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 embarked 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 sitcom "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)