Richard Adam Ziegler (December 15, 1938 – March 6, 2017), known professionally asRitchie Adams, was an American singer and songwriter.
Born inNew York City, by 1959 he joinedThe Fireflies, and sang lead vocals on their hit record "You Were Mine", as well as on their follow-ups including "I Can't Say Goodbye". He released a string of solo singles during the early 1960s on theRibbon,Imperial,Beltone andCongress record labels, but with little success.[1]
He developed a more successful career as a songwriter, co-writing "Tossin' and Turnin'", a hit in the US in 1961 forBobby Lewis; and "Happy Summer Days", recorded byRonnie Dove in 1966. In the late 1960s, he co-wrote songs withMark Barkan, including several onThe Archies'debut album, and produced the Archies' song "Love is Living in You".[2] He and Barkan are also credited with writing "The Tra La La Song (One Banana, Two Banana)", a hit for theBanana Splits in 1969 and later in the UK byThe Dickies. Adams was a music director on theBanana Splits TV show, and also contributed to songs including "Goin' Back" from the bandToomorrow's soundtrack to the 1970film of the same name, starringOlivia Newton-John.[3][4][2]
In the 1970s, he co-wrote songs with Alan Bernstein forEngelbert Humperdinck, including "After the Lovin'" (1976) and "This Moment in Time" (1978), as well asAl Martino's "The Next Hundred Years" (1977).[3][4]
Adams died in 2017, aged 78, after a long illness.[2]
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