"Lonely Boy" songwriter Andrew Gold dies at 59

     BEIJING, June 7 (Xinhuanet) -- Andrew Gold, versatile¹ singer, musician and composer whose songs included the chart success in the 1970s "Lonely Boy" and "Thank You For Being a Friend," has died at his home in California, aged² 59, according to media reports.

    His sister, Melani Gold Friedman, told the Los Angeles Times that Gold died in his sleep Friday at his home in Encino, Calif.  She said he had cancer but had been responding to treatment.

    Gold was a multi-instrumental player, who got his break in 1973 when he joined Linda Ronstadt's band. He arranged songs for and performed on several Rondstadt albums, including Heart Like a Wheel, and did session work for artists such as James Taylor and Carly Simon.

    While working in Ronstadt's band, Gold embarked³ on a solo career and released hit singles such as "Lonely Boy" and "Thank You for Being a Friend," the latter gaining additional recognition as the theme to the TV sitcom⁴ "The Golden Girls."Gold was the son of Academy Award-winning composer Ernest Gold and vocalist Marni Nixon.(本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑)

1 versatile   

adj.通用的，万用的；多才多艺的，多方面的

参考例句：

• A versatile person is often good at a number of different things.多才多艺的人通常擅长许多种不同的事情。
• He had been one of the game's most versatile athletes.他是这项运动中技术最全面的运动员之一。

2 aged   

adj.年老的，陈年的

参考例句：

• He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
• He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。

3 embarked   

乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事

参考例句：

• We stood on the pier and watched as they embarked. 我们站在突码头上目送他们登船。
• She embarked on a discourse about the town's origins. 她开始讲本市的起源。

4 sitcom   

n.情景喜剧，（广播、电视的）系列幽默剧

参考例句：

• This sitcom is produced in cooperation with Hong Kong TV.这部连续剧是同香港电视台联合制作的。
• I heard that a new sitcom is coming out next season.我听说下一季会推出一个新的情境喜剧。