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Gary Zekley

1943 – 1996

West Coast music producer

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About Gary Zekley

Lived 1943 – 1996 (aged 53). Gary Zekley was an American record producer and songwriter.

Alan Gary Zekley (also known as Brandon Chase; January 4, 1943 – June 19, 1996) was an American West Coast record producer and songwriter associated with 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s bands and songs in the bubblegum, rock and roll, sunshine pop, and surf genres.

He co-wrote "Sooner or Later", a top-10 hit for the Grass Roots in 1971. R.E.M. recorded his song "Superman" on their 1986 album Lifes Rich Pageant. The song was originally recorded by the Clique. Zekley wrote or produced songs by bands such as Big Pig, Dick and Dee Dee, Jan and Dean, Sweathog, Spanky and Our Gang, the Ragamuffins, the Mamas & the Papas, the Fun and Games, and the Yellow Balloon, who had a 1967 Billboard #25 hit with a Zekley-penned song of the same name. Zekley produced the Yellow Balloon's eponymous album under the pseudonym Yodar Critch—taken from a statue featured in the TV show Our Miss Brooks. He died on June 19, 1996, of a heart attack at age 53 in Marina del Rey, California.

Filmography Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, 1989

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Also known as
Alan Gary Zekley

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Gary Zekley's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Gary Zekley?

West Coast music producer (1943-1996)

When was Gary Zekley born?

Gary Zekley was born on 4 January 1943 in Texas.

When did Gary Zekley die?

Gary Zekley died on 19 June 1996.

What was Gary Zekley's occupation?

Gary Zekley was a record producer and songwriter.

What nationality was Gary Zekley?

Gary Zekley was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Gary Zekley

· Wikidata: Q5526221

· DBpedia: Gary Zekley

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Gary Zekley. https://biography.guide/gary-zekley/

MLA: "Gary Zekley." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/gary-zekley/.

Chicago: "Gary Zekley." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/gary-zekley/.

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