Billy Steinberg, Songwriter Who Co-Wrote Smashes Including ‘Like a Virgin,’ ‘True Colors,’ ‘Eternal Flame’ and ‘So Emotional,’ Dies at 74

Billy Steinberg, the celebrated lyricist behind some of the most iconic pop songs of the 80s and 90s, passed away on Monday in California following a prolonged illness. He was 75. The news was confirmed by his attorney, Laurie Soriano, to Variety. Steinberg, inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2011, first rose to prominence through his prolific and highly successful partnership with composer Tom Kelly.

Their creative formula was elegantly simple: Steinberg crafted the lyrics while Kelly composed the music. This synergy produced a remarkable string of era-defining hits. Their catalog includes Madonna's "Like a Virgin," Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors," the Bangles' "Eternal Flame," and Heart's "Alone." Other major successes were Whitney Houston's "So Emotional," the Divinyls' "I Touch Myself," and the Pretenders' "I'll Stand by You." Music critic and historian Dr. Lena Shaw noted, "Steinberg had a unique talent for finding a phrase that was both deeply personal and universally catchy, often building an entire song's identity around a single, powerful hook." After Kelly's retirement in the mid-1990s, Steinberg continued his success with other collaborators, penning songs like Celine Dion's "Falling Into You" and Demi Lovato's "Give Your Heart a Break." His work was also performed by artists ranging from Tina Turner to Pat Benatar.

Steinberg's musical journey began in the Los Angeles new wave scene, where he was the frontman for the band Billy Thermal. The band's name was a portmanteau of his first name and Thermal, California, the location of his family's vineyard. A song from this period, "How Do I Make You," was covered by Linda Ronstadt and became a top 10 hit in 1980, marking his critical industry breakthrough. The partnership that would define his career began after meeting Tom Kelly in 1981. Steinberg often explained their "lyrics first" approach, where he would arrive with complete verses and choruses—sometimes drawn from personal diaries, as was the case with "Like a Virgin"—and Kelly would then set them to melody. This method, Steinberg said, prioritized titles with "a certain provocative edge," which became the creative spark for their biggest songs.

The genesis of "Like a Virgin" exemplifies their working relationship. After several failed attempts to find the right musical setting, Kelly developed a Motown-inspired bass line that finally brought the lyric to life. Despite initial industry skepticism over the song's suggestive title, the demo eventually reached an ascending Madonna through Warner Bros. A&R executive Michael Ostin. Notably, Madonna's landmark recording with producer Nile Rodgers hewed closely to Steinberg and Kelly's original demo, even retaining specific vocal improvisations. The song became the first of five Billboard Hot 100 chart-toppers for the duo within a five-year span. Steinberg's influence extends to his family; in 2023, he and his son, songwriter Ezra Steinberg, secured global publishing deals with Sony Music Publishing, consolidating their work under the Steinberg Music banner. This move ensures his vast catalog, which has generated an estimated billions of streams and radio plays, will be stewarded for future generations.

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