Songwriter Schroeder dead at 83

ENGLEWOOD, N.J., Dec. 6 (UPI) -- Songwriter Aaron Schroeder, whose works were recorded by singers like Elvis Presley, died in Englewood, N.J., at the age of 83, his publicist Dale Olsen said.

Among the 17 songs Schroeder helped write for the King of Rock 'N' Roll was "It's Now or Never," whose melody was borrowed from the Italian standard "O Sole Mio," The New York Times reported Sunday.

Schroeder co-wrote the song with Wally Gold and it went on to become a No. 1 hit worldwide with more than 20 million records sold.

"Aaron wrote other hits, I wrote other hits," Gold said about the song prior to his death in 1998. "But a song we finished in 20 minutes to a half-hour was the biggest song of our career."

Schroeder also worked with Gold on "Good Luck Charm" for Presley, while collaborating with other writers on hits like "Stuck on You" and "A Big Hunk o' Love."

The Times said Schroeder, who died of Alzheimer's disease Wednesday, is survived by his wife Abby and a daughter.