Hal Willner death: Loss of a musical legend leaves world in tears as it mourns the 'gentle genius'
Hal Willner, the famed 'SNL' music sketch producer and Grammy award-winning record producer died at 64. Although the official cause of his death was not disclosed, sources close to his family confirmed that he had been experiencing symptoms similar to those associated with coronavirus.
Willner himself seemed to confirm having contracted coronavirus in a tweet that was dated March 28. "I always wanted to have a number one – but not this,” he posted next to an image of a map that showed cases of coronavirus across the United States. In the same tweet, he revealed he was "in bed on Upper West Side". As a musical producer, Willner worked with the likes of Lou Reed, Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen, Laurie Anderson and Marianne Faithfull and was a revered 'Saturday Night Live' music sketch producer for nearly 40 years.
"You may not know his name, but for nearly four decades he has bent and shaped the dimensions of almost-popular music, working with performers as disparate as Lou Reed and the Armadillo String Quartet in extravagant, cross-genre tributes to the music of Thelonious Monk or Kurt Weill, the Disney songbook or the poetry of Allen Ginsberg," reads a 2017 profile of the beloved music producer, who picked up a Grammy in 2005 for his work on jazz guitarist Bill Frisell's album 'Unspeakable.'
The legendary Lou Reed and Willner formed a close bond, so much so that after Reed’s death in 2013, Willner worked with Reed’s widow Laurie Anderson to unveil some of the singer's unreleased work.
Willner will always be fondly remembered for his epic salutes to iconic music, like 1988's 'Stay Awake: Various Interpretations of Music from Vintage Disney Films,' which featured a diverse collection of artiste ranging from Ringo Starr, Michael Stipe, Bonnie Raitt, the Replacements, Harry Nilsson, Tom Waits and Sun Ra, as they covered classic songs from Disney’s golden age. Prior to this, he had produced tributes to Nino Rota, Thelonious Monk and Kurt Weill. In 1992, he produced 'Weird Nightmare: Meditations on Mingus,' a salute to the jazz legend Charles Mingus with the help of musicians Elvis Costello, Henry Rollins, Dr John, Leonard Cohen and Chuck D.
"He gets musicians together who wouldn’t get together," Terry Adams told The New York Times. "And it always works." And yet, "it’s not any kind of radical thinking," Willner revealed in the same article. "That’s what we had growing up. Bill Graham would have Led Zeppelin preceded by the Bonzo Dog Band and Rahsaan Roland Kirk on the same show. How many people saw Patti LaBelle opening for Richard Pryor? So it’s just continuing a philosophy from that point of view. But people don’t do that anymore."
They certainly don't do it like Willner anymore. Willner's fans and colleagues were posting their shock and dismay on social media after hearing about his passing.
"Such horrible news! RIP Hal Willner, such a talented man" said an admirer, while another posted, "He had best stories of Lou Reed and Keith Richards."
One ardent fan said, "Hal Willner was the gentlest genius at SNL. He bemoaned artists abandoning weirdness and authenticity but never gave up searching for it. We love you forever. F*** off this disease and especially its enablers."
Lou Reed's family also posted this on Twitter: "Earlier today Hal Willner passed away. Hal was one of Lou’s dearest friends and his sudden departure is a heavy blow. Please keep his family in your thoughts. If you can, light a candle for Hal. Please stay home and stay safe." Al Franken said, "I’m so sad about my friend Hal Willner. A brilliant and sweet man. This is so hard."
REM's Michael Stipe posted, "With heavy heart, we lost a great champion and friend today in Hal Willner, Hal was truly one of the greatest music lovers and supporters I have ever met and a dear colleague and friend."
Another fan posted, "Hal Willner was one a kind. RIP, Hal," while another tweeted, "Hal Willner was a brilliant guy with an encyclopedic knowledge of all kinds of music, a great sense of humor and a really sweet man. A huge loss."
Sean Lennon, John Lennon's son, said, "Hal Willner R.I.P. All I can say is thanks for everything. Will miss you friend." Producer Judd Apatow admitted the news hit him hard and said, "So sad. Some people are such a gift to the world. They just put good stuff out there and make our lives better."
Actor Tim Robbins said, "The amazingly talented, innovative, eclectic & visionary music producer Hal Willner passed today. A true artist, a lover of music, a devoted father, a good friend & an angel in my life when I really needed one. Hal helped me find the light in the darkness. Devastated by this news."
Actor Ben Stiller tweeted, "Hal was a part of so much of the music and pop culture comedy we have all enjoyed for years. He was kind and extremely cool. So sorry to hear this. Sending love to his family." Even Adam Sandler said, "RIP Hal Willner. An incredible person who so many of us will miss. Love u pal."