Steven W. Duboff, songwriter, record producer, singer, manager and video game designer, died on Feb. 28 at the age of 62 after a long illness.
Duboff co-wrote the 1960s hits “The Rain, The Park and Other Things” and Crispian St. Peter’s “The Pied Piper” with Artie Kornfeld. Duboff also wrote songs for Ringo Starr, The Turtles, Connie Francis, Al Hirt, Wayne Newton and many more artists.
Duboff produced records for The Insect Trust (who he also managed) and Hugh McCracken, among others. He and Kornfeld were the recording and performing group The Changin’ Times, opening on tour for Sonny and Cher. He was an artist, writer and producer with Koppelman-Rubin Associates and was an A&R executive at ABC Records. He also designed video games.
Duboff attended Bayside High School in Miami, and graduated from the University of Miami. He lived in New York City, and moved to Malibu about 20 years ago, where he was involved with Malibu real estate.
“Steve’s broad knowledge of music, from teenage pop to progressive jazz, gave him a unique perspective which was reflected in the diversity of his work. More important than that, he was my friend,” said Mark Meyerson, vice president of legal affairs for 20th Century Fox Film Corp., and former top executive with ASCAP, Atlantic and ABC. His friend, the legendary comedian, Soupy Sales, said Duboff was, “A dear friend, and a very learned and talented man whose mere presence made any situation he participated in one of importance.”
Duboff is survived by his mother, Anne Duboff Franzese of Forest Hills, his nieces Kim Forman and Tracy and her husband Robert Hines, great nieces Diana Hines and Robert Hines III and ex-wife Janet Oseroff. A private memorial service will take place.