Cynthia Weil was a songwriter who co-wrote songs including “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” and “Somewhere Out There.”
- Died: June 1, 2023 (Who else died on June 1?)
- Details of death: Died at her home in Beverly Hills, California, at the age of 82.
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Cynthia Weil’s legacy
Weil co-wrote songs with her husband, Barry Mann, almost from the beginning of their relationship. She met him when they both were young songwriters at New York City’s famous Brill Building, where many pop hits were conceived. Within weeks of their first date, Weil and Mann began writing together, and it was a partnership that continued for decades. “Bless You,” their first hit that was made famous by Tony Orlando, came in 1961 – the same year that they got married.
Weil and Mann went on to write many enduring pop hits, such as “Here You Come Again” for Dolly Parton, “Make Your Own Kind of Music” for Cass Elliot (1941–1974), “On Broadway” for the Drifters, and “We Gotta Get Out of This Place” for the Animals. Their composition for The Righteous Brothers, “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling,” is one of the all-time greats of pop music, covered by more than a dozen artists, including Dionne Warwick, Elvis Presley (1935–1977), and Hall & Oates. The couple won a Grammy Award for their song “Somewhere Out There,” recorded by Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram (1952–2019) for the animated film “An American Tail.”
Weil and Mann were honored with the Johnny Mercer Award, the highest honor given by the Songwriters Hall of Fame. They were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1987 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010. Weil also wrote the novels “I’m Glad I Did” and “806.”
Notable quote
“When they are successful, songs are like little novels. They have a beginning, a middle, and an end. You feel what the person is feeling who’s singing it and it paints a picture of the human condition.” —from a 2015 interview for Parade
Tributes to Cynthia Weil
Full obituary: Los Angeles Times
