‘You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling’ legend dead: Cynthia Weil was 82
Fans haven’t lost that lovin’ feeling for her.
Legendary songwriter Cynthia Weil, the muse behind “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” and countless other hits, passed away Thursday evening at 82.
Weil’s daughter Dr. Jenn Mann confirmed the icon’s death in a statement to TMZ.
“My mother, Cynthia Weil, was the greatest mother, grandmother and wife our family could ever ask for,” she wrote. “She was my best friend, confidant, and my partner in crime and an idol and trailblazer for women in music.”
As of yet, the cause of death has yet to be revealed.
Born in 1940 in New York City, Weil, along with her husband and fellow song scribe, Barry Mann was responsible for penning some of the most iconic tunes from the 1960s all the way into the 1990s.
Perhaps her most notable track was the Righteous Brothers’ 1964 hit “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling,” which is among the most played tunes of the 20th century with over 8 million “airplays,” according to the music rights org BMI.
The husband and wife composer team composed many other iconic hits during their storied six-decade career.
These included The Drifters’ and George Benson’s “On Broadway,” “Uptown” by the Crystals, The Righteous Brothers’ “You’re My Soul and Inspiration,” and The Animals’ “We Gotta Get Out of this Place.”
The Grammy Winner and her husband, who were married for 62 years, also penned “Here You Come Again” by Dolly Parton, which helped the country icon achieve crossover success.
Other classic tracks include Paul Revere & the Raiders’ “Kicks,” The Ronettes’ “Walking in the Rain,” and Chaka Khan’s “Through the Fire.” The latter was notably sampled by Kanye West for his debut solo single “Through the Wire.”
Meanwhile, Weil’s written singles have reportedly sold an estimated 200 million albums.
Weil and Mann’s talents went beyond penning career-making tracks for famous singers.
The duo also masterminded “Somewhere Out There” from Steven Spielberg’s “An American Tail,” which earned them two Grammy Awards as well as an Oscar nod.
The songwriting dream team also won the first-ever National Academy of Songwriters Life Achievement Award and became the first to receive the Ahmet Ertegun Award from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010. Weil was the first woman to receive that honor, Variety reported.
“From the bottom of my heart and with the greatest humility, I thought you guys would never ask,” the ever-humble songstress gushed upon receiving the accolade.
In her later years, Weil turned to writing, most notably penning the 2015 novel “I’m Glad I Did,” a mystery set in 1963.
The family was devastated over the meteoric talent’s loss writing: “Cynthia Weil’s Grammy award-winning lyrics touched the hearts and souls of hundreds of millions of people around the world, making her one of the most iconic songwriters of the 20th Century.”
Her husband Barry Mann added, “I’m a lucky man. I had two for one, my wife and one of the greatest songwriters in the world, my soul and inspiration.”
Along with her husband, Weil is survived by her daughter Dr. Jenn Man, who is a psychotherapist, author, and host of the VH1 series “Couple’s Therapy.”
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