Songwriter Jerry Leiber, who with composer Mike Stoller wrote rock 'n'roll hits such as "Hound Dog," "Stand By Me," and "Jailhouse Rock," has died.

Mike Stoller, Elvis Presley and Jerry Leiber

Leiber died Monday at a hospital in Los Angeles of cardiopulmonary failure at the age of 78.

Leiber and Stoller, who met as teenagers in the 1950s, wrote 200 hits that were performed by such artists as Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, James Brown, B.B. King, the Drifters and Peggy Lee.

Leiber's first language was Yiddish, and he was frequently taunted on the streets of Baltimore as a child by a gang that called him "Jewboy."

"He was my friend, my buddy, my writing partner for 61 years, He had a way with words. There was nobody better. I'm going to miss him," Stoller said in a statement.

Leiber and Stoller have been honored by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Songwriters Hall of Fame and many other music organizations.

via jta.org