Sid Tepper, Elvis Presley Songwriter, Dead at 96

Tepper wrote 45 songs for Elvis, and wrote tunes for other music icons including Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, Ray Charles and Louie Armstrong

Sid Tepper, a songwriter who wrote 45 Elvis Presley tunes, died of natural causes on Friday. He was 96.

Tepper’s publicist, Steve Elzer, told TheWrap that Tepper passed away while surrounded by his family at his home on Williams Island in Miami Beach, Florida.

The King of Rock and Roll wasn’t the only iconic artist Tepper wrote for with writing partner Roy C. Bennett, either. Other major musicians who sang Tepper’s tunes include Frank Sinatra, Jeff Beck, The Beatles, Ray Charles and Louie Armstrong.

A few of his hits include “Red Roses For A Blue Lady,” “The Naughty Lady of Shady Lane,” “Kiss of Fire,” “G.I. Blues,” “Don’t Come Running Back To Me” and the Elvis-Ann-Margret duet, “The Lady Loves Me.”

Tepper, born June 25, 1918, became a member of ASCAP in 1947 after serving in World War II in the Special Services singing and entertaining troops.

In 2002, he was honored in Memphis for his part in Elvis Presley’s stellar career. He also won a BMI Award for 1 million plays of “Kiss of Fire,” a popular song he wrote for Georgia Gibbs, and a Country Music Award for Eddie Arnold’s rendition of “Red Roses For A Blue Lady.”

Tepper’s wife, Lillian, passed away 10 years ago. He leaves behind his 5 children (Susan Tepper-Kopacz, Michelle Tepper-Kapit, Brian Tepper, Warren Tepper and Jackie Tepper), 7 grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren.

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