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Bob Feldman
Bob Feldman
Bob Feldman
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Robert C. Feldman (June 14, 1940 – August 23, 2023) was an American songwriter and record producer, best known for his work in the 1960s with fellow writers Jerry Goldstein and Richard Gottehrer, including "My Boyfriend's Back", "I Want Candy", and "Sorrow".

Career

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Together with his friend and neighbor Jerry Goldstein, he was a dancer on Alan Freed's WNEW-TV show The Big Beat, and in 1959 the pair co-wrote a theme song for the show. Feldman and Goldstein started writing regularly together, and, as Bob and Jerry, wrote and recorded "We Put the Bomp", an answer record to Barry Mann's "Who Put the Bomp".[1][2]

In 1962, they met fellow songwriter Richard Gottehrer, and formed FGG Productions. Feldman said: "I was the dreamer, Jerry was the schemer and Richie was the voice of reason".[3] The trio wrote several hit singles together, including "My Boyfriend's Back" by The Angels. In 1964, in response to the "British Invasion", they formed their own group, The Strangeloves, who had hits with "I Want Candy", "Cara-Lin", and "Night Time". With Goldstein and Gottehrer, Feldman also co-wrote "Sorrow" – first recorded by The McCoys and later a hit for both The Merseys and David Bowie – and "Gonna Make It Alone", recorded by Dion and by Ronnie Dio and the Prophets. The three also produced the McCoys' hit "Hang On Sloopy".[1][2][4]

In 1966, Feldman and Goldstein moved to California to set up their own office, and also recorded together as the duo Rome & Paris. Feldman later worked as a record producer with Link Wray, The Belmonts, and others. In the 1990s, he moved to Nashville,[5] and in 2002 co-wrote Dusty Drake's debut country hit, "And Then".[4] In 2019, he published a book of verse, lyrics and memoirs, Simply Put!: Thoughts and Feelings from the Heart.[1]

Personal life

[edit]

Robert C. Feldman was born in Brooklyn, New York, on June 14, 1940. He was raised in an Orthodox Jewish home and briefly studied to become a cantor. He graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School alongside Neil Sedaka, and was a member of the All-City Choir alongside Neil Diamond and Barbra Streisand.[6] He married Arlene Simmons

Death

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Feldman died on August 23, 2023, at age 83.[6] He was survived by two daughters Kyle and Mahri.[6][7][8]

References

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Bob Feldman

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Bob Feldman (June 14, 1940 – August 23, 2023) was an , singer, and renowned for his contributions to 1960s pop and , particularly as part of the songwriting and production team with Jerry Goldstein and , known collectively as FGG. Born in , New York, to Orthodox Jewish parents, Feldman grew up in a musical environment and initially aspired to become a , later channeling his vocal talents into singing and songwriting. As a youth, he was a member of the All-City Choir alongside future stars and , honing his early musical skills in the vibrant New York scene. Feldman's professional breakthrough came in the early when he began collaborating with his neighbor Jerry Goldstein on songwriting, soon joined by after they met in ; this trio formed the FGG team, which operated out of the and became instrumental in shaping the era's and sounds. Their most iconic work includes co-writing "My Boyfriend's Back" for The Angels, which topped the in 1963 and became a defining anthem of teenage romance in . They also penned "," originally recorded by The Strangeloves in 1965 and later a hit for in 1982, as well as "Sorrow," a 1965 track by that influenced David Bowie's early career. Beyond songwriting, Feldman and his partners performed as The Strangeloves, a fictional Australian band persona that charted with singles like "Cara-Lin" and "Night Time," allowing them to promote their productions while maintaining creative control. The FGG team's production credits extended to artists such as The Angels, , and others, yielding a catalog of over a dozen chart hits that captured the exuberance of mid-1960s . In later years, Feldman's influence endured through covers and samples of his songs in genres ranging from punk to hip-hop, underscoring his lasting impact on ; he also ventured into and composing for , appearing in soundtracks for movies like The Toxic Avenger (1984) and Good Morning, Vietnam (1987). Feldman passed away in at age 83, leaving a legacy as a key architect of the Brill Building sound that defined an era.

Early Life

Childhood and Family

Robert C. Feldman was born on June 14, 1940, in , New York, to Orthodox Jewish parents. He was raised in an Orthodox Jewish household in the neighborhood of . Feldman's early exposure to music stemmed from his family's Orthodox environment and the local synagogue, where he developed vocal skills that initially drew him toward cantorial aspirations. As a child, he also sang doo-wop harmonies on Brighton Beach street corners with neighborhood friends, blending sacred influences with the emerging street sounds of 1950s New York.

Education and Early Musical Interests

Feldman attended Abraham Lincoln High School in , New York, in the late 1950s with classmates including future musicians such as . During his high school years, he participated in the All-City Choir, a prestigious ensemble that included notable talents like and . These experiences provided early opportunities for vocal development and performance in a competitive musical environment. Feldman briefly pursued studies at a with the intention of becoming a , involving rigorous vocal training and immersion in traditional Jewish . This training honed his singing abilities, though he ultimately redirected his talents toward secular music. In the 1950s New York scene, Feldman's early musical interests centered on the popular sounds of and , which dominated local airwaves and street culture. These casual gatherings fostered his passion for group singing and harmony, laying the groundwork for his later pursuits.

Career

Early Songwriting and Productions

After graduating high school in , Bob Feldman moved to around 1960, immersing himself in the vibrant music scene centered at the , where he began pursuing songwriting professionally. His early efforts there caught the attention of music publishers and executives, including Jack Lewis at . Feldman's first songwriting credits emerged from collaborations with childhood friend Jerry Goldstein, with whom he co-wrote "A Letter to Donna" in 1959, released on . By 1961, as the duo "Bob and Jerry," they released "We're the Guys (Who Drive Your Baby Wild)" on the small Spin label, experimenting with novelty and styles. These initial works involved demo recordings in New York studios, often featuring local vocal groups to showcase their material for publishers and labels. In 1962, Feldman and Goldstein expanded their partnership by teaming up with aspiring songwriter , laying the groundwork for what would become FGG Productions; together, they wrote and demoed numerous songs, producing over 100 tracks in the coming years. Their early productions targeted small independent labels, such as Beltone, where they helmed the Jive Five's "What Time Is It?"—a ballad with rhythmic clock effects that reached No. 67 on the , marking their first minor chart success. As the gained momentum in 1963, Feldman drew inspiration from its energy, incorporating similar upbeat rhythms and harmonies into their demos and releases for unsigned artists, though still operating on a modest scale with limited resources.

FGG Productions and The Strangeloves

In 1962, Bob Feldman, Jerry Goldstein, and formed FGG Productions after meeting at a music publishing company, building on their prior songwriting partnership to create a structured entity for producing and writing hits. The trio initially operated under names like Bob & Jerry Music before renaming to Music and then FGG, with Feldman describing the shift as a handshake agreement following early successes. By 1964, amid the British Invasion's dominance, Feldman, Goldstein, and Gottehrer invented The Strangeloves as a fictional to compete in the evolving market, adopting personas as Australian brothers Miles, Niles, and Giles Strange from the invented outback town of Armstrong. Drawing inspiration from the film , they crafted an exotic backstory of sheep herders who discovered through , complete with props like zebra-skin vests and African drums to evoke a primitive, international flair that capitalized on global rock trends. Gottehrer later noted, "Nobody in the in 1965 really knew any Australians," highlighting the persona's plausibility in masking their New York origins. The Strangeloves' debut single, "," co-written with and released on Bang Records in 1965, became their signature hit, peaking at No. 11 on the chart and spending 10 weeks on the listing. The track's rhythm and catchy hook exemplified their blend of R&B influences with pop appeal, establishing the group's commercial viability despite the fabricated identity. That same year, The Strangeloves released their sole album, , featuring 12 tracks including nine originals penned by the trio, which captured their energetic style but received modest sales compared to the single's success. To promote their releases, Feldman, Goldstein, and Gottehrer initially performed live as the band, disguising themselves with heavy makeup, wigs, and accents during early gigs like one in Virginia Beach; as demands grew, they hired session musicians as "road Strangeloves" for tours and television appearances, such as on Hullabaloo alongside . This ruse allowed the production team to maintain anonymity while experiencing the era's rock spectacle firsthand.

Major Hits and Collaborations

One of Bob Feldman's most enduring contributions to 1960s was his co-writing of "My Boyfriend's Back" for the The Angels, released in 1963. Co-authored with Jerry Goldstein and under their FGG Productions banner, the song drew inspiration from an overheard playground taunt and captured the era's youthful energy with its infectious rhythm and defiant lyrics. It topped the chart for three weeks, marking a breakthrough hit that showcased Feldman's knack for crafting chart-topping hooks. In 1965, Feldman transitioned into production, helming "Hang On Sloopy" for the garage rock band The McCoys, a teenage group from Union City, New Jersey. Although the song was originally written by Bert Berns and Wes Farrell, Feldman's production—again in collaboration with Goldstein and Gottehrer—infused it with a raw, energetic garage rock edge that propelled it to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for one week. This success solidified FGG Productions' role in bridging Brill Building songcraft with the emerging garage rock scene, helping The McCoys establish themselves as key players in the American response to the British Invasion. Feldman also co-wrote "Sorrow" for in 1965, initially released as the B-side to their cover of "Fever," which highlighted the band's gritty style. The track, penned with Goldstein and Gottehrer, gained international traction through covers, notably by the British band The Merseys, who took it to No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart in 1966 amid the waning wave. This collaboration exemplified Feldman's influence extending across the Atlantic, as his compositions were adapted by UK acts navigating the post-Beatles pop landscape. Throughout the mid-1960s, Feldman's partnerships with outfits like produced additional singles such as "Say Those Magic Words" in 1966, co-written with and , further cementing his impact on the genre's raw, youth-driven sound.

Later Career and Industry Contributions

Following the success of his 1960s hits, Feldman sustained a multifaceted career in music production and songwriting into the late 20th and early 21st centuries. In the early 1970s, Feldman focused on production work with established rock and artists, including and . He served as a producer on Wray's self-titled 1971 album, released on , which featured instrumental tracks blending surf rock and country influences recorded at Wray's home studio in . For , Feldman produced their 1972 album Cigars, Acappella, Candy on , overseeing vocal arrangements and medley recordings that paid homage to their roots while incorporating contemporary covers like "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" and "." In the 1980s, Feldman expanded into film composing and acting. He contributed music to soundtracks including The Toxic Avenger (1984) and Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), and appeared in minor acting roles. By the 1990s, Feldman relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, expanding into country music songwriting. In 2002, he co-wrote the track "And Then" with Dean Dillon and Pamela Belfry for emerging artist Dusty Drake; the song served as the title track and lead single from Drake's debut album on Warner Bros. Records, peaking at number 57 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and marking Feldman's successful pivot to the genre. Feldman's later contributions extended to music , where he maintained involvement in managing and promoting his catalog of enduring compositions, ensuring their licensing for recordings and media use well into the 2010s.

Personal Life

Marriage and Family

Bob Feldman married Arlene Simmons in 1963, and the couple remained together until her death on January 31, 1991. Their marriage coincided with the height of Feldman's songwriting and production career in the , during which they started a family in New York. Feldman and Simmons had two daughters: Kyle and Mahri Feldman. The family life centered in New York amid Feldman's professional commitments. In his later years, Feldman relocated to , where he continued music-related work. He was survived by both daughters at the time of his death in 2023.

Religious and Cultural Background

Bob Feldman was born on June 14, 1940, in , New York, to Orthodox Jewish parents, growing up in a household steeped in Jewish traditions that shaped his early . Raised in an Orthodox Jewish home, he attended briefly during his formative years, immersing himself in religious education and community life. Feldman's early exposure to Jewish profoundly influenced his musical path; he initially pursued cantorial training, studying to become a and honing his vocal abilities in settings. However, he soon redirected these talents toward , believing divine purpose lay elsewhere, which marked a pivotal shift from religious vocation to pop songwriting and production. This cantorial foundation contributed to his distinctive approach to vocal arrangements and melodic phrasing in early and rock recordings. As a member of a prominent trio of Brooklyn-born Jewish songwriters alongside Jerry Goldstein and , Feldman's as a second-generation American Jew informed his navigation of the , where he helped pioneer accessible, rhythm-driven pop that resonated with diverse audiences while drawing subtly from his heritage's emphasis on communal through song.

Death and Legacy

Circumstances of Death

Bob Feldman passed away on August 23, 2023, at the age of 83 in . The was not publicly disclosed. His family announced the news via shortly after his passing, with public statements also issued by close friends and musical collaborators confirming the details. Feldman was cremated, with his ashes given to family members. A Celebration of Life event honoring him was held on September 1, 2023, in Boca Raton. He is survived by his two daughters, Kyle and Mahri.

Impact and Remembrance

Bob Feldman's contributions to , particularly through his collaborations in FGG Productions, exerted a significant influence on the era's scene by blending raw, energetic rhythms with catchy hooks that captured the youthful exuberance of the time. His work helped define the sound, emphasizing simple, infectious song structures that inspired later garage bands and appeared in influential compilations like the 1972 Nuggets anthology, which spotlighted and psychedelic tracks from the mid-1960s. Key hits such as "My Boyfriend's Back" and "I Want Candy" exemplified this approach, providing a blueprint for high-energy pop that resonated beyond the decade. Feldman's songs have endured through numerous covers by later artists, underscoring their timeless appeal and cultural staying power. For instance, "," originally a 1965 Strangeloves track co-written by Feldman, was reinterpreted by in 1982, reaching No. 9 on the charts and introducing the song to new wave and punk audiences with its Burundi drum-infused energy. Similarly, "Sorrow," another Feldman co-write from 1965, was covered by in 1973 on his album , helping to bridge 1960s garage influences with . These reinterpretations highlight how Feldman's compositions continued to shape across genres and generations. Posthumously, Feldman has been remembered for his pivotal role in crafting the soundtrack of , with tributes emphasizing his collaborative spirit and songwriting prowess. Following his death in 2023, longtime collaborator described him as a "legendary songwriting partner" whose work with FGG Productions produced enduring hits, stating, "Bob was a great songwriter and a great friend. He will be sorely missed." Feldman was nominated for the , recognizing his extensive catalog of co-written songs that captured the era's spirit. His legacy persists in production techniques that prioritized accessible, hook-driven arrangements, influencing subsequent hitmakers in pop and rock.
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