Hal Willner, to many music fans known as the true artist of tribute albums, was also a renowned producer and longtime staffer of 'Saturday Night Live.' Tributes from well-known names in music have been pouring in.
A single mind that actually kicked the whole musical tribute concept into fifth gear - Hal Willner, the 62-year old producer/arranger/composer/event manager. Now, Willner did not invent the tribute concept, but Amarcord Nino Rota, from 1981, the first tribute album he conceived and produced practically started the musical tribute process.