In 1963, the duo sold Aldon. Kirshner left for a high-paying position in the Columbia Screen Gems Television Music Division, supervising the company's record and music publishing, where he would make rock and roll history again.
There were a few singers who wrote or co-wrote their own material (or most of it) and for others, but they were the exception to the rule for this time. This select group included:
- Paul Anka
- Antione "Fats" Domino (who co-wrote with bandleader Dave Bartholomew until 1963)
- Chuck Berry
- Johnny Tillotson
- Del Shannon
- Jimmy Jones,
- Ray Charles (some, such as "What I'd Say", but not all his hits)
- Roy Orbison
- Gary "U.S." Bonds
- Johnny Preston
- Little Richard
- Bob Dylan
- Curtis Mayfield,
- Gene Pitney
- Smokey Robinson
- Johnny and Dorsey Burnette
- Brian Hyland
- Hank Ballard
- Brian Wilson
- Tommy Roe
- Sam Cooke,
- The Everly Brothers
- Bob Gaudio (Four Seasons member who co-wrote with Bob Crewe)
- Jackie DeShannon (Yes THE Jackie DeShannon)
- Motown's Janie Bradford were two more of the few female songwriters around.
And then there's the writing/production collaboration of Holland-Dozier-Holland and Burt Bacharach-Hal David. Many rock and pop classics came from these very creative, talented minds.
Johnny and Dorsey Burnette wrote " It's Late", "Waiting in School", "Believe What You Say", and "A Little Too Much", among others, for Ricky Nelson.
"Blowing In The Wind", one of the decade's first and best-known political songs, was written by an up-and-coming Bob Dylan (There'll be more on him later).
Songwriter/producer Allen Toussaint was responsible for bringing Lee Dorsey, Ernie K-Doe, Cris Kenner, and others to the forefront, thus creating a "New Orleans sound".
Janie Bradford co-wrote with Berry Gordy the classic "Money" by Barrett Strong , and also "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" by Marvin Gaye, "Your Old Stand By" by Mary Wells, and numerous others.
Roy Orbison's first big songwriting success was "Claudette" by the Everly Brothers.
Tommy Boyce (of later Boyce and Hart fame) also launched his career writing "Be My Guest" for Fats Domino.
Gary "U.S." Bonds (real name: Gary Anderson. His name change was due to a shop poster for government U.S. bonds!) co-wrote "School Is Out", "School Is In," "Dear Lady Twist", "Twist Twist Senora", and for you country music fans, Bonds also wrote "Friend, Don't Take Her (She's All I Got)", a big hit for Johnny Paycheck in 1972.
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