Biography

Jerry Leiber (April 25, 1933 – August 22, 2011) was an American songwriter and record producer, best known for his songwriting partnership with Mike Stoller. Together, they wrote many of the biggest hits of the 1950s and 1960s, including "Hound Dog," "Jailhouse Rock," "Stand By Me," "Yakety Yak," "Charlie Brown," and "Kansas City." Leiber and Stoller met as teenagers in Los Angeles in the early 1950s, and began writing and producing music together. They quickly gained success with their first hit, "Hound Dog," which was originally recorded by blues singer Big Mama Thornton and later made famous by Elvis Presley. Throughout their career, Leiber and Stoller worked with a wide variety of artists, including The Coasters, The Drifters, Ben E. King, and Elvis Presley. They were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1985 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. Leiber passed away on August 22, 2011, at the age of 78, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most influential songwriters and producers in the history of rock and roll.