Famous local composer & producer passes away

A famous producer, composer, Oscar nominee, and Coachella Valley resident passed away at the age of 74 on Thursday.

The death of Michael William Masser was announced Friday by officials with the Palm Springs Walk of Stars. However, they didn’t elaborate on the exact cause of his death.

Masser wrote a lengthy list of hit songs for artists including Diana Ross, Whitney Houston and Gladys Knight.

According to the release, Masser’s first major composition hit, co-written with Ron Miller, was “Touch Me in the Morning”, recorded by Diana Ross. He co-wrote several other hit songs in the 1970s and 1980s, including four made famous by Whitney Houston, “Greatest Love of All”, “Didn’t We Almost Have It All”, “Saving All My Love for You” and “All At Once”.

His other hit songs include “Hold Me” (Teddy Pendergrass and Whitney Houston), “Tonight, I Celebrate My Love” (Roberta Flack and Peabo Bryson), “If Ever You’re in My Arms Again” (Peabo Bryson), “In Your Eyes” (Jeffrey Osborne, George Benson), “Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love for You” (George Benson, Glenn Medeiros), “Miss You Like Crazy” (Natalie Cole) and “Someone That I Used To Love” (Natalie Cole), “The Greatest Love of All” (George Benson), “So Sad the Song” (Teddy Pendergrass, Gladys Knight), and “It’s My Turn” and “Last Time I Saw Him” (Diana Ross).

A country cover of “Last Time I Saw Him” by Dottie West also became a hit, peaking at #8 on the country charts. Michael Masser was nominated for an Academy Award in 1976 for Best Music, Original Song, for “Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You’re Going To),” which he wrote with Gerry Goffin. The song had actually been first recorded (also in 1975) by fellow Motown label mate Thelma Houston as a planned single, but, was pulled before release. Diana Ross’ version was released as the theme song for her 1975 film, Mahogany. Among the many recordings that he has produced are Barbra Streisand’s “Someone That I Used to Love” (originally a hit for Natalie Cole) and the duet by Judy Collins and T. G. Sheppard, “Home Again”, officials said.

Masser was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2007.

“We are very sad at the passing of such a wonderful man like Michael Masser and our heartfelt thoughts go out to his family and friends.” said Bob Alexander, President of the Palm Springs Walk of Stars.

Masser was honored with the 229th star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars back in December, 2002. His star is located at 155 South Palm Canyon Drive.

The Palm Springs Walk of Stars, founded in 1992, has honored 385 individuals with a Golden Palm Star placed on the sidewalks of Palm Springs. According to officials, show business honorees must have made an impact worldwide in the area of show business. All other star honorees must have contributed to the charm, worldwide prominence and name recognition of Greater Palm Springs.