The man behind some of the best ballads from the '80s and '90s has passed. Michael Masser, songwriting legend, succumbed to complications following a massive stroke he suffered more than three years ago, Billboard reported. He died at his home in Rancho Mirage, Calif., on Thursday at 74 years old.
"He was an extraordinary person," pop singer and friend Peggy Cravens told local newspaper the Desert Sun. "He just had this passion that was milling around in his head and decided to give it all up for music."
The Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee was born in Chicago in 1941, according to the Desert Sun. He was a successful stockbroker before he left his career behind to start on a law degree. He would eventually leave that behind as well when he discovered the music industry.
His first hit was the 1973 track "Touch Me In The Morning," recorded by Diana Ross, according to Billboard. Masser co-wrote and co-produced the song for the pop diva's Motown record "To Love Again." The single was a chart topper, and so was the second song he wrote for Ross, "Theme from 'Mahogany' (Do You Know Where You're Going To?)." The song earned the number one spot on the Hot 100 Billboard chart and an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song.
But it was his work with the late Whitney Houston that would help both artists climb up to the top of '90s romantic ballad genre, according to the Guardian. Masser signed on to write songs for Houston's 1985 debut, working under the direction of Arista Records mogul Clive Davis. The masterpieces he co-wrote for Houston were "Saving All My Love for You," "The Greatest Love of All," "All at Once," and "Didn't We Almost Have It All."
"Michael Masser's wonder melodies are memorable and hypnotic," Davis said in a statement to the Desert Sun. "He is and was truly an all-time great composer."
