Allee Willis

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Allee Willis is an American songwriter, artist, set designer, multimedia artist, writer and director.

Contents

1 Overview
2 History
3 Songs written by Allee Willis
4 Miscellanea
5 See also
6 External links

Overview

In 1995 Willis was nominated for an Emmy for her #1 hit, “I'll Be There For You”, the theme from "Friends", one of the best selling television themes of all time. In 1985 she won a Grammy for Best Soundtrack for ‘Beverly Hills Cop’. Her songs have sold over 50,000,000 records, including “September” and “Boogie Wonderland” by Earth, Wind & Fire, “Neutron Dance” by the Pointer Sisters, “What Have I Done To Deserve This?” by Pet Shop Boys with Dusty Springfield, and “Lead Me On” by Maxine Nightengale. Willis has collaborated with hundreds of leading artists and composers from all fields of music, including Bob Dylan, James Brown, Herbie Hancock and Motown legend Lamont Dozier. She is co-authored the Broadway musical version of “The Color Purple”, based on the Pulitzer Prize winning book by Alice Walker and film by Steven Spielberg, which opened on Broadway at the Broadway Theater December 1st 2006.

History

Willis grew up in Detroit. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in Journalism. Upon graduation, she moved to New York to become a copywriter for Columbia and Epic Records, writing liner notes, print ads and radio commercials for all the female and Black acts, many of whom she went on to write songs for later. She recorded an album of the first ten songs she ever wrote, “Childstar”, on Epic Records and was discovered by Bonnie Raitt and Patti LaBelle when they started recording her songs in the late 70’s.

From 1986 to 1988 Willis had her own column in Details Magazine. It was in that magazine that she introduced her proudest musical find, the Del Rubio Triplets, 70 plus year old 'singing' sisters in mini skirts and go go boots who went on to appear in over 20 network shows and tour around the world.

Songs written by Allee Willis

2001 September - recorded by Sisqo and Vitamin C (singer)
2000 Where'd You Get Those Pants? - recorded by Fishbone on Hollywood Records
2000 Planet Love - recorded by Taylor Dayne on Jellybean Recordings
2000 Sex Bomb - theme song of the WB series Grosse Pointe -based on sample of "All American Girls" - Sister Sledge
1999 Boogie Wonderland - recorded by Girls Against Boys, from the film 200 Cigarettes
1998 Come What May - recorded by Rupaul & Jenifer Lewis, (from the USA Network film An Unexpected Life)
1998 September - recorded by Brian Bromberg on Zebra
1998 Don't Suffer In Silence - recorded by Cleopatra on Warner Bros. Records
1997 September - recorded by Earth, Wind & Fire, from the film Soul Food) on LaFace
1995 Real - recorded by Bruce Roberts on Atlantic Records
1995 Come Running To Me - recorded by Straight Ahead on Atlantic Records
1995 September - recorded by The John Tesh Project on Private Label
1994 Time Will Tell - recorded by Patti LaBelleon MCA
1994 I Wont Be Satisfied - recorded by Jay Williams on Big Beat
1987 What Have I Done To Deserve This - recorded by Pet Shop Boys and Dusty Springfield

INCOMPLETE LIST

Miscellanea

Her house, built as the party house for MGM in 1937, has appeared in major art, architecture and entertainment magazines.

Her motorized artwork, sculpture and furniture have been featured in museums and galleries around the world.

External links

[Allee Willis Music] is the official Allee Willis website with pictures, some history behind the songs as well as sound bites and articles.
[Bubbles the Artist]- is the official Bubbles the Artist website, featuring collectible art.