[Deathwatch] Jack Keller, songwriter, 68

[Deathwatch Central <cdw@slick.org>]

Many thanks to a long-time reader for this one - Ed.

Writer of 'Bewitched' theme dead

Monday, April 4, 2005 

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (AP) -- Pop songwriter Jack Keller, who wrote the
theme song for "Bewitched" and other TV sitcoms and was a producer on
the Monkees' first album, died Friday. He was 68.

Keller had leukemia, according to his son, Jordan Keller.

The son of a musician, Keller got his big break when he joined Aldon
Music, Don Kirschner's Brill Building publishing company, which also
employed a stable of young pop songwriters including Gerry Goffin,
Carole King, Neil Sedaka, and Howard Greenfield.

Keller and Greenfield wrote "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" and "My Heart
Has a Mind of Its Own," both No. 1 hits for Connie Francis in 1960, and
"Venus in Blue Jeans" for Jimmy Clanton.

After Aldon was purchased by the TV production company Screen Gems,
Keller and Greenfield wrote the theme song for the shows "Bewitched"
and "Gidget."

The TV work led Keller to the Monkees, getting producer credit on their
TV theme song and first album.