Songwriter & Producer Jerry Fuller Dies At 85

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Jerry Fuller. Photo: Courtesy of Footprint Sound

Jerry Fuller, the songwriter and producer behind such hits as Ricky Nelson’s “Travelin’ Man,” Al Wilson’s “Show and Tell” and Gary Puckett And The Union Gap’s “Young Girl,” died on July 18 due to complications from lung cancer. He was 85.

Born in Forth Worth, Texas into a musical family, Fuller moved to Los Angeles in 1959 to pursue a career. Early on, he worked as a demo singer, which led to a recording/songwriting contract with Gene Autry’s Four Star Music and Challenge Records. He charted several singles on the label, including “Betty My Angel,” “Tennessee Waltz,” “The Place Where I Cry,” “Guilty Of Loving You,” “I Get Carried Away” and “Shy Away.”

Fuller was touring with The Champs in the 1960s when he met Glen Campbell. Impressed by his voice, he convinced Campbell to move to Los Angeles, where the young talent helped him demo the Fuller-penned “Travelin’ Man.” The song became a Gold-certified, No. 1 hit for Nelson, starting a string of Nelson hits with Fuller such as “Young World,” “It’s Up To You,” “A Wonder Like You” and “Congratulations.”

Unfortunately, Fuller was drafted into the U.S. Army just as he was becoming an in-demand songwriter. After two years in the service, he accepted an offer to lead Four Star’s New York office. During a night out in Albany, Fuller made a connection with The Knickerbockers and eventually signed them. His first No. 1 as a producer came with the group’s “Lies” that reached No. 1 in the U.K.

He continued to have hits as a producer in the ’60s and ’70s, including Gary Puckett And The Union Gap’s “Woman, Woman,” “Young Girl,” “Lady Willpower” and “Over You,” all of which sold millions of copies. Fuller also produced O.C. Smith’s “Little Green Apples” and Mark Lindsay’s “Arizona,” “Miss America” and “Silver Bird.”

He ventured further into business in the ’70s, starting companies Moonchild Productions Inc. and Fullness Music Company, and working with artists like Johnny Mathis and Mac Davis. He also started writing country songs, enjoying hits with Ray Price’s “That’s All She Wrote,” “To Make A Long Story Short” and “Feet” as well as Reba McEntire’s “I Still Long To Hold You Now And Then” and “That Makes Two Of Us.” He wrote Al Wilson’s multi-genre smash “Show And Tell,” which was Cashbox‘s Single of the Year for 1973.

In 1982, Fuller produced his old friend Campbell’s Old Home Town album, featuring “I Love How You Love Me” and his song “A Woman’s Touch.”

Other artists who recorded one or more of Fuller’s over 1,100 songs include Sam Cooke, Lou Rawls, Hank Snow, Roy Clark, Cher, Ray Charles, Don McLean, Dottie West, Barbara Mandrell, Marty Robbins, Johnny Lee, Pat Boone, Steve Wariner, Percy Sledge and many more.

Fuller died surrounded by family and loved ones. He is survived by his wife, Annette Fuller and their children, Adam Lee and Anna Nicole. Funeral services have yet to be announced.

LB Cantrell
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