Jerry Kasenetz, a key figure in late-1960s bubblegum music alongside partner Jeff Katz, has died at age 82. He passed away on December 6 in a Tampa, Florida, hospital due to complications from a fall at his home. Kasenetz and Katz produced several million-selling hits that topped the charts during that era.
Jerry Kasenetz's contributions to pop music in the late 1960s left a lasting mark through his work with Jeff Katz. The duo became renowned for producing bubblegum hits, a catchy style that contrasted with the rising hard rock scene. Between 1967 and 1968, they delivered six million-selling singles, five of which reached the top five on the Billboard Hot 100. These included The Music Explosion's "Little Bit o’ Soul" at No. 2, Ohio Express's "Yummy Yummy Yummy" at No. 4, and 1910 Fruitgum Co.'s "Simon Says" (No. 4), "1,2,3 Red Light" (No. 5), and "Indian Giver" (No. 5). Their other million-seller, Ohio Express's "Chewy Chewy," peaked at No. 15.
In 1968, Kasenetz and Katz achieved their own chart success as artists with the Kasenetz-Katz Singing Orchestrra Circus, whose "Quick Joey Small (Run Joey Run)" hit No. 25. Most of their triumphs came via Buddah Records under the Super K Productions banner, though "Little Bit o’ Soul" appeared on Laurie Records. The following year, their production of Crazy Elephant's "Gimme Gimme Good Lovin'" on Bell Records reached No. 12.
Nearly a decade later, in 1977, they produced Ram Jam's rock-infused cover of "Black Betty," which climbed to No. 18. Born Jerrold H. Kasenetz on May 5, 1943, in Brooklyn, he was the eldest of five children. He met Katz, also from Brooklyn, while at the University of Arizona, where they promoted a Dave Clark Five concert. Their debut production was Christine Cooper's "S.O.S. Hearts in Distress," which bubbled under the Hot 100 at No. 101 in 1966.
Bubblegum's popularity waned in the 1970s, but its influence persisted in tracks like Edison Lighthouse's "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)" and The Grass Roots' "Sooner or Later." Talking Heads even covered "1-2-3 Red Light" in early performances. Industry veteran Doug Morris recalled in a 2008 Billboard interview how promoting "Little Bit o’ Soul" taught him the record business: "I bought a record, signed two guys—Jerry Kasenetz and Jeff Katz... And from that one experience, I understood the record industry, how it works."
Kasenetz is survived by brothers Iver and Bruce, sons Darren and Brett, and two grandchildren. Katz, also 82, is still alive. Though never Grammy-nominated or in the Songwriters Hall of Fame, their hit-making prowess defined a musical niche.
