Genialer Songschreiber

Jerry Leiber (Bild) ist gestorben.

Foto: zVg

Jerry Leiber war einer der bedeutendsten Songwriter in der Geschichte des Rock’n’Roll. Seinen Namen kann man indes nicht nennen, ohne auch gleich Mike Stoller zu erwähnen.

Mehr:

http://www.leiberstoller.com/

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/aug/23/jerry-leiber-obituary

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leiber/Stoller

http://www.welt.de/kultur/musik/article13559779/Jerry-Leiber-Elvis-Presleys-Songschreiber-ist-tot.html

http://www.nzz.ch/nachrichten/kultur/pop_und_jazz/genialer_songwriter_1.12075191.html

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Jerry Leiber

April 25, 1933 – August 22, 2011

Jerry Leiber – lyricist supreme, rakish raconteur, a penetrating gleam in his perfectly mismatched eyes – was a man of rare brilliance and vitality. Via (sometimes punishingly) high expectations and correspondingly enthusiastic encouragement, he infused those around him with brilliance and vitality as well. His unlikely creative soulmate, Mike Stoller, didn’t want to be a songwriter: Jerry talked him into it. Sixty-one years later, I’m thinkin‘: must’ve been one hell of a talk. Thus began a long list of things Jerry talked Mike into (and at least as long a list of things Mike talked Jerry out of). It was a remarkably effective working method.

Along the way, Jerry repaid his good fortune by helping to elevate other good songwriters – and their songs – into great ones. For the rest who followed, Jerry set a high bar at which to aim, if never to reach. Jerry’s balance of natural talent and hard-won craftsmanship, of lightning wit and serious purpose, of compact form and complex content, made him not just the quintessential rock & roll lyricist, but the quintessential lyricist, period. In the history of popular songwriting, he has few equals; no superiors. In the history of friends, likewise.

Jerry Leiber passed quickly and with minimum discomfort, surrounded by his family. He is survived by his three sons, Jed, Oliver, and Jake, and his two granddaughters, Chloe and Daphne. You can honor his memory by committing your life to excellence and joy. Of course, Jerry would never have said anything like that. He would have said:

«Let’s break out the booze, and have a ball…»

That works, too. L’chaim, Unca Jer.

Peter Stoller

Source:

http://www.leiberstoller.com/