# Jeff Silbar - Acclaimed Songwriter Of The Grammy Winning "Wind Beneath My Wings", Which Became A Mega-Hit For Bette Midler. Also Hits With Kenny Rogers, John Cougar, Ringo, Sheena Easton, Gladys Knight, Dolly Parton And Many Others!

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Podcast: [Follow Your Dream - Music And Much More!](https://stenobird.com/podcast/follow-your-dream-music-and-much-more-3624619)
Published: 2026-04-03T07:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://follow-your-dream.simplecast.com/episodes/jeff-silbar-acclaimed-songwriter-of-the-grammy-winning-wind-beneath-my-wings-which-became-a-mega-hit-for-bette-midler-also-hits-with-kenny-rogers-john-cougar-ringo-sheena-easton-gladys-knight-dolly-parton-and-many-others-qLVZa__Z
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Duration seconds: 2472

## Resource

Songwriter Jeff Silbar shares the behind-the-scenes story of co-writing the Grammy-winning classic 'Wind Beneath My Wings.' He discusses the high-stakes reality of pitching songs to major producers and the evolution of the recording industry.

## Highlights
- Main idea: The accidental nature of hits, as 'Wind Beneath My Wings' was written without any initial expectation of massive success
- Practical takeaway: Successful pitching requires restraint; bringing too many songs to a producer can damage your reputation
- Failure mode: Relying on modern remote recording can strip a track of the 'yin and yang' energy found in live studio sessions
- Main idea: A blues-rock background provided a unique, 'fresh' perspective when writing for the Nashville country market
- Practical takeaway: High-quality demos are essential, even if major artists eventually replace your instrumentation with session legends

## Topics

Songwriting, Music Industry, Nashville, Grammy Awards, Music Production, Pop Music, Country Music, Jeff Silbar

## Chapters
- 1:00 — The Legacy of a Grammy Winner: An introduction to Jeff Silbar's career and the impact of 'Wind Beneath My Wings'.
- 4:30 — Writing a Mega-Hit: The spontaneous moment of inspiration and the lack of foresight regarding the song's eventual fame.
- 8:00 — Navigating the Music Industry: Reflections on the late 70s era and the transition of musical styles.
- 11:00 — The Moment of Recognition: Realizing a song has massive potential after seeing it used in a film context.
- 16:50 — The Art of the Pitch: The discipline required to pitch songs to producers without overstaying your welcome.
- 20:00 — The Producer's Perspective: The tension of playing demos for producers who only listen to the first chorus.
- 26:00 — Finding a Unique Voice: How a rock-influenced style helped create fresh sounds in the Nashville country scene.

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