10/14/25-Richard Addrisi Passes Away: Wrote one of the biggest pop songs of all time

Trusted Source: Our guest Frank Stallone

Hear Richard say hello on our interviews page. He will be the subject of this weekend’s show.

Richard Addrisi, who along with his brother Don wrote the second most played song in pop music history, has passed away at age 83. The Winthrop, MA natives were sons of the Flying Addrisi’s, a famous traveling Trapeze act.

The boys went to Los Angeles to try out for the Mickey Mouse Club, but ended up appearing on the “Spin and Marty” series instead.

When they were just teenagers, their first Del-Fi single, “Cherrystone” peaked at # 62 in Billboard in June 1959.

While writing for acts on the Valiant record label, they were also given the responsibility for discovering new talent and signed the Association, a pop group that would score two number ones (“Cherish” and “Windy”).

At this point, the pair wrote “Never My Love” — a #2 hit for the Association, which would go on to hit the Top 15 two more times, in versions by Fifth Dimension & Blue Swede. The song has become one of the most played of all time on US radio, second only to “You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feeling” and has been recorded by over 300 artists.

As the 70s began, they wrote and performed the theme to TV’s “Nanny And the Professor.”

In 1972, the Addrisi Brothers finally scored their first Top 40 hit as writer/performers, the beloved: “We’ve Got To Get It On Again” (#25). That was followed by “Slow Dancin’ (Don’t Turn Me On”) in 1977 (#20).

They continued working together until Don’s death from cancer in 1984. Richard was a guest on “The Lost 45s” numerous times, including an in-studio appearance. His humor & love for pop music will be missed.