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
“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