‘Like a Virgin’ and ‘Eternal Flame’ songwriter Billy Steinberg dies at 75

Billy Steinberg, who co-wrote immoderate of nan biggest deed songs of nan 1980s, has died. He was 75.

The Fresno-born songwriter, chiefly a lyricist, formed a business pinch musician Tom Kelly. They were down a drawstring of number 1 hits including Madonna’s “Like a Virgin”, Cyndi Lauper’s “True Colors”, nan Bangles’ “Eternal Flame”, Whitney Houston’s “So Emotional” and Heart’s “Alone.”

Steinberg died Monday aft a agelong conflict pinch cancer, his lawyer Laurie Soriano told The Independent.

He was calved William Steinberg connected February 26, 1950, and grew up successful Palm Springs, nan boy of a successful grape farmer. He studied lit astatine Bard College successful upstate New York.

In 1980, erstwhile Steinberg was 30, his set Billy Thermal was signed to a grounds statement by shaper Richard Perry. Although nan group ne'er released an album, 1 of Steinberg’s songs “How Do I Make You” was covered by Linda Ronstadt and became a apical 10 hit. Two much of his songs were covered by Pat Benatar.

The pursuing summertime Steinberg met Kelly, who had besides written for Benatar, astatine a party. They decided to shape a songwriting team, pinch Steinberg focusing connected lyrics and Kelly penning nan music.

In 1983, while moving astatine 1 of his father’s vineyards, Steinberg wrote nan lyrics to “Like a Virgin”. Kelly recorded it arsenic a demo which made its measurement to Madonna, who recorded it arsenic nan title way for her 2nd medium pinch shaper Nile Rodgers. The azygous became a immense deed successful 1984, spending six weeks astatine nan apical of nan U.S. charts.

Neither Steinberg aliases Kelly met Madonna until aft nan opus had go a immense hit. Writing connected his individual website, Steinberg recalled that they were yet introduced to her astatine a Hollywood statement that nan popular prima was attending pinch her then-partner Warren Beatty.

“Warren Beatty started to laugh, reasoning it was a joke because Madonna would person surely already known nan writers of her signature song,” wrote Steinberg. “I gave her my biggest grin and said, ‘Madonna, I’ve wanted to meet you for truthful long.’ She said, ‘Well, now you did,’ grabbed Warren and walked away. I was devastated. Tom started to laugh... I deliberation it’s funny now. And I’ve ne'er met Madonna since.”

After nan occurrence of that song, Steinberg and Kelly continued to activity together productively connected a drawstring of deed singles, including Roy Orbison’s “I Drove All Night”, Divinyls’ “I Touch Myself” and The Pretenders’ “I’ll Stand by You.”

After Kelly retired successful nan 1990s, Steinberg had further occurrence penning aliases co-writing songs including Celine Dion’s “Falling Into You” and Demi Lovato’s “Give Your Heart a Break.”

Steinberg is survived by his wife, Trina; his sons, Ezra and Max; his sisters, Barbara and Mary; and his stepchildren, Raul and Carolina.

In a connection shared pinch The Independent, Ezra Steinberg said: “As a father, he passed down not only his emotion of music, but his discipline, integrity, and reverence for awesome songwriting. He believed successful building things that past — successful art, successful relationships, and successful legacy.”