'Like A Virgin' Songwriter Billy Steinberg Dies at 74 After Cancer Battle

Billy Steinberg -- the legendary songwriter behind Madonna’s smash hit "Like a Virgin" -- has died at age 74 after a battle with cancer, TMZ has confirmed. His death Monday was confirmed by his attorn

16 Feb, 22:00 — 17 Feb, 00:52

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Why this matters

Billy Steinberg was a highly influential and Hall of Fame songwriter whose work defined an era of pop music. He co-wrote five U.S. No. 1 hits, including Madonna's 'Like a Virgin' and Whitney Houston's 'So Emotional,' crafting classics for a wide array of iconic artists. His passing marks the loss of a significant creative force behind some of the most memorable songs of the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

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Key entities

Billy SteinbergLegendary songwriter MadonnaArtist who performed his hit song Whitney HoustonArtist who performed his hit song The BanglesBand who performed his hit song HeartBand who performed his songs Cyndi LauperArtist who performed his songs Demi LovatoArtist who performed his songs

Coverage Timeline

First report: tmz · 16 Feb, 22:00|Full coverage: All 3 sources within 3h|Window: 3h

tmz16 Feb, 22:00First to report