The music world lost a great songwriter, musician, singer and extraordinary friend when Andrew Gold passed away during the early morning of June 3 after suffering a heart attack at the far-too-young age of 59. And for those of us who grew up with his songs as part of our life’s soundtrack, it’s another little piece of our past that we have to achingly let go of.

Andrew was born in Burbank, California on August 2, 1951 to composer Ernest Gold and actress and singer Marni Nixon—which was always a fun bit of trivia to throw out at a party. (Ernest wrote over 100 film and TV scores including ones for It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World, On the Beach and Fun with Dick and Jane. Marni was the singing voice behind such actresses as Deborah Kerr in The King and I, Natalie Wood in West Side Story and Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady.)

Gold’s first band was Bryndle, formed with his L.A. friends and songwriters Wendy Waldman, Karla Bonoff and Kenny Edwards—who died last August and whose loss we’re still grieving. After Bryndle, he played on several of Linda Ronstadt’s albums and then launched his solo career garnering a 1977 hit with “Lonely Boy” and 1978’s “Thank You For Being a Friend” (which almost a decade later became the theme song for The Golden Girls). He also sang “The Final Frontier” which was the theme song for Mad About You, and, appropriately, was the wake-up call aboard the Mars Pathfinder in 1996.

Of course this little list of facts and accomplishments is the mere tip of who Andrew Gold was. He was also a father to three daughters, a husband, a brother, a son, and a dear friend to so many. Our thoughts, prayers and hearts go out to all who are left to grieve his loss. And our gratitude goes out to Andrew for a lifetime of songs and music he’s given us to enjoy. Godspeed, Andrew. Well done, sir.

—Lydia Hutchinson

Category: In Case You Haven't Heard