Who co-wrote "Vision of Love" with Mariah Carey?

Ben Margulies co-wrote “Vision of Love” with Mariah Carey.

Margulies is a songwriter, musician, and producer who met Carey while they were young musicians in New York. He played drums and helped Carey develop songs for the demo tape that eventually attracted the attention of Columbia Records. Their collaboration began before Carey became a recording star, when she was still writing and presenting her own material.

“Vision of Love” became Carey's breakthrough single and the opening track on her 1990 self-titled debut album. The song topped the US Billboard Hot 100 and earned Carey Grammy Awards for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and Best New Artist. Its dramatic vocal runs and gospel-influenced phrasing helped establish the sound associated with her early career.

Margulies and Carey shared writing credits on several songs from the debut album, including “Love Takes Time,” “Someday,” “Vanishing,” and “Alone in Love.” A common mistake is selecting Walter Afanasieff, David Cole, or Jermaine Dupri: all are associated with other major Carey collaborations, but Margulies is the co-writer credited for “Vision of Love.”