Songwriter. He was half of the influential songwriting team of Leiber and Stoller, famed for "Hound Dog" (1956), "Jailhouse Rock" (1957) and "Loving You", recorded by Elvis Presley. Raised in Baltimore, the son of Polish-Jewish immigrants, he moved with his family to California while a teenager. A gifted blues lyricist, he met Mike Stoller (who was influenced by Jazz) in Los Angeles and the pair would form one of the most successful songwriting partnerships in music history. A chance meeting with record executive Lester Sill led to contacts within the music industry and the penning of their first prominent score "That's What the Good Book Says" (1951) recorded by the Robins. This was followed with the hits "Black Denim Trousers" (1955), by The Cheers, "Charlie Brown" (1959), by The Coasters and "Kansas City" (1959), by Wilbert Harrison. When Ben E. King left the Drifters to embark on a solo career, he enjoyed success with the Leiber and Stoller efforts "Stand By Me" (1961) and "Spanish Harlem" (1961). Additional songs include "Yakety Yak" (1958), by The Coasters, "On Broadway" (1963), by The Drifters and "Is That All There Is" (1969), by Peggy Lee. The pair was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1985 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. The 1995 Broadway production of "Smokey Joe's Cafe" was based on the songs of Leiber and Stoller, earning them a Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album in 1996. Leiber died from cardiopulmonary failure.
Songwriter. He was half of the influential songwriting team of Leiber and Stoller, famed for "Hound Dog" (1956), "Jailhouse Rock" (1957) and "Loving You", recorded by Elvis Presley. Raised in Baltimore, the son of Polish-Jewish immigrants, he moved with his family to California while a teenager. A gifted blues lyricist, he met Mike Stoller (who was influenced by Jazz) in Los Angeles and the pair would form one of the most successful songwriting partnerships in music history. A chance meeting with record executive Lester Sill led to contacts within the music industry and the penning of their first prominent score "That's What the Good Book Says" (1951) recorded by the Robins. This was followed with the hits "Black Denim Trousers" (1955), by The Cheers, "Charlie Brown" (1959), by The Coasters and "Kansas City" (1959), by Wilbert Harrison. When Ben E. King left the Drifters to embark on a solo career, he enjoyed success with the Leiber and Stoller efforts "Stand By Me" (1961) and "Spanish Harlem" (1961). Additional songs include "Yakety Yak" (1958), by The Coasters, "On Broadway" (1963), by The Drifters and "Is That All There Is" (1969), by Peggy Lee. The pair was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1985 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. The 1995 Broadway production of "Smokey Joe's Cafe" was based on the songs of Leiber and Stoller, earning them a Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album in 1996. Leiber died from cardiopulmonary failure.
Bio by: C.S.
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"If that's all there is, then let's keep dancing"
In loving memory
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