Joseph Brooks, the songwriter of the '70s smash ballad “You Light Up My Life,” was found dead from an apparent suicide at his home Sunday afternoon, NYPD Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne told CNN.
Brooks, 73, was discovered by a friend who was supposed to have lunch with the songwriter at his residence, according to police.
Brooks was near a helium tank with a tube attached into a dry cleaning bag and a towel wrapped around his head and neck, police said. Brooks left a suicide note, according to Browne.
Brooks had been charged two years ago in the alleged rapes of 11 women, according to the New York Daily News.
Separately, his son Christopher Brooks had been charged in the death of his former girlfriend, a swimsuit designer. He faced 25 years in prison.
The ballad “You Light Up My Life” was the musical centerpiece to a 1977 film of the same name. The song, performed by Kasey Cisyk in the movie, was soon recorded by Debbie Boone to tremendous acclaim and garnered the singer a Grammy for Best New Artist.
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Ouch! Run in the family.
To everyone here treating suicide so casually and essentially saying that he deserved it, you have OBVIOUSLY never suffered the painful torture of depression and being suicidal. Yes, he committed a heinous crime by raping the 11 women, however NO ONE deserves to go through the torture of feeling like there is no way out except killing themselves. Furthermore, his family doesn't deserve to go through the pain of losing someone to suicide. I've lost 2 people to suicide and trust me it's nothing like grieving someone who got into a fatal car crash or other such tragedies. It's one of the most painful and confusing things to go through. The family is left wondering what happened while most other deaths do not cause such prolonged agony. The pain of losing someone to suicide never ever goes away and frequently doesn't subside. I'm sure the family is not proud of what he did and is hopefully as appalled by it as the general public is, but they don't deserve the kind of punishment suicide brings. Additionally, some people referenced his sons appalling crimes as well. Once again, no one would possibly say that the sons actions were OK but his decisions and actions have absolutely NOTHING to do with his fathers death and certainly should NOT be used against him. Shame on those whose can't see that by acknowledging the suicide as a tragedy that no one deserves to live through (victim, family or friends) you are by no means condoning or approving of his actions!
I love religion
This is so perfect.
BTW, it's spelled "n'est pas".
That song is pretty,I heard it soo much as a kid I am tired of it though.As for as his victims maybe they will have a peace now and not be scared he cant hurt them anymore.
dont worry satan will know what to do when he arrives down there...
looks like father and son brought a lot of darkness to many peoples' lives.
@ Alan Deane:
It's not very PC to be educated.
It was a great song: Youuuuu light up myyy lifee.
where is the grammer police? oops i forgot it's sunday... they are off..
if i was going to end it... i go out like kawolski in "vanashing point"
now if i could only find a 1970 440 challenger r/t
now that's what i call a sticky situation...
Has my Hagen risen from the dead?
I assumed that we were honoring an almost unspoken truce, Whoever Is Trolling Me Now.
You need attention, don't you?
Everybody needs attention. We get it by different methods.
In 1977 I was a singer in a lounge band & got requests to sing this song 3-5 times per nite. The only other song equally popular was "Feelings," which my keyboardist covered. Both songs are schmaltzy, yet effective 70's fare, that were overexposed, to the point that people OD'd on them. I think that's why people hate them now, like disco! As far as this man killing himself, he actually took the easy way out! It would take alot more courage to face the charges against him, & I say that as a person who has some experience with the subject of suicide. Both he & his son has some serious issues with violent tendencies toward women. I can understand his choice to end it all, instead of facing the "music"& dealing with the punishment he'd no doubt have recieved at the hands of his fellow convicts, on a daily basis in prison. As far as considering that he might be innocent, he was about11 women removed from that possibility!