We decided to keep it for ourselves, and we recorded it for her Music Box album. We need to save this song for Mariah’s album. It was during this writing session that Sony Music President & COO Tommy Mottola (who was Carey’s fiance at the time) came into the studio and heard “Hero.” “I told Tommy we were writing a song for this movie,” said Afanasieff. She sang, ‘then a hero comes along.’ She was truly inspired the words just flowed out.” During a studio break, I was tinkering at the piano, playing the notes that would become the piano intro to ‘Hero.’ Mariah liked what she heard, and we started writing the song, with the ‘Hero’ theme in mind. “Soon after, when I was in New York working in the studio with Mariah, I suggested we try to write a song for this movie. “I had been asked by Sony’s soundtrack division to write and produce the end, title theme for Hero,” recalled Afanasieff.

“Hero” was written by Afanasieff & Carey in 1992, and was originally conceived as a theme song for the movie, Hero (starring Dustin Hoffman), which would potentially be sung by Gloria Estefan. “Hero” has re-emerged as one of the inspirational, heartfelt songs which have provided comfort and hope to many people. With Mariah Carey, he has co-written such number one hits as “One Sweet Day” (with Boyz II Men) and “My All.” But in the years following the tragic events of 9/11, it is his song, “Hero” (also written with Carey), which has probably had the greatest impact He has produced major hits for Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Kenny G., Michael Bolton, Regina Belle and Savage Garden, and he has won the Grammy Award for Producer Of The Year. Walter Afanasieff has been widely regarded as a top record producer and songwriter over the past decade.

Mariah carey hero