Ellie Greenwich, Songwriter (1940-2009) R.I.P.

Ellie Greenwich, a songwriter who along with producer Phil Spector and co-writer Jeff Barry crafted some of the biggest and greatest singles of the 1960s, passed away at the age of 68. The AP reports that Greenwich died of a heart attack in New Yorks Roosevelt Hospital, where she was battling pneumonia.

Among the most famous songs that list Greenwich as a songwriter are the Ronettes Be My Baby and Baby, I Love You, the Shangri-Las Leader of the Pack, the Dixie Cups Chapel of Love, Tina & Ike Turners River Deep, Mountain High and the Crystals Then He Kissed Me and Da Doo Ron Ron. Each of those landmark tracks were listed among Rolling Stones 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Discovered by famed songwriters Leiber and Stoller, Greenwichs other major hits include Manfred Manns Doo Wah Diddy Diddy, Darlene Loves Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) and Tommy James and the Shondells Hanky Panky. Greenwich and Barry also helped nurture the career of a fledgling singer-songwriter named Neil Diamond, and Greenwich and Barry produced and contributed background vocals to Diamond hits like Kentucky Woman, Girl, Youll Be a Woman Soon, Cherry, Cherry, Red, Red Wine and Im a Believer.

Greenwich, along with Barry, was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1991. A Broadway show dedicated to songs co-written by Greenwich and based on her life called Leader of the Pack debuted on Broadway, where it was nominated for a Best Musical Tony in 1985. Greenwich also recorded her own solo album, Ellie Greenwich Composes, Produces and Sings, in 1968, and often sang backup for artists like Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin and Dusty Springfield.

The family asks that donations be made to the VH1 Save the Music Foundation.

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[bobbyb826]

i think i had an album called something like let it be sung from about 1973. but i cant find any mention of it anywhere. did i imagine this? she did this song in a newer version.

[jemb2000]

@bobbyb826 You can find it on Amazon. It was released on CD by Raven Records as a two-fer with her first album.

[mrob75]

Ellie Greenwich "WAS THE 60s"!! How sad that our youth today missed out on the talents of this songstress...Our young ears of today are at the mercy of "hip-hop" and Lady Ga-Ga :-(

[jemb2000]

Ellie's Leader of the Pack musical is done in high schools all over the US, and outside the US as well. Not to mention the continued success of the Dirty Dancing Soundtrack. Ellie Greenwich's songbook continues to live worldwide, thankfully.

[thenewhorizons]

I couldn't even think of the 1960s without thinking of Ellie. Her musical contributions were so much an integral part of that decade. RIP, Ellie.

[MisterVirtual]

Ellie was truly a gifted angel.

She is dearly missed.

[rocktenniscat]

Remembering Ellie Greenwich today: Oct. 23, 1940 – Aug. 26, 2009

[MegaRogercole]

'Let it be written Let it be sung,' is one of my favorite albums which I first heard on Noel Edmonds Breakfast Show in the early 70's. It was such a pity she never liked to perform live because in the studio she was magic. Also had a couple of US hits performing as The Raindrops with' What a Guy' and 'The Kind of boy you cant forget.'

[bobby007007]

Ellie, love your work, you will always be remembered. RIP and love you always, Bobby.

[colinmancity]

god bless u ellie rip

[colinmancity]

always remember the lady rip baby xx

[dylandollyspud]

I had a copy of her album many years ago. but unfortunately I found it a bit dull and I felt she should have just stuck to writing.

Nothing could match the versions that Spector produced, which were pure magic at the time

[the6tssoulman]

not heard this since the days of radio caroline in the days of uk pirate radio,

JOHN PEEL was the dj who used this as a regular opening record long before THE BEACH BOYS

JOHN PEEL went on to be an iconic dj just as ellie continued writing,producing etc....,

not many realise that PHIL SPECTOR really would never have had that wall of sound but for ELLIE GREENWICH

I PERSONALLY REMEMBER ELLIE's ORIGINAL VERSION OF" I WANT YOU TO BE MY BABY" that was awesome, would someone please upload it

[mrob75]

Thank you "jemb2000" ...I didn't know this! Thank God there is hope in our youth after all!