JAKARTA - The international music world is once again saddened by deep grief. The legendary songwriter behind the success of several iconic songs in the 1980s and 1990s, Billy Steinberg, is reported to have died at the age of 74.
The figure who helped launch Madonna's career with the song "Like a Virgin" breathed his last in California, United States on Monday, February 16 local time, after battling cancer.
Steinberg is known as the architect behind lyrics that not only became hits on the charts, but also became cross-generational anthems.
Throughout his four-decade career, he has been recognized by the world through induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2011 with his creative partner, Tom Kelly.
The family of the late in his statement revealed that the lyrics created by Steinberg often began with deep personal reflections before eventually turning into songs that touched the hearts of millions of listeners.
The family said Steinberg's greatest legacy was not just the awards, but the emotional connection created through music.
"Billy Steinberg's life is a testament to the power of a well-written song - and the idea that honesty, when poured into music, can outlive us all," the family said, quoted by the BBC, Wednesday, February 18.
"For those closest to him, the most important thing is not the recognition, but the connection - the magic of hearing a crowd sing back something that had only lived in his notebook," he continued.
Steinberg's career reached its peak when he worked with Tom Kelly. The duo created a series of songs that dominated radio and MTV in its time, ranging from "True Colors" (Cyndi Lauper), "Eternal Flame" (The Bangles), "So Emotional" (Whitney Houston), to "I'll Stand by You" (The Pretenders).
Not only that, Steinberg also won a Grammy award for his contribution to Celine Dion's successful album, "Falling Into You", which was released in 1996.
Although Tom Kelly decided to retire in the mid-1990s, Steinberg's spirit never faded. He continued to collaborate with musicians from younger generations. As a result, he successfully produced hits such as "Give Your Heart a Break" which was popularized by Demi Lovato and "Too Little Too Late" from JoJo.
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