Julian Aberbach, 95; Co-Founded Firm That Published Elvis Hits

Julian J. Aberbach, 95, who with his brother, Joachim, founded Hill and Range, a music publishing company that published such familiar tunes as “Frosty the Snowman,” “Save the Last Dance for Me,” “I Walk the Line,” and many of Elvis Presley’s hits, died May 17 of heart failure at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan.

Born in Vienna, Aberbach was living in Paris and trying to start a music publishing company but fled to the United States as World War II approached in Europe.

He served in the U.S. Army and developed a love of country music during basic training in the South. After the war, he moved to Los Angeles and went into business.

He signed a deal with fiddle player Spade Cooley to represent Cooley’s song “Shame on You.” The song was issued as a single by Columbia Records and hit No. 1 on the country charts. Aberbach’s music business was on its way.

One of the most significant publishing deals ever made by Aberbach was the acquisition of the exclusive rights to the music of Elvis Presley. Aberbach brokered an agreement with Presley in which his firm and Presley split the domestic profits equally. Songs recorded by Presley that the company published included “Love Me Tender” “All Shook Up,” and “Can’t Help Falling In Love With You.”