Allee Willis

Alta Sherral “Allee” Willis (November 10, 1947 – December 24, 2019) was an American songwriter and art director. Willis co-wrote hit songs including “September” and “Boogie Wonderland” by Earth, Wind & Fire and “What Have I Done to Deserve This?” by Pet Shop Boys featuring Dusty Springfield. She won two Grammy Awards for Beverly Hills Cop and The Color Purple, the latter of which was also nominated for a Tony Award. She was also nominated for an Emmy Award for “I’ll Be There for You”, which was used as the theme song for the sitcom Friends. Her compositions sold over 60 million records and she was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2018. In June 2024, Willis was also inducted posthumously into the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame. Early life Willis was born and grew up in Detroit, Michigan, where she attended Mumford High School. She attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison as a journalism major, was a member of the Sigma Delta Tau sorority and later became an activist, “marching and demonstrating” during the 60s. Willis also wrote songs for artists including Debby Boone, Rita Coolidge, Crystal Gayle, Sister Sledge, Jennifer Holliday, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Cyndi La