Billy Steinberg, the Grammy-winning songwriter behind some of the most iconic pop hits of the 1980s and 90s, including Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” and Cyndi Lauper’s “True Colors,” died on , at his home in Brentwood, California. He was 75.
The news was confirmed by his lawyer, Laurie Soriano, and has prompted an outpouring of tributes from across the music industry. Steinberg’s family described him as a “visionary lyricist” and celebrated his ability to transform personal reflections into universal anthems.
Born William Endfield Steinberg on , in Palm Springs, California, Steinberg first found success as the singer-songwriter for the band Billy Thermal, which was signed to Richard Perry’s Planet label. However, it was his partnership with Tom Kelly in the early 1980s that would define his career.
Steinberg and Kelly quickly established themselves as a formidable songwriting duo, with Steinberg primarily focusing on lyrics and Kelly on music. Their breakthrough came in 1984 with “Like a Virgin,” which catapulted Madonna to superstardom and topped the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks. The song’s enduring appeal cemented Steinberg’s place in pop music history.
The success of “Like a Virgin” opened doors to a string of chart-topping hits. Steinberg and Kelly co-wrote “True Colors” for Cyndi Lauper in 1986, a song that became an anthem of self-acceptance and empowerment. They followed this with “Eternal Flame” by The Bangles (1989), “So Emotional” by Whitney Houston (1987), and “Alone” by Heart (1987), further solidifying their reputation as hitmakers.
Their collaborative catalog also includes “I’ll Stand by You” by The Pretenders and “I Drove All Night,” which was recorded by both Roy Orbison and Cyndi Lauper. Steinberg’s lyrical talent resonated with a broad audience, capturing the complexities of love, loss, and longing with remarkable sensitivity.
Following Kelly’s retirement from music in the mid-1990s, Steinberg continued to write and collaborate with a new generation of songwriters. He teamed up with Rick Nowels and Marie-Claire D’Ubaldo to co-write “Falling Into You,” a hit for Celine Dion, and later worked with Josh Alexander on songs for artists like t.A.T.u. (“All About Us”), JoJo (“Too Little Too Late”), Katharine McPhee (“Over It”), and Demi Lovato (“Give Your Heart a Break”).
Steinberg’s versatility and ability to adapt to changing musical landscapes ensured his continued relevance in the industry. His songs were also recorded by a diverse range of artists, including Pat Benatar, Tina Turner, Laura Branigan, Cheap Trick, REO Speedwagon, Melanie C, Susanna Hoffs, Belinda Carlisle, Bette Midler, Taylor Dayne, Nicole Scherzinger, and The Corrs, demonstrating the broad appeal of his songwriting.
Throughout his four-decade career, Steinberg received numerous accolades, including a Grammy Award for his work on Celine Dion’s 1996 album, Falling Into You. However, his family emphasized that his greatest reward was “the magic of hearing a crowd sing back something that once lived only in his notebook.”
In , Steinberg and his son, Ezra Steinberg, both signed global publishing deals with Sony Music Publishing, a testament to the family’s continued commitment to songwriting. Ezra Steinberg, also a songwriter, described his father as a mentor who instilled in him a “discipline, integrity, and reverence for great songwriting.”
Billy Steinberg is survived by his wife, Trina; his sons, Ezra and Max; his sisters, Barbara and Mary; and his stepchildren, Raul and Carolina. His legacy as one of the most influential songwriters of his generation is secure, and his songs will continue to resonate with audiences for years to come.
As Steinberg himself explained in an interview with Songfacts, his approach to songwriting was collaborative and organic. “I never would just send him lyrics,” he said of his partnership with Kelly. “I would always be with him when we would write the songs, and sometimes I would have some input into the chords and the melodies. But he would do the majority of those things.” This dedication to the craft, combined with a keen understanding of human emotion, made Billy Steinberg a true master of his art.
