn to turn up.
[5] Musicians on the recording included Marvin Montgomery on guitar, Guy Parnell on bass, Hargus Robbins on organ, Little Caesar on piano, and Ronnie Dawson on drums.