Allee Willis
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Allee Willis (1947 – 2019) was an American songwriter and director. She was best-known for "I'll Be There For You" (1994, Friends theme song), "September" (1978) and "Boogie Wonderland" (1979) by Earth, Wind & Fire and "What Have I Done to Deserve This?" (1987) by Pet Shop Boys.
Biography
As a songwriter, Allee Willis was famous for her collaboration with Earth, Wind & Fire. She co-wrote hit songs for them such as "September," "Boogie Wonderland," and "In the Stone." Willis also composed hit singles for several other artists including "Neutron Dance" by the Pointer Sisters, "What Have I Done to Deserve This?" by Pet Shop Boys featuring Dusty Springfield, and "I'll Be There for You" by The Rembrandts. "I'll Be There for You" was used as the theme song of the sitcom Friends, and went on to become one of the biggest television theme songs of all time.
During 1995 Willis was Emmy nominated for "I'll Be There for You." She also co-wrote the Tony nominated, and Grammy-winning, Broadway musical, The Color Purple. A major motion picture based on the musical is in the early stages of development (as of 2018) being produced by Steven Spielberg, Oprah Winfrey, Quincy Jones, and Scott Sanders.
On September 28, 2017 Willis premiered "The D", a passion project she wrote, recorded, and produced for her hometown of Detroit at the Detroit Institute of Arts.
Willis died in Los Angeles on December 24, 2019, at the age of 72. The cause of death was cardiac arrest.
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