Andrew Gold, Musician, Singer Songwriter of Hit Songs and Theme for The Golden Girls
Gold played with some of the biggest names in music on the 1970s and 1980s, including a stint in Linda Ronstadt's band at the height of her career.
Andrew Gold, a musician, singer and songwriter famous for 1970s hits "Lonely Boy" and "Thank You for Being a Friend," which was used as the theme music for the hit television comedy The Golden Girls, died June 3, 2011, in Los Angeles.
According to news reports, the cause was a heart attack. At the time, he had been undergoing treatment for cancer.
Gold, a respected session musician, was a longtime member of Linda Ronstadt’s band in the 1970s.
A multi-instrumentalist, he played, among others, the guitar, piano and drums.
As a session musician, he played with such artists as James Taylor and Carly Simon. Others he played with or produced included Cher, Brian Wilson, Don Henley, Celine Dion and members of the Beatles.
Gold was born into a musical family. His father, Ernest Gold, won an Oscar for the score of 1960 film Exodus, and his mother, Marni Nixon, was a singer who provided vocals for Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady, among others.
He had his own bands, including Bryndle and Wax U.K. As a solo artist he had his greatest success with "Lonely Boy," which reached #7 on the recording charts in 1977. A year later he reached #25 with "Thank You for Being a Friend," which continues to be heard today as the theme song for The Golden Girls.
Aside from Garfunkel, Gold also worked with or produced music for artists including Cher, Brian Wilson, Don Henley, Celine Dion and members of the Beatles.
He is survived by his wife and three daughters.