Larry Weiss

Laurence D. "Larry" Weiss (born March 25, 1941) is an American songwriter and musician. He wrote "Rhinestone Cowboy", a US no.1 hit for Glen Campbell in 1975; and co-wrote "Bend Me, Shape Me", "Hi Ho Silver Lining" and several other international hits.

Biography Weiss was born in Newark, New Jersey, and grew up in Queens, New York. He started writing songs in his teens, and continued to do so while working in his family's textile sales business. He was hired as a freelance songwriter by producer-composer Wes Farrell. His first break came in 1963 when Nat "King" Cole recorded "Mr. Wishing Well", a song Weiss co-wrote with Lockie Edwards Jr. (1936–2012). Weiss also wrote for R&B acts including Baby Washington, Chuck Jackson and The Shirelles. He also wrote "Evil Woman," which was recorded by the U.K. blues-rock band Spooky Tooth, a track that appeared on their second album, Spooky Two.

In 1971, he moved with his family from New York to Los Angeles, where he worked for Famous Music. Glen Campbell heard and liked the song, and recorded it; Another track from Black & Blue Suite, "Lay Me Down," was covered by Barry Manilow on his albums Tryin' to Get the Feeling and Barry Manilow Live and by Glen Campbell on his album Bloodline.

Weiss moved to Nashville in 1992, and continued to write songs for other artists, as well as developing his idea for a musical based around "Rhinestone Cowboy". He also released an album in his own name, Cuts and Scratches, in 2010.