Bill Dees, Cowriter of "Oh, Pretty Woman," Dead at 73

Tunesmith also penned songs for Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn and Glen Campbell

By Rebecca Macatee Nov 01, 2012 2:05 PMTags

You might not have immediately known Bill Dees' name, but you surely knew his work.

The cowriter of Roy Orbison's 1964 hit "Oh, Pretty Woman" died last week at the age of 73, according to published reports.

Dees and Orbison's smash was prominently featured in 1990's Pretty Woman, starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere.

In addition to cowriting "Oh, Pretty Woman"—which was also covered by the likes of Van Halen, Al Green, Connie Francis and even Alvin and the Chipmunks—Dees penned songs recorded by Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn and Glen Campbell.

In the early 1990s, Dees found himself embroiled in a copyright-infringement lawsuit with 2 Live Crew over "Oh, Pretty Woman." Ultimately, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the rappers, deciding the song was a parody and it was fair use.

Dees is survived by his wife, brother, four children, two stepchildren, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.