Legendary songwriter Jon Lind has died after a two-year battle with cancer.
He was 73. The star’s career dates back to the 1960s as a folk singer when he opened
for Judy Collins but he did not have a big success until he wrote the 1979 song Boogie
Wonderland for the band Earth, Wind & Fire.
The New York native went on to become a busy songwriter in the 1980s and 1990s
with hits such as Madonna’s catchy 1985 song Crazy For You for the movie Vision
Quest and Vanessa Williams’ 1991 tune Save The Best For Last.
The accomplished writer also worked with artists like Cher, Deniece Williams,
Atlantic Starr, Aaron Neville, and the Emotions during his decades-long music career,
according to Variety.
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The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers also confirmed Lind’s
death in a statement obtained by Billboard.
“The songwriting community lost a great songwriter and a beautiful soul in Jon Lind,
who leaves a legacy of iconic songs both as a songwriter and supremely talented A&R
man,” ASCAP said. “The ASCAP family mourns his loss but his humor, his music and
his wonderfully generous spirit live in our hearts.”
Lind began his career in folk music in the 1960s, when as a teen, he opened for Judy
Collins, Tom Paxton and Harry Chapin, according to Variety. Later, as a student at
Mannes College of Music, Lind helped form the Fifth Avenue Band. He went on to
create two more music groups: Howdy Moon and White Horse.
After creating the track “Sun Goddess” for Earth, Wind & Fire, Lind’s songwriting
career took off, according to Variety, who reports that he was “hitting his stride” in
the ’80s and ’90s while collaborating with Cheap Trick, Mica Paris, Jennifer Holliday,
Rick Astley, and more.
