He is a singer-songwriter and musician born Laurence D. Weiss, nicknamed Larry, in Newark, New Jersey who grew up in Queens, New York. He began writing songs when he was a teenager and worked in his family’s business while young.
Continuing to write songs he worked freelance for the musician and producer Wes Farrell and several R&B artists such as The Shirelles and Chuck Jackson recorded his songs. In 1963 he co-wrote the song “Mr. Wishing Well” with Lockie Edwards Jr. which was recorded by Nat King Cole.
During the middle of the 1960s he began co-writing songs with Scott English and several of these brought them national and international success. They included the hit songs “Bend Me Shape Me” which was successful for The American Breed and Amen Corner, “Help Me Girl” was successful for Eric Burdon & The Animals and “Hi Ho Silver Lining” reached No. 14 in the UK for Jeff Beck.
Also in the ’60s he co-wrote songs with Jerry Ross with their “Mr. Dream Merchant” entering the US Top 40 for both Jerry Butler and New Birth. His own song “Evil Woman” was recorded by the band Spooky Tooth for the album Spooky Two.
The 1970s came around and he moved to Los Angeles, California with his family where he recorded the album of his own songs entitled Black & Blue Suite in 1974. The album contained the songs “Lay Me Down”, later covered by both Barry Manilow and Glen Campbell and “Rhinestone Cowboy” which he released as a single and reached No. 24 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. This song became a massive chart-topping national and international hit when it was recorded by Glen Campbell and he was nominated for “Song of the Year” at the 1975 Grammy Awards.
In the next decade he performed the theme song for the TV sitcom Who’s the Boss and moving into the 1990s he relocated to Nashville in 1992 where he wrote even more songs for a variety of artists.
He released his album Cuts and Scratches in 2010 and in 2019 Bruce Springsteen covered “Rhinestone Cowboy” in his film documentary Western Stars. He has also done work on creating the stage production Rhinestone Cowboy: The Musical.
Just a few of the numerous albums that contain one of his songs include Greatest Hits by Amen Corner, Beckology by Jeff Beck, Bell’s a Poppin’ by Madeline Bell, Action Party: 24 All Time Favorites by Black Lace, The Ballads of… by Pat Boone, Animalisms by Eric Burdon & The Animals, Ace Cannon & Al Hirt by Ace Cannon and Al Hirt, Rhinestone Cowboy by Glen Campbell, Boogie with Canned Heat by Canned Heat, Voice of the Heart by The Carpenters, The Very Best Of… by Vikki Carr, Love Will Keep Us Together by Ray Conniff, Thank You, Pretty Baby by Nat King Cole, Up on the Roof: Songs from the Brill Building by Neil Diamond, Kung Fu Fighter by Carl Douglas, Smokey Mountain Pop Covers by Craig Duncan, I’ll Take Romance by Percy Faith, California Nights by Lesley Gore, The Glam Rock Singles Collections by Hello, In Time by Engelbert Humperdinck, Encore/Mr. Everything by Chuck Jackson, Anthology: The Best of… by Michael Jackson, Kaempfert ’76 by Bert Kaempfert, That’s Life by Jdames Last, Playlist: The Elektra Years by Leviathan, Tryin’ to Get the Feeling by Barry Manilow, The Morning After by Maureen McGovern, Ciao Baby by The Montanas, Slow Dancing with the Moon by Dolly Parton, Ten Years Later by Gene Pitney, She’s Just an Old Love Turned Memory by Charley Pride, I Can’t Make It Alone: The Axelrod Years by Lou Rawls, Crimes Against Music by The Rubinoos, Our Day Will Come by Ruby & The Romantics, The Complete Capitol Recordings by Bobby Rydell, The Definitive Pye Collection by The Searchers, Santa Claus is Coming to Town by Slade, Dusty…. Definitely by Dusty Springfield, Iconic Songs of the 20th Century by Ray Stevens, Hard Labor by Three Dog Night, Come Together by Ike & Tina Turner, Swingin’& Singin’ by Warren Vache, Half and Half by Frank Valli & The Four Seasons, Anyone Who had a Heart by Dionne Warwick, That’s How Heartaches Are Made by Baby Washington, The Very Best Of… by Slim Whitman, and My Prescription by Bobby Womack.
Glen Campbell recordings
Hollywood Smiles (Larry Weiss)
Capitol Records 1A 006 86273
Sources:
- https://rhinestonecowboy.com/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Weiss
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Songs_written_by_Larry_Weiss
- https://www.grammy.com/artists/larry-weiss/15613
- https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0919069/
- https://secondhandsongs.com/artist/6228/all
- https://www.allmusic.com/artist/larry-weiss-mn0000133970#credits
- https://www.discogs.com/artist/662263-Larry-Weiss