Songwriter Billy Steinberg, Co-Writer of ‘Like a Virgin’ and ‘True Colors,’ Dies at 74
Billy Steinberg, the Grammy-winning songwriter who co-wrote such pop classics as Madonna ’s “Like A Virgin,” Cyndi Lauper ’s “True Colors” and the B…
Songwriter Billy Steinberg, Co-Writer of ‘Like a Virgin’ and ‘True Colors,’ Dies at 74
Billy Steinberg, the Grammy-winning songwriter who co-wrote such pop classics as Madonna ’s “Like A Virgin,” Cyndi Lauper ’s “True Colors” and the Bangles’ “Eternal Flame” that were some of the biggest, most indelible hits of the 1980s and beyond, has died, his attorney confirmed to Billboard . Steinberg, who was 10 days away from his 75th birthday, died of cancer in Los Angeles. Related Gone But Not Forgotten: Musicians We Lost in 2026 Brandy Performs the U.S. National Anthem With June's Diary at 2026 NBA All-Star Game Maya Hawke and Christian Lee Hutson Marry in Surprise Valentine's Day Wedding In addition to those three songs, Steinberg — who specialized in big, emotional power ballads with impactful, vulnerable lyrics — had two other songs reach No. 1 on Billboard ’s Hot 100: Whitney Houston ’s “So Emotional” and Heart’s Alone,” all co-written with his longtime writing partner, Tom Kelly. The lyricist, who landed chart hits for ...
