SNL Music Producer Hal Wilner Dies at 64

Hal Willner, a renowned film and television music producer, who worked for many years in comedy show Saturday Night Live, died, April 7, due to complications from COVID-19, according to multiple sources. He was 64 years old.

A representative for Mr. Willner did not comment on the issue, but according to the composer's Twitter account, he was tested positive for the virus.

At the time of his death, he was working on a tribute album and documentary project on Marc Bolan and T.Rex; he also enlisted shares from U2, Elton John, Joan Jett, Nick Cave, Kesha, Foo Fighters and more.

Willner's career

Mr. Willner was born on April 6, 1956, in Philadelphia. He started his career as an assistant to producer Joel Dorn in New York, working on the albums of Roberta Flack and Bette Midler. He also produced albums for Marianne Faithfull and Lou Reed.

Since the 80s, he worked as a music coordinator to Lorne Michael's Sunday Night, a short-lived music series from 1988 to 1990.

In 1981, Willner worked for Amarcord Nino Rota to honor Italian composer Nino Rota who works for films of Federico Fellini. He got jazz and pop musicians like Deborah Harry and Marsalis brothers Wynton and Branford, sons of Ellis Marsalis Jr, who also died due to COVID-19.

In 1988, Willner worked for Stay Awake, a musical interpretation of some classic Disney movies.

In 1992, he made Weird Nightmare Meditations on Mingus, featuring contributions from various artists like Leonard Cohen.

In 2006, Willner worked for Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs, and Chanteys featuring Bono, Jarvis Cocker, Nick Cave, John C. Reilly, and Sting. He also made a follow up titled Son of Rogues Gallery, featuring Iggy Pop, Johnny Depp, and others.

In October 2018, he was given a tribute at a charity event in Brooklyn.

People's reactions

At the time of Willner's death, some artists gave their condolences and respects to the music producer and his family.

Comedian John Mulaney, who is one of the casts of SNL, singer Questlove, writer Paula Pell and others who worked with Mr. Willner, mourned at his death. Mulaney wrote, "P.S. You loved life completely and lived it intensely, and I know you would find it funny that it took a global pandemic to take you away," on Mr. Willner's postscript.

The metal band Metallica posted on their Instagram account that they were shocked at the news of Mr. Willner's death. They mentioned his contributions, personal traits, and his love for music.

Comedian Ben Stiller sent condolences to the Willner family via his tweet. He said that Mr. Willner is part of music and pop culture that all enjoyed for many years.

Other artists like Judd Apatow, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Taran Killam, Sean Lennon, and many more send condolences and gratitude to Hal Willner.

Other deaths from coronavirus 

Some of the musicians who died of the coronavirus are Adam Schlesinger, Ellis Marsalis Jr., Joe Diffie, Alan Merrill, Terrence McNally, and Manu Dibango. Country singer John Prine died last night due to the same disease at the age of 73.

COVID-19 Update

As of this writing, according to Worldometers.info and the Johns Hopkins University, there are more than 1,450,000 cases with more than 83,000 deaths and more than 309,000 recoveries. In the United States, there are more than 400,000 cases with more than 12,000 deaths and more than 21,000 recoveries.