Cynthia Weil Dies Walking In The Rain by Jay & The Americans

Written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, Jay And The Americans performed Walkin' In The Rain in 1969. The group's single reached number 19 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and 8 on the Adult Contemporary chart in 1969.

Grammy-winning songwriter Cynthia Weil has died, her daughter Jenn Mann confirmed Friday, June 2, 2023. She was 82.

On Friday, the Associated Press and TMZ reported that the Songwriters Hall of Fame member, who earned success throughout her career both on her own and alongside husband and writing partner Barry Mann, died on Thursday.

"My mother, Cynthia Weil, was the greatest mother, grandmother and wife our family could ever ask for," said Jenn, per TMZ. "She was my best friend, confidant, and my partner in crime and an idol and trailblazer for women in music."

Mann declined to cite a cause of death to the AP.

Born Oct. 18, 1940, in New York City, Weil grew up preparing for a career as an actress and dancer before realizing her songwriting ability was strong enough to be pursued as a profession. As a young adult, she began collaborating with Barry, whom she married in 1961, and the pair wrote together at the famous Brill Building in N.Y.C.

Throughout the 1960s, they wrote hit songs including Paul Peterson's "My Dad," Eydie Gorme's "Blame It on the Bossa Nova," The Drifters' "On Broadway" (which was later covered by George Benson), The Righteous Brothers' "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" and "(You're My) Soul and Inspiration" as well as Paul Revere & the Raiders' "Kicks" and "Hungry," among others.

Other successful songs penned by the pair include Dolly Parton's "Here You Come Again," Dionne Warwick's "Never Gonna Let You Go," Bette Midler's "All I Need to Know," Linda Ronstadt & James Ingram's "Somewhere Out There" and Hanson's "I Will Come to You."

Aside from her work with Barry, Weil also penned famous songs including The Pointer Sisters' "He's So Shy," Barry Manilow's "Somewhere Down the Road," Carole King's "One to One," Lionel Richie's "Running Through the Night," Julio Iglesias & Diana Ross' "All of You," Chaka Khan's "Through the Fire" (which was later sampled by Kanye West for "Through the Wire"), Richie's "Love Will Conquer All," Vanessa Williams' "Just for Tonight" and Martina McBride's "Wrong Again." Source: People

Jay & The Americans' most successful line-up is Jay Black, Sandy Deane, Howard Kane, Marty Sanders, and Kenny Vance. The original "Jay" was Jay Traynor (1960-1962). They remain musically active today with lead vocals by the third Jay Reincke.