Bacharach, Burt (1928-2023), was an American composer and songwriter who gained success both in motion pictures and on the stage. He wrote most of his hit songs with Hal David, who wrote the lyrics.
Bacharach won Academy Awards for 1969 for his score for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and for a song from that film, “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head.” He also won the 1981 Academy Award for best song for “The Best That You Can Do” from Arthur. The lyrics for that song were written by Carole Bayer Sager, Bacharach’s wife from 1982 until they divorced in 1991. Bacharach contributed music to more than 30 films. He also made several popular recordings and appeared in nightclubs, performing his own music and accompanying himself on piano.
Burt Freeman Bacharach was born on May 12, 1928, in Kansas City, Missouri. After studying music at McGill University in Montreal, he began composing and arranging in the mid-1950’s. He served as the accompanist for several performers, including the Ames Brothers, Vic Damone, and Steve Lawrence. Bacharach received his first major break as the conductor-arranger for an international concert tour by German singer and actress Marlene Dietrich from 1958 to 1961.
Bacharach composed the score for the hit Broadway musical Promises, Promises (1968), which includes the popular song “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again.” Bacharach composed many other popular songs, most with Hal David, but some with other lyricists. David wrote the lyrics for “Magic Moments” (1958), “Walk on By” (1964), “What’s New, Pussycat?” (1965), “What the World Needs Now Is Love” (1965), “Alfie” (1966), “The Look of Love” (1967), “Do You Know the Way to San Jose?” and “This Guy’s in Love with You” (both 1968), and “Close to You” (1970). Carole Bayer Sager wrote the lyrics for “On My Own” (1985), and Elvis Costello wrote the lyrics for “God Give Me Strength” (1996). Many of Bacharach’s songs were popularized by singer Dionne Warwick. Bacharach died on Feb. 8, 2023.
