Published on March 4th, 2021 | by Darren Paltrowitz
0Stacy Widelitz On Writing A “Dirty Dancing” Staple With Patrick Swayze, Winger, Long Island, Jeff “Skunk” Baxter & More
Stacy Widelitz first started working steadily as a musician as a teenager based in the Long Island, New York town of Plainview. He ultimately moved to Los Angeles after penning his first national TV theme at the age of 24 for The Richard Simmons Show. Once based in L.A., he would make a new friend named Patrick Swayze with whom he co-wrote the song “She’s Like The Wind.” The track, as sung by Swayze, wound up on the best-selling Dirty Dancing soundtrack and would lead to Widelitz becoming in an in-demand composer, songwriter, arranger and pianist for film and television for decades to follow.
Since relocated to Nashville, Stacy Widelitz has remained busy within the musical world, but not just as a writer and performer. He got involved in the broader arts community and local government, and in 2016, he ran for office. Widelitz served 4 years as Commissioner in the City of Oak Hill, Tennessee. Furthermore, he has served as Board President of the Nashville Film Festival, ALIAS Chamber Ensemble, Leadership Music and Nashville Opera, and is currently President of Nashville Opera Guild. In recent years, Widelitz has also found success (and proper representation) as a photographer.
On March 4, 2021, I had the pleasure of interviewing Stacy Widelitz via Zoom, as embedded below. Our conversation began with discussion about his Long Island roots — which interestingly included comedy writer Gary Apple and Winger drummer Rod Morgenstein — and eventually moved along to all facets of his career. More on Widelitz can be found online at www.stacywidelitz.com, www.instagram.com/stacywidelitz and www.theartscompany.com/stacy-widelitz.