As a huge fan of Jerry Fuller‘s illustrious career in music, I can’t help but be in awe of the incredible impact he had on the industry and the lives of countless artists. From his early days discovering future stars like Glen Campbell and Gary Puckett, to his later successes with country greats like Ray Price and Reba McEntire, Fuller’s influence was felt far and wide.
Jerry Fuller, the accomplished songwriter and producer behind popular tunes such as “Travelin’ Man” for Ricky Nelson, “Young Girl” by Gary Puckett and the Union Gap, “Show and Tell” for Al Wilson, and “Little Green Apples” for O.C. Smith, has passed away at the age of 85.
Throat Cancer claimed the life of Fuller at his Sherman Oaks residence on Thursday. This information was shared by publicist Bobbi Marcus with The Hollywood Reporter.
Back in the late 60s, I was part of a successful music scene, contributing to Puckett’s first million-selling hit “Woman, Woman.” Released in ’67, it reached an impressive third place on the Billboard Hot 100. Following that success, I penned and produced our next three multimillion sellers: “Young Girl,” “Lady Willpower,” and “Over You.” All of these tunes made it to the top 10 charts, even surpassing The Beatles’ sales in ’68. As a gamer, I can only imagine how exciting it would be to create music that resonates with so many people!
“I have so much to express about a man whose musical vision shaped my own identity and destiny. Anyone struggling to put into words what an impactful figure Jerry was in the realm of music. A heartfelt thank you, Jerry. The world was enriched by your presence and talents.”
Previously, during his travels with The Champs (famous for their hit “Tequila”), Fuller encountered Glen Campbell in 1960 and successfully persuaded him and the musician-guitarist to relocate to Los Angeles.
Campbell helped Fuller demo “Travelin’ Man,” which he had written for Sam Cooke. Nelson, however, wound up with it, and the song reached No. 1 on the Hot 100 in 1961.
In total, Nelson recorded 19 Fuller tunes, which included “Young World,” “It’s Up to You,” “A Wonder Like You,” and “Congratulations.”
Fuller was responsible for creating two popular hits. In 1968, he helped O.C. Smith record “Little Green Apples,” which reached No. 2 on the charts. Seven years later, he wrote and produced Wilson’s version of “Show and Tell,” which became a top hit in 1974.
Among four siblings, Fuller was the one who entered this world on November 19, 1938, in Fort Worth, Texas. At the age of eleven, he and his brother Bill formed a duo known as The Fuller Bros. Their mother, Lola, encouraged their musical talents by having them perform a cappella at local minstrel shows and jamborees.
In 1957, following his graduation from high school, Fuller produced the track “I Found a New Love” for Lin Records. By the year 1958, he had completed his debut album, titled “Teenage Love.”
In 1959, he relocated to Los Angeles and began his career as a demo singer. This opportunity eventually brought him a recording and songwriting agreement with Gene Autry’s Four Star Music and Challenge Records. His debut single for the label was “Betty My Angel,” which was followed by “Tennessee Waltz,” “The Place Where I Cry,” “Guilty of Loving You,” “I Get Carried Away,” and “Shy Away.”
When “Travelin’ Man” helped launch his career, Fuller was unexpectedly called up for military duty in the U.S. Army. For the next two years, he was based in upstate New York where he composed songs and provided entertainment for the troops. Following his military service, he joined Four Star in New York to manage its office.
At Albany’s nightclub, I came across an amazing house band called The Knickerbockers. Their music left me captivated, and as a devoted fan, I took it upon myself to bring them to the limelight. I secured a contract for them with Challenge Records, marking the beginning of my producing career. The first record I produced for them was their top-20 hit, “Lies.”
After Mark Lindsay departed from Paul Revere and the Raiders to pursue a solo career, Fuller released his hit singles “Arizona” (1969), “Miss America,” and “Silver Bird” during this time.
During the 1970s, he established businesses in partnership with Moonchild Productions and Fullness Music Co. He collaborated with musicians such as Johnny Mathis and Mac Davis through these companies. Additionally, he reconnected with his Texas heritage and started composing country tunes together with Ray Price, Reba McEntire, and other artists.
Price captured several of Fuller’s songs, such as “That’s All She Wrote,” “To Make a Long Story Short,” and “Feet.” The country music charts also featured other popular tunes of the songwriter, like McEntire’s “I Still Long to Hold You Now and Then” and their duet with Jacky Ward, titled “That Makes Two of Us.”
Wilson’s “Show and Tell” made it to No. 1 on three genre lists and sold 3 million copies.
In 1982, Fuller released Campbell’s “Old Home Town” album, containing the popular tracks “I Love How You Love Me” and the self-written “A Woman’s Touch.” This latter song was additionally a success for Tom Jones that same year.
Over a thousand songs were penned by Fuller, which were brought to life by an impressive roster of artists such as Gene Vincent, Bobby Vee, James Darren, Lawrence Welk, Lou Rawls, The Ventures, The Kingston Trio, Roy Clark, Cher, Ray Charles, Don McLean, Frankie Laine, Lynn Anderson, Barbara Mandrell, Vanessa Williams, Pat Boone, Engelbert Humperdinck, The Lettermen, Al Hirt, and Percy Sledge, to name but a few.
Alongside Annette, whom he married in 1965 with Campbell acting as the best man, survivors are their children Adam and Anna.
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2024-07-23 01:55