Bob Montgomery dies; songwriter, producer was 77

Bob Montgomery, a songwriter and producer who wrote hits for pop and country artists from Buddy Holly to Eddy Arnold, has died.

Montgomery died Thursday in Lee's Summit, Missouri, after a struggle with Parkinson's disease, said Greg Matusky, a publicist. He was 77.

Montgomery was born in Lampasas, Texas, on May 12, 1937.

He initially teamed up with Holly as a rockabilly duo in the 1950s, but then focused on songwriting for Holly and the Crickets. In the late 1960s, he moved to Nashville, where he started House of Gold Music. It became a major publishing house, scoring hits for country stars including Alabama, Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, Dottie West and the Judds.

Montgomery also worked as a producer and record executive later in his career.