Songwriter and producer Bryan Loren — known for his work with Michael Jackson and for contributing to The Simpsons’ musical legacy — has died at the age of 58.
His friend Shana Mangatal shared the news on Facebook Wednesday, writing, “This is sad news to share. My dear friend- extraordinarily talented music producer, Bryan Loren has passed away. He would have been 59 this year.” Mangatal said Loren’s brother, Geno, confirmed the loss and remembered him as “a brilliant musician who lived his life unapologetically,” someone who left an impression on the world with what Geno described as “ELITE” talent and a “true” character.
Mangatal reflected on years of memories with Loren, including moments tied to his time with Jackson, saying Loren’s gifts were on a level comparable to Prince and describing his talent as extremely rare. She closed her tribute with, “Rest easy, B. Thank you for the decades of memories, the laughter, the stories, and the music.”
Loren’s fusion of funk and soul reached television audiences in 1990 with the song “Do the Bartman,” which he wrote. The track was sung by Nancy Cartwright, the voice of Bart Simpson, and featured backing vocals from Michael Jackson, who also acted as producer on the recording. The song was included on the album The Simpsons Sing the Blues and, despite not being issued as an official single in the U.S., received heavy radio play — climbing to number 22 on Billboard’s Radio Songs chart — and became a staple on MTV after a music video debuted. It also earned a nomination at the 1991 MTV Video Music Awards.
Loren’s creative partnership with Jackson expanded beyond that single; he collaborated with Jackson during the early stages of the Dangerous album. In her written remembrance, Mangatal recalled Jackson frequently driving to Loren’s home in Woodland Hills to work in the producer’s basement studio. She remembered one Thanksgiving they spent together — just the two of them — laughing, making music and talking about girls, cartoons and life. Mangatal noted that Loren and Jackson bonded over being young musical prodigies who also shared an affection for “nerdy” interests.
Before and alongside his work with Jackson, Loren performed with groups such as Fat Larry’s Band and Cashmere and worked with a variety of notable artists, including Whitney Houston, Damion Hall, Eric Benét, Barry White and Sting. As a solo artist, he released the singles “Lollipop Luv” and “Do You Really Love Me?” in 1984; those songs reached numbers 23 and 64, respectively, on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
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