Hal Wilner was a true forward thinker, a champion of the strange and a brilliant producer with a knack for unusual musical combinations and collaborations. Tributes have been pouring in since news of his death from coronavirus compilcations hit earlier today, including many from the world of Saturday Night Live, where he had been sketch music producer since 1981, and also from the music world. Read tributes from Sonic Youth, Julia Louis Dreyfus, Van Dyke Parks, Adam Sandler, John Mulaney, Beth Orton, Ben Stiller, Judd Apatow, Sean Ono Lennon, R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe, The dB’s Peter Holsappel, Tim Heidecker, Nels Cline, Living Colour’s Vernon Reid, Paula Pell, and more, below.
Besides being a magical and wonderful human being, @WillnerHal was the first person to put SY on national tv on his Night Music show back in 1989. He will be missed.https://t.co/VFayCrJgRh
— Sonic Youth (@thesonicyouth) April 7, 2020
Hal Willner 1956 – 2020
With heavy heart, we lost a great champion and friend today in Hal Willner, Hal was truly one of the greatest music lovers and supporters I have ever met and a dear colleague and friend.
-Michael pic.twitter.com/K6bX2De3Em— R.E.M. HQ (@remhq) April 7, 2020
https://twitter.com/thevandykeparks/status/1247626879449751552
https://twitter.com/OfficialJLD/status/1247622662572011520
And RIP the wonderful Hal Willner, from Covid. I was a fan from the Stay Awake album on. I saw him last speaking at Lou Reed's memorial at the Apollo. Shit. https://t.co/GQI6txWjGr
— Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) April 8, 2020
RIP HAL WILLNER. An incredible person who so many of us will miss. Love u pal. pic.twitter.com/SB1G45x0dp
— Adam Sandler (@AdamSandler) April 7, 2020
At SNL you would rush in a panic to Hal Willner's booth to go through a music cue & then not want to leave. Too much fun, too many great stories & the only calm person in the building. He also treasured originality & embodied the spirit of the original SNLhttps://t.co/Cuz5uKE3Am
— Triumph® ᴛʜᴇ ɪɴsᴜʟᴛ ᴄᴏᴍɪᴄ ᴅᴏɢ™ Headquarters💩 (@TriumphICDHQ) April 7, 2020
Hal Willner. Another life is claimed by this hideous and mysterious coronavirus, Covid-19…https://t.co/yKXpGcRbrR pic.twitter.com/5nZ8sKWbNB
— Nels Cline (@nelscline) April 7, 2020
Adam, I’m so terribly sorry for your loss. For OUR loss! Hal Willner was one of a small handful of the great archivers, & contextualizers of REAL Americana. Out Where The Buses Don’t Run & the train tracks end. Where sharecroppers & shtetl immigrants, & chain gang escapees JAM. https://t.co/dSxTvqG2G1
— Vernon Reid (@vurnt22) April 7, 2020
I'm so sad to hear of Hal's passing. He was a great producer and I had the pleasure of working with him on the T.Rex tribute album. Sending love to his friends and family. The music industry has lost an incredible member of our community.https://t.co/Uip09uiSLa
— Joan Jett & the Blackhearts (@joanjett) April 7, 2020
He was a friend and he was a teacher.
When he brought us into his world…it made ours make way more sense amongst creating. Thank you, Hal. We are all so grateful for everything that you introduced to the community with your extremely massive heart and joyous brain. https://t.co/he7Tq9z0Lz— Broken Social Scene (@bssmusic) April 7, 2020
Me and Hal Willner 2009. Photo by Jason Sudeikis pic.twitter.com/pjvh01wEvA
— John Mulaney (@mulaney) April 8, 2020
Hal Willner was one a kind. None there are none of that kind. RIP, Hal.
— Michael McKean (@MJMcKean) April 7, 2020
Hal was a part of so much of the music and pop culture comedy we have all enjoyed for years. He was kind and extremely cool. So sorry to hear this. Sending love to his family. https://t.co/UdecryPuEx
— Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) April 7, 2020
https://www.instagram.com/p/B-scp7qHTBc/
Never talked to Hal without learning something. A great man is gone. #Covid19isaCunt
Music producer and SNL veteran Hal Willner has died at age 64 https://t.co/CRmfLs9r0H— Dave Foley (@DaveSFoley) April 7, 2020
https://twitter.com/PeterHolsapple/status/1247636023494021120
Oh, such sad news today. Hal was a true original, and a sweetheart of a guy. 💔 https://t.co/DKTduY4mXb
— Rachel Dratch (@TheRealDratch) April 8, 2020
https://twitter.com/perlapell/status/1247618079825096704
https://twitter.com/JuddApatow/status/1247637855515463680
The amazingly talented, innovative, eclectic & visionary music producer Hal Willner passed today. A true artist, a lover of music, a devoted father, a good friend & an angel in my life when I really needed one. Hal helped me find the light in the darkness. Devastated by this news
— Tim Robbins (@TimRobbins1) April 7, 2020
https://twitter.com/theheavyjamz/status/1247612933045202944
https://twitter.com/jormataccone/status/1247622697938571265
https://twitter.com/juliothesquare/status/1247892971254497285
Hal was one of a kind. I knew him for many years. I'm devastated.https://t.co/7woDCrOGxV
— Michael Azerrad (@michaelazerrad) April 7, 2020
https://twitter.com/timheidecker/status/1247614285049548800
https://twitter.com/petrahaden/status/1247602284642463744
https://twitter.com/imchriskelly/status/1247611034799460353
Hal Willner R.I.P. All I can say is thanks for everything. Will miss you friend. https://t.co/iV9RtSwfN1
— Seán Ono Lennon (@seanonolennon) April 7, 2020
Literally irreplaceable. I’m not ready to list all the ways he was wonderful yet, but he just made everything special and better. I love Hal Willner so much. This is the worst.https://t.co/1CC8u2fTOw
— Anna Drezen (@annadrezen) April 7, 2020
https://twitter.com/moceanworker/status/1247604889519149056
I loved you, hipster. A truly unheralded genius. https://t.co/RiLR7qtIif
— Richard Lewis (@TheRichardLewis) April 7, 2020
My friend Hal passed away due to the coronavirus. He was a mad genius. He loved everything weird. He always made me feel good in an environment where it was sometimes hard to feel good about yourself. I really love him. I love you Hal. https://t.co/y1ocQIKo6Q
— Taran Killam (@TaranKillam) April 7, 2020
RIP#HalWillner https://t.co/L25rckY1L1
— Kurt Loder (@kurt_loder) April 7, 2020
Saddened by the passing of Hal Willner, great guy and major talent (pictured here with his Toronto pal Kevin Drew). pic.twitter.com/kmlWAuYwNO
— Michael Hollett (@m_hollett) April 7, 2020
RIP, Hal Willner. Thank you. https://t.co/u2huKQCh7O
— Nonesuch Records (@NonesuchRecords) April 7, 2020
https://twitter.com/GhostPanther/status/1247724651842646019
https://www.instagram.com/p/B-sXBs9A7dF/