Died On This Date (June 25, 1987) Boudleaux Bryant / Wrote Many Pop Hits
themusicsover Boudleaux Bryant
February 13, 1920 – June 25, 1987
Along with his wife, Felice, Boudleaux Bryant wrote such early pop hits as “Bye Bye Love,” “Rocky Top,” and “All I Have To Do Is Dream,” the last two being big hits for the Everly Brothers. The future Mr. & Mrs. Boudleaux met in 1945 and so began a successful songwriting partnership (and marriage) that would last some forty years. During that time, they wrote songs for a virtual who’s who of popular music. That list includes Tony Bennett, the Grateful Dead, Dean Martin, Ray Charles, Nazareth, Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, Elvis Costello, Simon & Garfunkel, Roy Orbison, Buddy Holly and Sarah Vaughan. Together they penned over 1500 recorded songs which obviously landed them into several songwriter halls of fame. Boudleaux Bryant passed away from natural causes on June 25, 1987
Along with her husband 
Gerry Niewood was a jazz saxophonist who at the time of his death, played in Chuck Mangione’s band. He and Mangione grew up in the same town and graduated from its music school. In 1981, Niewood played with Simon & Garfunkel at their legendary Central Park concert. On February 12, 2009, Niewood and fellow band member 
Paul Beaver was one of electronic music’s early pioneers. Armed with a Moog synthesizer, he partnered with Bernie Krause to form Beaver & Krause in 1966. Besides being one of the first groups to release an electronic pop album, Beaver & Krause helped spread the use of synthesizers to the rock community. The Byrds, the Doors and Simon & Garfunkel are all said to have been inspired by Beaver & Krause to experiment with the instrument. Beaver & Krause albums are also considered by some to have sparked the New Age movement. Over the course of his career, Beaver contributed to recordings by the Monkees and the Mamas and the Papas. Paul Beaver suffered a brain aneurysm in 1975 and passed away at 50 later that year.
