Lou Reed producer Hal Willner dies aged 64
Music and television producer Hal Willner has died at the age of 64.
He is said to have passed away after suffering complications related to the coronavirus. An official cause of death has not been established at the time of writing.
The news was confirmed by Variety earlier this evening (April 7). Late last month (March 28) Willner posted a map depicting COVID-19 cases across the United States, with New York seen as the virus’ epicentre.
I always wanted to have a number one – but not this . Pure Arch Oboler with Serling added . In bed on upper west side . H pic.twitter.com/zEqZmqmlWk
— Hal Willner (@WillnerHal) March 28, 2020
“I always wanted to have a number one – but not this,” he wrote”, adding that he was “in bed on the upper west side” of New York City at the time.
Earlier tonight, Willner’s friend Penny Arcade posted a message of tribute on Facebook. “Oh no! Not Hal……. Ladies and gentleman Hal Wilner has left the auditorium,” she wrote.
You can see that post below.
Oh no! Not Hal…….Ladies and gentleman Hal Wilner has left the auditorium
Posted by Penny Arcade on Tuesday, April 7, 2020
Willner, who was born in Philadelphia, helmed albums from the likes of Lou Reed and Marianne Faithfull during his career. He worked on the former’s final major studio release ‘Ecstasy’, which came out in 2000.
He was also a long-time sketch music producer for Saturday Night Live, having first joined the hit variety show back in 1980.
