Brandon Chase; Songwriter of Pop Classics

Brandon Chase, 53, a songwriter better known by his given name, Alan Gary Zekley, whose work included “Yellow Balloon” and “Sooner or Later.” Brought up in Southern California, he attended Menlo College in Palo Alto and Santa Monica City College. He wrote for the Grass Roots, R.E.M. and Elephant Candy, founded Teeny Bopper Music and created material for such labels as Warner Bros. Records, White Whale and Atlantic. Other Zekley songs included “Wait a Million Years” and “The Grooviest Girl in the World.” After changing his name to Chase, he completed his final song, “The Last Time We Make Love.” On Wednesday in Marina del Rey of a heart attack.