Will Jennings
Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Will Jennings passed away on Sept. 6 at age 80.
The lyricist wrote classic country hits and had massive pop success. He won multiple Oscar, Grammy and Golden Globe awards for such iconic songs as “Up Where We Belong,” “Tears in Heaven” “My Heart Will Go On” and “Higher Love.”
Will Jennings was a native Texan who began his professional career as an English professor in Nacogdoches and then at The University of Wisconsin. He moved to Nashville to pursue songwriting in 1971. He was signed by Almo-Irving Music in 1974. The publisher’s Music Row office was his base of operations in Nashville throughout his career.
Jennings’ first songwriting success was 1974’s “Keep On Lovin’ Me,” which rose to No. 23 on the country charts thanks to Johnny Paycheck’s recording of it. The songwriter’s first big hit was 1975’s “Feelin’s,” sung by Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn. Johnny Cash and June Carter had a hit with “Old Time Feeling” in 1976. His lyrics were subsequently recorded by Emmylou Harris, The Bellamy Brothers, Amy Grant, Brady Seals, BeBe & CeCe Winans, Diamond Rio, Freddy Fender, Glen Campbell, Peter Frampton, Tompall Glaser, B.J. Thomas, The Oak Ridge Boys, Janie Fricke, Dobie Gray, Willie Nelson, Crystal Gayle, Ronnie Milsap, Tracy Nelson, Barbara Mandrell and Clint Black, among other Nashville acts.
One of his songwriting collaborators persuaded Jennings to move to L.A. The lyricist first tasted pop-music success when Helen Reddy took his co-written “Somewhere in the Night” into the top 20 in 1977. Shortly afterward, Jennings had a No. 1 pop smash with Barry Manilow’s version of “Looks Like We Made It.” The following year, Manilow revived “Somewhere in the Night” and made it a top 10 hit. In 1979, The Crusaders scored with his “Street Life,” featuring a vocal by Randy Crawford.
Also in 1979, Dionne Warwick revived her career with the million selling and Grammy winning “I’ll Never Love This Way Again.” Jennings also co-wrote her 1980 hit “No Night So Long.” This began the decade in which he achieved his greatest successes.The Crusaders returned to his catalog for 1981’s “I’m So Glad I’m Standing Here Today,” featuring a vocal by Joe Cocker. That is the same year that Jennings formed a songwriting partnership with Steve Winwood. Their cowritten pop hits included “While You See a Chance” (1981), “Still in the Game” (1982), the Grammy winning “Higher Love” (1986), “The Finer Things” (1987), “Back in the High Life Again” (1987), “Valerie” (1987), “Roll With It” (1988), “Don’t You Know What the Night Can Do” (1988) and “Holding On” (1989).
Will Jennings moved into movie soundtrack work. The 1982 Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes smash “Up Where We Belong” was the theme song for An Officer and a Gentleman. Co-written by Jennings with Buffy Sainte-Marie and Jack Nitzche, it won a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for best motion-picture song of the year. The songwriter also contributed to the soundtracks of The Competition (1980), The Commitment (1976), The Land Before Time (1988) and An American Tail: Fievel Goes West (1991).
In the early 1980s, Jennings began cowriting songs with Jimmy Buffett for use on the albums Coconut Telegraph (1981), Riddles in the Sand (1984) and Last Mango in Paris (1985). Five of their songs went onto the country hit parade in 1984-85 —“When the Wild Life Betrays Me,” “Who’s the Blonde Stranger,” “Gypsies in the Palace,” “Please Bypass This Heart” and the top 20 hit “If the Phone Doesn’t Ring It’s Me.”
Much of Buffett’s music was recorded in Nashville, and Jennings continued his songwriting trips to Music City. He began collaborating with Rodney Crowell in 1989. Crowell scaled the country charts with their cowritten 1989 top 10 hit “Many a Long and Lonesome Highway.” The team went on to make the country charts with Rodney’s singles of “What Kind of Love” (1989) and “Please Remember Me” (1995).
Returning to soundtrack work, Jennings and Eric Clapton co-wrote “Tears in Heaven,” and it was used in the film Rush. Clapton’s 1992 performance of the song sold a million and earned its creators a Grammy Song of the Year honor, as well as a Golden Globe award.
In 1998, Will Jennings achieved new prominence due to his lyrics for “My Heart Will Go On,” the theme song of the movie blockbuster Titanic. As a single, it hit No. 1 for Celine Dion and earned multiple Grammy Awards, It also earned Jennings his second Oscar for Song of the Year from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.
Meanwhile back in Nashville, Tim McGraw brought back “Please Remember Me” in 1999. This time, the Cowell/Jennings song became a No. 1 country smash that endured on the charts for half the year and remained at the top of the country hit parade for five weeks. McGraw’s wife, Faith Hill, recorded the Jennings co-written “Where Are You Christmas” for the soundtrack of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Her 2000 single of the song has become a holiday perennial, as has Mariah Carey’s version.
His ultra-romantic lyrics were particularly favored by female stylists. Bette Midler, Diana Ross, Anne Murray, Joan Osborne, Patti LaBelle, Juice Newton, Dorothy Moore, Bonnie Raitt, Etta James, Millie Jackson, Nancy Wilson, Rita Coolidge, Kim Carnes, Shirley Bassey, Linda Ronstadt, Nicole Kidman and Vanessa Williams all recorded his works. His songs were also on albums by The Lettermen, B.B. King, Color Me Badd, Steve Ray Vaughan, Aaron Neville, Bill Withers, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Sam & Dave, Ry Cooder, Tom Jones, Warren Zevon, Roy Orbison, Peter Wolf, Paul Anka and Christopher Cross.
Will Jennings was inducted into the national Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2006 in New York City. The lyricist was always widely liked on Music Row. He was voted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2013.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, the former Carole Thurman and by two sisters, Joyce and Gloria.
Award-Winning Producer, Director & Filmmaker Jim May Passes
/by Lorie HollabaughJim May
Nashville producer, director, filmmaker and co-owner of Ruckus Films, Jim May, passed away on Sept. 9 in his home. He was 78.
May spent his early years in the southeast, moving frequently with his family from Florida to Alabama before eventually settling in Athens, Georgia. He earned degrees from the University of Georgia and Harvard Divinity School, and took his passion for theology and transformed it into an unexpected yet fitting career as a filmmaker.
May and his partners at RuckusFilm were among the early members of Nashville’s film community. His career ran more than 50 years and his work won numerous awards in the fields of advertising, music videos and TV production, including Addy Awards, Clios and several Emmys. He was also a sought-after Director of Photography as well as an award-winning Producer/Director who produced several successful feature films and TV specials. May was an early adopter of new technology, techniques and equipment, and worked with artists including the Drive-By Truckers, Aerosmith, Alan Jackson and Kathy Mattea.
May is survived by his three children, Emma Bradley (John), Georgia May Fleming and Oliver Fleming; along with his siblings, Mary Love Helms (Jim), Bo May, Martha Giardina (Gary), Deanie Fincher (Bill), Marianne May Causey, Tom May (Linda) and Joe May (Liz). He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. May leaves behind his business partners of over 30 years, Coke Sams, Clarke Gallivan and Jana Laiolo.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Oz Arts Nashville. A celebration of life will be planned soon and his ashes will be spread per his wishes in Carrabelle, Florida.
Jordan Davis Headlines 12th Annual ‘Nightfall At The Hall’
/by LB CantrellJordan Davis performs at “Nightfall At The Hall.” Photo: Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Jordan Davis took the stage at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s 12th annual “Nightfall at the Hall” concert last night (Sept. 16).
Pictured (L-R, back row): Troubadour Advisory Council Leadership Team Vice-Chair Zach Farnum, Troubadour Advisory Council Leadership Team Chair Patrick Thomas, Jordan Davis, Senior Manager of Corporate Partnerships at the CMHOFM Marie Bradshaw and Vice President of Development at the CMHOFM Ben Hall; (L-R, front row): Executive Vice President of External Affairs at the CMHOFM Lisa Purcell with Troubadour Advisory Council Leadership Team Vice-chairs Elizabeth Lombardi and Nina Jenkins Fisher. Photo: Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
The event, presented by Maverick Nashville, is an after-hours celebration exclusively for the museum’s Troubadour members, a community of 21 to 45-year-old leaders who collaborate with other like-minded professionals in supporting their community and the museum.
Prior to Davis’ performance, student artist Miley Henderson performed a song that she wrote with guidance from museum staff as part of the museum’s flagship educational program, Words & Music. The 17-year-old from Clarksville, Tennessee, participated in the museum’s summer intermediate-to-advanced songwriting camp this year.
“Nightfall at the Hall” admission is a benefit of Troubadour membership. Young professionals can become a Troubadour member until Sept. 22 at a discounted rate of $5 off an individual Troubadour membership and $10 off a dual membership. Troubadour corporate partnerships are also available.
The Frontmen & Terri Clark To Celebrate The Season In ‘A Country Christmas Dinner Show’
/by Lorie HollabaughThe Frontmen, Terri Clark
The Frontmen and Terri Clark will headline Gaylord Opryland’s 41st annual “A Country Christmas Dinner Show” series during its holiday celebration this December.
This year’s dinner show will feature two distinct performances for visitors to choose from, The Frontmen’s “Holidays & Hits” show and Clark’s “It’s Christmas…Cheers!” show. The shows are held in the 2,888-room resort’s Tennessee Ballroom where guests will enjoy a holiday meal prepared by Gaylord Opryland’s culinary team followed by the performances.
Guests can enjoy The Frontmen’s show on Nov. 25-26 as well as Dec. 2-3, 15-16 and 23-25. The band’s three singers, Richie McDonald formerly of Lonestar, Tim Rushlow formerly of Little Texas and Larry Stewart of Restless Heart, will be ringing in the season with holiday tunes and powerhouse hits from their storied careers, as well as songs from their newly released self-titled debut album.
“I’m looking forward to ‘A Country Christmas’ with my brothers in The Frontmen,” says Stewart. “Richie, Tim and I will perform some of our big number one hits along with some of the greatest Christmas songs ever written. I know it will be a magical evening!”
Clark will take the stage for 17 performances during her “It’s Christmas…Cheers!” show on Nov. 23-24 and 27-30 as well as Dec. 1, 4-6,and 17-22. She will blend her major hits with timeless Christmas classics during the special holiday shows.
“I’ve been living in Nashville for so long now that I’ve seen Gaylord Opryland do their Christmas show for many years,” shares Clark. “To get to be a part of it this year feels so amazing. I am so excited to bring our Christmas show to Nashville and play songs from my first Christmas album released in 2020, as well as some other favorites of mine that aren’t on the album but are staples in my home during the holidays. I’m already planning to ask some friends to get up on stage and get into the spirit of the season with us as well.”
Tickets are on sale now and for reservations, room offers and dinner show dates and times.
NOW OPEN: Applications For MusicRow’s 2025 N.B.T. Music Industry Directory
/by MusicRow StaffApplications are now open for MusicRow’s N.B.T. (Next Big Thing) Music Industry Directory.
MusicRow‘s N.B.T. Music Industry Directory showcases Nashville music business professionals who are rising through the ranks. This class of industry members occupy mid-level roles at their respective companies, and are on a trajectory of excellence to become future leaders in the Nashville music industry. Applicants should ideally have a minimum of five or more years experience in the music industry.
The final list will be featured in MusicRow‘s Touring/Next Big Thing print issue, which releases on Dec. 3. The print edition also includes the annual Next Big Thing artist list, with editorial features focused on the touring segment of our industry as well as professional development.
To apply for inclusion in this year’s edition of the N.B.T. Music Industry Directory, please click here to access the application form.
Please note that not all submissions are guaranteed to be listed in the directory. If you are submitting multiple candidates, you will need to click on SUBMIT at the bottom of the form before entering another candidate. Head shots can be sent to art@musicrow.com.
New submissions for the directory close on Friday, Sept. 27. For questions, email directory@musicrow.com.
To reserve ad space in the 2024/2025 Touring/Next Big Thing issue, contact srobertson@musicrow.com. Rate card information is available here.
Weekly Register: George Strait Scores Top Debut On Country Albums Chart
/by Liza AndersonGeorge Strait‘s Cowboys And Dreamers scores the top debut on the country albums chart this week, claiming No. 6 with 27K in total consumption (22K album only/5.5 million song streams), according to Luminate data.
The top five shows no movement, as Post Malone‘s F-1 Trillion stays parked in the No. 1 spot with 72K (7K album only/81 million song streams). Morgan Wallen‘s One Thing At A Time follows at No. 2 with 52K (937 album only/66 million song streams), and Zach Bryan‘s The Great American Bar Scene comes in at No. 3 once again with 38K (291 album only/49 million song streams). Wallen’s Dangerous: The Double Album holds No. 4 with 32K (405 album only/42 million song streams), and Bryan’s self-titled album remains at No. 5 with 29K (2.2K album only/35 million song streams).
Based on audio streams on the country streaming songs chart, Shaboozey‘s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” continues to rule at the top with 23 million new streams, adding to 707 million ATD. Post Malone and Wallen’s “I Had Some Help” sits at No. 2 with 20 million streams, adding to 635 million ATD, and Bryan’s “Pink Skies” rests at No. 3 with 14 million new streams, adding to 319 million ATD. Wallen’s “Lies, Lies, Lies” lands at No. 4 again with 13 million streams, adding to 172 million ATD, while Bryan and Kacey Musgraves‘ “I Remember Everything” makes its return at No. 5 with 12.7 million new streams, adding to 986 million ATD.
Tape Room Music Marks 50th No. 1 With Hunter Phelps’ ‘Chevrolet’
/by Lorie HollabaughTape Room Music has celebrated its 50th No. 1 hit with “Chevrolet,” which topped the charts at country radio and was co-written by the company’s Hunter Phelps.
Phelps signed with Tape Room Music in 2014, and “Chevrolet” marks his 11th No. 1 single, following recent hits with Nate Smith’s “Bulletproof” and Kenny Chesney’s “Take Her Home.” The company’s 50 No. 1 singles are in addition to founder Ashley Gorley’s over 75 chart-topping tracks.
“Getting a No. 1 song is an absolute miracle,” shares Tape Room Music President Blain Rhodes. “So to be celebrating 50 of them is surreal and speaks to the endless talent and work ethic of our amazing roster. We are so thankful for our publishing and label partners, and especially our friends at country radio.”
Tape Room writers have been awarded and nominated for Grammys, ACM, CMA and MusicRow Awards. Among the company’s additional No. 1s are hits like “Buy Dirt” (Matt Jenkins), “House Party” and “Body Like A Back Road” (Zach Crowell), “Do I Make You Wanna” (Jerry Flowers, Jenkins, Crowell) and “Wait In The Truck” (Phelps).
The Tape Room writers roster includes Crowell, Phelps, Will Weatherly, Brad Clawson, Ben Johnson, Jordan Rowe, Taylor Phillips, Wyatt McCubbin, Savana Santos, Beau Bailey, Casey Brown, Andy Sheridan, Ned Cameron and Ben Williams.
Maggie Rose’s ‘Salute The Songbird’ Podcast Returns For Season Four [Exclusive]
/by LB CantrellMaggie Rose. Photo: Sophia Matinazad
Critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Maggie Rose will bring a new season of her podcast Salute the Songbird to listeners starting in October.
Celebrating women in music, season four will feature conversations with lauded musicians about their lives in and out of music. This time, however, each conversation will be recorded at Chief’s on Broadway in front of a live audience.
In this new format, each episode of Salute The Songbird will feature a combination of live performance and conversation between Rose and her guest. The episodes will be live streamed on Volume.com. After the live recording takes place, the show will be edited into audio and video podcasts for release.
Up-and-comer Grace Bowers will join Rose as the first guest of season four on Wednesday, Oct. 16. Tickets to attend the show are available here.
“I’m so excited to be back with season four of STS, especially with the new live-in-front-of-an-audience format because I believe the real magic happens in a live setting, and it will be riveting to see where these conversations with my fascinating guests go,” shares Rose. “Getting the chance to explore the careers and music of my guests in the past has been some of the most creatively inspiring work I’ve done and I’m returning to this format with some fresh enthusiasm and perspective after recently releasing my latest album.”
“We’re so excited about this new iteration of Salute The Songbird,” says Executive Producer Kirsten Cluthe of Studio Kairos. “In the past, we’ve done live podcast events with Maggie to great success. This time around, we’ll really be able to play with the format and create a show that can be accessed everywhere—in person, live streamed, in-ear audio and video-on-demand.”
On Bowers, Rose shares, “She is enjoying a meteoric rise with her band Grace Bowers and the Hodge Podge, touring with acts like Gary Clark Jr. and Lainey Wilson. Her latest—possibly prophetic—single, ‘Madame President,’ is one I co-wrote with Bowers and band mate, Esther Okai-Tetteh (Esi). Grace might be remarkably young, but her vision and accomplishments are the marks of an old-soul artist with a ton of promise, and I couldn’t think of a better person with whom to pick up the series.”
Other season four guests will be announced soon.
Jessi Alexander Re-Enters Top 10 On MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart
/by Madison HahnenJessi Alexander.
Recently-crowned MusicRow Awards Female Songwriter of the Year Jessi Alexander has re-entered the top 10 on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart. “Ain’t No Love In Oklahoma” and “Chevrolet” help push her into the No. 8 spot.
Zach Bryan remains in the No. 1 spot for the second consecutive week with “28,” “American Nights” and “Pink Skies.” Ashley Gorley moves up to No. 2 with “This Town’s Been Too Good To Us,” “I Had Some Help,” “Cowgirls,” “I Am Not Okay,” “Whiskey Whiskey,” “Losers,” “Young Love & Saturday Nights,” “What Don’t Belong To Me,” “Fix What You Didn’t Break” and “Yours.”
Charlie Handsome (No. 3), Chris Stapleton (No. 4) and Louis Bell (No. 5) round out this week’s top five.
The weekly MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart uses algorithms based upon song activity according to airplay, digital download track sales and streams. This unique and exclusive addition to the MusicRow portfolio is the only songwriter chart of its kind.
Click here to view the full MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.
Industry Ink: Miranda Lambert, Corey Kent, LoCash, More
/by Liza AndersonMiranda Lambert Shares ‘Postcards From Texas’
Photo: James Macari
Miranda Lambert shared her latest album, Postcards from Texas, on Friday (Sept. 13). With an emphasis on the wide-ranging musical palette of Texas itself, Lambert and co-producer Jon Randall sought to create a mix of ‘70s country, slow-burning swagger, grassy pluck, hilarious shuffle and classic songwriter fare that also features a take on David Allen Coe’s “Living On The Run.”
“Usually when you make a record, it’s a snapshot of the past two or three years and where you are in that moment,” the artist reflects. “Postcards from Texas instead draws on all the different stages of my life and my career, all the influences that have ever inspired me, and gives you a really full picture of who I am.”
Corey Kent’s ‘Wild As Her’ Scores Double-Platinum Certification
Parker McCollum surprising Corey Kent with the news that “Wild as Her” has been certified double-Platinum by the RIAA. Photo: Zack Morris
While supporting Parker McCollum’s “Burn It Down Tour” at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Corey Kent was surprised with the news that his No. 1 hit “Wild as Her” is now double-Platinum certified by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
“Congratulations to Corey, RCA Nashville and his full team on achieving double-Platinum certification for ‘Wild as Her!’ This remarkable achievement is a testament to your incredible talent and the undeniable impact your music has had on fans,” shares Jackie Jones, SVP of Artist & Industry Relations, RIAA. “It’s exciting to see artists celebrating each other’s success in RIAA’s Gold & Platinum program. Here’s to many more milestones in your career!”
‘LoCash Golf Bash’ To Take Place This Thursday
Country duo LoCash will host their “LoCash Golf Bash” at The Sea Pines Resort in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina this Thursday (Sept. 19). The event will benefit the Tunnel To Towers National Golf Series, which helps to provide mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first-responder families with young children.
Coinciding with the second annual Hilton Head Island Jam, the”LoCash Golf Bash” will offer players a full round of golf, with a variety of sponsorship opportunities and a private show to follow.
Blackberry Smoke Raises Over $26K For Cancer Research
Blackberry Smoke during their homecoming concert at Atlanta’s Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park. Photo: Andy Sapp
Blackberry Smoke recently stage held a homecoming concert at Atlanta’s Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park in honor their late drummer, Brit Turner. The show raised over $26,000 for the Brit Turner Family Fund, which supports CURE Childhood Cancer’s research initiatives and provides vital support to patients and their families.
The event featured heartfelt tributes from the group and other guests, such as Butch Walker, Jesse James Dupree of Jackyl and Rick Nielsen and Daxx Nielsen of Cheap Trick, who joined the band to perform some of Turner’s favorite songs. Video tributes from Billy F. Gibbons, Warren Haynes, Jamey Johnson and members of Zac Brown Band were also shared during the concert.
Trey Lewis, Chase Wright, More Among ‘Spreading Hope’ Benefit Lineup
The next “Spreading Hope With Keith Griner” benefit show has been slated for Tuesday, Sept. 24 at Cannery Hall. All proceeds will directly support Hope On The Row, a local nonprofit serving Nashville’s unhoused.
The lineup includes Trey Lewis, Chase Wright, Drew Green, Tayler Holder, Stephanie Quayle, Lewis Brice, Sean Stemaly, Angie K and Paulina Jayne, with more to be announced. Tickets are available now and will also be available at the door. For more information, click here. The event can also be live streamed for free via Phierce Productions on Volume.com.
Oscar-Winning Songwriter Will Jennings Passes
/by Robert K OermannWill Jennings
Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Will Jennings passed away on Sept. 6 at age 80.
The lyricist wrote classic country hits and had massive pop success. He won multiple Oscar, Grammy and Golden Globe awards for such iconic songs as “Up Where We Belong,” “Tears in Heaven” “My Heart Will Go On” and “Higher Love.”
Will Jennings was a native Texan who began his professional career as an English professor in Nacogdoches and then at The University of Wisconsin. He moved to Nashville to pursue songwriting in 1971. He was signed by Almo-Irving Music in 1974. The publisher’s Music Row office was his base of operations in Nashville throughout his career.
Jennings’ first songwriting success was 1974’s “Keep On Lovin’ Me,” which rose to No. 23 on the country charts thanks to Johnny Paycheck’s recording of it. The songwriter’s first big hit was 1975’s “Feelin’s,” sung by Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn. Johnny Cash and June Carter had a hit with “Old Time Feeling” in 1976. His lyrics were subsequently recorded by Emmylou Harris, The Bellamy Brothers, Amy Grant, Brady Seals, BeBe & CeCe Winans, Diamond Rio, Freddy Fender, Glen Campbell, Peter Frampton, Tompall Glaser, B.J. Thomas, The Oak Ridge Boys, Janie Fricke, Dobie Gray, Willie Nelson, Crystal Gayle, Ronnie Milsap, Tracy Nelson, Barbara Mandrell and Clint Black, among other Nashville acts.
One of his songwriting collaborators persuaded Jennings to move to L.A. The lyricist first tasted pop-music success when Helen Reddy took his co-written “Somewhere in the Night” into the top 20 in 1977. Shortly afterward, Jennings had a No. 1 pop smash with Barry Manilow’s version of “Looks Like We Made It.” The following year, Manilow revived “Somewhere in the Night” and made it a top 10 hit. In 1979, The Crusaders scored with his “Street Life,” featuring a vocal by Randy Crawford.
Also in 1979, Dionne Warwick revived her career with the million selling and Grammy winning “I’ll Never Love This Way Again.” Jennings also co-wrote her 1980 hit “No Night So Long.” This began the decade in which he achieved his greatest successes.The Crusaders returned to his catalog for 1981’s “I’m So Glad I’m Standing Here Today,” featuring a vocal by Joe Cocker. That is the same year that Jennings formed a songwriting partnership with Steve Winwood. Their cowritten pop hits included “While You See a Chance” (1981), “Still in the Game” (1982), the Grammy winning “Higher Love” (1986), “The Finer Things” (1987), “Back in the High Life Again” (1987), “Valerie” (1987), “Roll With It” (1988), “Don’t You Know What the Night Can Do” (1988) and “Holding On” (1989).
Will Jennings moved into movie soundtrack work. The 1982 Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes smash “Up Where We Belong” was the theme song for An Officer and a Gentleman. Co-written by Jennings with Buffy Sainte-Marie and Jack Nitzche, it won a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for best motion-picture song of the year. The songwriter also contributed to the soundtracks of The Competition (1980), The Commitment (1976), The Land Before Time (1988) and An American Tail: Fievel Goes West (1991).
In the early 1980s, Jennings began cowriting songs with Jimmy Buffett for use on the albums Coconut Telegraph (1981), Riddles in the Sand (1984) and Last Mango in Paris (1985). Five of their songs went onto the country hit parade in 1984-85 —“When the Wild Life Betrays Me,” “Who’s the Blonde Stranger,” “Gypsies in the Palace,” “Please Bypass This Heart” and the top 20 hit “If the Phone Doesn’t Ring It’s Me.”
Much of Buffett’s music was recorded in Nashville, and Jennings continued his songwriting trips to Music City. He began collaborating with Rodney Crowell in 1989. Crowell scaled the country charts with their cowritten 1989 top 10 hit “Many a Long and Lonesome Highway.” The team went on to make the country charts with Rodney’s singles of “What Kind of Love” (1989) and “Please Remember Me” (1995).
Returning to soundtrack work, Jennings and Eric Clapton co-wrote “Tears in Heaven,” and it was used in the film Rush. Clapton’s 1992 performance of the song sold a million and earned its creators a Grammy Song of the Year honor, as well as a Golden Globe award.
In 1998, Will Jennings achieved new prominence due to his lyrics for “My Heart Will Go On,” the theme song of the movie blockbuster Titanic. As a single, it hit No. 1 for Celine Dion and earned multiple Grammy Awards, It also earned Jennings his second Oscar for Song of the Year from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.
Meanwhile back in Nashville, Tim McGraw brought back “Please Remember Me” in 1999. This time, the Cowell/Jennings song became a No. 1 country smash that endured on the charts for half the year and remained at the top of the country hit parade for five weeks. McGraw’s wife, Faith Hill, recorded the Jennings co-written “Where Are You Christmas” for the soundtrack of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Her 2000 single of the song has become a holiday perennial, as has Mariah Carey’s version.
His ultra-romantic lyrics were particularly favored by female stylists. Bette Midler, Diana Ross, Anne Murray, Joan Osborne, Patti LaBelle, Juice Newton, Dorothy Moore, Bonnie Raitt, Etta James, Millie Jackson, Nancy Wilson, Rita Coolidge, Kim Carnes, Shirley Bassey, Linda Ronstadt, Nicole Kidman and Vanessa Williams all recorded his works. His songs were also on albums by The Lettermen, B.B. King, Color Me Badd, Steve Ray Vaughan, Aaron Neville, Bill Withers, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Sam & Dave, Ry Cooder, Tom Jones, Warren Zevon, Roy Orbison, Peter Wolf, Paul Anka and Christopher Cross.
Will Jennings was inducted into the national Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2006 in New York City. The lyricist was always widely liked on Music Row. He was voted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2013.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, the former Carole Thurman and by two sisters, Joyce and Gloria.