Jordan "Jerry" Ragovoy (September 4, 1930 – July 13, 2011) was an American songwriter and record producer. His best-known composit...
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 was performed by Mary J. Blige at the 49th Grammy Awards.
An important behind-the-scenes force of East Coast soul music, Ragovoy wrote or co-wrote several classic New York and Philadelphia soul records in the 1960s, often distinguished by a conspicuous gospel feel. The best of these included Garnet Mimms' "Cry Baby," Erma Franklin's "Piece of My Heart," Howard Tate's "Get It While You Can," all later covered by Janis Joplin, plus "Time Is on My Side" and "Stay With Me." Ragovoy also contributed to first-class soul records as a producer and arranger.
Ragovoy was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and entered record production in 1953 with "My Girl Awaits Me" by The Castelles. He worked at Philadelphia's Chancellor Records (where Fabian and Frankie Avalon had hits) and wrote The Majors' vocal group single "A Wonderful Dream," which made #22 in the Billboard Hot 100 in 1962. Around this time he began writing songs with another white soul songwriter-producer, Bert Berns, including "Cry Baby" by Garnet Mimms and The Enchanters, which made #4 in 1963.
Another well-known song by Ragovoy is "Piece of My Heart", co-written with Berns and recorded originally by Erma Franklin, and later famously covered by Big Brother and the Holding Company. 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".
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 1973, he won a Grammy Award as producer on Best Score From an Original Cast Show Album, for Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope.
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 a compilation album entitled, The Jerry Ragovoy Story: Time Is on My Side.
Ragovoy died, following a stroke, on July 13, 2011, at the age of 80.
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