As a fan of timeless music and poignant lyrics, I can’t help but feel a deep sense of loss with the passing of Will Jennings. This remarkable man, born and bred in Texas, left an indelible mark on the world of music, crafting songs that touched hearts and stirred emotions like few others could.
80-year-old Oscar-winning lyricist, who collaborated on popular songs such as “My Heart Will Go On” and “Tears in Heaven,” has passed away. This is Jennings.
On a Friday morning, Jennings passed away at his residence in Tyler, Texas, as confirmed by his caregiver, Martha Sherrod, to The Hollywood Reporter. Over the past five to six years, he had been experiencing deteriorating health, according to her.
In 2006, over a decade following his second Oscar victory for co-writing “My Heart Will Go On” from the movie Titanic with James Horner, which Celine Dion performed, the lyricist was honored by being inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Before earning his first Academy Award, he had already been nominated once in 1981 for “People Alone” from the movie “The Competition.” However, it was in 1983 that he shared an Oscar with Jack Nitzsche and Buffy Sainte-Marie for the song “Up Where We Belong” from the film “An Officer and a Gentleman“. Alongside these prestigious awards, he also boasts three Grammys, two Golden Globes, and numerous other accolades.
I kicked off my journey in the world of Hollywood back in 1976. By the following year, I found myself collaborating with composer Richard Kerr to pen Barry Manilow’s smash hit, “Looks Like We Made It.” Two years after that, we teamed up once more to create another top 10 success, “Somewhere in the Night.
Back in the early ’90s, Jennings joined forces with Eric Clapton to pen “Tears in Heaven,” a track featured in the 1991 movie “Rush.” This beautiful melody was up for a Golden Globe and eventually took home the prestigious Grammy Award for Song of the Year.
Born on June 27, 1944, in Kilgore, Texas, Wilbur H. Jennings first embarked on an academic career. He taught at Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Texas, then moved to Austin State University and later the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, where he spent three years. However, his destiny lay elsewhere, eventually leading him to Hollywood.
Throughout his time as a songwriter, he penned tunes for various musicians such as Whitney Houston, B.B. King, Mariah Carey, Jimmy Buffett, Joe Sample, Rodney Crowell, Roy Orbison and others. He worked with Steve Winwood on numerous albums, including “Arc of a Diver”, “Talking Back to the Night” and “Back in the High Life”.
Collaborating with Carey and Horner, he penned the key track “Where Are You Christmas?” from the movie “How the Grinch Stole Christmas“. This song was performed by a character in the film as well as by Faith Hill at its conclusion. Additionally, Jennings and Horner composed a tune for “A Beautiful Mind“.
In a heartfelt tribute on social media, Peter Wolf, Jennings’ friend and fellow musician, expressed his sorrow over the death of the composer. He wrote, “Many great ones have gone…It’s a sad day as we bid farewell to Will Jennings, a true maestro, a brilliant mind, and a kind soul. Will was not just a mentor but also a friend, enriching my life in countless ways with his generosity and patience. It was a privilege to collaborate with such a musical genius for so long…In the words of one of his favorite poets, W.B Yeats,’The greatest glory of a man is to have such friends.’
Survivors include his wife, Carole, and his sisters, Joyce and Gloria.
Mike Barnes contributed to this report.
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-09-07 19:26