'One Shining Moment' composer shares March Madness prediction

"The ball is tipped
and there you are
you're running for your life
you're a shooting star"

Since 1987, every March Madness tournament has ended with a three-minute montage set to the memorable tune of "One Shining Moment."

The song is legendary, and has served as the soundtrack to college basketball's ultimate celebration for 30 years running. Composer of the March Madness classic, David Barrett, said he's had the "good fortune" of making a career out of doing what he loves -- which is telling the story of a tentpole event like March Madness through song.

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"I am a huge fan of this uniquely American event," Barrett told AOL News. "It's a wondrous thing."

As story has it, the Michigan native singer/songwriter was inspired watching Larry Bird play in 1986, and wrote "One Shining Moment" as a narrative of athletic perseverance and success almost instantaneously. Barrett would later pass the song off to a friend working for Sports Illustrated, who then presented it to CBS officials. The rest, as they say, is history.

"[The song] was a big door I got to walk through," Barrett says. "And I didn't just walk through it, I ran through it."

Aside from the famed March Madness melody, the Emmy award-winning professional has composed a series of high-profile pieces, including music for the Olympics, PGA tournament and PBS's "Beyond the Gridiron."

The original version of "One Shining Moment" was sung by Barrett himself, and that version was used through 1993 and between 2000 and 2003. Artists including Teddy Pendergrass, Luther Vandross and Jennifer Hudson have also sang the sports hit -- and Barrett says Luther Vandross will be returning to sing the 2017 rendition.

Barrett, who was clearly broken up about his home state's Michigan Wolverines being knocked off by Oregon in the Sweet Sixteen round, says this year's tournament is truly exceptional because of the Final Four's underdog nature.

"You've got three out of the four teams that are underdogs," Barrett said of this year's tournament close. "But, yeah, I've got UNC in my bracket."

He also said he loves South Carolina, though, noting his admiration for Coach Frank Martin and his squad -- which Barrett said is stacked with guys who "play like their hair is on fire."

Barrett is still working in the song composition business, and is currently composing a piece for the state of the Michigan.

As "One Shining Moment" ages and evolves, it is certain that March Madness would truly not be the same without Barrett's memorable composition.

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