Leiber and Stoller

Leiber and Stoller, American songwriters and record producers. Jerry Leiber (in full Jerome Leiber; b. April 25, 1933, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.—d. August 22, 2011, Los Angeles, California) and Mike Stoller (in full Michael Stoller; b. March 13, 1933, Belle Harbor, New York, U.S.), working primarily for Atlantic Records, were perhaps the most successful writers and producers of the 1950s.

They became partners as teenagers in Los Angeles; when their “Hound Dog” was recorded by Willie Mae (“Big Mama”) Thornton in 1952, they also became producers. Major success followed with their series of novelty story-songs—including “Black Denim Trousers and Motorcycle Boots” (performed by the Cheers), “Young Blood” and “Yakety Yak” (by the Coasters), and “Love Potion No. 9” (by the Clovers)—and with their songs for Elvis Presley movies, including Jailhouse Rock and Love Me Tender. Their early 1960s productions of Ben E. King and the Drifters, including “Stand by Me” and “On Broadway,” were especially influential. In 1964 they established their own label, Red Bird, on which the Shangri-Las recorded. They went on to write for films and theatre; among their last hits, in 1969, was the world-weary “Is That All There Is?” (by Peggy Lee). In 1987 the pair was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.