Ellie Greenwich, Legendary Songwriter, Dies at 68
- Posted on Aug 26th 2009 1:15PM by Spinner Staff
- Comments (32)
Songwriter Ellie Greenwich, who co-wrote many of the classic hits of the girl group era, has died at age 68. According to her niece, Greenwich died of a heart attack at St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital in New York, where she had been hospitalized for pneumonia.Greenwich's songs, mostly written with her then-husband, Jeff Barry, include such '60s girl-pop standards as 'Be My Baby' and 'Baby I Love You,' by the Ronettes, 'Da Doo Ron Ron' and 'Then He Kissed Me,' by the Crystals, and 'Leader of the Pack,' by the Shangri-Las. Her songbook also includes penning 'Chapel of Love' for the Dixie Cups and 'River Deep, Mountain High' for Ike & Tina Turner.
Greenwich was part of New York's Brill Building songwriting factory alongside the likes of Carole King, Neil Sedaka, Burt Bacharach and Neil Diamond. "Ellie Greenwich was one of the most important people in my career," Diamond told Spinner. "She discovered me as a down-and-out songwriter, and with her then-husband, Jeff Barry, co-produced all my early hits on Bang Records. She has remained a great friend and mentor over the years and will be missed greatly."
Greenwich's songs also have been made into hits by performers including Tommy James and the Shondells ('Hanky Panky'), Lesley Gore ('Maybe I Know,' 'The Look of Love') and Manfred Mann ('Do Wah Diddy Diddy'). She also had a Top 20 hit of her own with 'The Kind of Boy You Can't Forget' under the group name the Raindrops.
Eleanor Louise Greenwich's infatuation with music began with the least sexy of instruments: the accordion. She later learmed piano and began writing her own songs, forming a group called the Jivettes as a young teenager.
With her blond hair, huge doe eyes and easy smile, Greenwich looked like a cross between her contemporaries Dusty Springfield and Carole King. Her fresh-faced good looks, ear for melody and earnest voice got her noticed by RCA Records where she issued a single under the name of Ellie Gaye when she was 17. No one noticed.
In 1959, Greenwich met Jeff Barry, the man who was to become her romantic and creative partner. Soon after, a chance meeting with Jerry Leiber (of songwriting duo Leiber and Stoller) launched her career as a professional songwriter, and once Greenwich and Barry were married they decided to work solely with each other.
But after penning a string of iconic girl group hits, the couple divorced in 1966 and their creative partnership eventually dissolved. Greenwich continued in the music business, discovering Neil Diamond, producing Dusty Springfield and recording a solo album as well as working as a session singer for the likes of Frank Sinatra.
A difficult period followed her success, which included a nervous breakdown, and Greenwich left the business for a couple of years. In 1973, she released the singer-songwriter album 'Let It Be Written, Let It Be Sung' and later in the decade collaborated with Blondie. In the early 1980s, she wrote for Cyndi Lauper and sang backup on Lauper's solo debut, 'She's So Unusual.'
"Cyndi Lauper's stuff has a '60s edge," Greenwich said in an interview with Charlotte Greig for her 1989 book 'Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow.' "Although she doesn't wanna see it that way, because she doesn't wanna be dated, so to speak. 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun' could have been 1960s, if you took those synthesizers out."
In that same interview, Greig writes that Greenwich came across as funny, friendly and effervescent.
"She opened the door, a huge smile on her face. Her hair was platinum blonde and she was fully made up, with pale pink lipstick and plenty of black mascara, just as in the '60s. She looked dazzling, despite being 20 years older than the girl I'd seen in the photographs, and having a heavy cold that day, which she had decided to ignore. She welcomed me in, and for several hours we sat and talked while she drank coffee and chain-smoked. I was enchanted by her; Ellie had a way of sounding conspiratorial when she spoke to you, as though you were a girlfriend she hadn't seen in ages."
The 1984 Broadway musical 'Leader of the Pack' was based on Greenwich's life and music. She and Barry were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1991.











Reader Comments(1 of 2)
nanaat 8-26-2009
There have been LOTS of fond memories for me and Ms. Greenwich can be thanked for being the inspiration behind many of those memories. May God's Rest be with you and your family... Thanks once again!
johnat 8-26-2009
Here's a collection of Ellie Greenwich Videos. Enjoy. - http://www.video.e-bookssite.com/list.php?q=Ellie+Greenwich&Submit=GO
a14ktgat 8-26-2009
A great writer. I believe she was instrumental in the career of one of the great greats, Neil Diamond. God bless her.
Bobat 8-26-2009
What a legacy of terrific songs she leaves for us, rest in peace.
aliat 8-26-2009
Loved her songs, god bless her and her family.
meliat 8-26-2009
Your music was great and I enjoyed the songs for a very long time. Rest in peace, and sing among the angels.
MOat 8-26-2009
An inspiration to song writing. Our thoughts and prayers go out to your family in this time of need. RIP!
L.A. of Phillyat 8-26-2009
Great songwriter from an era of great songwriting,rest in piece,Ms Greenwich, you've left your mark in the memories of millions!!
hawgat 8-26-2009
NOW THAT is what you call PROLIFIC.
R.I.P.
jackat 8-26-2009
grew up w/ her music & I thank God I did. Thanx Ms. Greenwich & sing it out w/ the angels!!!!
carolynat 8-26-2009
Those were some of the best times in my life, Ms.Greenwich was indeed an inspiration to my generation and I thank her for giving us the great songs and memories of that era. God Bless her & her family. May God be with your family in their time of need.
Cahill833at 8-26-2009
She was Golden. I will miss her and her music
Rosieat 8-26-2009
Eli was a very big part of my life growing up dancing and singing along with all the enjoyments it brought. Those were the years when real music was written for listening to and dancing along with and I think the kids of today miss out on all that music. You will be truly missed but your music will certainly always be played in my home. Sing among the Angels their gain is our loss. God Bless and condolences to the family.
Ricardo Reyesat 8-26-2009
It's always a loss when anyone dies, but if we know Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour we can have the hope of eternal life at the our of that midnight. It would be wonderful to hear that lives such as these were dedicated to the glory and kingdom of Jesus Christ who alone deserves the songs of this earth as praise to His dear name.
Ronat 8-26-2009
Ellie Greenwich helped provide the soundtrack for my life. I am sadden to hear the news of her death. My condolances to her family and friends. She brought joy to so many people through her music.
Ron
p curleyat 8-26-2009
Unfortunately, her death will be eclipsed by the death of Ted Kennedy. Whenever someone famous dies it takes all the headlines from someone else. Farrah Fawcet Majors had the misforture to die on the same day as Michael Jackson, and John Ritter had the similar misfortune to die on the same day as Johnny Cash.
jimat 8-26-2009
you can add one other..this one goes back to 1986..desi arnaz had the misfortune to die on the same day as cary grant..guess who got and who didnt get any attention over their passing on the evening news that day?
Anna Louizaat 8-26-2009
I'd never heard her name before - but reading the list of songs I feel like she knew me personally, I knew all her songs. She wrote some great songs that will live on forever for some of us!
Michelle Galerkinat 8-26-2009
What a special lady. She gave the world incomparable music that is timeless, poignant and brilliant.
I actually had just jotted her name down to be my Facebook friend, (of all things), and now see the irony of it all. The world lost a wonderful woman!
RockinBearat 8-26-2009
Ellie, you will be missed, what you gave us can never be equalled. Linda and I remember meeting you, and what a great gal you were, and still are. Bless you, the gates of heaven, will be rocking a little more, from now on.