Jerry Leiber, best known as the lyricist half of renowned songwriting duo Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller, passed away yesterday in Los Angeles. He was 78. His place in the Elvis legend cannot be overstated, co-writing such classics as “Jailhouse Rock,” “Love Me,” “Hound Dog,” “Santa Claus Is Back In Town,” “Treat Me Nice,” “Don’t,” “Bossa Nova Baby,” “Trouble,” “Loving You,” and “Baby, I Don’t Care.”
Leiber’s association with American music is not limited to Elvis, though. His list of song credits often reads like the history of rock ‘n’ roll. Other hits include:
- “Charlie Brown” (The Coasters)
- “Dance With Me” (The Drifters)
- “Fools Fall In Love” (The Drifters [later covered by Elvis])
- “Love Potion #9″ (The Clovers; The Coasters)
- “On Broadway” (The Drifters)
- “Ruby Baby” (The Drifters)
- “Saved” (LaVern Baker [later covered by Elvis])
- “Smokey Joe’s Café” (The Robins)
- “Stand By Me” (Ben E. King)
- “There Goes My Baby” (The Drifters)
- “Yakety Yak” (The Coasters)
For a full list of Leiber & Stoller songs, see their official site.
Leiber is survived by three sons and two granddaughters. My condolences go out to his family and friends.
Related Links
Leiber & Stoller: Official Site
“Jerry Leiber has died at age 78″ — Elvis Australia
“Christmas Blues” — Elvis Today Blog
“Jerry Leiber – RIP” — For Elvis CD Collectors Forum
“Songwriter Jerry Leiber Dies at 78″ — Rolling Stone
“RIP Jerry Leiber: half of one of rock’s greatest songwriting teams” — LA Times
“Jerry Leiber, Prolific Writer of 1950s Hits, Dies at 78″ — The New York Times
Troy Yeary
