Jerry Kasenetz, the American record producer who helped shape the sound of 1960s bubblegum pop, has died at the age of 82. Kasenetz, who partnered with Jeff Katz to form Super K Productions, was responsible for producing a string of catchy, chart-topping pop singles in the late 1960s with acts including The Music Explosion, 1910 Fruitgum Company, Ohio Express and others.
Kasenetz died on December 6, 2025, in a Tampa, Florida hospital following complications from a fall at his home, his family confirmed. During their peak years between 1967 and 1968, Kasenetz and Katz produced multiple million-selling singles that included hits like “Little Bit o’ Soul,” “Yummy Yummy Yummy,” “Simon Says,” “1, 2, 3 Red Light” and “Indian Giver,” several of which reached the top five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Born on May 5, 1943, in Brooklyn, New York, Kasenetz and Katz had met while attending the University of Arizona and went on to become one of the most commercially successful production teams of their era, credited with popularizing a style of upbeat, teen-oriented pop music that left a lasting imprint on the landscape of American pop.
Kasenetz is survived by family members including his sons and grandchildren. His death marks the passing of one of the key figures behind a defining moment in 1960s pop music.
