Madonna’s Like A Virgin songwriter Billy Steinberg dies aged 75 after cancer diagnosis

Billy Steinberg, the Grammy-winning songwriter behind hits including Like A Virgin and So Emotional, has died aged 75.

Described by his family as a ‘revolutionary lyricist’, Steinberg died in Los Angeles after being diagnosed with cancer.

In his 40-year career, he worked with the biggest names in pop, including Madonna, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Cyndi Lauper and The Bangles.

He also wrote for modern stars like Demi Lovato and JoJo after his songwriting partner, Tom Kelly, retired in the 90s.

Steinberg’s family shared how ‘his lyrics often began as deeply personal reflections, transformed into anthems in which millions found themselves’.

Their statement continued: ‘Billy Steinberg’s life was a testament to the enduring power of a well-written song – and to the idea that honesty, when set to music, can outlive us all.’

The family noted his multiple accolades, including winning a Grammy for his work on Dion’s 1996 album Falling Into You.

‘Yet those closest to him knew that what mattered most was not recognition, but connection – the magic of hearing a crowd sing back something that once lived only in his notebook.’

In a statement shared with The Independent, his son Ezra said: ‘As a father, he passed down not only his love of music, but his discipline, integrity, and reverence for great songwriting. He believed in building things that last — in art, in relationships, and in legacy.’

Like A Virgin was Steinberg and his writing partner Kelly’s breakthrough in 1984, charting globally and reaching number one in the US.

This success was followed by True Colors, Lauper’s 1986 hit, and So Emotional the next year.

He later wrote Don’t Hold Your Breath for Nicole Scherzinger and Too Little Too Late for JoJo and was inducted into the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame in 2011.

Lauper paid tribute to the late songwriter on Instagram, sharing: ‘I’m so sorry to hear that my friend Billy Steinberg has passed away. He was such a nice guy and very supportive.

‘My thoughts are with his family, loved ones, and Tom during this sad time.’

True Colors was originally written about Steinberg’s mum, with Lauper personalising the lyrics to refer to her friend who died from Aids during the epidemic.

In a longer statement to Billboard, the Girls Just Wanna Have Fun singer added: ‘I’m so sorry to hear of Billy Steinberg’s passing. He was a great lyricist and a wonderful collaborator.

‘He and Tom [Kelly] had such a way of capturing the range within an emotion, from the subtlety to urgency. When I think back across ‘True Colors,’ ‘Unconditional Love,’ ‘I Drove All Night,’ ‘My First Night Without You,’ and ‘Heading West,’ I’m wowed.

‘I mean, come on, ‘I’m like a letter with no address.’ Pure genius. For ‘True Colors,’ there was a lot of back and forth which I know was hard for him. In the end, he said that I had really invented my own ‘very exquisitely beautiful version’ of the song. That really meant a lot to me. It is a special song.’

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