Will Jennings, writer of hit songs ‘My Heart Will Go On,’ ‘Tears in Heaven’ dies in Tyler

TYLER, Texas (KETK) – Kilgore-native and Oscar winning songwriter Will Jennings died at 80-years-old in Tyler on Friday, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

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Jennings, who co-wrote Celine Delion’s Oscar winning song “My Heart Will Go On” from “Titanic”, was at his home in Tyler when he died on Friday morning after several years of declining health.

Songs that Jennings helped write include:

• “Higher Love” and “Back in the High Life Again” with Steve Winwood

• “Looks Like We Made It” for Barry Manilow with Richard Kerr

• “Up Where We Belong” for the film “An Officer and a Gentleman”

• “Tears in Heaven” with Eric Clapton

• “Where Are You Christmas?” for the film “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!,” with James Horner and Mariah Carey

Jennings was inducted in to the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2006, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Other artists he wrote music for include: Whitney Houston, B.B. King, Joe Sample, Rodney Crowell, Jimmy Buffett and Roy Orbison.

As a student, Jennings attended Tyler Junior College and Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches. On June 22, the East Texas Symphony Orchestra presented “THE MUSIC OF WILL JENNINGS” to honor his legendary career in music.

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