Dec 4, 2014 1 min read

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A songwriter and producer who wrote hits for pop and country artists from Buddy Holly to Eddy Arnold has died.

Greg Matusky is a publicist for Bob Montgomery. He said Montgomery died Thursday in Lee’s Summit, Mo., after a struggle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 77.

Montgomery was born in Lampasas, Texas, 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 and Kenny Rogers.

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