Chuck (Harold) Willis recorded "What Am I Living For" (Fred Jay - Art Harris) as a B side to "Hang Up My Rock & Roll Shoes" in 1958. The single topped the R&B chart while peaking at number nine pop. The million seller was Chuck's final release before his death.

In 1960 the celebrated country singer and Grammy winner Conway Twitty (Harold Jenkins) was still a rocker when he took "What Am I Living For" to number twenty-six on Billboard's Top One Hundred. After completing high school Conway was offered a position with the Philadelphia Phillies but before he could sign he was drafted into the army.