‘Like a Virgin’ songwriter Billy Steinberg dies at 74

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Billy Steinberg, the lyricist behind iconic 1980s pop songs like Madonna’s “Like a Virgin,” Cyndi Lauper’s “True Colors,” and Heart’s “Alone,” passed away on Monday at his home in Brentwood. He was 74 years old.

His death was confirmed by his lawyer, Laurie Soriano, who said the cause was cancer.

Born and raised in Palm Springs, Steinberg started his career helping with his father’s grape farm. He first pursued music as a performer, playing with bands like Billy Thermal and i-Ten – the latter of which he co-founded with songwriter Tom Kelly. Together, they wrote the hit song “Like a Virgin,” which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and stayed there for six weeks in late 1984 and early 1985.

Working with Kelly, Steinberg co-wrote four additional songs that reached number one on the Hot 100 chart: “True Colors,” Whitney Houston’s “So Emotional,” the Bangles’ “Eternal Flame,” and “Alone.”

Steinberg also wrote or co-wrote other popular songs like “I’ll Stand by You” by the Pretenders, and “I Touch Myself” and “I Drove All Night” by the Divinyls—the latter of which was also famously recorded by Cyndi Lauper and Roy Orbison.

Walter Afanasieff, known as Steinberg, received a Grammy Award in 1997 for his contribution to Celine Dion’s album “Falling Into You,” which won Album of the Year. In 2011, he was honored with induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He is survived by his wife, Trina, and their sons, Ezra and Max.

This obituary will be updated.

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2026-02-17 00:01