Aaron Schroeder facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Aaron Schroeder
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Aaron Harold Schroeder
September 7, 1926 Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
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| Died | December 2, 2009 (aged 83) Englewood, New Jersey, U.S.
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| Occupation | Songwriter, music publisher |
| Spouse(s) | Abby Steinberg (m. 1967) |
| Relatives | David Steinberg (brother-in-law) |
Aaron Harold Schroeder (September 7, 1926 – December 2, 2009) was a talented American songwriter and music publisher. He helped create many popular songs and discover new musical artists.
Contents
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Aaron Schroeder was born in Brooklyn, New York. He went to a special school for music and art in New York City, which is now called the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts.
A Hit Songwriter
Aaron Schroeder became a member of ASCAP in 1948. This group helps protect the rights of songwriters. His first big success was a song called "At a Sidewalk Penny Arcade." This song helped make Rosemary Clooney famous as a solo singer.
Schroeder went on to write more than 1500 songs! Many of these became hits. In the United Kingdom, 27 of his songs made it onto the music charts. Three of them even reached number one!
He wrote seventeen songs for the legendary singer Elvis Presley. Five of these songs became number one hits:
- "A Big Hunk o' Love"
- "Good Luck Charm"
- "I Got Stung"
- "Stuck on You"
- "It's Now or Never"
The song "It's Now or Never" was a huge success for Elvis. It was even chosen as one of the top 100 songs by Billboard Magazine on their 100th anniversary. Aaron Schroeder once said that Elvis really wanted his songs to be perfect. He was very impressed by Elvis's dedication.
Aaron Schroeder had over 500 songs recorded by many different artists. These included famous names like Roy Orbison, Nat King Cole, and Perry Como. He also helped finish the hit song "It's My Party" for Lesley Gore. He worked on it with his partner, Wally Gold.
Aaron Schroeder even appeared in a movie once! He was in the 1957 rock and roll film Jamboree as a songwriter. He also appeared on a TV game show called To Tell The Truth.
Discovering New Talent
In the early 1960s, Aaron Schroeder started his own record company called Musicor Records. He was the president of the company. He discovered and helped guide the career of singer Gene Pitney. Schroeder produced many of Pitney's hit songs, including "Town Without Pity." This song was even nominated for an Academy Award.
He also worked with famous songwriters Hal David and Burt Bacharach. Together, they created many successful songs for Gene Pitney, such as "(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance" and "24 Hours from Tulsa."
Aaron and his wife, Abby, were very good at finding new musical talent. They helped many other performers and composers become famous. Some of the artists they discovered include Barry White, Randy Newman, and even Jimi Hendrix!
Personal Life
Aaron Schroeder married Abby Steinberg on October 31, 1967. Abby worked in the music industry too. Aaron Schroeder passed away on December 2, 2009, in Englewood, New Jersey. He was 83 years old.
Sources
- Untold Gold (The Stories Behind Elvis's #1 Hits), by Ace Collins (2005)
- Writing for the King, by Ken Sharp (2006)
- Elvis - his Life from A to Z, by Fred Worth and Steve Tamerius
