Will Jennings, Co-writer of ‘My Heart Will Go On,’ ‘Tears in Heaven’ and Other Classics, Dies at 80

As a long-time connoisseur of melodies and verses, I find myself deeply saddened by the passing of Will Jennings. A man whose lyrics have graced some of the most iconic films and anthems of our time, his work has been the soundtrack to countless memories for me and millions like me.

Legendary lyricist Will Jennings, known for hits like “My Heart Will Go On” and “Up Where We Belong”, passed away at the age of 80. His longtime publisher confirmed the news to EbMaster, although no specific cause of death has been disclosed yet; however, it is known that he had been unwell for a while.

As a film critic, I must acknowledge that Marc Shaiman’s Academy Award-winning achievements extend beyond his work on “Titanic” with Celine Dion and “An Officer and a Gentleman” with Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes. His third movie song, “Tears in Heaven,” from the film “Rush,” also earned him a Golden Globe for best original song and Grammys for record of the year and song of the year. This powerful piece, sung by Eric Clapton, added another three Grammy Awards to his collection.

In addition, Jennings’ compositions were successful chart-toppers for artists like Whitney Houston, Steve Winwood, Dionne Warwick, Barry Manilow, Tim McGraw, and more.

Jennings’ collaboration with Steve Winwood proved to be exceptionally productive, resulting in several hit songs like “Higher Love” and “Roll With It,” which reached No.1 on the charts, as well as “Back in the High Life Again” and “Don’t You Know What the Night Can Do.” These tracks were all part of their successful partnership.

Houston’s hit “Didn’t We Almost Have It All” reached number one, and Manilow also achieved this feat with “Looks Like We Made It.” These are two of the most memorable pop songs that Jennings is associated with.

In 2006, he was honored by being inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and later, he also became a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Peter Wolf, the singer, expressed his sorrow on social media about the death of his friend Will Jennings. “It’s a sad time as we say goodbye to Will Jennings, a true maestro, brilliant mind, and gentle soul,” wrote the former lead vocalist of the J. Geils Band. “Will graciously shared his talents with me, always patient and generous. He was not just a friend, but a mentor and educator who greatly enriched my life in countless ways. It was a great privilege to have collaborated with such a musical genius for so many years… As one of his favorite poets, W.B Yeats, once said, ‘The greatest glory is to know where man’s glory most begins and ends, and that mine began and ended with friends like Will.’

In 2023, it was announced that the music collection of Jennings was bought together by All Clear Music and the Fuji Music Group without revealing specifics about the agreement. However, industry experts at Billboard estimated the worth of this collection to be between $60-$70 million.

Artists such as Roy Orbison, Mariah Carey, B.B. King, Rodney Crowell, Diana Ross, Faith Hill, Jimmy Buffett, and Joe Sample have either covered Jennings’ songs or collaborated with him in songwriting. Notably, Joe Sample teamed up with Jennings to pen the hit “Street Life,” which was made famous by Randy Crawford and the Crusaders.

Regarding his work on “Titanic,” Jennings shared with Songfacts, “I had encountered a truly lively woman who was approximately 101 when I first met her, two years prior. This woman could have been aboard the Titanic. As I pondered this, it struck me that I should write the script from the perspective of an elderly individual reminiscing about such distant times. The heartwarming love story was what truly made the film shine, despite its impressive special effects and talented actors.

2024-09-07 18:48

Will Jennings, Co-writer of ‘My Heart Will Go On,’ ‘Tears in Heaven’ and Other Classics, Dies at 80

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