Songwriter. Along with her then-husband Jeff Barry, she formed a prolific songwriting team of Rock n' Roll & Pop music during the 1960's. Raised in Levittown, New York, she developed an interest in music at an early age and was writing songs by age thirteen. While in high school, she formed with friends the group The Jivettes and would perform at charity and school functions. She attended Queens College and later transferred to Hofstra University where she studied English receiving her BA degree. She briefly taught before deciding on a career in songwriting. While attending college, she met Barry with whom she would later marry and divorce. After being hired by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, the pair would become a part of the famed Brill Building group of songwriters which included Carole King and Gerry Goffin, Hal David and Burt Bacharach and Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. Among the many artists hits they wrote include The Ronettes' "Be My Baby" (1963), The Crystals' "Da Doo Ron Ron" (1963), The Dixie Cups' "Chapel of Love" (1964), "The Shangri-Las' "Leader of the Pack" (1964), Manfred Mann's "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" (1964), Tommy James and the Shondells' "Hanky Panky" (1966) and The Archies' "Sugar, Sugar" (1969). In addition, the pair recorded the song "The Kind of Boy You Can't Forget" under the name The Raindrops, which became a top twenty hit in 1963. She also produced the early Neil Diamond hits "Cherry, Cherry" (1966) and "Kentucky Woman" (1967). In 1986, Greenwich appeared in the Broadway production "Leader of the Pack" which was based on the hit song of the same name. Along with Barry, she was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1991. In 2010, Greenwich was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside Jeff Barry under the Non-Performer category.
Songwriter. Along with her then-husband Jeff Barry, she formed a prolific songwriting team of Rock n' Roll & Pop music during the 1960's. Raised in Levittown, New York, she developed an interest in music at an early age and was writing songs by age thirteen. While in high school, she formed with friends the group The Jivettes and would perform at charity and school functions. She attended Queens College and later transferred to Hofstra University where she studied English receiving her BA degree. She briefly taught before deciding on a career in songwriting. While attending college, she met Barry with whom she would later marry and divorce. After being hired by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, the pair would become a part of the famed Brill Building group of songwriters which included Carole King and Gerry Goffin, Hal David and Burt Bacharach and Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. Among the many artists hits they wrote include The Ronettes' "Be My Baby" (1963), The Crystals' "Da Doo Ron Ron" (1963), The Dixie Cups' "Chapel of Love" (1964), "The Shangri-Las' "Leader of the Pack" (1964), Manfred Mann's "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" (1964), Tommy James and the Shondells' "Hanky Panky" (1966) and The Archies' "Sugar, Sugar" (1969). In addition, the pair recorded the song "The Kind of Boy You Can't Forget" under the name The Raindrops, which became a top twenty hit in 1963. She also produced the early Neil Diamond hits "Cherry, Cherry" (1966) and "Kentucky Woman" (1967). In 1986, Greenwich appeared in the Broadway production "Leader of the Pack" which was based on the hit song of the same name. Along with Barry, she was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1991. In 2010, Greenwich was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside Jeff Barry under the Non-Performer category.
Bio by: C.S.
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THE MUSIC IN OUR HEARTS
ELLIE GREENWICH
OCT. 23, 1940 AUG. 26, 2009
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