Elliot Willensky
- August 6, 1943
- March 29, 2010
- 66 years
- stroke
About Elliot Willensky
Elliot Willensky, 66, American songwriter, stroke.
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Full Biography
|Elliot A. Willensky (August 6, 1943 – March 29, 2010) was an American composer, lyricist and music producer. He wrote Michael Jackson's first solo hit "Got to Be There" and the Jermaine Jackson/Whitney Houston duet "If You Say My Eyes Are Beautiful." Willensky composed the music for the 1999 off-Broadway musical Abby's Song and served as the music coordinator for the Tony Orlando and Dawn variety show on CBS.
Biography
He was born in Bayonne, New Jersey on August 6, 1943, to Raymond Willensky and Gertrude Berlin. He attended Bayonne High School and graduated from Boston University with a degree in biology. He undertook post-graduate studies at Boston University and the University of Massachusetts Amherst and worked as a research scientist of the National Institutes of Health. Willensky left the scientific field to become a songwriter in 1969.
Arguably Willensky's most well-known work is "Got to Be There," which was Michael Jackson's first solo hit and reached number 4 on the R&B singles chart in 1971. The song reached number 5 on the R&B chart again in 1983 when it was covered by Chaka Khan. The song has also been covered by The Miracles in 1972, Boyz II Men in 2007, and an instrumental version by jazz guitarist/singer George Benson in 1993.
Willensky continued his affiliation with the Jackson family into the 1980s, writing the noted Jermaine Jackson and Whitney Houston duet, "If You Say My Eyes Are Beautiful," which appeared on Jermaine's 1986 Precious Moments album.
He died from a stroke on March 29, 2010 in Summit, New Jersey.
In 2021, a play entitled Elliot and Me, conceptualized by Elliot Willensky and his younger brother Steven Willensky, and finished after Elliot's death by Steven Willensky and Scott Coulter, debuted at the Hudson Theater Works in Weehawken, New Jersey.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elliot_Willensky
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- September 29, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Elliot Willensky's archived record and the sources above.
1.Where was Elliot Willensky born?
- A.Bayonne, New Jerseycorrect
- B.Boston, Massachusetts
- C.Amherst, Massachusetts
- D.Summit, New Jersey
Elliot Willensky was born in Bayonne, New Jersey on August 6, 1943.
Source: Biography section
2.What subject did Elliot Willensky study at Boston University?
- A.Physics
- B.Chemistry
- C.Biologycorrect
- D.Music Theory
Elliot Willensky graduated from Boston University with a degree in biology.
Source: Biography section
3.In what year did Elliot Willensky transition from scientific research to songwriting?
- A.1986
- B.1969correct
- C.1999
- D.1971
Elliot Willensky left the scientific field to become a songwriter in 1969.
Source: Biography section
4.Which artist performed Michael Jackson's hit 'Got to Be There' in 1983?
- A.Chaka Khancorrect
- B.The Miracles
- C.Boyz II Men
- D.George Benson
The song 'Got to Be There' reached number 5 on the R&B chart in 1983 when it was covered by Chaka Khan.
Source: Biography section
5.What specific health event caused the death of Elliot Willensky?
- A.Strokecorrect
- B.Heart attack
- C.Pneumonia
- D.Cancer
Elliot Willensky died from a stroke on March 29, 2010, in Summit, New Jersey.
Source: Biography section
6.Which television show featured Elliot Willensky as a music coordinator?
- A.The Ed Sullivan Show
- B.Tony Orlando and Dawncorrect
- C.Soul Train
- D.The Tonight Show
Elliot Willensky served as the music coordinator for the Tony Orlando and Dawn variety show on CBS.
Source: Introduction
7.What was the name of the 1999 off-Broadway musical for which Elliot Willensky composed the music?
- A.Got to Be There
- B.Abby's Songcorrect
- C.Elliot and Me
- D.Precious Moments
Elliot Willensky composed the music for the 1999 off-Broadway musical Abby's Song.
Source: Introduction
8.Who were the parents of Elliot Willensky?
- A.Raymond Berlin and Gertrude Willensky
- B.Raymond Willensky and Gertrude Berlincorrect
- C.Steven Willensky and Scott Coulter
- D.Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston
Elliot Willensky was born to Raymond Willensky and Gertrude Berlin.
Source: Biography section
9.At which university did Elliot Willensky perform post-graduate studies besides Boston University?
- A.Harvard University
- B.Columbia University
- C.University of Massachusetts Amherstcorrect
- D.Princeton University
Elliot Willensky undertook post-graduate studies at Boston University and the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Source: Biography section
10.What was the first solo hit written by Elliot Willensky for Michael Jackson?
- A.Abby's Song
- B.If You Say My Eyes Are Beautiful
- C.Got to Be Therecorrect
- D.Precious Moments
Elliot Willensky wrote Michael Jackson's first solo hit, Got to Be There.
Source: Introduction
11.In which city did the play 'Elliot and Me' debut in 2021?
- A.Boston
- B.Weehawkencorrect
- C.Summit
- D.Bayonne
In 2021, the play Elliot and Me debuted at the Hudson Theater Works in Weehawken, New Jersey.
Source: Biography section
12.Who collaborated with Elliot Willensky to conceptualize the play 'Elliot and Me'?
- A.Whitney Houston
- B.Steven Willenskycorrect
- C.Jermaine Jackson
- D.Scott Coulter
The play was conceptualized by Elliot Willensky and his younger brother Steven Willensky.
Source: Biography section
13.What was the professional role of Elliot Willensky at the National Institutes of Health?
- A.Music producer
- B.Research scientistcorrect
- C.Music Coordinator
- D.Songwriter
Elliot Willensky worked as a research scientist of the National Institutes of Health before becoming a songwriter.
Source: Biography section
14.Which artist pair sang the duet 'If You Say My Eyes Are Beautiful' written by Elliot Willensky?
- A.Michael Jackson and Chaka Khan
- B.George Benson and Tony Orlando
- C.Jermaine Jackson and Whitney Houstoncorrect
- D.Steven Willensky and Scott Coulter
Elliot Willensky wrote the Jermaine Jackson and Whitney Houston duet, If You Say My Eyes Are Beautiful.
Source: Biography section
15.Which jazz musician recorded an instrumental version of 'Got to Be There' in 1993?
- A.Jermaine Jackson
- B.Tony Orlando
- C.Boyz II Men
- D.George Bensoncorrect
The song Got to Be There was recorded as an instrumental version by jazz guitarist/singer George Benson in 1993.
Source: Biography section
16.Who finished the play 'Elliot and Me' after Elliot Willensky's death?
- A.The National Institutes of Health
- B.Jermaine Jackson and Whitney Houston
- C.The Hudson Theater Works
- D.Steven Willensky and Scott Coultercorrect
The play was finished after Elliot's death by Steven Willensky and Scott Coulter.
Source: Biography section
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