Leiber and Stoller

▪ American songwriters and record producers

      American songwriters and record producers. Jerry Leiber (in full Jerome Leiber; b. April 25, 1933, Baltimore, Md., U.S.) and Mike Stoller (in full Michael Stoller; b. March 13, 1933, Belle Harbor, N.Y., 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 (Thornton, Big Mama) in 1952, they also became producers. Major success followed with their series of novelty story-songs (novelty song)—including “Black Denim Trousers and Motorcycle Boots” (performed by the Cheers), “Young Blood” and “Yakety Yak” (by the Coasters (Coasters, the)), and “Love Potion Number Nine” (by the Clovers)—and with their songs for Elvis Presley (Presley, Elvis) movies, including Jailhouse Rock and Love Me Tender. Their early 1960s productions of Ben E. King and the Drifters (Drifters, the), 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).

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