Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller are the genius songwriters who popularized the blues and crossed it over into pop consciousness. They wrote such classics as "Stand By Me," "On Broadway," "Love Portion Number 9," the long-running musical revue "Smokey Joe's Cafe" and Elvis Presley's hits "Jailhouse Rock" and "Hound Dog."

The title of Leiber and Stoller's autobiography is also named "Hound Dog."

At the book party, which was held at Elaine's on The Upper East Side, the team recalled how they produced tunes under pressure.

Stoller: It was the producer Gene Auerbock who came into our hotel room and blocked the entrance and said, "I'm going to take a nap boys. I need the songs for this movie."

Leiber: And Mike and I went to the piano and we wrote four songs in four hours.

Stoller: And one of them was "Jailhouse Rock."

Their 60-year-long collaboration has turned many ideas, like Leiber's simple blues song "Kansas City," into unforgettable hits.

Whipple: How did you keep that partnership going?

Leiber: By fighting and resolving all the time. It was one battle. The only reason it lasted is that we both knew when to quit.

Bars, clubs and restaurants in New York also develop a personality and a following. Elaine's, which is known for its literati and book parties, opened in 1963 with a book party featuring a rock band and strippers.