Hal Willner produced a various-artists collection of performances of Disney songs called Stay Awake. Harry Nilsson sings "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" on the album.
Growing up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Willner said he was "a music fan from the day I was born." He saw The Beatles perform at Convention Hall when he was eight. When I was twelve, my mother took me to see Cream at the Electric Factory." After college, Willner began working as a music producer. He became know for bringing eclectic groups of performers together for albums such as Stay Awake. In 1980, he began working on Saturday Night Live as a music adaptor and music coordinator. He continued producing albums and working on SNL until his death in 2020 due to complications caused by COVID-19.[1]
Hal Willner (April 6, 1956 – April 7, 2020) was an American music producer working in recording, films, television, and live events. He was best known for assembling tribute albums and events featuring a wide variety of artists and musical styles (jazz, classical, rock, Tin Pan Alley). Willner died during the COVID-19 pandemic from complications brought on by the virus.
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- [1] Philadelphia Daily News, Dan DeLuca (2020-04-08) "COVID Suspected in Death of Philly Producer Hal Willner, 64"