Wind Beneath My Wings - wikipedia Wind Beneath My Wings `` Wind Beneath My Wings '' ( sometimes titled `` The Wind Beneath My Wings '' and `` Hero '' ) is a song written in 1982 by Jeff Silbar and Larry Henley. The song was originally recorded by Roger Whittaker in 1982, as well as by Sheena Easton and Lee Greenwood. The song appeared very shortly thereafter in charted versions by Colleen Hewett ( 1982 ), Lou Rawls ( 1983 ), Gladys Knight & The Pips ( 1983 ), and Gary Morris ( 1983 ). The highest - charting version of the song to date was recorded in 1988 by singer and actress Bette Midler for the soundtrack to the film Beaches. This version was released as a single in early 1989, spent one week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in June 1989, and won Grammy Awards for both Record of the Year and Song of the Year in February 1990. On October 24, 1991, Midler 's single was also certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for shipment of one million copies in the United States. In 2004 Midler 's version finished at No. 44 in AFI 's 100 Years... 100 Songs survey of top tunes in American cinema. In a 2002 UK poll, `` Wind Beneath My Wings '' was found to be the most - played song at British funerals. Contents 1 Background 2 Gary Morris version 2.1 Chart performance 3 Bette Midler version 3.1 Track listing 3.2 Chart performance 4 References 5 External links Background Silbar and Henley recorded a demo of the song, which they gave to musician Bob Montgomery. Montgomery then recorded his own demo version of the song, changing it from the mid-tempo version he was given to a ballad. Silbar and Henley then shopped the song to many artists, eventually resulting in Roger Whittaker becoming the first to release the song commercially. It appeared on his 1982 studio album, also titled The Wind Beneath My Wings. The song was very shortly thereafter recorded by Australian artist Colleen Hewett and released by Avenue Records in 1982. Hewitt 's recording became the first version of the song to be issued as a single and to appear on a national chart, peaking at # 52 on Australia 's Kent Music Report chart. Following both Whittaker 's and Hewitt 's recordings, many other artists recorded the song, including Sheena Easton. Easton 's versions appeared on her 1982 studio album Madness, Money & Music, and her 1984 Spanish album Todo me recuerda a ti though it was not released as a single by her record company. She did, however, perform it on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The Merv Griffin Show, her HBO live concert special, and her NBC television special. The first year `` Wind Beneath My Wings '' appeared on music industry trade publication charts in the United States was 1983. Singer Lou Rawls was the first to score a major hit with the song, as his version peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, No. 60 on the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart, and No. 65 on the main Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. Gladys Knight & The Pips also released a recording of the song in 1983 under the title `` Hero '', and their version peaked at No. 64 on Billboard 's Hot Black Singles chart while also reaching No. 23 on Billboard 's Adult Contemporary chart. Singer Gary Morris released a country version of the song in 1983 that charted highest on any of the Billboard music charts that year. Morris 's version of the song peaked at No. 4 on Billboard 's Hot Country Singles chart, and also later won both the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association awards for Song of the Year. Kenny Rogers released his version of the song in 1996 as part of the Vote for Love album. Gary Morris version `` The Wind Beneath My Wings '' Single by Gary Morris from the album Why Lady Why B - side `` The Way I Love You Tonight '' Released August 6, 1983 Length 4 : 40 Label Warner Bros. Songwriter ( s ) Larry Henley and Jeff Silbar Producer ( s ) Jimmy Bowen Gary Morris singles chronology `` The Love She Found in Me '' ( 1983 ) `` The Wind Beneath My Wings '' ( 1983 ) `` Why Lady Why '' ( 1983 ) `` The Love She Found in Me '' ( 1983 ) `` The Wind Beneath My Wings '' ( 1983 ) `` Why Lady Why '' ( 1983 ) `` Wind Beneath My Wings '' was recorded by country artist Gary Morris and reached the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. It was named Song of the Year by both the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association. Chart performance Chart ( 1983 ) Peak position US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) Canadian RPM Country Tracks 10 Bette Midler version `` Wind Beneath My Wings '' Single by Bette Midler from the album Beaches : Original Soundtrack Recording B - side `` Oh Industry '' Released June 1, 1989 Format CD single, cassette single Recorded Genre Pop Length 4 : 18 4 : 54 ( album and 7 '' version ) Label Atlantic Songwriter ( s ) Larry Henley and Jeff Silbar Producer ( s ) Arif Mardin Bette Midler singles chronology `` Under the Boardwalk '' ( 1989 ) `` Wind Beneath My Wings '' ( 1989 ) `` From a Distance '' ( 1990 ) `` Under the Boardwalk '' ( 1989 ) `` Wind Beneath My Wings '' ( 1989 ) `` From a Distance '' ( 1990 ) `` Wind Beneath My Wings '' was performed by Bette Midler for the soundtrack of the film Beaches and became a US number - one single. It was named Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the Grammy Awards of 1990. The song became a worldwide hit ; it charted at No. 5 in the UK, No. 4 in New Zealand, and No. 1 in Australia. Midler performed the song following the annual in memoriam montage at the 86th Academy Awards in 2014. By sheer coincidence, Idina Menzel had sung `` Wind Beneath My Wings '' as a duet with Kristen Bell at her successful audition for the 2013 film Frozen, which would go on to win two awards at that same awards ceremony ( and where Menzel performed live the popular song `` Let It Go '' from the film ). Midler performed the song, with the fictional character Krusty the Clown, on season 4 episode 22 of The Simpsons in 1993. Track listing 7 `` : US ( Atlantic 7 - 88972 ) 7 '' : UK ( Atlantic A8972 ) 7 `` : Japan ( Atlantic PRS - 2048 ) 3 '' : Japan ( Atlantic 09P3 - 6159 ) `` Wind Beneath My Wings '' `` Oh Industry '' 12 `` : UK ( Atlantic A8972T ) 3 '' : UK ( Atlantic A8972CD ) `` Wind Beneath My Wings '' `` Oh Industry '' `` I Think It 's Going to Rain Today '' CDM : US ( Atlantic PR2615 - 2 ) promo `` Wind Beneath My Wings '' `` Wind Beneath My Wings '' ( album version ) CDM : Germany ( Atlantic 756785481 - 2 ) `` Wind Beneath My Wings '' `` From a Distance '' `` In My Life '' `` To Deserve You '' Note : Released in 1996 Chart performance Chart ( 1989 -- 1990, 1996 -- 1997 and 2008 ) Peak position US Billboard Hot 100 US Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) Australian ARIA Singles Chart New Zealand Singles Chart UK Singles Chart 5 Chart ( 2008 ) Peak position UK Singles Chart 70 References Jump up ^ Kawashima, Dale. `` Songwriter Jeff Silbar : How He Co-Wrote The Classic Hit, ' Wind Beneath My Wings ' ''. SongwriterUniverse. Retrieved 11 February 2012. Jump up ^ `` Midler and Dion top funeral chart ''. BBC News. 5 August 2002. Retrieved 1 April 2014. ^ Jump up to : Billboard, 13 April 1996, p. 106 Jump up ^ `` Gary Morris -- Chart history '' Billboard Hot Country Songs for Gary Morris. Jump up ^ Harrison, Lily ( 2 March 2014 ). `` Bette Midler Sings During Oscars In Memoriam Tribute Honoring James Gandolfini, Philip Seymour Hoffman and More ''. E ! Entertainment Television. Retrieved 3 March 2014. Jump up ^ World Entertainment News Network ( November 1, 2013 ). `` Tangled - Secret Phone Recording Helped Idina Menzel Land New Disney Role ''. ContactMusic.com. Retrieved March 23, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Bette Midler -- Chart history '' Billboard Hot 100 for Bette Midler. Jump up ^ `` Bette Midler -- Chart history '' Billboard Adult Contemporary for Bette Midler. Jump up ^ UK Singles Chart External links Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Preceded by `` Rock On '' by Michael Damian Billboard Hot 100 number - one single June 10, 1989 Succeeded by `` I 'll Be Loving You ( Forever ) '' by New Kids on the Block Gary Morris Studio albums Anything Goes What If We Fall in Love ? Notable singles `` Headed for a Heartache '' `` Do n't Look Back '' `` Dreams Die Hard '' `` Velvet Chains '' `` The Love She Found in Me '' `` The Wind Beneath My Wings '' `` Why Lady Why '' `` Second Hand Heart '' `` Between Two Fires '' `` Baby Bye Bye '' `` Lasso the Moon '' `` I 'll Never Stop Loving You '' `` 100 % Chance of Rain '' `` Anything Goes '' `` Honeycomb '' `` Leave Me Lonely '' `` Plain Brown Wrapper '' Collaboration singles `` Makin ' Up for Lost Time ( The Dallas Lovers ' Song ) '' ( with Crystal Gayle ) `` Another World '' ( with Crystal Gayle ) Guest singles `` You 're Welcome to Tonight '' ( with Lynn Anderson ) Related articles Discography Warner Bros. Records Capitol Records Colleen Hewett Studio albums Colleen Hewett ( 1972 ) M'Lady ( 1974 ) Colleen ( 1983 ) Power of Love ( 1986 ) Tenterfield Dreams : The Musical Journey of Peter Allen ( 1997 ) Bulamama ( 2001 ) Black & White ( 2015 ) Compilation albums Greatest Hits ( 1974 ) Notable singles `` Superstar '' `` Day by Day '' `` Carry That Weight '' `` Waltzing Matilda '' `` Sit Yourself Down '' `` I Believe When I Fall in Love '' `` If You Could Read My Mind '' `` Dreaming My Dreams with You '' `` The Wind Beneath My Wings '' `` I Hope I Never '' Television, Film and Theatre The Go ! ! Show ( 1964 -- 1967 ) Godspell ( 1972 ) Tommy ( 1973 ) Pippin ( 1974 ) The Truckies ( 1978 ) Prison : Cell Block H ( 1985 ) Shadows of the Heart ( 1990 ) Return to the Forbidden Planet ( 1991 ) Halfway Across the Galaxy and Turn Left ( 1991 -- 1992 ) The Boy from Oz ( 2006 ) Shout ! The Legend of The Wild One ( 2008 ) The Cup ( 2011 ) Related articles Festival Records Atlantic Records Laurie Allen Revue The Incredible Penguins Australian pop music awards 1972 ) ( 1973 Helpmann Awards Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical Bette Midler singles discography Discography Filmography The Divine Miss M `` Do You Want to Dance '' ( 1972 ) `` Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy '' ( 1973 ) `` Friends '' ( 1973 ) Bette Midler `` In the Mood '' ( 1974 ) Songs for the New Depression `` Strangers in the Night '' ( 1976 ) The Best of Bette `` Buckets of Rain '' featuring Bob Dylan ( 1978 ) Thighs and Whispers `` Hang On in There Baby '' ( 1979 ) The Rose `` When a Man Loves a Woman '' ( 1980 ) `` The Rose '' ( 1980 ) Divine Madness `` Chapel of Love '' ( Live ) ( 1980 ) No Frills `` All I Need to Know '' ( 1983 ) `` Favorite Waste of Time '' ( 1983 ) `` Beast of Burden '' ( 1984 ) Beaches `` Under the Boardwalk '' ( 1988 ) `` Wind Beneath My Wings '' ( 1989 ) Some People 's Lives `` From a Distance '' ( 1990 ) `` Night and Day '' ( 1991 ) For the Boys `` In My Life '' ( 1992 ) Bette of Roses `` In This Life '' ( 1995 ) The First Wives Club `` You Do n't Own Me '' with Goldie Hawn and Diane Keaton ( 1997 ) Bathhouse Betty `` I 'm Beautiful '' ( 1999 ) Sings the Rosemary Clooney Songbook `` White Christmas '' ( 2004 ) Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook `` Fever '' ( 2006 ) Cool Yule `` From a Distance ( Christmas version ) '' ( 2006 ) ( Jackpot ! ) The Best Bette `` Wind Beneath My Wings ( re-issue ) '' ( 2008 ) It 's the Girls ! `` Be My Baby '' ( 2014 ) Other releases Promotional singles : `` Old Cape Cod '' ( 1976 ) `` Big Noise from Winnetka '' ( 1979 ) `` Small World '' ( 1993 ) `` Love T.K.O. '' ( 2001 ) Other songs : `` We Are the World '' ( 1985 ) `` I Put a Spell on You '' ( 1993 ) `` It 's Gonna Take a Miracle '' ( 1995 ) `` Somewhere Along the Way '' ( 1997 ) `` Manhattan '' ( 2004 ) `` The Greatest Ears in Town '' ( 2010 ) Book Template Portal Grammy Award for Record of the Year ( 1990s ) `` Wind Beneath My Wings '' * by Bette Midler produced by Arif Mardin ( 1990 ) `` Another Day in Paradise '' by Phil Collins produced by Hugh Padgham & Phil Collins ( 1991 ) `` Unforgettable '' * by Natalie Cole with Nat King Cole produced by David Foster ( 1992 ) `` Tears in Heaven '' * by Eric Clapton produced by Russ Titelman ( 1993 ) `` I Will Always Love You '' by Whitney Houston produced by David Foster ( 1994 ) `` All I Wanna Do '' by Sheryl Crow produced by Bill Bottrell ( 1995 ) `` Kiss from a Rose '' * by Seal produced by Trevor Horn ( 1996 ) `` Change the World '' * by Eric Clapton produced by Babyface ( 1997 ) `` Sunny Came Home '' * by Shawn Colvin produced by John Leventhal ( 1998 ) `` My Heart Will Go On '' * by Celine Dion engineered / mixed by David Gleeson, Humberto Gatica & Simon Franglen ; produced by James Horner, Simon Franglen & Walter Afanasieff ( 1999 ) Complete list ( 1960s ) ( 1970s ) ( 1980s ) ( 1990s ) ( 2000s ) ( 2010s ) Grammy Award for Song of the Year ( 1990s ) Larry Henley & Jeff Silbar - `` Wind Beneath My Wings '' 1991 Julie Gold - `` From a Distance '' Irving Gordon - `` Unforgettable '' Eric Clapton & Will Jennings - `` Tears in Heaven '' Alan Menken & Tim Rice - `` A Whole New World '' 1995 Bruce Springsteen - `` Streets of Philadelphia '' Seal - `` Kiss from a Rose '' Gordon Kennedy, Wayne Kirkpatrick & Tommy Sims - `` Change the World '' 1998 Shawn Colvin & John Leventhal - `` Sunny Came Home '' 1999 James Horner & Will Jennings - `` My Heart Will Go On '' Complete list ( 1960s ) ( 1970s ) ( 1980s ) ( 1990s ) ( 2000s ) ( 2010s ) Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wind_Beneath_My_Wings&oldid=804852791 '' Categories : 1980s ballads 1982 songs 1982 singles 1983 singles 1988 singles 1989 singles Atlantic Records singles Pop ballads Gary Morris songs Colleen Hewett songs Bette Midler songs Sheena Easton songs Gladys Knight & the Pips songs Lou Rawls songs Patti LaBelle songs Billboard Hot 100 number - one singles Number - one singles in Australia Grammy Award for Record of the Year Grammy Award for Song of the Year Songs written by Larry Henley Song recordings produced by Jimmy Bowen Warner Bros. Records singles Songs written by Jeff Silbar Hidden categories : Articles with hAudio microformats Singlechart usages for Billboardcountrysongs Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for Billboardhot100 Singlechart usages for Billboardadultcontemporary Talk Contents About Wikipedia 日本 語 Português Edit links This page was last edited on 11 October 2017, at 14 : 55. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: who wrote the song wind beneath my wings
Answer: Jeff Silbar