Songwriter Ben Weisman Dead at 85

Ben Weisman (November 16, 1921—May 20, 2007) was an American composer and pianist best known for having written many of the songs associated with Elvis Presley.

A native of Providence, Ben Weisman was one of Elvis Presley's chief songwriters throughout the 1960s. He co-composed for Elvis' movies and stage performances nearly sixty songs that proceeded to go gold or platinum, including "First in Line", "Got a Lot of Living to Do", "Follow That Dream" and "Wooden Heart". Weisman also wrote songs recorded by Barbra Streisand ("Love in the Afternoon"), The Beatles ("Lend Me Your Comb"), Johnny Mathis ("When I Am with You"), Terry Stafford ("I'll Touch A Star"), Bobby Vee ("The Night Has A Thousand Eyes") and many others.

Since Weisman's outward appearance was atypical for a "rock 'roll guy", Elvis' pet nickname for him was "the mad professor". Just before Weisman's last meeting with Elvis in 1976, Elvis proudly announced to the crowd that he had recorded more of Weisman's songs than those of any other songwriter. Weisman's most recent musical score was for the 1995 movie Crossroads at Laredo: The Lost Film of Edward D. Wood Jr.

Ben Weisman died at a long-term care hospital in Los Angeles after complications from Alzheimer's disease and stroke.