You may not know her name, but she was an important part of American popular music. Ellie Greenwich died today she was 68. It was a heart attack. She had been battling pneumonia at New York's Roosevelt Hospital.
Ellie wrote or co-wrote the following:
Be My Baby (Ronnettes)
Baby, I Love You (Ronnettes)
Leader Of The Pack (Shangri-La's)
Chapel Of Love (Dixie Cups)
River Deep, Mountain High (Ike & Tina Turner)
Then He Kissed Me (The Crystals)
Da Doo Ron Ron (The Crystals)
Doo Wah Ditty (Manfred Mann)
Hanky Panky (Tommy James & The Shondells)
Ellie also co-produced and sang background vocals for Neil Diamond's early work: “Kentucky Woman,” “Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon,” “Cherry, Cherry,” “Red, Red Wine” and “I’m a Believer.”
Greenwich also recorded her own solo album (picture), Ellie Greenwich Composes, Produces and Sings, in 1968, and often sang backup for artists like Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin and Dusty Springfield.
This was a very talented lady. All of the above songs are featured on my Pandora Internet Radio Station.
Ellie will be missed.
