Songwriter, producer Jerry Fuller passes away

Monday, July 22, 2024 – Jerry Fuller, a songwriter and producer who worked with Glen Campbell, passed away Monday at 85 at his home in Sherman Oaks, Cal.

Fuller was born in Fort Worth, Texas on Nov. 19, 1938. He and his brother Bill performed as a duo in Texas for the local Lin label. Jerry soon went out on his and began writing songs.

In 1959, he moved to Los Angeles and signed with Challenge Records. His rockabilly version of "Tennessee Waltz" hit 63 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Fuller recorded one solo album and several singles in a pop-rockabilly vein from 1959-61,

In 1961, he wrote "Travelin' Man" which was recorded by Ricky Nelson, selling 6 million copies worldwide. Fuller wrote 11 of Nelson's recordings, including the U.S Top 10 hits "A Wonder Like You," "Young World" and "It's Up to You."

Fuller toured as a singer with The Champs, which included Campbell, Jimmy Seals and Dash Crofts of Seals & Crofts fame.

He served in the army for two years and moved to New York to work for Challenge / Four Star in New York City to run its east coast operation. Fuller discovered the garage band, The Knickerbockers and produced their big 1965 hit "Lies" (Can No. 11).

He soon would have major success in the pop world. In1967, he switched to Columbia. He discovered Gary Puckett and The Union Gap. He wrote and produced "Young Girl," "Lady Willpower" and "Over You." He also produced Mark Lindsay, The Peanut Butter Conspiracy, and O.C. Smith, for whom he produced the hits "The Son of Hickory Holler's Tramp" and "Little Green Apples." |

He produced the hit "Show and Tell" for Al Wilson in 1973.

He became more involved in country music. Reba McEntire, Ray Price, Barbara Mandrell, Percy Sledge, Eddy Arnold, Marty Robbins, Lee Greenwood, Steve Wariner, Lynn Anderson, and Hank Snow all recorded his songs.

Fuller wrote hits for Price - "That's All She Wrote," "To Make A Long Story Short" and "Feet" - as well as McEntire's "I Still Long To Hold You Now And Then" and "That Makes Two Of Us."

In 1982, he produced Campbell's "Old Home Town" album, whuch included "I Love How You Love Me" and his song "A Woman's Touch."

Fuller also produced Collin Raye.