Songwriter, Music Producer. He was a significant figure of the "East Coast soul music" genre of the 1960s. Born Jordan Ragovoy in Philadelphia, the son of a optometrist, his musical interests where shaped by gospel and rhythm and blues which defined his later writing-style. He initiated his career in the recording industry in 1953 with Philadelphia's Chancellor Records and first came to prominence with his co-writing of the Castelles' score "My Girl Awaits Me". During the early 1960s, Ragovoy began a successful collaboration with songwriter Bert Burns and their partnership yielded several Garnet Mimms' hits including the Top-10 score "Cry Baby" (reaching number 4 in 1963) and "Baby Don't You Weep" (1963). Ragovoy will perhaps be best remembered for his co-writing under the name Norman Meade (along with Jimmy Norman) of "Time Is On My Side", recorded by the Rolling Stones in 1964 which became their first Top-10 song on the US Pop Charts. Among his other efforts with Burns include "Piece of My Heart", which became a Top-20 hit for Janis Joplin in 1968, as well as her song "Try (Just a Little Harder). In 1969, Ragovoy founded the Hit Factory studio and produced such albums as the Paul Butterfield Blues Band's "Keep On Moving" (1969) and Bonnie Raitt's "Streetlights" (1974). In 1973, he received a Grammy Award for Best Score From an Original Cast Show Album with "Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope". Over the last few decades, he was inactive in the industry. He died of complications from a stroke.
Songwriter, Music Producer. He was a significant figure of the "East Coast soul music" genre of the 1960s. Born Jordan Ragovoy in Philadelphia, the son of a optometrist, his musical interests where shaped by gospel and rhythm and blues which defined his later writing-style. He initiated his career in the recording industry in 1953 with Philadelphia's Chancellor Records and first came to prominence with his co-writing of the Castelles' score "My Girl Awaits Me". During the early 1960s, Ragovoy began a successful collaboration with songwriter Bert Burns and their partnership yielded several Garnet Mimms' hits including the Top-10 score "Cry Baby" (reaching number 4 in 1963) and "Baby Don't You Weep" (1963). Ragovoy will perhaps be best remembered for his co-writing under the name Norman Meade (along with Jimmy Norman) of "Time Is On My Side", recorded by the Rolling Stones in 1964 which became their first Top-10 song on the US Pop Charts. Among his other efforts with Burns include "Piece of My Heart", which became a Top-20 hit for Janis Joplin in 1968, as well as her song "Try (Just a Little Harder). In 1969, Ragovoy founded the Hit Factory studio and produced such albums as the Paul Butterfield Blues Band's "Keep On Moving" (1969) and Bonnie Raitt's "Streetlights" (1974). In 1973, he received a Grammy Award for Best Score From an Original Cast Show Album with "Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope". Over the last few decades, he was inactive in the industry. He died of complications from a stroke.
Bio by: C.S.
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