Hal Willner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hal Willner
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Willner in 2007
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| Born | April 6, 1956 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
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| Died | April 7, 2020 (aged 64) New York City, New York, U.S.
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| Occupation | Music producer |
| Years active | 1970s–2020 |
| Spouse(s) | Sheila Rogers |
| Children | 1 |
Hal Willner (born April 6, 1956 – died April 7, 2020) was an American music producer. He worked on recordings, films, TV shows, and live concerts. Willner was famous for creating special tribute albums and events. These projects brought together many different artists and musical styles. He explored jazz, classical, rock, and old-time American songs. Sadly, Willner passed away during the COVID-19 pandemic due to problems from the virus.
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Hal Willner's Early Life
Hal Willner was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1956. His father and uncle had survived the Holocaust. In 1974, Willner moved to New York City. He went to New York University but did not finish his degree.
Willner's Career in Music
In the late 1970s, Hal Willner started working with record producer Joel Dorn. He helped produce albums for artists like Leon Redbone and The Neville Brothers.
Working on Saturday Night Live
In 1980, Willner became the sketch music producer for Saturday Night Live. This is a famous TV comedy show. For 40 years, he picked all the music used in the show's funny skits. From 1988 to 1990, he also produced a TV show called Sunday Night. This show featured musicians from many different genres.
Producing Albums for Artists
Willner produced albums for many well-known musicians. These included Marianne Faithfull, Lou Reed, Bill Frisell, and Laurie Anderson. He also produced a live concert that honored Tim Buckley. This event helped launch the career of Tim's son, Jeff. Willner released one album under his own name, called Whoops, I'm an Indian. It used old sound clips from the early 1900s.
Special Concert Events
Hal Willner was known for putting together unique concert events. In 2010, he produced a pirate-themed show called Rogue's Gallery. This show was part of the Sydney Festival in Australia. It featured a large group of international performers. Some of the artists included Marianne Faithfull, Todd Rundgren, and Tim Robbins.
Personal Life and Passing
Hal Willner was married to TV producer Sheila Rogers. They had one son named Arlo.
Willner's Death
Willner showed signs of COVID-19. He died at his home in New York City on April 7, 2020. This was just one day after his 64th birthday. His death happened during the pandemic in New York City. On April 11, 2020, Saturday Night Live honored Willner. Current and past cast members shared memories. They also sang Lou Reed's song "Perfect Day".
Hal Willner's Productions
Hal Willner produced many interesting projects. He was famous for his "tribute" albums and concerts. These projects honored specific artists or themes.
Concept Albums
Willner created albums where different artists performed songs by one composer or about a certain topic.
- Amarcord Nino Rota (1981): This was his first tribute album. It honored Italian composer Nino Rota. Jazz musicians played Rota's music from Federico Fellini films.
- That's The Way I Feel Now: A Tribute to Thelonious Monk (1984): This album featured pop and jazz artists.
- Stay Awake: Various Interpretations of Music from Vintage Disney Films (1988): This popular album had artists performing songs from Walt Disney movies. Performers included Sun Ra, Ringo Starr, and Michael Stipe.
- Weird Nightmare: Meditations on Mingus (1992): A tribute to Charles Mingus. It used special instruments built by composer Harry Partch.
- Rogue's Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs, and Chanteys (2006): A double album of pirate songs and sea shanties. It featured artists like Bono.
- AngelHeaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan & T. Rex (2020): This album honored Marc Bolan and his band T. Rex. Willner worked on it before he passed away. It included performances by Kesha, Nick Cave, Joan Jett, U2, and Elton John.
Themed Concerts
Willner also organized live concerts around specific themes or artists.
- Greetings from Tim Buckley (1991)
- Nevermore: Poems & Stories of Edgar Allan Poe (1995): This concert led to an album.
- The Harry Smith Project (1999, 2001): Honoring a famous American music collector.
- Came So Far for Beauty, An Evening of Songs by Leonard Cohen (2003-2006): A series of concerts celebrating Leonard Cohen's music.
- Dream Comfort Memory Despair: The Songs of Neil Young (2004): A tribute to Neil Young.
- Rogue's Gallery (2007-2010): The pirate-themed concert series.
- The Bells: A Day Long Celebration of Lou Reed (2016): A special event honoring Lou Reed.
Spoken Word Recordings
Willner also produced albums that featured spoken words instead of just music.
- Dead City Radio (1990) by William S. Burroughs: This album featured the writer's words with music by bands like Sonic Youth.
- Closed on Account of Rabies (1997): This album had different artists reading poems and stories by Edgar Allan Poe.
Film-Related Projects
Willner also worked on music for movies.
- The Carl Stalling Project: Two CDs of music from Warner Brothers cartoons.
- He produced soundtracks for films like Robert Altman's Short Cuts (1993).
- He was a music supervisor for movies such as Gangs of New York (2002) and Talladega Nights (2006).
See also
In Spanish: Hal Willner para niños
