Celebrities

Legendary Hitmaker Behind Cry Me a River Dies at 98

Published on June 8, 2025

If you’ve ever hummed along to Cry Me a River, you’ve got Arthur Hamilton to thank. The legendary songwriter behind that timeless classic has died at the age of 98, as announced earlier this week by ASCAP and the Society of Composers and Lyricists, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Hamilton’s career was pure gold for music and film fans alike. Not only did he give us Cry Me a River—later made iconic by Julie London—he also wrote a string of other memorable songs, like Sing a Rainbow and He Needs Me. His ballads oozed emotion, a signature style that earned him both an Oscar nod and multiple Emmy nominations over the years.

While Hamilton is mostly remembered for his evocative lyrics, his work on the 1970 Western Madron got the attention of the Academy. He teamed up with composer Riz Ortolani to write Till Love Touches Your Life, performed by Richard Williams and Jan Daley for the film starring Richard Boone and Leslie Caron. The song scored an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song, cementing his place in film music history.

But it was Cry Me a River that truly sealed his legacy. Originally recorded by Ella Fitzgerald for a film, the song never actually made it into the final cut. Lucky for us, Julie London gave it a second life when she included it on her 1955 debut album Julie Is Her Name. Her sultry performance struck a chord with listeners, and the song shot up to No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100. It’s since become one of the most beloved torch songs of all time.

There’s a little behind-the-scenes Hollywood twist to the story too. Julie London was once married to Jack Webb, the star and director of Pete Kelly’s Blues—another project Hamilton contributed to, writing He Needs Me and Sing a Rainbow. It turns out London and Hamilton went way back. They actually went to the same Hollywood Professional School and even attended senior prom together. Talk about a full-circle moment.

Hamilton didn’t stop impressing audiences after his Oscar recognition. Decades later, he earned Emmy nominations in 1993 and 1994. The first was for Good Things from the TV movie Blind Spot, and the second was for Something Is Out There from The Corpse Has a Familiar Face. His ability to shift between styles and decades while still hitting emotional high notes shows just how versatile and enduring his talent was.

Arthur Hamilton might not have been a household name for everyone, but his music has certainly touched millions. His lyrics and melodies have become part of the emotional backdrop to love stories, heartbreaks, and cinematic memories across generations.

His death marks the end of a remarkable life, but the songs he left behind aren’t going anywhere. They’ll keep playing, just like they always have, finding new listeners to move and inspire.

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