Music publisher Al Gallico dies at 88
Started own company, released 'Rising Sun'
Services will be held at 12:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 21, at Forest Lawn, 6300 Forest Lawn Dr. Los Angeles in the North Chapel.
Gallico began in 1938 as an errand boy for the G. Schirmer Publishing Company in New York, before joining Lou Levy's Leeds Music in 1939 as a song-plugger.
In 1953, he became the general manager for music publisher Shapiro-Bernstein, running the company's New York and Nashville offices. Among the hits he was involved with were Claude King's "Wolverton Mountain" and Johnny Cash's "Ring Of Fire."
In 1963, he started his own company, Al Gallico Music Corporation, with offices in New York and Nashville, and continued his success with the song "House of the Rising Sun" and other British imports. He also signed songwriter Billy Sherrill, who amassed 89 top song awards from BMI. Gallico and Sherrill eventually became business partners in Algee Music.
Other hits from his catalogue include "Stand By Your Man," "The Name Game," "The Most Beautiful Girl," "Let Me Be There," the Zombies' "Time Of The Season" and Cat Stevens' "Here Comes My Baby."
In 1995, he was inducted into The Songwriters Hall Of Fame when he received the Abe Olman Publisher's Award.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Grace; two daughters; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
