Tom Hanks, Stephen King and Jack Antonoff pay tribute to Fountains of Wayne's Adam Schlesinger

You get a real sense of the width of Adam Schlesinger’s talent from the tributes pouring in.

People from alternative rock wrote their tributes, such as Ted Leo from Ted Leo and The Pharmacists. People from Hollywood and theatre as well: Tom Hanks and Fran Drescher. TV personalities like Kathy Griffin, politicians like New Jersey’s governor Phil Murphy and novelist Stephen King.

Popstar producer Jack Antonoff summed it all up with: “Adam Schlesinger took pop music writing to its classiest and most untouchable place,” he wrote. “An honour to live at the same time he made his work.”

The Fountains of Wayne co-founder, movie and TV composer and Emmy and Grammy-award winner passed away yesterday morning (April 1) after being hospitalised earlier this week. His death was confirmed to Rolling Stone by Schlesinger’s lawyer last night.

Dashboard Confessional‘s Chris Carrabba tweeted that he was “grasping for the right words” to say after learning of Schlesinger’s death.

I am grasping for the right words. My dear friend Adam Schlesinger has passed away from COVID-19. You know him best through his music. From his band @fountainsofwayn to the countless movies and tv shows he scored, most recently My Crazy Ex Girlfriend (cont’d) pic.twitter.com/to8H4IoLtj

— Dashboard Confessional (@dashboardmusic) April 1, 2020

Tom Hanks paid tribute to the musician on Twitter and praised his work in the 1996 film That Thing You Do!, for which Schlesinger earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song.

There would be no Playtone without Adam Schlesinger, without his That Thing You Do! He was a One-der. Lost him to Covid-19. Terribly sad today. Hanx

— Tom Hanks (@tomhanks) April 2, 2020

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend co-creator Aline Brosh McKenna praised Schlesinger for his work on the show, which he won an Emmy for in 2019. “Adam was so funny, so kind, so opinionated, so clever, so passionate,” she wrote.

1/2 about Adam pic.twitter.com/x2LMIvZ9qf

— Aline Brosh McKenna (@alinebmckenna) April 1, 2020

Further tributes from the likes of Elijah Wood, Nicole Atkins and Stephen Colbert have also been posted following the sad news of Schlesinger’s passing.

You can find a selection of the many tributes below.

I’m heartbroken to hear about Adam Schlesinger’s passing. He was one of the 1st people I ever co-wrote a song with and we went on the road with Fountains of Wayne back in the day. He was really sweet and beyond talented. My heart goes out to his family and band mates. 💙

— NATKINS (@NicoleAtkins) April 1, 2020

RIP Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne), fine singer, witty and satiric songwriter. How terrible to lose him at 52 to this virus.

— Stephen King (@StephenKing) April 2, 2020

Ugh. Heartbreaking to hear about Adam Schlesinger having passed. Such a brilliant songwriter.

— Elijah Wood (@elijahwood) April 1, 2020

I’m so saddened to hear of the death of Adam Schlesinger due to Covid19. From the Dana Carvey show to A Colbert Christmas Special, he was a great (and patient) and talented artist with whom it was my good luck to work. Peace.

— Stephen Colbert (@StephenAtHome) April 2, 2020

Raising my head above water to say that I’m grieving Adam Schlesinger. I know so many people who knew him much better than I did, and I’m grieving for them as well. Love to you all in trying times.

— Ted Leo (@tedleo) April 1, 2020

adam schlesinger took pop music writing to its classiest and most untouchable place. an honor to live at the same time he made his work.

— jackantonoff (@jackantonoff) April 1, 2020