A lot of people may never have heard of songwriter Jerry Leiber who died on Monday. But I bet they’ve heard most of his songs. One of rock’s early great songwriters, he wrote, along with partner Mike Stoller, several classic rock tunes: “Kansas City,” Hound Dog,” Jailhouse Rock,” Yakety Yak,” and “Stand by Me” just to name a few. The duo had eleven hits on Billboard’s chart in 1957 alone.

Leiber came to rock through R&B music. After hearing a record by R&B singer Jimmy Witherspoon, Leiber found his passion and decided to write lyrics for R&B songs. He then met Stoller and the pair wrote songs for R&B greats such as Witherspoon, Ray Charles and Charles Brown. In the mid-1950s, Leiber and Stoller wrote “Hound Dog” for Big Mama Thornton. Elvis heard Freddie Bell and the Bellboys perform it in Vegas one night and decided to put in his own act. He recorded the song in 1956. The tune hit number 1 on the charts within 2 months of its release. Leiber went on to compose the lyrics for more than two dozen Elvis songs.

Leiber and Stoller were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.

Thanks for all the great songs, Jerry.

Mary McDonough

 

 

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