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Larry Weiss

Laurence D. "Larry" Weiss (born March 25, 1941) is an singer-songwriter and renowned for composing the country-pop hit "Rhinestone Cowboy", which became a number-one single for in 1975 and earned awards including (CMA) Song of the Year, (ACM) Song of the Year, and a Grammy nomination for Song of the Year. Born in , and raised in , , Weiss began writing songs as a teenager, initially freelancing for producers like and contributing to R&B artists such as and before achieving broader success in the . Weiss's career highlights include co-writing 1960s pop standards like "Bend Me, Shape Me" (a top-10 hit for The American Breed) and "Mr. Dream Merchant" (performed by artists including and ), as well as songs recorded by major figures such as , , and . In the 1970s, after moving to in 1971, he released his debut album Black & Blue Suite on 20th Century Records, featuring his original version of "Rhinestone Cowboy", which ASCAP later recognized as one of the top 10 most-performed country songs of the . He performed the theme song for the 1980s television series Who's the Boss? and relocated to Nashville in 1992 to focus on songwriting. Throughout his over-five-decade career, Weiss has balanced songwriting with occasional performing and recording, releasing a second album, Cuts and Scratches, in 2009 after a 35-year hiatus, and developing a stage musical adaptation of "Rhinestone Cowboy". His work has garnered additional accolades, including American Music Award recognition for Campbell's album and awards for multi-million performances of songs like "". In October 2025, he was nominated for induction into the class of 2026. In 2019, covered "Rhinestone Cowboy" for his film , renewing interest in Weiss's catalog.

Early life

Childhood and family background

Laurence D. "Larry" Weiss was born on March 25, 1941, in Newark, New Jersey. After his early years in Newark, Weiss was raised in Queens, New York City, where his family relocated. He was the son of a textile manufacturer, and the family was deeply involved in the textile sales business, which offered a stable economic foundation but no direct musical influences during his formative years. As the eldest son, Weiss worked in the family business alongside his younger brothers after school, contributing to its operations. Weiss hails from a Jewish family, part of the broader Jewish community whose cultural traditions, including those in the arts, would later intersect with his career path.

Initial forays into music

During his teenage years in , , Larry Weiss began exploring music as a personal outlet, writing his first songs amid the vibrant pop and emerging rock scenes of the . Growing up near a predominantly neighborhood, he absorbed influences from and through informal exposure, including sneaking into a local Baptist church to listen to performances. These sounds, combined with the era's doo-wop harmonies and early rock 'n' roll energy prevalent in New York's street corners and radio airwaves, shaped his initial creative impulses without any structured guidance. Weiss was entirely self-taught, receiving no formal musical but learning to play guitar and by ear. His father gifted him a sunburst Gibson guitar during his early teens, sparking hands-on experimentation, while he informally practiced on the family's keyboard. Overcoming personal learning challenges, he developed his songwriting skills as a solitary , drawing additional inspiration from jazz pianists like and , as well as standards and crooners such as , , and . This amateur pursuit remained secondary to familial obligations, as Weiss balanced his budding compositions with expectations to join the family's textile sales business in Queens. Songwriting served as a creative escape rather than a career ambition at this stage, allowing him to hone his craft amid the everyday demands of the textile trade.

Career

Early songwriting and professional entry

In the early 1960s, Larry Weiss balanced his burgeoning interest in songwriting with a position in his family's in , working alongside his father and brothers in a lower office. Although initially involved in the family enterprise after moving to , Weiss gradually shifted his focus toward music, eventually quitting the textiles job to pursue songwriting full-time while his father financed his initial demo recordings. By the mid-1960s, Weiss transitioned to a professional role as a freelance songwriter for music publishers in , debuting in the industry at 1650 Broadway—a key location in the Brill Building era—under producer . In his first year, he contributed to an impressive 24 recordings, including "Mr. Wishing Well" (co-written with Lockie Edwards Jr. and recorded by ) and drawing influences from songwriting teams like and as well as and . Weiss's early professional output included collaborations with lyricist , yielding tracks such as "," a 1967 hit for that later became a soccer . Together, they also wrote songs recorded by artists including , The Hassles (featuring a young ), Paul Revere & The Raiders, and , along with other pop and rock material like "," a million-seller for The American Breed in 1968, and "Mr. Dream Merchant" (co-written with Jerry Ross, performed by and The Delfonics). His songs were also recorded by major artists such as and . These efforts marked Weiss's initial successes as a behind-the-scenes writer in pop and rock, without achieving major personal hits as a performer during this phase.

Breakthrough hits and recordings

In 1971, Larry Weiss relocated from to with his family to further his songwriting ambitions, while maintaining a day job as an executive at . This move positioned him in the heart of the music industry, allowing him to focus on original material amid his professional duties. Weiss achieved his first major breakthrough as a co-writer with "," penned alongside in 1967 and first recorded that year by . The song gained widespread popularity through The American Breed's 1968 cover, which peaked at No. 5 on the and spent 14 weeks on the chart, including seven in the Top 10. This success established Weiss as a rising talent in pop songcraft, with the track's playful lyrics about romantic pliability resonating across radio formats. By the mid-1970s, Weiss transitioned into performing his own compositions, debuting as a recording artist with the 1974 album Black & Blue Suite on 20th Century Records. The album's title track, "Rhinestone Cowboy," which Weiss wrote as a metaphor for the gritty pursuit of stardom in Hollywood, was released as a single and reached No. 24 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, marking modest commercial reception for his artist debut. However, Glen Campbell's cover of "Rhinestone Cowboy," released in 1975, transformed the song into a massive crossover hit, topping both the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks and the Hot Country Singles chart for three weeks, while propelling Weiss to national prominence as a songwriter. Campbell's polished production, featuring lush orchestration and his signature vocal style, amplified the song's themes of ambition and resilience, selling over two million copies and earning platinum certification. Weiss's 1970s output extended beyond "Rhinestone Cowboy," including his own recording of "Evil Woman" on Black & Blue Suite—a track he originally wrote in 1967 that had been notably covered by on their 1968 album . The song's brooding rock arrangement showcased Weiss's versatility in crafting adaptable hits for various genres. Other album cuts, such as "Sweet " and "She's Everything She Doesn't Want to Be," highlighted his introspective style, blending folk-rock elements with personal narratives, though they received limited airplay compared to his bigger successes. These recordings solidified Weiss's reputation during the decade, with his contributions appearing in covers by artists like , further extending his influence through collaborative interpretations.

Later works and projects

Following the monumental success of "Rhinestone Cowboy" in 1975, Larry Weiss maintained a steady but lower-profile career in songwriting, contributing tracks to various artists and media projects without achieving additional major chart-topping hits. He continued to write and produce music, focusing on collaborations and licensing opportunities that sustained his catalog's relevance in the industry, including composing the theme song "Brand New Life" for the television series Who's the Boss? (1984–1986). In 2009, Weiss released his second studio album, Cuts and Scratches, marking a 35-year gap since his 1974 debut Black and Blue Suite. The album, independently produced and later distributed by Nub Music Ltd., comprises 12 tracks spanning 41 minutes and delves into personal reflections on heritage, resilience, and life's challenges, with songs like "I Am Somebody" and "(Ain't It Supposed to Be) Better By Now" showcasing introspective lyrics and folk-rock arrangements. Weiss developed a Broadway musical concept titled Rhinestone Cowboy: The Musical, drawing from his iconic song and elements of his early 1970s album Black and Blue Suite, including the track "Lead Me On." The project, which took a year to refine its storyline and score, was pitched and advanced through development in the , with Weiss actively involved in scripting and production by the early 2020s. His compositions saw renewed exposure through licensing for film soundtracks, including "Bend Me, Shape Me" (co-written with ) in The Boat That Rocked (2009) and contributions to Deep Impact (1998). Additionally, songs from his catalog appeared in Bad Times at the El Royale (2018), alongside occasional live performances and interviews that highlighted his enduring songwriting legacy. In recent years, Weiss has remained active in promoting his body of work, continuing to develop the musical through rewrites, preparing for a , and working on a script based on his life experiences.

Personal life

Family and residences

Weiss relocated to with his family in 1971 and to , in 1992, where he currently resides. He has a daughter, , who lives in .

Health challenges

In July 2020, at the age of 79, Larry Weiss contracted from his roommate, who later died from the virus, leading to a severe case that required hospitalization starting on July 29. He endured two months in and out of the hospital, battling high fevers, critically low oxygen levels, breathing difficulties that left him with no control over his respiration, and two bouts of , nearly necessitating a . Weiss's recovery was protracted, involving extended at home to address lingering effects such as scarring and vestibular issues, with his covering only a fraction of the home care costs. His daughter, Stephanie, provided crucial family support by initiating a campaign in October 2020 to assist with mounting medical bills, which raised nearly $6,000. In subsequent interviews, Weiss described his determination to overcome the ordeal, stating, "I always kept myself in good shape and felt that would help me recover. There were times that I faltered, but came through it. I was determined." No major health challenges were publicly disclosed in Weiss's life prior to the infection. By 2021, following his recovery, he resumed limited public activities, including songwriting discussions and media appearances that continued through 2023.

Legacy and recognition

Awards and nominations

Weiss received a for Song of the Year at the in 1976 for "Rhinestone Cowboy." The song earned him the () Song of the Year award in 1976, recognizing its impact as a crossover hit written for Glen Campbell's recording. It also won the () Song of the Year in 1976, highlighting Weiss's songwriting craftsmanship in blending pop and country elements. At the 1976 , "Rhinestone Cowboy" was honored with the Favorite Country Single award, with Campbell acknowledging Weiss during his acceptance speech. Weiss was recognized as Songwriter of the Year by the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) in 1977 for his contributions, particularly through "Rhinestone Cowboy." "Rhinestone Cowboy" was later recognized as one of the ten most-performed songs of the . In 1976, Weiss shared in the Songwriters of the Year accolade, tied to the success of "Rhinestone Cowboy" as a defining composition of the era. While earlier works like "" (co-written with and a top-five pop hit for The American Breed in 1968) did not garner major awards, Weiss's overall catalog has been acknowledged through cumulative performance royalties from and ASCAP, including BMI multi-million performance awards for "," reflecting sustained industry value.

Cultural impact and tributes

"," written and first recorded by Weiss in 1974, has endured as a representing the pursuit of ambition amid the and compromises of dreams. The song's vivid imagery of a star-spangled and fan adoration captures the perseverance required in , resonating with audiences as a metaphor for chasing stardom. This thematic depth inspired the 1984 film Rhinestone, starring and , which adapted the narrative of transforming an ordinary man into a performer, further embedding the song in despite the movie's mixed reception. Weiss's compositions have seen extensive covers that amplified their pop culture footprint, including appearances in films and television. "Bend Me, Shape Me," co-written with , achieved hits through versions by The American Breed in 1968 and in the UK, with and delivering a soulful rendition that highlighted its romantic versatility. Similarly, "," another English-Weiss collaboration, gained lasting fame via Jeff Beck's 1967 rock rendition, which became a concert staple and appeared in media like (2009). These adaptations, alongside "Rhinestone Cowboy"'s use in shows like Who's the Boss?, underscore Weiss's role in bridging genres and sustaining his songs' relevance across decades. Weiss's work significantly influenced the country-pop crossover genre, blending narrative-driven lyrics with accessible melodies that appealed to broad audiences. "Rhinestone Cowboy," popularized by in 1975, topped both country and pop charts, exemplifying the era's hybrid sound and paving the way for future artists to explore themes of perseverance and reinvention. Its motifs of enduring hardship on the road to success echoed in later works by performers like , who covered the track in 2019, highlighting its timeless appeal in storytelling through music. Tributes to Weiss emphasize his enduring brand, including a 2018 profile in New Jersey Stage that explored his roots and songwriting legacy, and a 2023 AirPlay Direct feature praising his introspective artistic evolution. His contributions have inspired adaptations like a stage musical based on "Rhinestone Cowboy," serving as a self-tribute to his career. In 2025, retrospectives in celebrated his hits' nostalgic impact and innovative spirit, culminating in his nomination for the Class of 2026.

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