Jerry Ragovoy
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Jordan "Jerry" Ragovoy (September 4, 1930 – July 13, 2011) was an American
songwriter A songwriter is a person who creates musical compositions or writes lyrics for songs, or both. The writer of the music for a song can be called a composer, although this term tends to be used mainly in the classical music genre and film scoring. ...
and
record producer A record producer or music producer is a music creating project's overall supervisor whose responsibilities can involve a range of creative and technical leadership roles. Typically the job involves hands-on oversight of recording sessions; ensu ...
who wrote several pop songs including the instrumental " Time Is on My Side" (under the
pseudonym A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true meaning ( orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individual's o ...
of Norman Meade for Kai Winding), which was recorded by
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with lyrics added by Jimmy Norman for an earlier version by Irma Thomas; " Stay With Me" for Lorraine Ellison (later covered by Bette Midler in the film '' The Rose''); and " Piece of My Heart", which became a significant hit for
Janis Joplin Janis Lyn Joplin (January 19, 1943 – October 4, 1970) was an American singer and songwriter. One of the most iconic and successful Rock music, rock performers of her era, she was noted for her powerful mezzo-soprano vocals and her "electric" ...
when still with Big Brother and the Holding Company. During the 1960s, Ragovoy "helped mould the new African-American sound of soul music", according to the obituary in ''
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''. During this venture, he co-wrote the Afro-pop dance song " Pata Pata" with Miriam Makeba; the song became a major hit for Makeba and was covered by numerous other artists. He founded the New York recording studio The Hit Factory in 1969, producing and arranging artists such as
Dionne Warwick Marie Dionne Warwick ( ; born Marie Dionne Warrick; December 12, 1940) is an American singer, actress, and television host. During her career, Warwick has won many awards, including six Grammy Awards. She has been inducted into the Hollywood Wa ...
and Bonnie Raitt until he sold it to Troy Germano in 1975.


Early life and career

Ragovoy was born in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...
, the son of a Hungarian-born
Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...
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. He entered record production in 1953 with "My Girl Awaits Me" by the Castelles. Another well-known song by Ragovoy is "Piece of My Heart", co-written with Bert Berns and recorded originally by
Erma Franklin Erma Vernice Franklin (March 13, 1938 – September 7, 2002) was an American gospel and soul singer. She recorded the original version of " Piece of My Heart", written and produced by Jerry Ragovoy and Bert Berns in 1967, for which she was nom ...
, and later famously covered by Big Brother and the Holding Company, featuring Janis Joplin. Between 1966 and 1968, Ragovoy was employed as producer and songwriter for the
Warner Bros Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (WBEI), commonly known as Warner Bros. (WB), is an American film studio, filmed entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios Burbank, Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California and th ...
subsidiary Loma Records. He also co-wrote several songs in
Janis Joplin Janis Lyn Joplin (January 19, 1943 – October 4, 1970) was an American singer and songwriter. One of the most iconic and successful Rock music, rock performers of her era, she was noted for her powerful mezzo-soprano vocals and her "electric" ...
's
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career, including "Try (Just a Little Bit Harder)" (originally by Lorraine Ellison on Loma Records), " Cry Baby" (originally by Garnet Mimms and the Enchanters), "Get it While You Can" (originally by Howard Tate, covered by Joplin) and "My Baby". In 1984, Ragovoy written "Tell Me What Can I Do", a duet sung by Crystal Gayle and Hong Kong singer
Danny Chan Danny Chan Pak-Keung (; 7 September 1958 – 25 October 1993) was a Hong Kong singer, songwriter and actor. One of the first Cantopop idols in Hong Kong, he gained fame alongside performers Alan Tam, Anita Mui, and Leslie Cheung, who wer ...
. Prior to Joplin's death, Ragovoy wrote a song especially for her next album, titled "I'm Gonna Rock My Way to Heaven". The song was never recorded or performed until shortly before Ragovoy's death in July 2011, when it was included in the theatrical production '' A Night with Janis Joplin'', written and directed by Randy Johnson with arrangements and musical direction by Len Rhodes. Ragovoy was in attendance on opening night when the show premiered at Portland Center Stage on 27 May 2011.


Later career

Ragovoy also produced recorded work by Bonnie Raitt and Milkwood. However, his involvement in the
music industry The music industry are individuals and organizations that earn money by Songwriter, writing songs and musical compositions, creating and selling Sound recording and reproduction, recorded music and sheet music, presenting live music, concerts, ...
was less prolific from the 1970s onwards. In 1969 Ragovoy created and was the original owner of the famous world class recording complex HIT FACTORY STUDIOS in Manhattan hosting numerous well known R&R artists. In 1973, he won a
Grammy Award The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious ...
as producer on Best Score From an Original Cast Show Album, for '' Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope''. In 1974, Ragovoy teamed up with
Dionne Warwick Marie Dionne Warwick ( ; born Marie Dionne Warrick; December 12, 1940) is an American singer, actress, and television host. During her career, Warwick has won many awards, including six Grammy Awards. She has been inducted into the Hollywood Wa ...
to produce her ''Then Came You'' album, which peaked at No. 35 in the US ''
Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...
'' R&B albums chart. In 2003, Ragovoy worked again with Howard Tate. The pair returned with an acclaimed CD, ''Howard Tate Rediscovered'', written, arranged and produced by Ragovoy. In 2008, Ace Records released a
compilation album A compilation album comprises Album#Tracks, tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one Performing arts#Performers, performer or by several performers. If the recordings are from ...
entitled, ''The Jerry Ragovoy Story: Time Is on My Side''. In 2012, Ragovoy was portrayed by actor Brad Garrett in the film '' Not Fade Away''.


Death

Ragovoy died, following a
stroke Stroke is a medical condition in which poor cerebral circulation, blood flow to a part of the brain causes cell death. There are two main types of stroke: brain ischemia, ischemic, due to lack of blood flow, and intracranial hemorrhage, hemor ...
, on July 13, 2011, at the age of 80.


Notable compositions


References


External links


Discography of Loma Records
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Ragovoy, Jerry 1930 births 2011 deaths Songwriters from Pennsylvania Record producers from Pennsylvania Musicians from Philadelphia Place of death missing Grammy Award winners American people of Hungarian-Jewish descent