Jordan "Jerry" Ragovoy (September 4, 1930 – July 13, 2011) was an American songwriter and record producer .
25-473: His best-known composition " Time Is on My Side " (written under the pseudonym of Norman Meade ) was made famous by the Rolling Stones , although it had been recorded earlier by Kai Winding and Irma Thomas . Ragovoy also wrote " Stay With Me ", which was originally recorded by Lorraine Ellison and made famous by Bette Midler in her film The Rose . It was also performed by Mary J. Blige at
50-543: A Grammy Award as producer on Best Score From an Original Cast Show Album , for Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope . In 1974, Ragovoy teamed up with Dionne Warwick to produce her Then Came You album, which peaked at No. 35 in the US Billboard R&B albums chart. In 2003, Ragovoy worked again with Howard Tate. The pair returned with an acclaimed CD , Howard Tate Rediscovered , written, arranged and produced by Ragovoy. In 2008, Ace Records released
75-457: A compilation album entitled, The Jerry Ragovoy Story: Time Is on My Side . In 2012, Ragovoy was portrayed by actor Brad Garrett in the film Not Fade Away . Ragovoy died, following a stroke , on July 13, 2011, at the age of 80. Song A song is a musical composition performed by the human voice . The voice often carries the melody (a series of distinct and fixed pitches) using patterns of sound and silence. Songs have
100-535: A structure to them, such as the common ABA form , and are usually made of sections that are repeated or performed with variation later. A song without instruments is said to be a cappella . Written words created specifically for music, or for which music is specifically created, are called lyrics . If a pre-existing poem is set to composed music in classical music, it is an art song . Songs that are sung on repeated pitches without distinct contours and patterns that rise and fall are called chants . Songs composed in
125-610: A cappella ) or accompanied by instruments. In popular music, a singer may perform with an acoustic guitarist, pianist, organist, accordionist, or a backing band . In jazz, a singer may perform with a single pianist, a small combo (such as a trio or quartet), or with a big band . A Classical singer may perform with a single pianist, a small ensemble, or an orchestra. In jazz and blues, singers often learn songs by ear and they may improvise some melody lines. In Classical music, melodies are written by composers in sheet music format, so singers learn to read music. Songs with more than one voice to
150-540: A composer. Art songs may be more formally complicated than popular or folk songs, though many early Lieder by the likes of Franz Schubert are in simple strophic form . The accompaniment of European art songs is considered as an important part of the composition. Some art songs are so revered that they take on characteristics of national identification. Art songs emerge from the tradition of singing romantic love songs , often to an ideal or imaginary person and from religious songs. The troubadours and bards of Europe began
175-522: A distribution arrangement was set up with Vee-Jay Records . Ace Records stopped when Vee-Jay ran out of funds and went out of business. The label was relaunched in 1971 and sold in 1997 to the Demon Music Group in the UK. Ace recorded such artists as Earl King , Frankie Ford , Jimmy Clanton , Huey "Piano" Smith , Joe Tex , Scotty McKay, and Bobby Marchan . Ace Records received a marker on
200-514: A duet sung by Crystal Gayle and Hong Kong singer Danny Chan . Prior to Joplin's death, Ragovoy wrote a song especially for her next album, titled "I'm Gonna Rock My Way to Heaven". The song was never recorded or performed until shortly before Ragovoy's death in July 2011, when it was included in the theatrical production A Night with Janis Joplin , written and directed by Randy Johnson with arrangements and musical direction by Len Rhodes. Ragovoy
225-474: A major aspect of national or cultural identity . Art songs often approach the status of folk songs when people forget who the author was. Folk songs are also frequently transmitted non-orally (that is, as sheet music ), especially in the modern era. Folk songs exist in almost every culture. The German term Volkslied was coined in the late 18th century, in the process of collecting older songs and writing new ones. Popular songs may eventually become folk songs by
250-594: A major hit for Makeba and was covered by numerous other artists. He was the founder of The Hit Factory . Ragovoy was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania , the son of a Hungarian -born Jewish optometrist . He entered record production in 1953 with "My Girl Awaits Me" by the Castelles . Another well-known song by Ragovoy is "Piece of My Heart", co-written with Bert Berns and recorded originally by Erma Franklin , and later famously covered by Big Brother and
275-712: A part singing in polyphony or harmony are considered choral works. Songs can be broadly divided into many different forms and types, depending on the criteria used. Through semantic widening , a broader sense of the word "song" may refer to instrumentals , such as the 19th century Songs Without Words pieces for solo piano. Art songs are songs created for performance by classical artists, often with piano or other instrumental accompaniment, although they can be sung solo. Art songs require strong vocal technique, an understanding of language, diction, and poetry for interpretation. Though such singers may also perform popular or folk songs on their programs, these characteristics and
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#1732787901710300-406: A romance generally has a simple accompaniment, art songs tend to have complicated, sophisticated accompaniments that underpin, embellish, illustrate or provide contrast to the voice. Sometimes the accompaniment performer has the melody, while the voice sings a more dramatic part. Folk songs are songs of often anonymous origin (or are public domain ) that are transmitted orally . They are frequently
325-499: A simple style that are learned informally by ear are often referred to as folk songs . Songs composed for the mass market , designed to be sung by professional singers who sell their recordings or live shows, are called popular songs . These songs, which have broad appeal, are often composed by professional songwriters, composers, and lyricists; art songs are composed by trained classical composers for concert or recital performances. Songs are performed in studios and an audio recording
350-481: A small group of instruments. A part song, part-song or partsong is a form of choral music that consists of a secular (vs. ecclesiastical) song written or arranged for several vocal parts . Part songs are commonly sung by an SATB choir, but sometimes for an all-male or all-female ensemble. The patter song is characterized by a moderately fast to very fast tempo with a rapid succession of rhythmic patterns in which each syllable of text corresponds to one note. It
375-485: Is a folk song that celebrates fox hunting , horse racing , gambling and other recreations. Although songs about boxers and successful racehorses were common in the nineteenth century, few are performed by current singers. In particular, fox-hunting is considered politically incorrect . The most famous song about a foxhunter, " D'ye ken John Peel " was included in The National Song Book in 1906 and
400-555: Is a staple of comic opera , especially Gilbert and Sullivan , but it has also been used in musicals and elsewhere. Ace Records (US) Ace Records was a record label that was started in August 1955 in Jackson, Mississippi by Johnny Vincent , with Teem Records as its budget subsidiary. Ace also had the Vin label. Its records were distributed independently until 1962 when
425-585: Is given to a music style from the late 16th century to early 17th century, late Renaissance to early Baroque, that was predominantly in England and France. Lute songs were generally in strophic form or verse repeating with a homophonic texture. The composition was written for a solo voice with an accompaniment, usually the lute. It was not uncommon for other forms of accompaniments such as bass viol or other string instruments, and could also be written for more voices. The composition could be performed either solo or with
450-591: Is made, or they are performed live for audience. (In some cases a song may be performed live and simultaneously recorded.) Songs may also appear in theatre (e.g., opera ), films and TV shows. A song may be for a solo singer, a lead singer supported by background singers , a duet , trio , or larger ensemble involving more voices singing in harmony , although the term is generally not used for large classical music vocal forms including opera and oratorio , which use terms such as aria and recitative instead. A song can be sung without accompaniment by instrumentalists (
475-604: Is now often heard as a marching tune. A. L. Lloyd recorded two EPs of sporting ballads; "Bold Sportsmen All" (1958) and "Gamblers and Sporting Blades (Songs of the Ring and the Racecourse)" (1962). The High Level Ranters and Martin Wyndham-Read recorded an album called "English Sporting Ballads" in 1977. The Prospect Before Us (1976) by The Albion Dance Band contains two rarely heard hunting songs. The term lute song
500-586: The 49th Grammy Awards . He also wrote " Piece of My Heart " which became a significant hit for Big Brother and the Holding Company , featuring Janis Joplin . During the 1960s, Ragovoy "helped mould the new African-American sound of soul music", according to the obituary in The Guardian . During this venture, he co-wrote the Afro-pop dance song " Pata Pata " with Miriam Makeba ; the song became
525-703: The Holding Company , featuring Janis Joplin. Between 1966 and 1968, Ragovoy was employed as producer and songwriter for the Warner Bros subsidiary Loma Records. He also co-wrote several songs in Janis Joplin 's solo career, including "Try (Just a Little Bit Harder)" (originally by Lorraine Ellison on Loma Records), " Cry Baby " (originally by Garnet Mimms and the Enchanters ), "Get it While You Can" (originally by Howard Tate, covered by Joplin) and "My Baby". In 1984, Ragovoy written "Tell Me What Can I Do",
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#1732787901710550-480: The documented tradition of romantic songs, continued by the Elizabethan lutenists. Some of the earliest art songs are found in the music of Henry Purcell . The tradition of the romance, a love song with a flowing accompaniment, often in triple meter, entered opera in the 19th century and spread from there throughout Europe. It expanded into popular music and became one of the underpinnings of popular songs. While
575-768: The same process of detachment from their source. Folk songs are more or less in the public domain by definition, though there are many folk song entertainers who publish and record copyrighted original material. This tradition led also to the singer-songwriter style of performing, where an artist has written confessional poetry or personal statements and sings them set to music, most often with guitar accompaniment. There are many genres of popular songs, including torch songs , ballads , novelty songs , anthems , rock, blues and soul songs as well as indie music. Other commercial genres include rapping . Folk songs include ballads, lullabies , love songs , mourning songs, dance songs, work songs , ritual songs and many more. A sporting song
600-407: The use of poetry are what distinguish art songs from popular songs. Art songs are a tradition from most European countries, and now other countries with classical music traditions. German-speaking communities use the term art song ("Kunstlied") to distinguish so-called serious compositions from folk songs ( Volkslied ). The lyrics are often written by a poet or lyricist and the music separately by
625-516: Was in attendance on opening night when the show premiered at Portland Center Stage on 27 May 2011. Ragovoy also produced recorded work by Bonnie Raitt and Milkwood . However, his involvement in the music industry was less prolific from the 1970s onwards. In 1968 Ragovoy created and was the original owner of the famous world class recording complex HIT FACTORY STUDIOS in Manhattan hosting numerous well known R&R artists. In 1973, he won
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