Beloved 1980s hitmaker Billy Steinberg, whose timeless songs captured real American grit and heartfelt emotion, has passed away at 75, leaving a void in an industry now dominated by fleeting trends.
From Vineyards to Chart-Topping Hits
Billy Steinberg was born February 26, 1950, in Fresno, California. His family relocated to Palm Springs, where parents operated the David Freedman Company, Coachella Valley’s premier grape harvesting enterprise. Steinberg labored in the vineyards while nurturing his musical passion. In the late 1960s, he attended Bard College for literature studies but departed due to anxiety, returning to the family farm. There, he composed lyrics during long drives through the fields, forging his unique path from rural toil to pop stardom.
Breakthrough Collaborations and Iconic No. 1s
In the late 1970s, Steinberg formed Billy Thermal, named after Thermal, California’s vineyard hub, and secured a deal with Planet Records. Though the band’s album stayed unreleased, tracks like “How Do I Make You” reached No. 10 via Linda Ronstadt in 1980, with Pat Benatar covering others. Early 1980s partnership with Tom Kelly through i-Ten band yielded early “Alone.” The duo delivered five Billboard No. 1s: Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” (1984-85), Cyndi Lauper’s “True Colors” (1986), Whitney Houston’s “So Emotional” (1987), Heart’s “Alone” (1987), and The Bangles’ “Eternal Flame” (1989).
Later Career and Local Legacy
Post-1990s, Steinberg teamed with Rick Nowels for Celine Dion’s “Falling Into You” on her 1997 Grammy-winning album. He worked with Josh Alexander on Demi Lovato’s 2012 hit “Give Your Heart a Break,” plus Divinyls’ “I Touch Myself” and Pretenders’ “I’ll Stand by You.” Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2011, Steinberg remained tied to Palm Springs. He earned a 2008 star on the Walk of Stars at 101 S. Palm Canyon Drive and donated a 1979 “Vineyard Harvest” mural to Coachella in 2021, honoring his farmer-songwriter duality.
Steinberg’s lyrics masterfully depicted love’s vulnerability and renewal, like “Like a Virgin’s” wilderness-to-purity metaphor and “Alone’s” midnight longing. The Los Angeles Times hailed him as a “master of the melodramatic power ballad,” capturing 1980s infatuation themes that resonated with everyday Americans seeking authentic emotion over today’s manufactured pop.
Passing and Family Reflections
On February 16, 2026, Steinberg died from cancer at his Brentwood, California, home. Attorney Laurie Soriano confirmed the death that afternoon, noting it occurred Monday morning. Cyndi Lauper shared an Instagram tribute. The Los Angeles Times obituary detailed the cause and corrected his age to 75. Son Ezra told The Independent his father instilled discipline, integrity, and reverence for songwriting, prioritizing enduring art and relationships. Survivors include wife Trina, sons Ezra and Max, sisters Barbara and Mary, and stepchildren Raul and Carolina.
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Billy Steinberg, legendary songwriter and Palm Springs native, dies at 75