Oscar, Emmy, Grammy-winning lyricist Marilyn Bergman dies at 93, Entertainment News

Marilyn Bergman, Oscar, Emmy and Grammy-winning songwriter whose lyrics have graced hits such as “The Way We Were”, “The Windmills of Your Mind”, “In the Heat of the Night “and the songs of” Yentl “, has passed away at the age of 93.

According to Variety, Bergman was the first female chair and board chair of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), a position she held from 1994 to 2009.

She and her husband and longtime writing partner Alan Bergman wrote the lyrics to some of the most popular movies and television songs of the 1960s, 70s and 80s, and continued to write together well into the 1980s. 2000.

They have been nominated for 16 Oscars and have won three (for “Way We Were”, “Windmills” and the full score of “Yentl”). The Bergmans frequently collaborated with composers Michel Legrand (their co-author on “Windmills”, “Yentl” and other songs such as “What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?” And “How Do You Keep the Music Playing ? ”) And Marvin Hamlisch (“ The way we were ”).

ASCAP President and President Paul Williams paid tribute to Bergman, writing in a statement: “It is with deep sadness that personally, and all of ASCAP, mourn the passing of Marilyn Bergman – one one of the greatest lyricists who ever lived and truly ASCAP She was a brilliant songwriter who, along with her husband, Alan Bergman, gave us some of the most beautiful and enduring lyrics of all time. “

He added, “She has been a staunch and tireless advocate for music creators, not only during her tenure as ASCAP President and President, but throughout her life. Her intelligence, wit and wisdom will be missed by our community Alan – we mourn with you “She was born Marilyn Keith in Brooklyn, majored in music at the High School of Music and Art in New York, then studied at NYU. While still in high school, she often played the piano for lyricist Bob Russell. He encouraged her to consider songwriting as a profession.

When she moved to Los Angeles in the mid-1950s, she began writing lyrics for composer Lew Spence and soon met Spence’s other writing partner, Alan Bergman. Marilyn and Alan got married in February 1958.

Among their early hits were “Nice` n` Easy, “the title track from Frank Sinatra’s 1960 album, written with Spence; and “Yellow Bird”, a calypso number for a 1959 Norman Luboff album. “In the Heat of the Night”, sung by Ray Charles, was their groundbreaking great film, in collaboration with composer Quincy Jones in 1967. De numerous films with Legrand followed, including “The Thomas Crown Affair”, “The Happy Ending”, “Pieces of Dreams”, “Summer of” 42 “,” Best Friends “and” Yentl “, many of which gave songs to success.

Along with Hamlisch, they wrote songs for “The Way We Were”, “Same Time, Next Year” and “Shirley Valentine”, all of which resulted in Oscar nominations. “The Way We Were” also earned them the 1974 Grammys for Song of the Year and Best Original Music Album. They have also collaborated with composer Dave Grusin on “Tootsie”, “And Justice for All” and “For the Boys”; with John Williams on ‘Fitzwilly’, ‘Pete’ n ‘Tillie’ and ‘Sabrina’; starring David Shire, “The Promise” and the theme of the television series “Alice”; with Henry Mancini, “Sometimes a Great Notion” and “Gaily, Gaily”; with Johnny Mandel, ‘Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams’; with Elmer Bernstein, “From Noon Till Three”; and with James Newton Howard, “The Prince of the Tides”. Along with Grusin, the Bergmans also wrote the television themes of “Maude” and “Good Times”. `(with composer Billy Goldenberg), one song for` Sybil` (with Leonard Rosenman) and two songs for Barbra Streisand for the 1990s specials (with Hamlisch).

Marilyn became the first woman to be elected to ASCAP’s board of directors in 1985, and she continued to serve on the board even after stepping down as president.

Longtime friends with Streisand, she co-wrote and co-produced the HBO singer’s special show “One Voice” in 1986 and co-wrote her concert tour (later aired on HBO as “Barbra Streisand : The Concert “) in 1994. As per variety, she is survived by her husband Alan; a daughter, Julie; and a granddaughter.