CMT News

Jerry Leiber, the lyricist in the songwriting team of Leiber and Stoller, died of cardiopulmonary failure on Monday (Aug. 22) in Los Angeles. He was 78.

Working with Mike Stoller, Leiber's numerous songwriting credits include Elvis Presley's "Jailhouse Rock," a No.1 country hit in 1957, as well as "Hound Dog," "Love Me" and "Don't." The songwriters' many other classics include "Stand by Me," the 1961 signature song by Ben E. King, who co-wrote the song with them. Mickey Gilley's version of the song, featured on the Urban Cowboy soundtrack, was a No. 1 country single in 1980.

Leiber and Stoller's songs were also recorded by the Clovers ("Love Potion No. 9), the Coasters ("Yakety Yak"), the Drifters ("Ruby Baby"), Wilbert Harrison ("Kansas City") and Peggy Lee ("Is That All There Is?").

The songwriter partners were the subject of an American Idol episode in May, when Scotty McCreery performed "Young Blood," which was recorded by the Coasters, and Lauren Alaina sang "Trouble," which Elvis Presley made famous. Both singers included their respective songs on their Idol-related digital albums.

Leiber and Stoller were inducted to the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1985 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.