Man behind queer favourite songs including ‘Like A Virgin’ and ‘True Colors’ dies aged 75
Billy Steinberg, who wrote for Madonna, Celine Dion and Cyndi Lauper, has died. (Getty)
Billy Steinberg, the song-writer behind queer favourite songs including Madonna’s “Like A Virgin” and Cyndi Lauper’s “True Colors”, has died aged 75.
The Grammy Award-winning songwriter died in Los Angeles on Monday, 16 February, after a “long” diagnosis of cancer.
Throughout his five-decade musical career, Steinberg worked with pop legends including Whitney Houston, Celine Dion.
With his song-writing partner Tom Kelly, Steinberg penned chart-toppers “So Emotional” for Whitney Houston, “Eternal Flame” for The Bangles, and “Alone” for rock band Heart.
“True Colors” and “Like A Virgin” also shot to number one, while “Eternal Flame” spent four weeks at number one in the UK in 2001 after it was covered by Atomic Kitten. Steinberg and Kelly also wrote The Pretenders’ “I’ll Stand By You”, which became a UK number one in 2004 after being covered by British girl group, Girls Aloud.
Steinberg’s other work included Lovato’s “Give Your Heart A Break”, JoJo’s “Too Little Too Late” and t.A.T.u. song “All About Us”.
He won a Grammy Award for his work on Celine Dion’s 1996 record Falling into You, which received the coveted ‘Album of the Year’ award.
In a statement, Steinberg’s family remembered him as “visionary lyricist, devoted husband, loving father, and one of the most influential songwriters of his era”.
“Billy Steinberg’s life was a testament to the enduring power of a well-written song — and to the idea that honesty, when set to music, can outlive us all,” his family’s statement continues.
Despite his accolades and acclaim, his family added that it was not “recognition” that mattered to the songwriter, “but connection – the magic of hearing a crowd sing back something that once lived only in his notebook”.
In a further statement, his son Ezra Steinberg said: “As a father, he passed down not only his love of music, but his discipline, integrity, and reverence for great songwriting. He believed in building things that last — in art, in relationships, and in legacy.”
Writing on Instagram, Cyndi Lauper paid tribute to her “friend”, sharing an old photo of the pair together.
“I’m so sorry to hear that my friend Billy Steinberg has passed away. He was such a nice guy and very supportive. My thoughts are with his family, loved ones, and Tom during this sad time,” she wrote.
Born William Steinberg in Palm Springs, California, in 1950, the songwriter’s career began in his twenties when he started the band Billy Thermal. When he was 30, in 1980 the group were signed by record producer Richard Perry. They soared in popularity after singer-songwriter Linda Ronstadt heard their song “How Do I Make You?” and decided to cover it for her own album, Mad Love. Ronstadt’s version became a top ten hit.
Between 1980 and 1981, Pat Benatar picked up the band’s songs “I’m Gonna Follow You” and “Precious Time” for her albums Crimes of Passion and Precious Time. Towards the end of 1981, Steinberg began working with Tom Kelly, and three years later, their song “Like A Virgin” was selected for Madonna’s sophomore record of the same name. The song became a smash, and the pair’s partnership continued, spawning hits with Lauper and Houston.
Kelly retired in the mid-1990s, but Steinberg continued, going on to write huge songs for Lovato, Dion, and Disney Channel star, Ashley Tisdale.
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