Songwriter Joseph Brooks Apparently Kills Self

Grammy-award winning songwriter Joseph Brooks has died of an apparent suicide, New York police said Sunday. The songwriter, whose biggest hit was 1977’s “You Light Up My Life,” was awaiting trial on charges that he molested a woman in 2009. In January, another 12 women said he lured them into his Manhattan apartment and seduced them, joining another 13 who had accused him. He had pleaded not guilty to rape and other charges. Police said they found Brooks Sunday morning with plastic dry-cleaning bag over his head and a towel wrapped around his neck and also a helium tank with a hose attached. Police said a suicide note was found in the apartment, but did not disclose its contents. Brooks’ son, Nicholas Brooks, was charged with murdering his girlfriend, a swimsuit designer, at the SoHo House in Manhattan in December.