Friends mourn Tom Whitlock, Springfield writer of 'Danger Zone' and 'Take My Breath Away'

Tom Whitlock, an Academy Award and Golden Globe winning songwriter from Springfield, died Friday in Tennessee following a battle with Alzheimer's disease, several friends confirmed.

Whitlock, who was born in 1954, was best known for writing the songs "Take My Breath Away" and "Danger Zone," which were both featured in the 1986 movie "Top Gun."

A Glendale High School graduate, Whitlock moved to California in 1983 with aspirations of hitting it big with his rock band. Instead, he found work as an assistant engineer in studios, participating in recording efforts for "Scarface" and "Beverly Hills Cop."

Whitlock teamed with Giorgio Moroder (who he met after fixing Moroder's car) for the "Top Gun" songs. "Danger Zone" was written to match the opening carrier-deck scene, but "Take My Breath Away" actually inspired the filmmakers to shoot an additional love scene to match the song, according to past News-Leader reporting.

"Take My Breath Away" won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award in 1986 for best original song.

Larry Lipscomb, Whitlock's friend and former Glendale classmate, said Whitlock was a quiet man with a big heart who leaves behind a large group of friends scattered across the country.

"I'd like to sit down and have one more story with him," Lipscomb said, citing Whitlock's propensity to entertain friends with stories of his Hollywood adventures.

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As a young adult, Whitlock would often join the Ozark Mountain Daredevils as a fill-in drummer. Daredevils member John Dillon said he was saddened to hear about Whitlock's death.

"He was just a good musician and a really, really good guy," Dillon said.

Another Daredevils member, Michael "Supe" Granda remembers having a blast playing music alongside Whitlock, who he said had a "really dry wit."

"The night he got his Oscar, we were all nervous wrecks," Granda said. "I was in my house, watching it on TV and I was nervous. When they announced that he and Giorgio won the Academy Award, yeah I was was proud of that boy. You bet I was."

Granda said despite all of Whitlock's success he remained a down-to-earth, relatable person.

In addition to the "Top Gun" hits, Whitlock also found success with several other projects, including "Hand in Hand," which was the theme for the 1988 Summer Olympics in South Korea, and "To Be Number One" — which was the theme of the 1990 FIFA World Cup.

In 2012, Whitlock was honored at the Library of Congress by the the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Later that year, he was awarded a bachelor's degree from Drury University. Whitlock took classes off and on at Drury throughout the 1970s but never completed two piano proficiency exams. The university eventually decided to waive the uncompleted piano proficiency requirement in light of Whitlock's success in the music industry.

Later in life, friends say, Whitlock split time between Nashville and the Springfield area.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Tom Whitlock, who wrote songs for 'Top Gun' movie, dies in Tennessee