Will Jennings, the two-time Oscar-winning lyricist who co-wrote Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” along with chart-topping hits by Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, and Whitney Houston, has passed away at the age of 80.
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Jennings’ caretaker confirmed the songwriter’s death to The Hollywood Reporter, mentioning that he passed away at his home in Tyler, Texas. The cause of death was not disclosed, but Jennings had been dealing with health issues in recent years.
Former J. Geils Band singer Peter Wolf, who collaborated with Jennings on a couple of solo albums, expressed his sadness on Twitter, stating, “A sad time, the passing of Will Jennings, a maestro, brilliant mind, and a gentle spirit. It was an enormous honor to have worked with such a musical genius.”
A Songwriter’s Hall of Fame inductee with a half-dozen Number One hits in his repertoire, Jennings was a two-time winner of the Academy Awards’ Best Original Song. He first won for co-writing “Up Where We Belong” — performed by Joe Cocker and Jennifer Barnes for 1982’s An Officer and a Gentleman — and then for the Titanic hit “My Heart Will Go On,” which he co-wrote with composer James Horner.
“My Heart Will Go On” also earned Jennings his second Song of the Year and Record of the Year at the Grammy Awards. He had previously won both awards in 1993 for co-writing Eric Clapton’s “Tears in Heaven,” a tribute to the guitarist’s late son that reached Number Two on the U.S. singles chart.
Jennings’ list of Number One hits includes classics like Steve Winwood’s “Higher Love” and “Roll With It,” as well as Barry Manilow’s “Looks Like We Made It,” Whitney Houston’s “Didn’t We Almost Have It All,” and Tim McGraw’s chart-topping rendition of “Please Remember Me,” originally written for Rodney Crowell.
In addition to his collaborations with the aforementioned artists, Jennings also wrote songs with Jimmy Buffett, Roy Orbison, Mariah Carey, Laura Branigan, and Dionne Warwick.
FAQs
Q: What are some of Will Jennings’ most famous songs?
A: Some of Will Jennings’ most famous songs include “My Heart Will Go On,” “Up Where We Belong,” “Tears in Heaven,” “Higher Love,” and “Looks Like We Made It.”
Q: How many Academy Awards did Will Jennings win?
A: Will Jennings won two Academy Awards for Best Original Song during his career.
Q: Which artists did Will Jennings collaborate with?
A: Will Jennings collaborated with artists such as Celine Dion, Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Whitney Houston, and many more throughout his illustrious career.
Credit: www.rollingstone.com
