Billy Steinberg, Prolific Songwriter Behind Madonna’s ‘Like a Virgin’ and Cyndi Lauper’s ‘True Colors,’ Dies at 75
Billy Steinberg, the acclaimed songwriter responsible for crafting some of the most iconic pop hits of the 1980s and 90s, including Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” and Cyndi Lauper’s “True Colors,” died on Monday, February 16, 2026, at his home in Brentwood, California. He was 75.
The cause of death was cancer, according to his lawyer, Laurie Soriano, as reported by the Los Angeles Times and the BBC.
A Legacy of Chart-Topping Hits
Steinberg’s songwriting prowess shaped the sound of a generation, contributing to five U.S. Number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100. His collaborations with Tom Kelly yielded a string of enduring classics.
“Like a Virgin,” released in 1984, spent six weeks at the top of the Billboard charts and became a defining anthem for Madonna. Other chart-topping successes co-written with Kelly include Heart’s “Alone,” Whitney Houston’s “So Emotional,” Cyndi Lauper’s “True Colors,” and the Bangles’ “Eternal Flame.”
Steinberg also penned hits for a diverse range of artists, including the Pretenders (“I’ll Stand by You”), the Divinyls (“I Touch Myself”), and Roy Orbison and Cyndi Lauper (“I Drove All Night”).
Early Life and Career
Born in 1950, Steinberg grew up in Palm Springs, California, in a family involved in the table grape business. He attended Bard College in Modern York before embarking on his songwriting career.
Recognition and Awards
Steinberg’s contributions to the music industry were recognized with a Grammy Award in 1997 for his work on Celine Dion’s “Falling into You.” He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2011, solidifying his place among the most influential songwriters of his era.
His family described him as a “visionary lyricist” whose songs “often began as deeply personal reflections, transformed into anthems in which millions found themselves,” according to statements provided to the Los Angeles Times and BBC.
The Story Behind ‘Like a Virgin’
Steinberg revealed in an interview with the Billboard that “Like a Virgin” wasn’t initially written for Madonna or any specific artist, but stemmed from his own personal experiences following a difficult breakup.