Elliot A. Willensky (August 6, 1943 – March 29, 2010) was an American composer, lyricist and music producer.
He wrote Michael Jackson's first solo hit "Got to Be There" and the Jermaine Jackson/Whitney Houston duet "If You Say My Eyes Are Beautiful.
He attended Bayonne High School and graduated from Boston University with a degree in biology.
[1] Arguably Willensky's most well-known work is "Got to Be There," which was Michael Jackson's first solo hit and reached number 4 on the R&B singles chart in 1971.
The song has also been covered by The Miracles in 1972, Boyz II Men in 2007, and an instrumental version by jazz guitarist/singer George Benson in 1993.