Los Angeles Times

Allee Willis, award-winning songwriter who co-wrote 'Friends' theme, dead at 72

Musical collaborators, friends and fans took to social media on Christmas Day to pay homage to songwriter Allee Willis, who wrote or co-wrote such hits as Earth, Wind & Fire's party anthem "September," the Pointer Sisters' "The Neutron Dance" and the Emmy-nominated theme to the long-running TV series "Friends," aka "I'll Be There for You," after news surfaced that she had died on Christmas Eve at 72.

The cause of death was cardiac arrest, according to her publicist.

"Allee Willis was a one-of-a-kind creative genius," Earth, Wind & Fire tweeted on Wednesday. "Her love, spirit and artistry are forever woven into

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