Jerry Fuller, a prolific songwriter whose work was recorded by Ricky Nelson, Gary Puckett, Reba McEntire, Sam Cooke, Lawrence Welk, the Kingston Trio, Billy Eckstine, Engelbert Humperdinck and others, died July 18 at his home in Los Angeles at the age of 85. The cause of death was complications from lung cancer, his wife, Annette Fuller, told The New York Times.

Fuller specialized in pop love songs. His first big hit was “Travelin’ Man,” which took Ricky Nelson to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in 1961.

Fuller and his friend Glen Campbell were major players in the Los Angeles recording studio scene in the 1960s. His productions included the 1968 recording of OC Smith’s “Little Green Apples,” which reached number two on the Billboard charts.

While working as an A&R producer for Columbia Records, Fuller discovered Gary Puckett at a gig at a bowling alley in San Diego. Together they produced four singles that sold a million copies or more for the band: “Woman, Woman” and three songs written by Fuller – “Young Girl,” “Lady Willpower,” and “Over You.”

Fuller was born in Fort Worth, Texas in 1938 and began his recording career there, but soon dropped out of college to move to Los Angeles. He was drafted into the Army in 1962 and served his two-year tour of duty in New York State.

Fuller left Columbia Records in 1971 and became an independent producer. He began writing country songs for singers such as Ray Price and Reba McEntire.

He leaves behind his wife, their children Adam and Anna Fuller, his brother Bill and his sister Claudine West.