Songwriter Cynthia Weil, one half of the songwriting team Mann & Weil, passed away this morning. No cause of death has been released. She was 82.
Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann were part of a triumvirate of husband-and-wife songwriting teams which came out of the Brill Building in New York City along with Carole King and Gerry Goffin as well as Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich. Unlike Goffin & King and Barry & Greenwich, Mann & Weill would remain married for over 60 years until death did them part today.
Their union also produced some of the most notable songs in the history of rock 'n roll with Weil supplying lyrics to songs like "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" (along with Phil Spector) and "(You're My) Soul and Inspiration" by The Righteous Brothers, "Kicks" and "Hungry" by Paul Revere and The Raiders, "On Broadway" by The Drifters, "Walking in The Rain" by The Ronettes (also with Phil Spector), the anti-war song "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" by The Animals and "Somewhere Out There" by Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram.
Mann and Weil composed songs for everyone between Ray Charles and Hanson. Weil also collaborated with artists co-writing "Running with the Night" with Lionel Richie and the Peabo Bryson hit, "If Ever You're in My Arms Again" with Michael Masser and Tom Snow.
In 2010, the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame bestowed Weil with the Ahmet Etregun Award becoming the first woman to ever earn the honor. Cynthia Weil was truly a rock 'n roll pioneer. R.I.P.
No comments:
Post a Comment