Billy Steinberg, ‘Like a Virgin’ Songwriter, Dies at 75

Billy Steinberg, the Grammy-winning songwriter behind Madonna’s iconic hit “Like a Virgin” and numerous other chart-topping songs, died Monday in Los Angeles following a battle with cancer. He was 75 years classic.

A Prolific Songwriting Career

Steinberg’s family described him as a “visionary lyricist, devoted husband, loving father, and one of the most influential songwriters of his era.” His collaborations spanned decades and included work with a diverse range of artists, such as Whitney Houston, Roy Orbison, Celine Dion, Demi Lovato, and The Bangles.

With his writing partner, Tom Kelly, Steinberg co-wrote five singles that reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 during the 1980s. Beyond “Like a Virgin” (1984), their successes included Cyndi Lauper’s “True Colors” (1986), Whitney Houston’s “So Emotional” (1987), The Bangles’ “Eternal Flame” (1988), and Heart’s “Alone” (1987).

Early Life and Breakthrough

Born William Steinberg on February 26, 1950, in Brentwood, California, he began his musical journey with the short-lived rock band i-Ten in the early 1980s alongside Tom Kelly. The duo’s breakthrough came when Madonna recorded “Like a Virgin,” which became the title track of her second album and reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Additional Notable Songs

Steinberg and Kelly’s songwriting prowess extended beyond their number-one hits. They also penned “I Touch Myself” by the Divinyls (1990), which topped the charts in Australia, and “I’ll Stand by You” by The Pretenders, a Top 10 hit in multiple countries. Roy Orbison first recorded Lauper’s “I Drove All Night” in 1987, and it later appeared on his posthumous album.

Industry Recognition

Steinberg received a Grammy Award for his work on Celine Dion’s 1996 album, Falling Into You. Despite the accolades, his family noted that he valued “connection – the magic of hearing a crowd sing back something that once lived only in his notebook.”