Ellie Greenwich: 60s Songwriter of "Be My Baby" Dead at 68

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Ellie Greenwich, who wrote several classic pop songs in the 1960s such as "Chapel of Love," "River Deep, Mountain High" and "Be My Baby," has died. According to family member Jessica Weiner, Ellie Greenwich died of a heart attack after struggling with pneumonia. Greenwich was 68.

Greenwich was a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame and was best known for her work at New York's Brill Building, which housed such music legends as Phil Spector and Carole King.

Ellie Greenwich and husband Jeff Barry penned several huge 60s hits including "Leader of the Pack" by the Shangri-Las, "Chapel of Love" by the Dixie Cups, "It's My Party" by Lesley Gore, and "Hanky Panky" and Tommy James & the Shondells. 

Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry later hooked up with producer Phil Spector, where they collaborated on some of Spector's hits, including "Be My Baby" by the Ronettes, which featured Spector's then-wife Ronnie Spector. Other Spector hits included "And Then He Kissed Me" by The Crystals, and "River Deep, Mountain High" by Ike & Tina Turner.

Greenwich later helped discover singer Neil Diamond and worked with him on his early work.