Brian Potter, the British songwriter and producer behind a string of 1970s hits, has died at the age of 87. Working in partnership with Dennis Lambert, Potter co-wrote and produced enduring songs including "One Tin Soldier" (the theme to the film Billy Jack), the Four Tops' "Ain't No Woman (Like the One I've Got)" and Glen Campbell's career-reviving album Rhinestone Cowboy. He died on 30 June at a seniors' residence in Granada Hills, having lived with vascular dementia and Alzheimer's for several years, as announced by his daughter, Courtney Potter.

Born in Billericay, Essex, in 1939, Potter taught himself the drums, toured Europe (once drumming for Chuck Berry) and worked as an assistant to Oliver! creator Lionel Bart before scoring his first hit in 1965. After meeting Lambert, he emigrated to California, and the pair produced work for artists including Dusty Springfield, The Righteous Brothers, Tavares and Santana, and earned Grammy nominations for the Rhinestone Cowboy single. Following an amicable split in the 1980s, Potter continued writing with other collaborators, worked on musical theatre and theme-park projects, and was recently nominated to the Songwriters Hall of Fame.