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Jerry Leiber, 'Hound Dog' Songwriter, Dies At 78

LOS ANGELES (CBS/AP) — Jerry Leiber, the rock 'n' roll songwriter who crafted lyrics for such hits as "Hound Dog" and "Jailhouse Rock," has died.

Publicist Bobbi Marcus says Leiber died Monday. He was 78.

Entertainment Weekly reports that the songwriter died of cardiopulmonary failure.

With Leiber as lyricist and partner Mike Stoller as composer, the team channeled their blues and jazz backgrounds into pop songs performed by such artists as Elvis Presley, the Coasters and Ben E. King.

Their breakout hit was blues great Big Mama Thornton's 1953 rendition of "Hound Dog." Presley's version hit No. 1 in 1956.

Their songwriting took a more serious turn in 1969 with Peggy Lee's hit "Is That All There Is?"

They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.

(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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