It 's a Sin to Tell a Lie - Wikipedia It 's a Sin to Tell a Lie This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( September 2008 ) `` It 's a Sin to Tell a Lie '' is a 1936 popular song written by Billy Mayhew, introduced early that year on records by many dance bands including Dick Robertson on the 78rpm record Champion 40106, and later popularized by Fats Waller on Victor 25342 and re-issued on Victor 20 - 1595, It was recorded in French by Cajun singer Cléoma Breaux in 1936 or 1937. The tune was revived in 1955 by Somethin ' Smith and the Redheads, reaching number 7 on the Billboard charts in that year. It was later a Top 40 Country hit for Slim Whitman, reaching # 21 on the ' Top Country Singles ' chart in 1971, from the album of the same name. John Denver tells a story about the song and does a cover in his 1978 album, Live at the Sydney Opera House ( RCA Victor VPL1 - 7167 ). Other artists who have recorded versions include Billie Holiday, The Ink Spots, Tony Bennett, Bobbi Martin, Gerry Monroe ( a number 13 hit in the UK Singles Chart in 1971 ), Brent Spiner, Lenny Breau, Buddy Greco, Steve Goodman, The Quebe Sisters Band, Ann Breen, Jerry Murad and the Harmonicats, Bobby Vinton, Patti Page, Vera Lynn, and George Maharis. In the 2010 role - playing game Fallout New Vegas, the song can be heard playing on the in - game radio. Originally a waltz, during the British Dixieland Revival in the 1950s and 1960s this melody was often played in fast four / four tempo, notably recorded by the Kenny Ball Band. References Jump up ^ `` It 's a Sin to Tell a Lie - Fats Waller Song Info ''. AllMusic. Retrieved 2016 - 08 - 22. Jump up ^ `` ARCHIVE OF RECORDED 78 RPM RECORDS ''. 78records.cdbpdx.com. Retrieved 2016 - 08 - 22. Jump up ^ Neal Pomea. `` Joe Falcon & Cleoma Breaux ''. Retrieved 2017 - 06 - 22. Jump up ^ `` The Other John Denver Discography ''. Math.hmc.edu. Retrieved 2016 - 08 - 22. Jump up ^ Roberts, David ( 2006 ). British Hit Singles & Albums ( 19th ed. ). London : Guinness World Records Limited. p. 375. ISBN 1 - 904994 - 10 - 5. This pop standards - related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Slim Whitman Singles `` Indian Love Call '' `` Keep It a Secret '' `` Danny Boy '' `` Secret Love '' `` Rose Marie '' `` Beautiful Dreamer '' `` The Cattle Call '' `` Tumbling Tumbleweeds '' `` Just Call Me Lonesome '' `` I Remember You '' `` It 's a Sin to Tell a Lie '' `` Red River Valley '' Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=It%27s_a_Sin_to_Tell_a_Lie&oldid=815916669 '' Categories : 1936 songs 1955 singles 1971 singles Slim Whitman songs Pop standard stubs Hidden categories : Articles needing additional references from September 2008 All articles needing additional references All stub articles Talk About Wikipedia Norsk Edit links This page was last edited on 18 December 2017, at 01 : 31 ( UTC ). About Wikipedia

Question: who wrote it's a sin to tell a lie
Answer: Billy Mayhew