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Hollywood Songwriter, Will Jennings, the celebrated lyricist behind iconic anthems like Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" from Titanic and Steve Winwood's "Higher Love," died at 80.
According to numerous U.S. media outlets, Jennings died at his Texas home, however the cause of death has yet to be determined.
Jennings, a native of Kilgore, Texas, had a successful career spanning five decades.
His Hollywood career began in 1976, and he swiftly became popular thanks to the success of songs such as Barry Manilow's "Looks Like We Made It," which he co-wrote with Richard Kerr in 1977.
His collaboration with Kerr continued with Manilow's hit "Somewhere in the Night," which solidified Jennings' reputation as a superb songwriter.
He has written for renowned musicians, including B.B. King, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Roy Orbison, and many others.
Jennings' work on film soundtracks received considerable appreciation. He received his first Academy Award in 1983 for the song "Up Where We Belong" from An Officer and a Gentleman.
He later received a Grammy Award for his collaboration with Eric Clapton on the song "Tears in Heaven" for the film Rush.
However, it was the 1997 Titanic soundtrack that gained Jennings the most recognition.
In 1998, his lyrics for "My Heart Will Go On," performed by Celine Dion, received an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and multiple Grammy Awards, making it one of the most beloved songs in cinematic history.
Over his illustrious career, Jennings was nominated for six Grammy Awards, winning three, and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2006.
Tributes have poured in from the music world. Singer Peter Wolf described Jennings as “a maestro, brilliant mind, and a gentle spirit,” and praised his generosity and patience as a collaborator and friend.
