July 5, 2007 10:53

'Unchained Melody' lyric writer dies

Hy Zaret had one of the most covered ever

Hy Zaret, the man who wrote the lyrics for the classic song ‘Unchained Melody’, has died of old age.

He passed away aged 99 – one month off his 100th birthday.

American Zaret’s lyrics became some of the most sung in pop music – ‘Unchained Melody’ was made famous in 1965 and covered by over 300 artists, including Robson and Jerome, Elvis and Joni Mitchell. The most famous version was by The Righteous Brothers, and featured in the hit 1990 movie 'Ghost'.

Zaret had said that writing the lyrics was “the best thing I ever did in my life”.