Grammy-winning American songwriter Billy Steinberg has died at the age of 75 following a cancer diagnosis. His family described him as a visionary lyricist and one of the most influential songwriters of his generation.
Steinberg was mainly known for co-writing Like a Virgin, which turned out to be Madonna’s first number one hit in the US back in 1984. The song, produced by Nile Rodgers, stayed at the top of the charts for six weeks and sold over two million copies, even though record executives and Madonna herself were doubtful at first.
He wrote the song with his longtime collaborator Tom Kelly, taking ideas from his own personal experiences. Some critics didn’t like its bold themes, but the song ended up being a standout anthem of the 1980s and played a key role in making Madonna a worldwide pop star.
Besides Like a Virgin, Steinberg and Kelly wrote several lasting hits like True Colors for Cyndi Lauper, So Emotional for Whitney Houston, Eternal Flame for The Bangles, I Drove All Night for Roy Orbison, and I’ll Stand by You for The Pretenders.
Steinberg spent about forty years writing songs for artists like Tina Turner, Pat Benatar, and Celine Dion. He earned a Grammy Award for his work on Dion’s 1996 album Falling Into You.
Steinberg was brought into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2011 because of his knack for writing lyrics that felt personal and connected with so many people. His family said that the best reward for him wasn’t getting noticed by the industry, but hearing people connect with words that used to be just in his notebook.
He leaves behind his wife Trina, two sons, and two stepchildren.
