Tuesday, May 27, 2025
55.0°F

Hal Willner, longtime 'Saturday Night Live' staple, has died

AP Entertainment Writer | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 years, 1 month AGO
by AP Entertainment Writer
| April 8, 2020 12:03 AM

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Hal Willner, a music producer and longtime “Saturday Night Live” music supervisor, has died. He was 64.

Blake Zidell, a representative for Willner, said the producer died Tuesday. Zidell said Willner had symptoms consistent with those caused by the coronavirus, but he had not been diagnosed with the virus.

Willner had selected music for skits on “Saturday Night Live” since 1980. He produced albums for Lucinda Williams, Lou Reed and Marianne Faithfull, who is currently being treated for the coronavirus in a London hospital.

Willner is also known for curating a host of tribute albums starting off with “Amarcord Nino Rota” in 1981. He’s had tribute projects dedicated to Thelonious Monk and music for Disney films. He recruited a variety of music artists for tribute projects including Sting, Keith Richards and Ringo Starr.

Willner produced a live tribute concert in New York for Tim Buckley in 1991. The concert helped launch the career of Buckley's son, Jeff, who performed at the event.

MORE ENTERTAINMENT STORIES

Hal Willner, longtime 'Saturday Night Live' staple, has died
Columbia Basin Herald | Updated 5 years, 1 month ago
Hal Willner, longtime 'Saturday Night Live' staple, has died
Columbia Basin Herald | Updated 5 years, 1 month ago
Hal Willner, longtime 'Saturday Night Live' staple, has died
Columbia Basin Herald | Updated 5 years, 1 month ago

ARTICLES BY AP ENTERTAINMENT WRITER

October 10, 2020 12:10 a.m.

Online fall Broadway play revivals attract starry casts

NEW YORK (AP) — Broadway theaters may be dark, but there will be plenty of new online productions of some of classic plays this fall with some starry self-isolating actors, including Matthew Broderick, Morgan Freeman, Patti LuPone, Laura Linney and David Alan Grier.

October 9, 2020 9:06 a.m.

Marvin Sapp on new album and dealing with pandemic at church

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Even though Marvin Sapp finished recording his new album before the coronavirus rocked the world, the gospel singer believes his prophetic message of enduring transition and change still resonates during the pandemic.

October 9, 2020 6:33 a.m.

Broadway shutdown due to virus extended again until May 30

NEW YORK (AP) — Fans of Broadway will have to wait a little longer for shows to resume — until at least late May.