A MUSIC producer who worked alongside A-list celebs and wrote tunes for SpongeBob Squarepants has died at 72.
Veteran composer Andy Paley died following a battle with cancer.
His music career spanned decades, and he worked with iconic names such as Elton John and Madonna.
His representative confirmed news of his death to Variety.
Paley, who was born in upstate New York, was a producer at Sire Records and also collaborated with Brian Wilson, who co-founded The Beach Boys, and Jerry Lee Lewis.
He was one-half of the 1970s duo of the Paley Brothers with his sibling Jonathan.
The siblings were signed by Sire at the same time the label took on groups such as The Ramones, as reported by The Daily Gazette.
“We were kind of promoted in a bubble-gum way but at the same time, we were jamming with Patti Smith and we made a record with the Ramones,” Paley told the outlet in 2020.
“We were all over the place. But then my brother and I decided to go our separate ways.”
The producer later wrote music for SpongeBob Squarepants and other animated programs such as The Ren & Stimpy Show.
Tributes have been paid to Paley following his death.
Wilson described Paley as a “genius.”
The singer described Paley as the “most frighteningly talented person that I’ve met.”
Marc Nathan, a former vice president of Sire Records, also paid a glowing tribute.
“I am so sad that Andy is leaving us, but I have no doubt that when he is received in the perceived “rock ‘n’ roll heaven“ he will be orchestrating, producing, writing, and singing, like the angel he has been to so many!” he said.
“I love you, my friend, and I will miss you until I see you again.
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“Perhaps with that second chance to promote you until you reach the top of the charts.”
Tom Kenny, who voices SpongeBob, hailed Paley for his astuteness.
“My friendship with Andy and our collaboration — writing songs and my fronting the band that he formed — is one of the greatest true joys I’ve ever experienced,” he said.
“He possessed not only encyclopedic knowledge of all pop music — especially rock ‘n’ roll and girl group — but was also astoundingly astute when it came to art and literature.”
Before writing songs for SpongeBob, Paley worked alongside Madonna on the song I’m Going Bananas which appeared in the 1990 movie Dick Tracy.
He also collaborated with Elton John on the 2001 album Good Rockin’ Tonight: The Legacy of Sun Records.
The set was released as a tribute to the 50th anniversary of Sun Records.
Paley also composed tunes for TV series such as The L Word and the kids adventure cartoon Camp Lazlo, according to his IMDB.
He leaves behind his wife Heather, who he married in 2010, and their two sons.
