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Jerry Ragovoy / Bert Berns (d)

As a songwriting team, Jerry Ragovoy and the late Bert Berns supplied such classic hits as “Cry Baby” and “Piece Of My Heart”—both of which were immortalized by Janis Joplin (“Cry Baby” had been a hit first for Garnet Mimms, while “Piece Of My Heart” was later countrified by Faith Hill). Both writers also had notable success separately: Ragovoy scored with “Time Is On My Side,” a hit for both Irma Thomas and The Rolling Stones, and Miriam Makeba’s “Pata Pata.” Berns had Them’s hit “Here Comes The Night,” and “Twist And Shout”—a hit for both The Isley Brothers and The Beatles.

Key songs in the Ragovoy and Berns catalogs include “Cry Baby,” “Everybody Needs Somebody To Love,” “Stay With Me,” “Piece Of My Heart” and “Time Is On My Side.”


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