Cynthia Weil

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Cynthia Weil
Cynthia Weil in 2012
Born(1940-10-18)October 18, 1940
New York City, U.S.
DiedJune 1, 2023(2023-06-01) (aged 82)
Alma materSarah Lawrence College
OccupationSongwriter
Spouse
(m. 1961)
ChildrenJenn Mann

Cynthia Weil (October 18, 1940 – June 1, 2023) was an American songwriter who wrote many songs together with her husband

Johnny Mercer Award
, the highest honor bestowed by that Hall of Fame.

Weil and her husband, both based at the Brill Building, were instrumental in shaping the sound of rock and roll in the 1960s, alongside other luminaries such as Carole King, Burt Bacharach, and Neil Diamond.[2]

Life and career

Weil was born in New York City on October 18, 1940. She grew up on the

Sephardic Jewish family in Brooklyn.[4] Weil trained as an actress and dancer, studying theater at Sarah Lawrence College, but soon demonstrated a songwriting ability that led to her collaboration with Barry Mann, whom she married in August 1961.[3][6] The couple had one daughter, Jenn Mann. Weil became one of the Brill Building songwriters of the 1960s, and one of the most important writers during the emergence of rock and roll.[2]

Weil and her husband went on to create songs for many contemporary artists, winning several

antiwar protesters, and young people who viewed it as an anthem of greater opportunities."[6]

In 1987, she was inducted with her husband into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 1988, Weil won two awards at the 30th Annual Grammy Awards for co-writing "Somewhere Out There" from the animated film An American Tail: Song of the Year and Best Song Written for Visual Media.[7]

In 2004, Mann and Weil's They Wrote That? a musical revue based on their songs, opened in New York. In it, Mann sang and Weil related stories about the songs and their personal history.

Johnny Mercer Award, the highest honor from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.[10]

In 2015, Weil published her first novel, I'm Glad I Did, a mystery set in 1963.[11]

Weil was inducted into the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2023.[12]

Weil died at home in Beverly Hills, California, on June 1, 2023, at age 82.[2][3][13]

Songs written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil

Sources:[14][15]

Bibliography

References

  1. ^ "Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil". Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Blistein, Jon (June 2, 2023). "Cynthia Weil, Storied Songwriter With Decades of Hits, Dead at 82". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c Williams, Alex (June 4, 2023). "Cynthia Weil, Whose Soaring Lyrics Made Baby Boomers Feel, Dies at 82". The New York Times. p. A20. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Benarde, Scott (2003). Stars of David: Rock'n'roll's Jewish stories. Hanover, NH: Brandeis University Press. p. 49.
  5. ^ Bloom, Nate (December 15, 2011). "Jewish Stars 12/16". Cleveland Jewish News.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Mann & Weil", Inductees (biography), Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, archived from the original on July 27, 2018, retrieved March 16, 2010
  7. ^ "Cynthia Weil awards and nominations". The Grammys. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  8. ^ "Congratulations to the 2010 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees!". Archived from the original on December 23, 2009. Retrieved December 15, 2009.
  9. ^ Jon Pareles (March 16, 2010) [March 15, 2010], "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inducts New Members", The New York Times, NY, p. A16, retrieved March 16, 2010
  10. ^ "Garth Brooks, Billy Joel perform together during Songwriters Hall of Fame ceremony". Sound spike. June 17, 2011. Archived from the original on October 4, 2013. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
  11. .
  12. ^ "3RD Annual Women Songwriters Hall Of Fame Awards Celebrates Icons - Jan Daley Angela Bofill Ann Hampton Callaway". Ein Presswire. April 18, 2023.
  13. ^ Pedersen, Erik (June 2, 2023). "Cynthia Weil Dies: 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin',' 'We Gotta Get Out Of This Place' & 'On Broadway' Co-Writer Was 82". Deadline. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  14. ^ Songs written by Barry Mann, MusicVF.com. Retrieved August 27, 2014
  15. ^ Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil Discography. Retrieved August 27, 2014
  16. ^ Beatles Lyric Archived July 30, 2012, at archive.today, Jiri Wagner 1999 – 2010 at boskowan.com. Retrieved March 16, 2010.

External links