Brian Potter, British songwriter behind hits 'Rhinestone Cowboy' and more, dies aged 87
Brian Potter, the prolific British songwriter and producer who co-wrote Glen Campbell's 'Rhinestone Cowboy' and many other hits, has died at 87 after living with Alzheimer's disease.
Brian Potter, one of the most versatile and successful British songwriters and producers of his generation, has died at the age of 87. He had been living with Alzheimer's disease in recent years, his daughter told Billboard.
Born and raised in Essex, Potter originally trained as a drummer. His first success came as a lyricist for the Small Faces, co-writing their 1965 hit "Whatcha Gonna Do About It." He met American songwriter Dennis Lambert when Lambert visited London, and soon moved to the US to deepen their creative partnership.
Potter and Lambert produced an impressive array of 1970s hits across pop, soul, soft rock, and country. Their most famous song is Glen Campbell's "Rhinestone Cowboy," which reached No. 1 in the US in 1975. Other notable hits include Tavares' "It Only Takes a Minute" (later covered by Take That), Player's "Baby Come Back" (also a US No. 1), and the Four Tops' "Ain't No Woman (Like the One I've Got)."
The duo helped reinvent the Four Tops in 1973 after the group left Motown Records, producing their albums "Keeper of the Castle" and "Main Street People," both yielding US Top 10 hits. They also wrote the anti-war song "One Tin Soldier," which was used as the theme for the film "Billy Jack."
As disco emerged, Potter and Lambert produced Tavares' "It Only Takes a Minute," a euphoric dance track with socially conscious lyrics. They also produced Dusty Springfield's album "Cameo" and the Righteous Brothers' hit "Rock and Roll Heaven."
In 1976, Potter and Lambert earned two Grammy nominations for "Rhinestone Cowboy" – Record of the Year and Producer of the Year. Later collaborations included Player's "Baby Come Back" (three weeks at No. 1) and Santana's 1978 album "Inner Secrets."
After amicably parting ways with Lambert, Potter continued writing for artists like the Pointer Sisters, George Duke, and Kenny Rogers. He also worked on musical theatre, children's television, and theme park projects.
Potter is survived by his wife of 55 years, Karen, his daughter Courtney, and stepdaughter Mary Shirley.
