'Hound Dog' songwriter Jerry Leiber dies at 78

Song writers Mike Stoller (L) and Jerry Leiber arrive at the 25th Annual ASCAP Pop Music Awards at the Kodak theatre in Hollywood, California, April 9, 2008.[Photo/Agencies]

Leiber died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles of cardiopulmonary failure, Randy Poe, the president of his publishing company, told Reuters.

Family members of the legendary songwriter were with him when he died, said Leiber's assistant, Marilyn Levy.

Leiber and Stoller, who met when they were 17, wrote such tunes as "Hound Dog," "Jailhouse Rock," "Stand By Me" and "Poison Ivy."

Presley, the Drifters, Ben E. King and Peggy Lee were among the many singers who recorded songs from the duo.

They also helped ignite the career of the Coasters by writing and producing the doo-wop act's hits including "Yakety Yak," "Charlie Brown" and "Along Came Jones."