Nashville R&B icon Ted Jarrett dead at 83

Mon Mar 23, 2009 5:23pm EDT

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Reuters) – Songwriter and producer Ted Jarrett, whose 1957 hit “You Can Make It If You Try” turned him into a rhythm and blues icon, has died at 83, a hospice said on Monday.

Jarrett, who also numbered “Love Love Love” among his hits, died on Saturday of liver failure, officials at Nashville Alive Hospice said.

Jarrett wrote hits for singers Earl Gaines and Gene Allison and had No. 1 songs on both the country and R&B charts. “You Can Make It If You Try” crossed over to pop and wound up on the debut 1964 album by the Rolling Stones.

Jarrett was also credited as a writer, producer and label chief on songs from the Grammy-winning “Night Train to Nashville” album.

(Reporting by Pat Harris in Nashville; editing by Michael Conlon)

Here are two of the songs composed by the prolific songwriter Ted Jarrett.

[audio http://www.hotlinkfiles.com/files/2402605_kxzwf/Allison-YouCanMakeItIfYouTry.mp3] “You Can Make It If You Try” performed by Gene Allison in 1958. #3 R&B , #38 Pop
[audio http://www.hotlinkfiles.com/files/2402606_apvm4/FreddieWaters-ThisistheLife.mp3] “This Is The Life” performed by Freddie Waters & The Free Spirits in 2002

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Filed under: Freddie Waters, Gene Allison, Magnificent Male Vocalists, R&B, Ted Jarrett, This Is The Life, Transitions, You Can Make It If You Try