Allee Willis

Bio

Allee Willis was a Detroit-born, Motown-bred musical being. Although she never learned to “properly” play, read, or write music, the songs she helped bring into the universe sold over 60 million records, including “September” and “Boogie Wonderland” by Earth, Wind & Fire, “I’ll Be There For You” a.k.a. the Friends’ theme song, “Neutron Dance” by the Pointer Sisters, “What Have I Done to Deserve This?” for the Pet Shop Boys, and hundreds more. The Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee pulled from something deeper than structure and form when making music—she amplified humanity by channeling soul into sound. A true polymath, Willis expressed her creative energy through wholly unique and often wildly off-the-wall expressions in diverse fields—all of which merged when it came time to throw one of her famous parties. She bolstered others and built community every step of the way. This interview was conducted at Willis Wonderland, her bubblegum pink, kitsch-filled Los Angeles home, in late 2019, just weeks before her untimely passing.