Former songwriting duos?
May 10, 2023 6:17 AM Subscribe
Can you think of any songwriting duos--preferably well known songwriting duos--in which one of the songwriters is dead, while the other remains alive?
I've already thought of Steely Dan's Becker and Fagen, and Fountains of Wayne's Chris Collingwood and Adam Schlesinger. I'm wondering if there are any others.
I'm sorry if this is a bit morbid for the green.
I've already thought of Steely Dan's Becker and Fagen, and Fountains of Wayne's Chris Collingwood and Adam Schlesinger. I'm wondering if there are any others.
I'm sorry if this is a bit morbid for the green.
I think the Beatles' song catalog is largely credited to "Lennon-McCartney." There were other people in the Beatles, though, so maybe that's not what you had in mind.
posted by adekllny at 6:22 AM on May 10, 2023 [7 favorites]
posted by adekllny at 6:22 AM on May 10, 2023 [7 favorites]
Lennon and McCartney
posted by anotheraccount at 6:22 AM on May 10, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by anotheraccount at 6:22 AM on May 10, 2023 [2 favorites]
There are these two guys you may have heard of, Lennon and McCartney. Despite rumors to the contrary, the latter still seems to be alive.
Probably the most famous such case is Richard Rodgers, who originally partnered with Lorenz Hart to write songs like "Blue Moon". But then Hart died, so Rodgers started working with Oscar Hammerstein, with whom he revolutionized musical theatre.
posted by kevinbelt at 6:23 AM on May 10, 2023 [2 favorites]
Probably the most famous such case is Richard Rodgers, who originally partnered with Lorenz Hart to write songs like "Blue Moon". But then Hart died, so Rodgers started working with Oscar Hammerstein, with whom he revolutionized musical theatre.
posted by kevinbelt at 6:23 AM on May 10, 2023 [2 favorites]
Joe Strummer (deceased), Mick Jones (alive) - The Clash
posted by General Malaise at 6:30 AM on May 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by General Malaise at 6:30 AM on May 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
Carole King (alive), Gerry Goffin (deceased)
posted by General Malaise at 6:31 AM on May 10, 2023
posted by General Malaise at 6:31 AM on May 10, 2023
Alan Menken (alive) & Howard Ashman (dead)
posted by DiscountDeity at 6:33 AM on May 10, 2023 [6 favorites]
posted by DiscountDeity at 6:33 AM on May 10, 2023 [6 favorites]
Ashford (deceased) & Simpson (alive)
posted by clair-de-lune at 6:33 AM on May 10, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by clair-de-lune at 6:33 AM on May 10, 2023 [4 favorites]
Sorry, one more:
Nickolas Ashford (deceased), Valerie Simpson (alive)
posted by General Malaise at 6:34 AM on May 10, 2023
Nickolas Ashford (deceased), Valerie Simpson (alive)
posted by General Malaise at 6:34 AM on May 10, 2023
Eric Lowen (deceased) and Dan Navarro (alive) - Lowen and Navarro
posted by JoeZydeco at 6:45 AM on May 10, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by JoeZydeco at 6:45 AM on May 10, 2023 [3 favorites]
Lieber and Stoller, Jerry Lieber (deceased) and Mike Stoller (as of this writing 90 years old and still with us).
posted by box at 6:49 AM on May 10, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by box at 6:49 AM on May 10, 2023 [2 favorites]
Stevie Wonder (alive) and Syreeta Wright (deceased)
posted by box at 6:55 AM on May 10, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by box at 6:55 AM on May 10, 2023 [2 favorites]
Dave Carter (deceased) and Tracy Grammer (alive and amazing).
posted by lydhre at 6:56 AM on May 10, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by lydhre at 6:56 AM on May 10, 2023 [2 favorites]
John Kander (alive) and Fred Ebb (dead). Together responsible for the musicals Cabaret and Chicago and others.
posted by brookeb at 7:02 AM on May 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by brookeb at 7:02 AM on May 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
David Bowie (deceased) and Iggy Pop (alive)
posted by JoeZydeco at 7:03 AM on May 10, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by JoeZydeco at 7:03 AM on May 10, 2023 [2 favorites]
Richard Carpenter (alive) and Karen Carpenter (dead).
posted by interbeing at 7:28 AM on May 10, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by interbeing at 7:28 AM on May 10, 2023 [2 favorites]
Isaac Hayes & David Porter
posted by toodleydoodley at 7:29 AM on May 10, 2023
posted by toodleydoodley at 7:29 AM on May 10, 2023
Jeff Barry (alive) and Ellie Greenwich (deceased)
posted by box at 7:30 AM on May 10, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by box at 7:30 AM on May 10, 2023 [2 favorites]
Andrew Farriss (alive) and Michael Hutchence (deceased), of INXS
posted by box at 7:34 AM on May 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by box at 7:34 AM on May 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
Nile Rodgers (alive) and Bernard Edwards (deceased), of Chic
posted by JoeZydeco at 7:36 AM on May 10, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by JoeZydeco at 7:36 AM on May 10, 2023 [3 favorites]
Nile Rodgers (alive) and Bernard Edwards (deceased), of Chic (also other projects)
On preview, I see I shouldn't've taken so long to find those links.
posted by box at 7:42 AM on May 10, 2023
On preview, I see I shouldn't've taken so long to find those links.
posted by box at 7:42 AM on May 10, 2023
Barry Gibb (alive), Maurice Gibb (dead) or Robin Gibb (also dead).
posted by Capt. Renault at 7:50 AM on May 10, 2023
posted by Capt. Renault at 7:50 AM on May 10, 2023
Charles Cooper (d. 2009) and Joshua Eustis of Telefon Tel Aviv (1999 – present).
posted by Joeruckus at 8:21 AM on May 10, 2023
posted by Joeruckus at 8:21 AM on May 10, 2023
Tommy Boyce (dead) and Bobby Hart (alive). They did many, many songs for the Monkees.
posted by FencingGal at 8:27 AM on May 10, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by FencingGal at 8:27 AM on May 10, 2023 [2 favorites]
(subject to some nitpicking/dispute:)
Glenn Frey and Don Henley, of the Eagles--other members of the band wrote too but these two were the most known/acknowledged co-writers
Christine McVie and Lindsey Buckingham--their most famous work was while with Fleetwood Mac but they did a duo album as well
posted by Sockin'inthefreeworld at 9:06 AM on May 10, 2023 [2 favorites]
Glenn Frey and Don Henley, of the Eagles--other members of the band wrote too but these two were the most known/acknowledged co-writers
Christine McVie and Lindsey Buckingham--their most famous work was while with Fleetwood Mac but they did a duo album as well
posted by Sockin'inthefreeworld at 9:06 AM on May 10, 2023 [2 favorites]
Chad & Jeremy: Chad Stuart died in 2020, and Jeremy Clyde is still alive and is a working actor.
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 9:06 AM on May 10, 2023
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 9:06 AM on May 10, 2023
Bob Weir (Mostly alive) and John Perry Barlow (deceased). Sort of strange, Bob Weir sings Cassidy to Barlow on his death bed.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 9:15 AM on May 10, 2023
posted by JohnnyGunn at 9:15 AM on May 10, 2023
Alan Bergman, and Marilyn Keith Bergman (deceased).
This is a list of notable songwriter teams.
posted by Iris Gambol at 10:17 AM on May 10, 2023
This is a list of notable songwriter teams.
posted by Iris Gambol at 10:17 AM on May 10, 2023
Crosby & Nash
posted by rustcellar at 10:29 AM on May 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by rustcellar at 10:29 AM on May 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
Holland–Dozier–Holland, the Holland Brothers Brian and Eddie are still alive and have collaborated with many other writers in addition to Dozier.
They each have well over 1000 song-writing credits on Discogs, it would take some digging to figure out which ones are duos and which collaborators are still alive but they must both qualify multiple times over.
posted by Lanark at 10:36 AM on May 10, 2023 [2 favorites]
They each have well over 1000 song-writing credits on Discogs, it would take some digging to figure out which ones are duos and which collaborators are still alive but they must both qualify multiple times over.
posted by Lanark at 10:36 AM on May 10, 2023 [2 favorites]
recognizing these are trios, and songwriting was shared amongst the three, but, primarily,
Minutemen: Mike Watt (alive), D. Boon (deceased)
Husker Du: Bob Mould (alive), Grant Hart (deceased)
posted by mcgordonliddy at 10:49 AM on May 10, 2023
Minutemen: Mike Watt (alive), D. Boon (deceased)
Husker Du: Bob Mould (alive), Grant Hart (deceased)
posted by mcgordonliddy at 10:49 AM on May 10, 2023
Bob Weir (alive) and John Perry Barlow (dead)
Until recently, Robert Hunter (alive) and Jerry Garcia (dead)
posted by Ignatius J. Reilly at 10:56 AM on May 10, 2023
Until recently, Robert Hunter (alive) and Jerry Garcia (dead)
posted by Ignatius J. Reilly at 10:56 AM on May 10, 2023
The Go-Betweens: Robert Forster (alive) and Grant McLennan (dead)
posted by pipeski at 11:18 AM on May 10, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by pipeski at 11:18 AM on May 10, 2023 [3 favorites]
Chas Hodges (Deceased) and Dave Peacock (Alive) of Chaz and Dave
posted by freya_lamb at 11:49 AM on May 10, 2023
posted by freya_lamb at 11:49 AM on May 10, 2023
Snap!
posted by freya_lamb at 11:49 AM on May 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by freya_lamb at 11:49 AM on May 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
Michael Hutchence (dead) and Andrew Farriss (alive) of INXS.
Easy E (dead), Ice Cube & Dr Dre (alive) of NWA.
posted by The_Vegetables at 12:01 PM on May 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
Easy E (dead), Ice Cube & Dr Dre (alive) of NWA.
posted by The_Vegetables at 12:01 PM on May 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
The Sherman Brothers - Robert (deceased) and Richard (alive)
it's a small world after alllllll
posted by JoeZydeco at 1:14 PM on May 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
it's a small world after alllllll
posted by JoeZydeco at 1:14 PM on May 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
posted by artisthatithaca at 6:20 AM on May 10, 2023 [7 favorites]