{{Short description|American pop singer-songwriter (1952–2025)}} {{Infobox musical artist | background = person | name = Leslie Pearl | image = | image_upright = | image_size = | landscape = <!-- yes, if wide image, otherwise leave blank --> | alt = | caption = | birth_name = Leslie Jan Pearl | alias = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1952|07|26}} | birth_place = Pennsylvania, U.S | origin = | death_date = {{Death date and age|2025|06|18|1952|07|26}} | death_place = | genre = | occupation = Songwriter, record producer | instrument = Keyboards, bass, vocals | discography = | years_active = <!-- YYYY–YYYY (or –present) --> | label = London, RCA | spouse = <!-- Use article title or common name --> | partner = <!-- (unmarried long-term partner) --> | website = {{URL|lesliepearl.com}} | module = | module2 = | module3 = }}
'''Leslie Jan Pearl''' (July 26, 1952 – June 18, 2025) was an American songwriter, record producer and musician.
==Life and career== Born in Pennsylvania,<ref>Joel Whitburn, ''The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits''. 7th edn, 2000</ref> Pearl wrote hits for Crystal Gayle, Kenny Rogers, Johnny Mathis and Dr. Hook, as well as writing the lyrics and music for the Karen Carpenter song "My Body Keeps Changing My Mind". Her songs were also recorded by Aretha Franklin, Randy Travis and Rascal Flatts.
In 1977, Pearl recorded her first album, ''Pearl'', with her sister Deborah Pearl, on London Records. In 1982, she recorded a second album, ''Words & Music'', this time for RCA Records. It yielded the Top 40 hit "If the Love Fits Wear It", which spent sixteen weeks on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, peaking at number 28 in August 1982.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/leslie-pearl|title = Leslie Pearl|magazine = Billboard}}</ref> It also peaked at number 7 on the Adult Contemporary chart and at number 25 on the ''Cashbox'' music chart.<ref>[{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p113084|pure_url=yes}} Billboard Singles], Allmusic.com</ref> The song also charted on the Canadian Adult Contemporary chart, reaching number 16,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.6524&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.6524.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.6524|title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada |website=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |date=1982-09-25 |accessdate=2018-09-04}}</ref> and in Ireland, where it peaked at number 23.
Pearl also wrote a hit for Dr. Hook ("Girls Can Get It") and one for Crystal Gayle ("You Never Gave Up on Me"). She wrote and produced jingles for Pepsi, Folgers Coffee, Ford, Gillette and others.{{citation needed|date=December 2007}} Composed in 1984, Pearl's Folgers coffee jingle was transformed into country, gospel, jazz, R&B, folk, Celtic and a cappella versions, and Folgers runs an annual contest to find the best new interpretation.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.folgerscoffee.com/folgers-jingle/ |title=Folgers. "Folger's Coffee Jingle History" |access-date=2016-01-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102020053/http://www.folgerscoffee.com/folgers-jingle/ |archive-date=2016-01-02 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Pearl died on June 18, 2025, at the age of 72.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SAG-AFTRA - Summer 2025 |url=https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1538243-summer-2025/77? |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=digital.copcomm.com}}</ref>
==Discography== * ''Pearl'' (London, 1977) * ''Words & Music'' (RCA, 1982)
==References== <references/>
==External links== * https://www.lesliepearl.com/ * {{discogs artist|641238|Leslie Pearl}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Pearl, Leslie}} Category:1952 births Category:2025 deaths Category:Songwriters from Pennsylvania Category:Singers from Pennsylvania Category:Musicians from Pennsylvania Category:Record producers from Pennsylvania Category:RCA Records artists