“Jingle Bell Rock” is officially credited to songwriters Joseph Carleton (Joe) Beal and James Ross (Jim) Boothe, who wrote the song that was first recorded and released by Bobby Helms in 1957.

Quick Scoop

  • The official writers of “Jingle Bell Rock” are Joe Beal and Jim Boothe, both American songwriters who also worked in advertising and media.
  • The song was first recorded and made famous by country singer Bobby Helms, whose 1957 version became a perennial Christmas hit.
  • An authorship controversy exists: Helms and guitarist Hank “Sugarfoot” Garland later claimed they substantially rewrote the song in the studio, but they are not listed as writers on the publishing credits.

A Bit Of Backstory

  • “Jingle Bell Rock” emerged in the late 1950s as one of the earliest mainstream rock‑and‑roll‑styled Christmas songs, helping blend holiday music with the then‑new rock sound.
  • Official credits and music databases consistently list Joe Beal and Jim Boothe as the composers/lyricists, while Helms remains recognized primarily as the definitive performer of the classic recording.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.