Songwriter Sid Tepper, who penned hits sung by artists including Elvis Presley, Cliff Richard and Frank Sinatra, has died, aged 96.
Best known for his collaborations with Roy C Bennett – they published over 300 songs together - his most recognised songs include All That I Am and The Young Ones, a big hit for Cliff Richard and The Shadows.
Tepper began his career in 1940s' New York, and his songs have also been sung by Carl Perkins, Jeff Beck, Herman's Hermits, the Dave Clark Five, the Beatles, Perry Como, Andy Williams, Ray Charles and Louis Armstrong.
His first big hit, written with Bennett, was Red Roses for a Blue Lady – a top 10 hit for both Vaughn Monroe and Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians. It was inspired by a falling out with his wife.
With Bennett, Tepper penned more than 40 songs for Elvis Presley during the rock’n’roll star’s film period, such as GI Blues, Once Is Enough and Stay Away. The pair earned five song-writing credits on Elvis’s 1961 film Blue Hawaii.
"I believe that Elvis's movies and their songs made a mighty contribution to his career," Tepper said in a 2005 interview. "They brought him to the attention of millions of people who otherwise would never have known the greatness of the King."
Tepper died of natural causes at his home in Miami Beach, Florida.
Here's Cliff Richard performing The Young Ones:
