Will Jennings

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Will Jennings (born 1944 in Texas) is a prolific and highly successful American songwriter.

Born Wilbur Jennings, he has written songs for a number of motion picture soundtracks and numerous popular singers including Steve Winwood, Roy Orbison, Joe Cocker, Eric Clapton, and Céline Dion. He has received the following major awards:

• Academy Award (1997), Golden Globe Award (1997), Grammy Award for writing the song:

"My Heart Will Go On" performed by Céline Dion for the Motion Picture Titanic.

• Golden Globe Award (1991) for writing the lyrics for "Tears In Heaven" by Eric Clapton for the film "Rush" and also in 1991 for writing the song "Dreams To Dream" for the motion picture "An American Tail: Fievel Goes West".
• Academy Award (1983), Golden Globe Award (1983) along with Jack Nitzsche and Buffy Sainte-Marie for writing the song:

"Up Where We Belong" performed by Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes from the motion picture An Officer and a Gentleman.

• Grammy Award (1993) — "Tears In Heaven" (shared with Eric Clapton)
• Grammy Award (nomination) (1986) — "Higher Love"
• Grammy Award (1982) — "I'll Never Love This Way Again"
• Academy Award (nomination) (1980) — for writing the song "People Alone" for the motion picture The Competition.

Legend has it that Jennings got his big break while playing his "last gig" in Nashville. A starving songwriter, ready to go back to Texas, he was trying to auction his PA system when a member of the audience who worked for BMI approached him with an offer.