Billy Steinberg, Legendary Songwriter of 1980s Hits, Passes Away at 75
Billy Steinberg, the celebrated lyricist who co-wrote some of the most iconic pop songs of the 1980s, has died at the age of 75. His attorney, Laurie Soriano, confirmed to Variety that Steinberg passed away after a long battle with cancer.
A Prolific Partnership with Tom Kelly
Born on February 26, 1950, in Fresno and raised in Palm Springs as the son of a successful grape farmer, Steinberg studied literature at Bard College in upstate New York. He formed a legendary songwriting partnership with musician Tom Kelly, with Steinberg focusing on lyrics and Kelly composing the music. Together, they crafted a string of number one hits that defined an era.
Their most famous collaborations include:
- Madonna's "Like a Virgin"
- Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors"
- The Bangles' "Eternal Flame"
- Whitney Houston's "So Emotional"
- Heart's "Alone"
The Genesis of 'Like a Virgin' and a Memorable Madonna Encounter
In 1983, while working at one of his father's vineyards, Steinberg penned the lyrics to "Like a Virgin." Kelly recorded a demo that eventually reached Madonna, who recorded it as the title track for her second album with producer Nile Rodgers. The single became a massive hit in 1984, spending six weeks atop the U.S. charts.
Remarkably, neither Steinberg nor Kelly met Madonna until after the song had achieved global success. Steinberg recalled on his personal website that they were introduced to her at a Hollywood party where she was with her then-partner Warren Beatty. "Warren Beatty started to laugh, thinking it was a joke because Madonna would have surely already known the writers of her signature song," Steinberg wrote. "I gave her my biggest smile and said, 'Madonna, I’ve wanted to meet you for so long.' She said, 'Well, now you did,' grabbed Warren and walked away. I was devastated. Tom started to laugh... I think it’s funny now. And I’ve never met Madonna since."
Early Career and Continued Success
Steinberg's musical journey began earlier when, at age 30 in 1980, his band Billy Thermal was signed to a record contract by producer Richard Perry. Although the group never released an album, one of Steinberg's songs, "How Do I Make You," was covered by Linda Ronstadt and became a top 10 hit. Two more of his songs were covered by Pat Benatar.
After meeting Kelly at a party the following summer, their partnership flourished. Following the success of "Like a Virgin," they continued to produce hit singles, including Roy Orbison's "I Drove All Night," Divinyls' "I Touch Myself," and The Pretenders' "I’ll Stand by You." After Kelly retired in the 1990s, Steinberg found further success writing or co-writing songs such as Celine Dion's "Falling Into You" and Demi Lovato's "Give Your Heart a Break."
Legacy and Family
Billy Steinberg's contributions to music have left an indelible mark on pop culture, with his songs continuing to resonate across generations. He is survived by his wife, Trina; his sons, Ezra and Max; his sisters, Barbara and Mary; and his stepchildren, Raul and Carolina. His work remains a testament to the power of lyrical storytelling in the world of popular music.
