From David Hinckley, nydailynews.com
Jerry Ragavoy, who wrote Janis Joplin’s signature hit “Piece of My Heart” as well as “Cry Baby” and “Time Is On My Side,” died Wednesday from complications of a stroke. He was 80.
Known as a friendly man who always had a story to tell, Ragavoy was a key player in the New York music business for several decades starting in the early 1960s. His songs were recorded by Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, the Dave Clark Five, Barry White, B.B. King, the Yardbirds, Bette Midler, Faith Hill and dozens of others.
Besides songwriting, he founded and ran the famed Hit Factory studio.
His first chart hit of the 1960s was “A Wonderful Dream,” recorded by the Majors.
“Cry Baby,” an intense gospel-drenched song Ragavoy cowrite with Bert Berns, was recorded by Garnett Mimms and the Enchanters and reached the top five.
“Time is On My Side,” written for jazz trombonist Kai Winding and later recorded by Irma Thomas, was then picked up by the Rolling Stones and became their first U.S. top-10 hit.
“Piece of My Heart” was recorded by Erma Franklin before Joplin heard it and turned it into her biggest hit.
Read More.
No comments:
Post a Comment