Luigi Creatore, who with his cousin Hugo Peretti, had a career as a composer and producer that spanned three decades, has died at the age of 93 from pneumonia, his wife told the New York Times today. The pair either composed or produced a wide range of artists, including Elvis Presley, Sam Cooke, Jimmie Rodgers, the Who, Billy Fury, Bob Dylan, Andy Williams, Judy Collins, Kenny Rogers and Marty Robbins.
Creatore, born in New York City, began his career with Perretti at a wedding reception for Creatore's brother. Hugo and Luigi, as they were known, had some of their earliest success in 1957 at Roulette Records. They produced Jimmie Rodgers “Honeycomb,” which hit No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard pop charts, and No. 7 on the country charts. The follow-up, “Kisses Sweeter Than Wine,” rose to #3 in the U.S. pop charts and No. 6 in the country charts.
They then moved to RCA Victor, working with Perry Como, Sam Cooke and Ray Peterson. Among the records they were credited on were the Tokens' “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” Sam Cooke's “Chain Gang,” “Twistin' the Night Away and “Another Saturday Night,” the Isley Brothers' “Shout” and Little Peggy March's “I Will Follow Him.” They co-wrote “Can't Help Falling in Love” with George David Weiss for Elvis Presley. The song hit No. 2 in 1961 on Billboard. The pair also composed “Wild in the Country” for the King.
(Source: The Examiner)
Creatore, born in New York City, began his career with Perretti at a wedding reception for Creatore's brother. Hugo and Luigi, as they were known, had some of their earliest success in 1957 at Roulette Records. They produced Jimmie Rodgers “Honeycomb,” which hit No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard pop charts, and No. 7 on the country charts. The follow-up, “Kisses Sweeter Than Wine,” rose to #3 in the U.S. pop charts and No. 6 in the country charts.
They then moved to RCA Victor, working with Perry Como, Sam Cooke and Ray Peterson. Among the records they were credited on were the Tokens' “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” Sam Cooke's “Chain Gang,” “Twistin' the Night Away and “Another Saturday Night,” the Isley Brothers' “Shout” and Little Peggy March's “I Will Follow Him.” They co-wrote “Can't Help Falling in Love” with George David Weiss for Elvis Presley. The song hit No. 2 in 1961 on Billboard. The pair also composed “Wild in the Country” for the King.
(Source: The Examiner)