Jerry Fuller, the songwriter behind such basic hits as “Travlein’ Man” and “Young Girl,” has died at the age of 85.

Fuller’s passing was confirmed by his spouse to the New York Times, who famous the songwriter died July 18 attributable to problems with lung most cancers.

Born in Fort Worth, Texas in 1938, Fuller obtained his first style of music by performing in expertise reveals together with his older brother, Bill. As an grownup, he continued to chase his musical desires, dropping out of school and shifting to Los Angeles in 1959.

That fall, he scored his first minor hit with a rockabilly rendition of the nation tune “Tennessee Waltz.” Though Fuller was a succesful crooner behind the mic, his bigger profession success would come by penning hits for different artists.

What Hit Songs Did Jerry Fuller Write?

In 1961, he wrote “Travelin’ Man,” the story of a younger lothario with romances all over the world. “It’s a fairly simple song,” Fuller admitted within the documentary The Wrecking Crew. “I took a world atlas and I looked up, what do they call a girl in Germany? A fraulein. What do they call a senorita in Mexico? I didn’t know wahine for Hawaii, so I said Polynesian baby. And I made a song out of it. A girl in every port was the idea.”

Friend and frequent collaborator Glen Campbell helped Fuller demo the tune. He initially supposed to provide the observe to Sam Cooke (who latter recorded a distinct Fuller-penned tune), however as a substitute it ended up with Ricky Nelson. “Travelin’ Man” grew to become a worldwide hit, promoting greater than six million copies. Fuller and Nelson grew to become frequent collaborators, with additional hits together with “A Wonder Like You,” “Young World” and “It’s Up to You.”

Listen to ‘Travelin’ Man’ by Ricky Nelson

By the latter half of the ‘60s, Fuller was wearing many hats, serving as a record producer and talent scout while also writing songs. He produced O.C. Smith’s rendition of “Little Green Apples,” which reached No. 2 on the Billboard chart. Yet his largest success got here with Gary Puckett, whom Fuller found performing in a San Diego bowling alley.

Gary Puckett and the Union Gap would go on to attain a string of hits, together with “Young Girl,” “Lady Willpower” and “Over You.” All three have been written and produced by Fuller, with “Young Girl” rating among the many period’s most recognizable tunes.

Fuller’s additional songwriting credit included materials for Johnny Mathis, John Anderson, Andy Williams, Ray Price and Reba McEntire.

Listen to ‘Young Girl’ by Gary Puckett and the Union Gap Band