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May 22, 2011

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Joseph Brooks, the songwriter of the '70s smash ballad “You Light Up My Life,” was found dead from an apparent suicide at his home Sunday afternoon, NYPD Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne said.

Brooks, 73, was discovered by a friend who was supposed to have lunch with the songwriter at his residence.

Brooks was near a helium tank with a tube attached into a dry cleaning bag and a towel wrapped around his head and neck, police said. Brooks left a suicide note, according to Browne.

Brooks had been charged two years ago in the alleged rapes of 11 women.

Separately, his son Christopher Brooks had been charged in the death of his former girlfriend, a swimsuit designer. He faced 25 years in prison.

The ballad “You Light Up My Life” was the musical centerpiece to a 1977 film of the same name. The song, performed by Kasey Cisyk in the movie, was soon recorded by Debbie Boone to tremendous acclaim and garnered the singer a Grammy for Best New Artist.

RIH, the cowardly fucker.

Mong said:

RIH, the cowardly fucker.

Wow!

what an altogether ugly story.

Mong said:

RIH, the cowardly fucker.

I think I read that the number of sexual assaults was potentially in the 80s, acutally. But even if it were "just 11" how is it that the assaults just kept on happening? Poor police work? Women not coming forward out of fear? I just don't get how a somewhat well known person could continue "winning" like this.