Larry Weiss

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Laurence D. "Larry" Weiss (born March 25, 1941) is an American songwriter and musician. He wrote "Rhinestone Cowboy", a US no.1 hit for Glen Campbell in 1975; and co-wrote "Bend Me, Shape Me", "Hi Ho Silver Lining" and several other international hits.

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Biography

Weiss was born in Newark, New Jersey, [1] and grew up in Queens, New York. He started writing songs in his teens, and continued to do so while working in his family's textile sales business, [2] before working as a freelance songwriter for Wes Farrell. [3] His first break came in 1963 when Nat "King" Cole recorded "Mr. Wishing Well", a song Weiss co-wrote with Lockie Edwards Jr. (1936–2012). [2] [4] Weiss also wrote for R&B acts including Baby Washington, Chuck Jackson and The Shirelles. [3]

In the mid and late 1960s Weiss co-wrote several successful songs with lyricist Scott English. These included "Bend Me, Shape Me", a hit for The American Breed (US no.5, UK no.24) and Amen Corner (UK no.3); "Hi Ho Silver Lining", a UK hit for Jeff Beck (UK no.14); and "Help Me Girl", a hit for Eric Burdon & The Animals (US no.29, UK no.14). He also co-wrote, with Jerry Ross, "Mr. Dream Merchant", a hit for Jerry Butler (US no.38) and later (as "Dream Merchant") for New Birth (US no.36). [2] [5] [6] He also wrote "Evil Woman," which was recorded by the U.K. blues-rock band Spooky Tooth and appeared on their second album, Spooky Two .

In 1971, he moved with his family from New York to Los Angeles, where he worked for Famous Music. [3] He recorded a singer-songwriter album, Black & Blue Suite, in 1974 for 20th Century Records. The album's opening track, "Rhinestone Cowboy", was released as a single and rose to no.24 on the Billboard adult contemporary chart. [7] Glen Campbell heard and liked the song, and recorded it; [2] his version became an international hit, reaching no.1 in the US and several other countries, and no.4 in the UK, [5] [6] and was the Country Music Association's Song of the Year in 1976. [8] [9] Another track from Black & Blue Suite, "Lay Me Down," was covered by Barry Manilow on his albums Tryin' to Get the Feeling and Barry Manilow Live and by Glen Campbell on his album Bloodline .

During the 1980s, Weiss performed the theme song for the popular sitcom Who's the Boss? during its first two seasons, from 1984 to 1986.[ citation needed ]

Weiss moved to Nashville in 1992, and continued to write songs for other artists, [2] as well as developing his idea for a musical based around "Rhinestone Cowboy". [3] He also released an album in his own name, Cuts and Scratches, in 2010. [3] [2]

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References

  1. ↑ Larry Weiss at Allmusic.com. Retrieved April 24, 2013
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Lizza Connor Bowen, Larry Weiss: Cuts and Scratches, Nashville Arts Magazine, 3 November 2009. Retrieved April 24, 2013
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Press release for Cuts and Scratches, 15 February 2010. Retrieved April 24, 2013
  4. ↑ "Mr Wishing Well" at 45cat.com. Retrieved April 24, 2013
  5. 1 2 Whitburn, Joel (2003). Top Pop Singles 1955–2002 (1st ed.). Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. ISBN   0-89820-155-1.
  6. 1 2 Betts, Graham (2004). Complete UK Hit Singles 1952-2004 (1st ed.). London: Collins. ISBN   0-00-717931-6.
  7. ↑ Ed Hogan, "Rhinestone Cowboy", Allmusic.com. Retrieved April 24, 2013
  8. ↑ Country Music Association: Songs of the Year Archived January 4, 2013, at the Wayback Machine . Retrieved April 24, 2013
  9. ↑ Larry Weiss at Music Media International. Retrieved April 24, 2013
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