Jerry Lieber: A Wizard Is No More
In 1994, Right before he died, Charles Bukowski released Pulp, a marvelous novel where his character, in this here a story a private eye, meets death in the shape of a Gigantic Red Sparrow. Jerry Lieber crafted songs meant to last for a summer and forever, many of which, after the incredible period when stacks and piles of songs of his were sent to be sung by the best voices on Planet Earth, in the 1950s or anytime, he used for his label Red Bird Records, together with Mike Stoller, or the likes of Ellie Greenwhich, Jeff Barry, Carole King or Gerry Goffin, creating eternal songs sung by one or-many-hit groups, and even scaring the wonderful Phil Spector…. I love his songs so much, his work, and how many of his jewels have I sung on a daily basis, I today imagine him meeting The Big Red Sparrow, The Big Red Bird, who’d tell him, as comes the final moment, I couldn’t wait to meet you, I’m such a Big Fan…
