Jerry Ross

Full biography Jerry Ross

Jerry Ross was a celebrated American composer and lyricist, born as Jerold Rosenberg on March 9, 1926, in the Bronx, New York. He is best known for his successful partnership with Richard Adler , with whom he wrote several musical scores for the Broadway Theater. Ross started writing songs in high school and continued doing so while in college. He initially worked as a demo singer and music publisher before relocating to New York City in 1950.

Together with Adler, Ross wrote the popular musical scores for The Pajama Game and Damn Yankees ), two of Broadway's most popular shows. Their work on The Pajama Game earned them a Tony Award for Best Musical in 1955. They also contributed songs to Variety Girl, a 1947 comedy film, and the 1961 film version of Damn Yankees. However, his partnership with Adler ended after Adler's death in 2012.

Ross also wrote song lyrics for other artists, including Bobby Darin's "Gyp the Cat" and "Milord." He co-wrote "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" with Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff , which became a hit for the Temptations and later for Diana Ross and The Supremes with The Temptations. He worked as a producer, contributing to the success of artists such as Bobby Hebb and The Stylistics.

Despite his success, Ross died prematurely at the age of 29 in 1955, due to lung disease. His short career, however, produced timeless work that has continued to inspire generations of musicians and theater enthusiasts. To honor his legacy, the Songwriters Hall of Fame posthumously inducted Ross in 1989.