Shadow Morton, songwriter and producer, died at the age of 71 on Thursday in Laguna Beach. According to the Los Angeles Times on Feb. 16, a family friend said his cause of death was cancer.
Morton was a Brooklyn native who grew up on Long Island, but he could not read music or play an instrument. Morton is known for writing songs like “Leader of the Pack” and “Remember.”
Morton was responsible for the success of the Shangri-Las with their first hit “Remember” which was written by Morton. The song was released on Red Bird label and reached No. 5 on the Billboard singles chart.
Morton’s next song was “Leader of the Pack” which was recorded by various artists including Bette Midler, Twisted Sister and Alvin and the Chipmunks. “Leader of the Pack” was co-wrote with Elli Greenwich and Jeff Barry.
Shadow Morton was given the nickname Shadow for his “habitually evanescent presence.” Morton struggled with alcoholism in the mid-1980s, but remained sober to the end of his life. Morton did have a second career of designing golf club, but he never abandoned songwriting.
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