Thursday, December 5, 2024

Michael Masser, Towering Songwriter of “Greatest Love of All” and Many Hits, Dies at 74

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I just got the message that Michael Masser has died at age 74. What a shame. He was as big and important a songwriter as there could have been from this last generation. He wrote “The Greatest Love of All” with Linda Creed, which became Whitney Houston’s signature song. He also co-wrote “Saving All My Love for You” and “Didn’t We Have it All.” (His lyricist was Gerry Goffin, famed late half of Carole King and …)

Masser’s other hits included Diana Ross — “Touch Me in the Morning,” “Last Time I Saw Him,” and “Do You know Where You’re Going To?”
He also wrote “If Ever You’re In My Arms Again” for Peabo Bryson and had a hit on “Tonight I Celebrate My Love” for Peabo and Roberta Flack.

Clive Davis offered the following statement on the passing of Michael Masser: “Michael Masser’s wonderful melodies are memorable and hypnotic. He is and was truly an all-time great composer. The legacy of Whitney Houston will always be permanently indebted to Michael. If it weren’t for ‘The Greatest Love of All,’ ‘Saving All My Love For You,’ ‘All At Once’ and ‘Didn’t We Almost Have It All,’ Whitney’s career would not have blazed as brightly or as uniquely. Personally, I lost a great friend whom I will forever miss.”

Masser leaves a huge legacy and a big big catalog. Condolences to his family.

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.

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