Post by Rob Durkee on Dec 4, 2009 18:42:32 GMT -5
By ROCKIN' ROBIN
Aaron Schroeder, who co-wrote Elvis Presley's biggest selling single as well as three other #1's by the King of Rock and Roll, died Tuesday, December 1, 2009, in Englewood, New Jersey. He was 83 and had been suffering from Alzheimer's Disease.
Schroeder co-wrote "It's Now Or Never," Elvis' biggest selling single ever with estimated worldwide sales of over 20 million copies. Schroeder also co-wrote these Elvis chart-toppers: "A Big Hunk O' Love" (1959), "Stuck On You" (1960) and "Good Luck Charm" (1962).
The success of the hit songs "Stuck On You" and "It's Now Or Never" came on the heels of Elvis' release from the Army in 1960. Elvis was treated like a war hero in the press conference announcing his honorable discharge. Many people who'd previously disliked Elvis changed their minds when they saw how he served his Uncle Sam. Even more people caught on to Elvis after he appeared on a Frank Sinatra TV special.
During his Army stay in Germany, Elvis wanted to record more standards. "It's Now Or Never" was the first and led the way. The song had two previous titles..."O Solo Mio" in 1905 and then as "There's No Tomorrow" when it was a hit in 1949 for Tony Martin. Elvis requested and got newer lyrics for the song, which Schroeder and Wally Gold did in about a half an hour. "It's Now Or Never" would become a top 40 remake for TV actor John Schneider, reaching #32 on the Cash Box chart in 1981.
Schroeder penned another dozen Elvis songs...and he had a co-writer on all of them. Those other Elvis songs were "Any Way You Want Me," "Dixieland Rock," "Don't Leave Me Now," "First In Line," "Got A Lot O' Living To Do," "I Got Stung," "I Was The One," "In Your Arms," "Santa Bring My Baby Back to Me," "Shoppin' Around," "Young And Beautiful" and "Young Dreams."
Pat Boone trailed Elvis as the #2 act of the 1950's and Schroeder wrote two 1959 hits for Boone..."Twixt Twelve And Twenty" (#23 on the Cash Box chart) and "Fools Hall Of Fame" (#25). The year 1959 was also the year Schroeder co-wrote Annette's #16 hit, "First Name Initial" and "Lucky Devil," a #25 hit for Carl Dobkins, Jr. Plus, he co-wrote "Click Clack," a #29 hit in 1958 for Dicky Doo and The Don'ts.
Schroeder also wrote these early 1960's hits: "Because They're Young" (Duane Eddy, #3, 1960), "Half Heaven, Half heartache" (Gene Pitney, #14, 1962), "Rubber Ball" (Bobby Vee, #6, 1960), "I'm Gonna Knock On Your Door" (Eddie Hodges, #13, 1961) and "Utopia" (Frankie Gari, #36, 1960).
Aaron Schroeder, who co-wrote Elvis Presley's biggest selling single as well as three other #1's by the King of Rock and Roll, died Tuesday, December 1, 2009, in Englewood, New Jersey. He was 83 and had been suffering from Alzheimer's Disease.
Schroeder co-wrote "It's Now Or Never," Elvis' biggest selling single ever with estimated worldwide sales of over 20 million copies. Schroeder also co-wrote these Elvis chart-toppers: "A Big Hunk O' Love" (1959), "Stuck On You" (1960) and "Good Luck Charm" (1962).
The success of the hit songs "Stuck On You" and "It's Now Or Never" came on the heels of Elvis' release from the Army in 1960. Elvis was treated like a war hero in the press conference announcing his honorable discharge. Many people who'd previously disliked Elvis changed their minds when they saw how he served his Uncle Sam. Even more people caught on to Elvis after he appeared on a Frank Sinatra TV special.
During his Army stay in Germany, Elvis wanted to record more standards. "It's Now Or Never" was the first and led the way. The song had two previous titles..."O Solo Mio" in 1905 and then as "There's No Tomorrow" when it was a hit in 1949 for Tony Martin. Elvis requested and got newer lyrics for the song, which Schroeder and Wally Gold did in about a half an hour. "It's Now Or Never" would become a top 40 remake for TV actor John Schneider, reaching #32 on the Cash Box chart in 1981.
Schroeder penned another dozen Elvis songs...and he had a co-writer on all of them. Those other Elvis songs were "Any Way You Want Me," "Dixieland Rock," "Don't Leave Me Now," "First In Line," "Got A Lot O' Living To Do," "I Got Stung," "I Was The One," "In Your Arms," "Santa Bring My Baby Back to Me," "Shoppin' Around," "Young And Beautiful" and "Young Dreams."
Pat Boone trailed Elvis as the #2 act of the 1950's and Schroeder wrote two 1959 hits for Boone..."Twixt Twelve And Twenty" (#23 on the Cash Box chart) and "Fools Hall Of Fame" (#25). The year 1959 was also the year Schroeder co-wrote Annette's #16 hit, "First Name Initial" and "Lucky Devil," a #25 hit for Carl Dobkins, Jr. Plus, he co-wrote "Click Clack," a #29 hit in 1958 for Dicky Doo and The Don'ts.
Schroeder also wrote these early 1960's hits: "Because They're Young" (Duane Eddy, #3, 1960), "Half Heaven, Half heartache" (Gene Pitney, #14, 1962), "Rubber Ball" (Bobby Vee, #6, 1960), "I'm Gonna Knock On Your Door" (Eddie Hodges, #13, 1961) and "Utopia" (Frankie Gari, #36, 1960).
