Songwriter Jerry Ragovoy is shown June 14, 2010 at the 2010 Jazz Wall Hall of Fame celebration in New York. He died last week. (Fernando Leon/ASCAP/Associated Press)


CBC News
Posted: Jul 19, 2011 10:01 AM ET
Last Updated: Jul 19, 2011 10:01 AM ET
http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/story/2011/07/19/jerry-ragovoy-obit.html

Jerry Ragovoy, a songwriter who created works made famous by the Rolling Stones, Janis Joplin and Miriam Makeba, has died at the age of 80.

Ragovoy died last week at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. Jim Steinblatt, a representative for the performance rights group ASCAP, says he died of complications from a stroke.

Ragovoy wrote Time Is On My Side,recorded originally by jazz trombonist Kai Winding, then by soul singer Irma Thomas before a rock version was created by the Rolling Stones and Piece of My Heart, recorded by Erma Franklin (sister to Aretha) before it was made famous by Janis Joplin.

Joplin also recorded his My Baby, Get It While You Can, Cry Baby and Try (Just a Little Bit Harder).

Ragovoy, who wrote some of his songs under the pseudonym, Norman Meade, was a white Jew from Philadelphia who became behind-the-scenes figure in East Coast soul music in the 1960s.

He wrote Howard Tate's Get It While You Can and Lorraine Ellison's Stay With Me and was a prominent producer and arranger at Philadelphia's Chancellor Records.

He also produced gospel singer Garnet Mimms, writing Cry Baby for him long before it was rerecorded by Joplin.

Over the years, his songs were recorded by greats like Elvis Presley, B.B. King and Aretha Franklin and he wrote Pata Pata for Miriam Makeba.

Ragovoy also was a producer for artists including Bonnie Raitt, Diana Ross and Dionne Warwick.

Ginda wrote on Jul 19^th, 2011 at 9:30pm:



Mine too...what great songs he wrote! Sorry to hear of his passing...