Jerry Leiber, who along with his song writing partner Mike Stoller penned some of rock's earliest hits, died Monday at age 78 in Los Angeles. Leiber died following a heart ailment.

The duo's most famous songs defined the early years of rock and included: “Hound Dog”, “Jailhouse Rock”, “Yakety Yak”, “Charlie Brown” and “Stand By Me”.

The iconic rock songs by Leiber and Stoller were performed by artists such as Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Jerry Lee Lewis, the Rolling Stones, the Drifters and the Coasters.

In the 1990s, the songwriters' tune “Smokey Joe's Cafe” became the inspiration for a Broadway play. The show won a 1996 Grammy as the best musical show album.

Sony/ATV Music Publishing Chairman Martin Bandier called the Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller's 60 year partnership one of the greatest and most prolific song writing partnerships of all time.