The year was 1983, and an actor friend’s invitation to accompany him on piano for a scene at The Beverly Hills Playhouse unexpectedly set in motion a series of events that would forever link my name with a Patrick Swayze Song. This wasn’t just any tune; it was “She’s Like the Wind,” a ballad that would resonate with millions worldwide. Following the scene performance, a lively discussion about musical theater ensued with the teacher and the sixty-five students in attendance. During the break, a student approached me, introducing himself as Buddy. He complimented my piano playing and my contributions to the theatrical discussion. There was something undeniably familiar about him, and I mentioned it. He inquired if I had seen “The Outsiders,” and then “The Renegades,” but I hadn’t. A hint of annoyance flickered across his face as he listed other works I was unfamiliar with. Just then, a striking blonde woman joined him, and he introduced her as his wife, Lisa. Suddenly, it clicked. “I know you,” I exclaimed, “You two are always working on a black 240Z on La Jolla Avenue on weekends!” They were surprised I knew, and I explained that I lived just around the corner. Buddy, as I now realized, was none other than Patrick Swayze.
At the time, I shared an apartment with my girlfriend, Wendy Fraser, a remarkably talented singer. The four of us began spending time together, bonding over conversations about music, dance, and acting, forging a close friendship. In 1984, Patrick landed a significant role in the movie “Grandview, USA,” alongside Jamie Leigh Curtis and C. Thomas Howell. One afternoon, he called me with an exciting proposition. The film was seeking original songs, and he had some lyrical and musical ideas but felt stuck. Knowing Wendy and I wrote music for television and aware of his own musicality – he played guitar and had been in “Grease” on Broadway – he asked if I’d collaborate. That evening, he arrived with his guitar and played me his initial concept. It consisted of just two chords repeated, indicating a need for musical development. However, his opening lines immediately captivated me: “She’s like the wind through my tree, she rides the night next to me.” The subsequent lines, however, didn’t resonate with me, and I voiced my opinion. He became slightly defensive, prompting him to ask, “Well, what would you suggest?” After a moment’s thought, I offered, “She leads me through moonlight, only to burn me with the sun.” He looked puzzled and questioned the meaning. I simply replied, “Don’t worry about it, just write it down.” And with that, our songwriting journey for this Patrick Swayze song began.
Over a few days, we refined the song, eventually arriving at a version we both were enthusiastic about, particularly recognizing the strong hook and title in “She’s Like the Wind.” We created a demo – I programmed the instrumental tracks, brought in a guitarist, Patrick sang the lead vocals, and Wendy added harmonies and a brief duet at the end. Despite our efforts, the song wasn’t selected for “Grandview, USA.” In retrospect, this rejection proved to be a fortunate turn of events for this future Patrick Swayze song.
The demo remained shelved for a couple of years. Patrick’s career ascended with the TV mini-series “North and South,” catapulting him to widespread fame. He and Lisa purchased a horse ranch north of Los Angeles, moving from our neighborhood, though our friendship remained strong. My career also progressed as I signed with a major agency, Triad Artists, as a composer – coincidentally, the same agency representing Patrick. Around this time, Patrick and Lisa invited us to a barbecue at their ranch, where we met Eleanor Bergstein and Kenny Ortega, the screenwriter and choreographer, respectively, for a new, low-budget movie Patrick was slated to star in: “Dirty Dancing.”
Alt text: Patrick Swayze and Stacy Widelitz accept BMI TV/Film Awards and BMI Pop Awards alongside Gloria Estefan, Songwriter of the Year, at the BMI Pop Awards ceremony, recognizing their work on the hit song “She’s Like the Wind”.
After filming commenced, Patrick called me from the set in North Carolina, excitedly sharing that he had played our “She’s Like the Wind” demo for the producers. They loved it and wanted it for “Dirty Dancing.” He mentioned a soundtrack album was planned, and the executive producer, Jimmy Ienner, wanted to speak with me. I contacted Jimmy, who expressed his admiration for the song and inquired about the female vocalist on the demo. Upon learning it was my girlfriend, Wendy, and that she wasn’t signed to a record deal, he was thrilled and proposed using her on the album version. My agent finalized the deal, securing Wendy vocal credit and a percentage of record sales. She also appeared in the black and white music video for the Patrick Swayze song, directed by none other than David Fincher, who would later direct films like “Social Network” and “Benjamin Button.”
The recording session took place in the fall of 1986 at Michael Lloyd’s studio in Beverly Hills, with Michael producing. He assembled top session musicians from Los Angeles, including Paul Leim on drums and Laurence Juber (formerly of Paul McCartney and Wings) on guitar. Before we began, Michael turned to me and asked if I knew what we were doing that day. Confused, I replied we were recording “She’s Like the Wind.” He corrected me, stating, “No! We’re recording a major hit song!” He even suggested I call my mother to share the news, as she still doubted my career in music. Patrick recorded his vocals the following day, and Wendy reprised her demo part. Michael added brilliant production touches, such as the repeated “Just a fool, she’s like the wind” during the fadeout, along with sleigh bells. The final recording sounded fantastic, a testament to the magic of this Patrick Swayze song.
Almost a year passed before “Dirty Dancing’s” theatrical release. It had faded from my thoughts, and I wasn’t particularly optimistic about it. Hollywood buzz suggested the movie was poorly made, destined to bomb at the box office and quickly transition to video after a week. The soundtrack and its lead single, “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life,” were released prior to the film and initially made no impact on the charts. However, upon the movie’s debut, everything changed. It opened at #4 at the box office, then climbed to #2 the following week. “Time of My Life” and the soundtrack album skyrocketed to #1 on the Billboard charts. “Dirty Dancing” became an unexpected sensation, and our world shifted dramatically. Patrick was suddenly a global superstar. Michael Lloyd called to inform me I was receiving a gold record for the soundtrack, signifying 500,000 copies sold within weeks. Ten days later, I called him to inquire about the gold record, and he replied, “You’re not getting a gold record anymore. Now you’re getting a platinum record. It sold 280,000 copies last Sunday.” He described it as riding a wave with unknown destination. When I finally received my award weeks later, it was triple platinum, representing three million copies already sold.
The second single from the soundtrack, “Hungry Eyes,” also became a hit, reaching #4 on the Hot 100 chart. The album maintained its #1 position. Yet, there was no word if “She’s Like the Wind,” the Patrick Swayze song we poured our hearts into, would be released as a single. During this period, Wendy and I were experiencing relationship difficulties, and after seven years of living and working together, we separated. She moved out over Thanksgiving weekend – a common time for breakups. I was heartbroken. One December night, seeking distraction, I found myself at Tower Records on Sunset Strip. Wandering along the wall displaying new single releases, I wondered if my song would ever be released. Then, I saw it: Patrick’s picture on the sleeve of the “She’s Like the Wind” single. I exclaimed aloud, “Nobody tells me anything!”
The song rapidly climbed the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The son of the rabbi next door, a Top 40 enthusiast, would tap on my window each week to update me on its chart position. It peaked at #3 on the Hot 100 on February 26, 1988, and reached #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart. It became an international hit, mirroring the success of the movie and soundtrack. In 1989, Patrick and I were honored with BMI TV/Film Awards and BMI Pop Awards for the song, as both writers and publishers. The photo on my website’s homepage is from the BMI Pop Awards, featuring Gloria Estefan, who was named Songwriter of the Year that night. The “Dirty Dancing” soundtrack eventually achieved RIAA certified 11-times platinum status, selling 11 million copies in the US alone. In 2006, a hip-hop cover by Vibekingz feat. Maliq reached #2 in Germany and performed well across Europe. In 2007, another hip-hop cover by Lumidee feat. Tony Sunshine reached #18 on the Billboard Mainstream Top 40 in the US. BMI recognized the song’s enduring popularity, presenting me with two certificates in 2009, one as co-writer and one as co-publisher, commemorating 4 million US airplays of “She’s Like the Wind.” Ryan Adams and Natalie Prass unexpectedly covered the song during their 2015 tour, and I had the pleasure of seeing them perform it at the Ryman Auditorium. I’ve heard the song in a Berlin theater and on a bus in Havana, Cuba. Patrick and I could never have imagined the extraordinary life this song, this Patrick Swayze song, would have when we wrote it back in 1984.
Patrick and I remained close friends until his passing in 2009. I spoke at his memorial service, hosted by his “Ghost” co-star Whoopi Goldberg. I sat beside Jennifer Grey, who was deeply emotional throughout the service. Lisa and I remain friends, and I attended her wedding when she remarried in 2014. At the memorial, I said something I still believe: I will always be proud that Patrick Swayze and Stacy Widelitz are eternally linked by something we created together, a Patrick Swayze song that unexpectedly touched millions globally. And “She’s Like the Wind” continues to be played, steadily approaching its 5 millionth airplay award.
You can watch David Fincher’s music video for “She’s Like the Wind.”
