 No documentary evidence has been forthcoming to support an assertion that "Hey Joe" is a wholly traditional work.Rose later told writer Richie Unterberger that he had learnt the song in 1960 from folk singer Vince Martin.Roberts' song gained fans in the Los Angeles music scene of the mid-1960s, which led to fast-paced recordings in 1965 and 1966 by the Leaves, the Standells, the Surfaris, Love, the Music Machine, and the Byrds, swiftly making the song a garage rock classic.