In addition to losing John Prine yesterday to Covid-19, we lost another less well known but also wonderful musical figure. Hall Willner played an integral role in guiding the music segments on Saturday Night Live. 

He also produced a number of projects, including some that would only end up on the radar of someone with his wide ranging and eclectic musical interests. His 1984 tribute to Thelonious Monk included Peter Frampton. Michael Stipe and Ringo Starr were among the artists featured on his 1988 collection saluting the music of classic Disney films. Vernon Reid, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Henry Rollins, Leonard Cohen, and Elvis Costello contributed material to his 1992 Meditations on (Charles) Mingus.  Bono and Van Dyke Parks appear on his 2006 double CD Rogue's Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs and Chanteys.

Willner also produced a number of live performance tributes involving Randy Newman, Neil Young, Bill Withers, Lou Reed, Allen Ginsberg, the Firesign Theatre, and served as the music coordinator or producer on movies that include Finding Forester, Gangs of New York and Talladega Nights.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus noted his passing by writing, "Absolutely devastated to get this news about my weird and lovely pal, Hal. We are heartbroken."