Andy Paley Dies: ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’ Composer, Prolific Producer Of Records, Film & TV Music Was 72
deadline.comAndy Paley, a prolific songwriter, producer and musician who collaborated with such artists as Brian Wilson, Jerry Lee Lewis, the Ramones, Madonna, Elton John, Patti Smith and Deborah Harry and composed the scores for SpongeBob SquarePants and other TV shows, died Wednesday of cancer.
He was 72. “We are saddened to learn of the passing of Brian’s friend and collaborator, Andy Paley,” a post on Brian Wilson’s official Facebook page reads. “Andy was literally instrumental in Brian starting his solo career with his critically acclaimed 1988 album, Brian Wilson.
Andy played electric and acoustic guitars, bass, drums, percussion, keyboards, harmonica, and provided backing vocals. He co-wrote three of the songs, including ‘Rio Grande.’ Andy collaborated again with Brian on the legendary, unreleased Wilson-Paley Sessions, counting more than twenty songs.
Brian always called him ‘The Genius Andy Paley.’ Love and mercy goes out to Andy’s family and friends.” Born Andrew Douglas Paley on November 2, 1952, in Washington, D.C., Paley launched his music career in the mid-1970s as a member of the rock band Catfish Black, a group that played clubs in Boston, Albany and New York City, recording an album produced by Patti Smith guitarist Lenny Kaye.
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