Will Jennings Dies

He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2013.

Will Jennings is an acclaimed American songwriter, best known for writing and co-writing songs that have become international hits across multiple genres. Born Wilbur H. Jennings on June 27, 1944, in Kilgore, Texas, Jennings was raised in East Texas, where he developed an early passion for music, playing in local bands during his high school years. After graduating from high school,

he attended Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, earning a degree in education. Jennings continued his education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he completed graduate studies in English. His background in literature, poetry, and language would later influence his work as a lyricist, adding depth and emotion to his songwriting.

Although Jennings initially pursued a career as a college professor, his love for music eventually pulled him in a different direction. In the early 1970s, Jennings made the bold decision to leave academia and focus on songwriting full-time, moving to Nashville, Tennessee—a pivotal center for songwriters. Nashville proved to be the perfect place for Jennings to nurture his talent,

and he quickly found success, writing for a variety of artists across pop, rock, and country music. Jennings’ songwriting career took off when he began collaborating with prominent artists and other songwriters, resulting in some of the most beloved songs in modern music history. One of his earliest significant achievements was co-writing “Looks Like We Made It” for Barry Manilow.

The song became a major hit, reaching the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. This early success was only a taste of the lasting legacy Jennings would go on to create. Jennings’ work with Eric Clapton is among his most emotionally impactful collaborations. Together, they wrote “Tears in Heaven” (1992), a tribute to Clapton’s son, who tragically died at a young age.

The song became an international hit, receiving critical acclaim for its heartfelt lyrics and earning Grammy Awards for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Pop Vocal Performance. Another career-defining moment came when Jennings co-wrote the song “Up Where We Belong” with composer Jack Nitzsche and artist Buffy Sainte-Marie.

Performed by Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes for the 1982 film An Officer and a Gentleman, the song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and a Golden Globe Award in the same category. This song solidified Jennings’ status as a top-tier songwriter in the film industry. Perhaps Jennings’ most globally recognized contribution to music is his work on Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On”, the theme song for Titanic (1997),

which he co-wrote with composer James Horner. The song became a cultural phenomenon, winning the Academy Award for Best Original Song, a Golden Globe Award, and Grammy Awards for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Song Written for Visual Media. “My Heart Will Go On” remains one of the best-selling singles of all time

and is often cited as one of the greatest movie themes ever written. Beyond his film and pop work, Jennings also collaborated extensively with Steve Winwood, contributing to several of Winwood’s biggest hits, including “Higher Love” (1986), which won a Grammy Award for Record of the Year, and “Back in the High Life Again”.

Jennings’ ability to cross over into multiple genres, from pop to rock to R&B, helped him maintain his career longevity and broad appeal. He has also written for iconic artists such as B.B. King, Roy Orbison, and Jimmy Buffett, expanding his influence even further.

Some Notable Collaborations
  • James Horner: Collaborated on Titanic’s “My Heart Will Go On” Celine Dion (#1 US)
  • Eric Clapton: Co-wrote Tears in Heaven (#2 US)
  • Steve Winwood: Worked together on numerous hits, including “While You See A Chance”, “Still In The Game”, “Higher Love” (#1 US), “Back in the High Life Again”, “The Finer Things”, “Valerie”, “Roll With It” (#1 US), and “Don’t You Know What the Night Can Do?” (#6 US).
  • Jack Nitzsche and Buffy Sainte-Marie: Co-wrote “Up Where We Belong” Joe Cocker (#1 US)
  • Richard Kerr: Collaborated on “Looks Like We Made It” (1976) Barry Manilow (#1 US), “I’ll Never Love This Way Again” (1979) Dionne Warwick (#5 US), “Somewhere in the Night” (1975) Barry Manilow, and “If I Could Have My Way” Barbra Streisand.
  • Rodney Crowell: Collaborated on “Please Remember Me” Tim McGraw (#1 Country), Many a Long and Lonesome Highway” (1989) Rodney Crowell (#3 Country), “What Kind of Love” (1992) Rodney Crowell (#11 Country), “The Best I Can” (1989) Rodney Crowell, and “Love to Burn” (1989) Rodney Crowell.
  • Michael Masser: Collaborated on “Didn’t We Almost Have It All” Whitney Houston (1987) (#1 US)

Will Jennings has managed to keep much of his personal life private, even as his professional achievements placed him in the limelight. He married Carole Elizabeth Thurman on August 14, 1965, in Tyler, Texas. Despite the demands of his songwriting career, Jennings has maintained a strong family life, and his relationship with his wife has been a cornerstone of his personal stability.

I’m deeply saddened to learn of the passing of my friend & collaborator Will Jennings. Working with Will was a master class in lyric writing for me. He was the consummate wordsmith and his gift to the world is eternal.

Christopher Cross

The couple had children, though specific details about his family are not widely publicized. Jennings continues to live a relatively private life away from the media, preferring to let his music speak for itself. Jennings’ contributions to music have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2006.

Will Jennings died Friday, September 6, 2024, at his home in Tyler, Texas after a period of declining health at the age of 80. Jennings is survived by his wife, Carole, and his sisters, Joyce and Gloria.

Songs Composed with – # of Tracks
  • Joe Sample, Will Jennings 115
  • Steve Winwood, Will Jennings 72
  • Richard Kerr, Will Jennings 42
  • Will Jennings 26
  • Will Jennings, Roy Orbison 18
  • Troy Seals, Will Jennings 15
  • Timothy B. Schmit, Will Jennings, Bruce Gaitsch 13
  • James Horner, Will Jennings 12
  • Jimmy Buffett, Michael Utley, Will Jennings 12
  • Eric Clapton, Will Jennings 11
  • Christopher Cross, Will Jennings 9
  • Peter Frampton, Will Jennings 8
  • Will Jennings, Joe Sample 8
  • Jack Nitzsche, Will Jennings, Buffy Sainte-Marie 8
  • Barry Mann, Bruce Broughton, Cynthia Weil, Will Jennings 7
  • Will Jennings, Troy Seals 6
  • Will Jennings, Richard Kerr 5
  • Wilton Felder, Will Jennings 5
  • Lalo Schifrin, Will Jennings 5
  • Roger Nichols, Will Jennings 5
  • Troy Seals, Mentor Williams, Will Jennings 4
  • Jack Nitzsche, Will Jennings, Buffy Saint-Marie 4
  • Don Goodman, Will Jennings, Troy Seals 3
  • Troy Seals, Don Goodman, Will Jennings 3
  • Will Jennings, Caiphus Semenya 3
  • Will Jennings, J. A. C. Redford, Richard Kerr 3
  • Rodney Crowell, Will Jennings 2
  • Will Jennings, Michael Wycoff 2
  • Will Jennings, Buffy St. Marie, Jack Nitzsche 2
  • Joe Sample Will Jennings 2
  • J. Sample, Will Jennings 2
  • Udo Jürgens, Will Jennings 2
  • “Stix” Hooper, Will Jennings 2
  • Jack Nitzsche, Will Jennings, Buffy Saint Marie 2
  • Will Jennings, Peter Allen 2
  • Will Jennings, Joe Sample, Eddy Marnay 1
  • M Jack, Will Jennings, Matti Caspi 1
  • Stix Hooper, Will Jennings 1
  • N. Zack, Will Jennings, Matti Caspi 1
  • Jimmy Buffett, Will Jennings 1
  • Will Jennings, Lee Holdridge 1
  • Will Jennings, Lee Roy Parnell 1
  • N. Zach, Will Jennings, Matti Caspi 1
  • Will Jennings, Marshall Chapman 1
  • Simon Climie, Will Jennings 1
  • Roy Orbison, Rodney Crowell, Will Jennings 1
  • Will Jennings, Barry Goldberg 1
  • Wilton Fender, Will Jennings 1
  • Will Jennings, Steven Allen Davis 1
  • Lorence Hud, Will Jennings 1
  • Oe Sample, Will Jennings 1
  • Wilton Feilder, Will Jennings 1
  • Jack Nitzsche, Will Jennings, Buffy Saint-Marie, Yogi 1
  • Michael Wycoff, Will Jennings 1
  • Michael Masser, Will Jennings 1
Further Reading
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Author: Doyle

I was born in Atlanta, moved to Alpharetta at 4, lived there for 53 years and moved to Decatur in 2016. I've worked at such places as Richway, North Fulton Medical Center, Management Science America (Computer Tech/Project Manager) and Stacy's Compounding Pharmacy (Pharmacy Tech).

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