Shadow Morton obit

SHADOW MORTON, the legendary producer and songwriter best known for his work with the Shangri-Las, died on Valentine’s Day of undisclosed causes. He was 72. Morton claimed he wrote his first song, the girl-group classic "Remember (Walking in the Sand)," after being challenged by Jeff Barry in a 1964 Brill Building confrontation. He brought his demo of the song, cut with the then-unknown Shangri-Las, to Jerry Leiber, who put it out on his newly formed Red Bird label, and the single reached #3. That began a run of memorable hits with the group, including "Leader of the Pack," "I Can Never Go Home Anymore" and "Give Him a Great Big Kiss." Morton then branched out, producing records as stylistically diverse as Janis Ian’s “Society’s Child” and Iron Butterfly’s “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida,” discovering and working with fellow Long Islanders Vanilla Fudge, and helming the New York Dolls’ second album, Too Much Too Soon. According to legend, George Goldner gave Morton (whose real name was also George) the nickname Shadow because he was so hard to track down. (2/15a)