Oscar-winning author Will Jennings, who wrote hits like “My Coronary heart Will Go On” from “Titanic” and “Tears in Heaven,” has died at age 80, his expertise company confirmed to CBS Information.
“Might his reminiscence be blessed,” Sam Schwartz of the Gorfine/Schwartz Company instructed CBS Information on Sunday.
The reason for demise has not been introduced, though a number of reviews say he had been sick for a while.
Stephen Lufkin/WireImage for Songwriters Corridor of Fame
Jennings was born in Kilgore, Texas on June 27, 1944—the youngest of three youngsters. Earlier than pursuing his profession in Hollywood, he taught at Tyler Junior School in Tyler, Texas, then at Austin State College, earlier than educating on the College of Wisconsin-Eau Claire for 3 years.
All through his profession, the lyricist has written for a wide range of artists together with Steve Winwood, Whitney Houston, Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Mariah Carey, Jimmy Buffet, Barry Manilow and Roy Orbison.
He gained two Oscars for co-writing the hit songs for the film “Titanic” – recorded by Celine Dion – and “An Officer and a Gentleman” alongside Jack Nitzsche and Buffy Sainte-Marie.
He gained the Golden Globe Award for Greatest Unique Track, and the Grammy Award for File of the 12 months and Track of the 12 months for “Tears in Heaven” – carried out by Clapton – from the movie “Rush”.
ABC Photograph Archive/Disney Basic Leisure Content material through Getty Pictures
Jennings was inducted into the Songwriters Corridor of Fame in 2006.
Musician Peter Wolf praised the lyricist in Posted on social media“It’s a unhappy time to listen to of the passing of Will Jennings. He was a grasp, an excellent thoughts, and a delicate soul. Will shared his abilities with me, was affected person and beneficiant, an expensive buddy and mentor, and enriched my life in so some ways. It was an ideal honor to have labored with such a musical genius for therefore a few years… As one in every of his favourite poets, William Butler Yeats, put it, ‘Suppose the place the glory of man begins and ends, and say that mine was within the presence of such mates.’”
Jennings is survived by his spouse, Carol, and his two sisters, Joyce and Gloria.
