Joseph Brooks, 'You Light Up My Life' Songwriter, Found Dead in Apparent Suicide

By PopEater Staff Posted May 22nd 2011 04:08PM

Joseph Brooks, the Oscar-winning songwriter awaiting trial on sex crime charges, was found dead Sunday of an apparent suicide in his New York City apartment, police say. The 'You Light Up My Life' songwriter, 73, pleaded not guilty to rape, sexual abuse and other charges in 2009.

A police spokesman told reporters that at around 12:30 p.m., a friend found Brooks at his home with a plastic dry-cleaning bag around his head and a towel wrapped around his neck. A helium tank was nearby with a tube connecting it with the bag.

The friend, whose name has not been released, was at the Upper East Side apartment because the two had planned a lunch. The rep, Paul Browne, said an autopsy must be conducted before a cause of death can be determined.

A suicide note was found but its contents have not been revealed.

The composer (most famous for his 1977 Debby Boone hit 'You Light Up My Life,' which won an Academy Award and a Grammy) was charged in 2009 with 82 counts of sexual assault, and is currently awaiting trial. Brooks allegedly solicited "auditions" from starlets on the internet, doped victims with date-rape drugs and assaulted them.

His trial date had not been set and his lawyer and prosecutors have not commented on his death.

In another sad twist, Brooks' son Nicholas was arrested last year on murder charges in the death of 33-year-old Sylvie Cachay -- the swimwear designer he was dating until they broke up not long before. He is awaiting trial.

Debby Boone, 'You Light Up My Life':

Tags: Joseph Brooks

Comments

(117)

Sunday 22 May

By JEB BUCKINGHAM

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I despise rapists and child-molesters. His death lights up my life.

By nanny

he should have done it BEFORE he wrote that song

By Johnny !

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You are a true Christian.

By Al Schrader

Debbie and I were both born in 1956 (not related). In 1977 she was one of the most beautiful women on earth (she's not too bad today, too). That was an incredible time. There was lots of gas. I was drag racing my Plymouth Duster on weekends. Nobody would touch the US, nobody. Her "light-up my life" song was icing on the cake. A very special lady...Alfred-

Monday 23 May

By stu

shhhhhh.. Debbie Boone killed him.. shhhhhhhhhhh

By dgrete

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By Jim

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Maybe I'm mistaken but isn't this country still a democracy and a humane just society? You're innocent until proven guilty so I thought?

By drrntod

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Apparently you either know much more about the case or have already convicted the man based upon the evidence you read in this article. You are a person who believes in justice. -As it was administered in the dark ages. Pack your bags and move to Afghanistan.

By zhanbzh

I love reading this , So does My boyfriend .he is almost 11year older than me .i met him via agelessc'upid.c'om a nice place for seeking age le ss love.which gives you a chance to make your life better and open opportunities for you to meet the attractive young girls and treat you like a king. Maybe you wanna check it out or tell your friends.. DD

By mariah

Me too! People act like if you are talented , you cannot be a criminal

By ann

Sad.. his art gift cannot be denied; he is not to be judged by us. RIP

By JustSaying

No, he can't be judged by us. He took away that opportunity by killing himself before he could go on trial before a jury of his peers.

By winfl55

Wrong. We can judge him, as we judge people everyday. RIH you pervert. Hmmm...feel better.

By E- NUF

BS.

By marvnwebster

Are you for real? Can't be judged by us? What planet are you currently residing on smoking crack and uttering ignorant statements??

By rpdanko

If he had gone to trial, what jury would have believed that this unbelievably handsome, not-the-least-bit-creepy-looking guy needed anything beyond his beauty to attract a woman?

By Steve

Rape and other sexual crimes are not based on looks and romantic interludes, you dolt!

By Boetica

@Steve: Sad that some people cannot recognize and appreciate sarcasm.

By Sin D Fetish

Humor Steve...it is humor you dolt! I got it rpdanko.Good one.

Sarcasm? Any attempt at humor next to a story of the brutal rape of unconscious women is not only stupid, but should have never been said. I don't care what anyone thinks of me. It's not humorous, and it is NOT a "good one."

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