RIP, Jerry Leiber

One half of one of the greatest pop music songwriting teams ever (with Mike Stoller), Jerry Leiber died today at the age of 78. They wrote and/or produced hits for Elvis, The Coasters, Big Mama Thornton (“Hound Dog”), Peggy Lee, Charles Brown, Ray Charles, Ben E King (“Stand by me”). They don’t come any better. Here’s a 45 minute documentary about the team: Jerry & Mike on the old TV panel show, “What’s My Line”. Guest: Vincent Price. Horror also supplied by rock & roll hater Dorothy Kilgallen One of the true Leiber & Stoller classics was Elvis’s “Jailhouse Rock”. … Continue reading