Jerry Ragovoy
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Jerry Ragovoy (born 1935, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania [1]) is an American songwriter and record producer. His best-known composition "Time Is On My Side" (written under the pseudonym of Norman Meade) was made famous by the 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 performed by Mary J. Blige at the 49th Grammy Awards.
[edit] Career
Ragovoy's first recorded song was "This Silver Ring" by The Castelles.
Another well-known song by Ragovoy is "Piece of My Heart", co-written with Bert Berns, and performed originally by Erma Franklin, and later famously covered by Big Brother and the Holding Company. During the years 1966-68, Ragovoy was hired as producer and song writer 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".
Other compositions include "Ain't Nobody Home" by Howard Tate, B. B. King and Bonnie Raitt; "Cry Baby" by Garnet Mimms and The Enchanters (later covered by Janis Joplin); "I'll Take Good Care of You" and "It's Been Such a Long Way Home" by Garnet Mimms and The Enchanters; "Heart Be Still" by Lorraine Ellison; "One Way Love" by The Drifters; "Pata Pata" by Miriam Makeba; "Stop" by Howard Tate (later covered by the James Gang and even later by Jimi Hendrix and his Band Of Gypsys); "You Better Believe It" by the Small Faces; "You Don't Know Nothing About Love" by Renée Geyer; "It Was Easier to Hurt Her" originally by Garnet Mimms and later by Chris Farlowe; "Either Side of the Same Town" by Elvis Costello; "What's It Gonna Be" by Dusty Springfield; "About This Thing Called Love" by Fabian; "All I Know is The Way I Feel" by Irma Thomas; "Cloudy With a Chance of Tears" by The Manhattans; "I Can't Wait Until I See My Baby's Face" by Baby Washington; "I'll Move You No Mountain" by Hank Crawford; "Love Makin' Music" by Barry White; "Sure Thing" by Dionne Warwick; "You Got It" by Diana Ross; and "A Wonderful Dream" by The Majors.[2] [3]
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.[4]
