Posted on 08/26/2009 12:49:42 PM PDT by BluesDuke
NEW YORK — Ellie Greenwich, who co-wrote some of pop music's most enduring songs, including "Chapel of Love," "Be My Baby" and "Leader of the Pack," died Wednesday, according to her niece. She was 68.
Greenwich died of a heart attack at St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital, where she had been admitted a few days earlier for treatment of pneumonia, according to her niece, Jessica Weiner . . .
. . . Greenwich also worked as an arranger and singer, a role that saw her working with artists including Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald.
She is also credited with helping Neil Diamond get his start and was a co-producer of early Diamond hits "Cherry, Cherry" and "Kentucky Woman."
"Ellie Greenwich was one of the most important people in my career. She discovered me as a down-and-out songwriter and with her then-husband Jeff Barry co-produced all my early hits on Bang records," said Diamond in a statement. "She has remained a great friend and mentor over the years and will be missed greatly."
Among the more famous songs she wrote are "Baby I Love You," "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" and "Look of Love."
(Excerpt) Read more at google.com ...
RIP, Ms. Greenwich. You wrote some great ones, and you produced the best music Neil Diamond ever made.
She and Jeff Barry [as the Raindrops] had a hit single “{He’s} The Kind of Boy You Can’t Forget”. She sang lead. Very talented lady.
68? Wow. She must have gotten an early start.
Apparently one of the great unknowns.
R.I.P. Major talent...........
68? Wow. She must have gotten an early start.She did. She was 17 when she cut her first single, as a singer, for RCA, with a pair of songs she'd written, "Silly, Isn't It" and "Cha-Cha Charming," releasing them as Ellie Gaye. (Apparently, she was a fan of a singer named Billie Gaye, who cut the first version of Millie Small's eventual bluebeat hit "My Boy Lollipop.") This record also provoked her to transfer from Queens College to Hofstra---a music professor belittled her for being involved with pop and rock, and she was deeply offended by it.
Apparently one of the great unknowns.Yep. They put stone-cold obscurities into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. ;)
Ellie Greenwich was a tremendous talent. This announcement actually makes me sad today.
I think she was one of the many Brill Building writers.Lots of great stuff came from her and others from that building just off of Times Square.
Not if you're in your 50's or beyond.She was a power behind the scenes.
ping
A favorite of mine.
Thanks. She was a very successful artist, yet I admit I didn’t know who she was.
I think most people were probably more familiar with her work through other artists.
Diana Krall-The Look O Love. That was sublime! Thank You!
She is so talented. I love listening to her sing and play the piano.
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