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Billy Steinberg: Biography
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Billy Steinberg Biography
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Billy Steinberg has been among the most successful songwriters of the past two decades, co-writing (with Tom Kelly) five #1 singles on the Billboard's "Hot 100" chart, including "Like A Virgin" (Madonna), "True Colors" (Cyndi Lauper), "So Emotional" (Whitney Houston), "Eternal Flame" (The Bangles). Additionally, Billy co-wrote six other well-known Top 10 U.S. pop hits, including "I'll Stand By You" (Pretenders), "I Touch Myself" (the Divinyls), "How Do I Make You" (Linda Ronstadt), "I Drove All Night" (Roy Orbison & Cyndi Lauper), and "In Your Room" (The Bangles).
Many of Steinberg's songs have become endurng classics and continue to receive attention from many of today's top artists. "Like A Virgin" was recently honored by Rolling Stone & MTV as the #4 song on their list of the "100 Greatest Pop Songs." "True Colors" was recorded by Phil Collins for his "Greatest Hits" album and became a major worldwide hit. "True Colors" was also featured in Kodak's prominent television-based advertisment campaign for several years. In the summer of 2001, British act Atomic Kitten recorded "Eternal Flame," which reached #1 on the U.K. singles chart and sold over 1 million copies.
Steinberg grew up in Palm Springs, California, and attended Bard College in upstate New York. After college, he pursued a career as a recording artist and songwriter while also working for his family's table grape business. His band, Billy Thermal (Thermal was the town where the vineyard business was located), was signed to legendary producer Richard Perry's Planet Records in 1979. The band's guitarist, Bob Carlisle, played Billy Thermal's album for Linda Ronstadt, and she decided to record Steinberg's song, "How Do I Make You," for her "Mad Love" album in 1980. It was the only single on that album to reach top 10 Billboard status and helped launch Steinberg's career as a promising songwriter. Another early composition, "Precious Time," was recorded by Pat Benetar in 1981 and became the title cut of her third album.
In 1981, Steinberg began a momentous collaboration with Tom Kelly, a successful session vocalist and songwriter. The duo developed a strong songwriting chemistry and subsequently formed the band I-10, which was released on Epic Records. This marked the beginning of a longtime writing partnership, which resulted in several of the most memorable hits of the 80s and 90s.
A career breakthrough occurred for Steinberg & Kelly in 1984 when Madonna recorded their song "Like A Virgin," which went on to become the title of her second album. "Like A Virgin," which went on to become a milestone achievement for both Steinberg, Kelly and Madonna, reached the #1 single on Billboard in December 1984; staying atop the chart for six weeks. "Like A Virgin" remains Madonna's biggest chart single to date. Also, in 2001, "Like A Virgin" was featured in a riotous scene in the innovative movie musical "Moulin Rouge."
Following the success of "Like A Virgin," Steinberg & Kelly enjoyed a flurry of hit activity. Cyndi Lauper had a #1 record with "True Colors," which was the title cut of her second album, and followed this success with the Top 10 hit "I Drove All Night" on her next album. The duo subsequently topped the charts with Heart's recording of "Alone," followed by another #1 hit, "So Emotional," which was recorded by Whitney Houston. During this period, Steinberg & Kelly had many additional singles and/or cuts, with such artists as Pat Benetar (the Top 40 hit, "Sex As A Weapon"), Tina Turner ("Look Me In The Heart"), Roy Orbison ("I Drove All Night"), REO Speedwagon, Cheap Trick, Patty Smyth, Bette Midler, Belinda Carlisle, and many others.
In the late 80s and early 90s, Steinberg & Kelly established successful collaborations with Susanna Hoffs of the Bangles, and Christina Amphlett & Mark McEntee of the Divinyls. The team of Steinberg, Kelly & Hoffs wrote many songs together, including the classic, Bangles' hits, "Eternal Flame" and "In Your Room." Steinberg, Kelly & Hoffs also wrote "My Side Of The Bed," which was the first single (and Top 40 hit) from Hoffs' solo debut album in 1991. The teaming of Steinberg & Kelly with the Divinyls led to several cuts together, including the group's provocative, Top 10 hit, "I Touch Myself," in 1991. "I Touch Myself" was later featured in the hit movie, "Austin Powers: Man Of Mystery."
In 1993, Steinberg & Kelly began another, high-profile collaboration, writing many songs together with Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders. The trio wrote six songs for the group's "Last Of The Independents" album in 1994, which included the Top 10 hit, "I'll Stand By You," and the single, "Neight In My Veins." Steinberg, Kelly & Hynde also co-wrote three songs on the Pretenders' next studio album, "Viva El Amor," in 1999.
In the mid-'90s, Steinberg teamed up with Rick Nowels, a highly regarded writer/producer who had enjoyed hit success with Stevie Nicks, Belinda Carlisle and other artists. Since initiating their collaboration, Steinberg & Nowels have written and produced for an array of top artists. The duo won Grammy Awards for producing their song and title cut, "Falling Into You," om Celine Dion's multi-platinum, 1996 album. Steinberg & Nowels have also written and produced notable cuts for kd Lang, the Corrs, Amber, including the #1 dance hit and Top 40 pop hit in 2000, "Sexual (Li Da Di)", Enrique Iglesias, Chynna Phillips (including her Top 40 hit, "Naked and Sacred"), Ace Of Bass, and international #1 hit singles for Melanie C.("I Turn To You", in 2000) and Robert Miles ("One And One," in 1996). In 2000, Steinberg collaborated with Jimmy Harry & Vitamin C to write her Top 40 hit, "The Itch."
Into the new millenium, Billy Steinberg remains very active and prolific, collaborating with a wide range of talented writers, producers and artists. Steinberg's current list of collaborators include Tom Kelly, Rick Nowels, Chrissie Hynde, Marie Claire D'Ubaldo, Dido, Jimmy Harry, Marti Frederiksen and Rhys Fulber. Steinberg is continuing his long-term success story and songwriting vision, writing unique, creative songs which will have a lasting appeal and impact.
Two songs that Billy recently completed writing with Tom Kelly and Chrissie Hynde will be released in November 2002 on the new Pretenders album "Loose Screw." The songs are entitled "Nothing Breaks Like A Heart" and "Saving Grace."
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