
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, March 17, 1991                   TAG: 9103170105
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: D-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: NEW YORK                                LENGTH: Short

SONGWRITER JEROME POMUS DIES AT AGE 65

Jerome Pomus, the rock 'n' roll songwriter whose success stretched from the 1959 hit "A Teen-ager In Love" to music for the movie "Dick Tracy," died Thursday of lung cancer at age 65.

Pomus, nicknamed "Doc," began his musical career as a blues singer and songwriter in the early 1950s.

He often collaborated with Mort Shuman, handling most of the lyrics while Shuman wrote most of the music.

Their first major pop hit was "A Teen-ager in Love," written for Dion and the Belmonts in 1959. A succession of hits for the Drifters followed, including "This Magic Moment" and "Save the Last Dance For Me."

In the 1970s, he teamed with Mac Rebennack, also known as Dr. John, and wrote most of the material for B.B. King's album "There Must be a Better World Somewhere." The album won a 1981 Grammy Award for best ethnic or traditional recording.

Some of Pomus' songs also were used in last year's film "Dick Tracy." - Associated Press

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