Burt Bacharach
Burt Freeman Bacharach (/ˈbækəræk/ BAK-ə-rak; May 12, 1928 – February 8, 2023) was an American composer, songwriter, record producer, and pianist, music legend[1] the singularly gifted and popular composer[2] delighted with the quirky arrangements and unforgettable melodies of "Walk on By," "Do You Know the Way to San Jose" and dozens of other hits.. who is widely regarded as one the most important and influential figures of 20th-century popular music.[3][4] He had composed hundreds of pop songs from the late 1950s onwards, many in collaboration with lyricist Hal David. Bacharach's music is characterized by unusual chord progressions, influenced by his background in jazz harmony, and uncommon selections of instruments for small orchestras. He arranged, conducted, and produced much of his recorded output. Rob Schneider called him the "Mozart of Pop music and Seth MacFarlane praised him as "one of the last great classic composer/songwriters."[5] In the 1960s he "distilled that decade’s mood of romantic optimism,"[6] played in the background at a scene of Mike Myers 1997 movie Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.[7] Bacharach, the American Jew[8] was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and grew up in NY's Queens' Kew Gardens neighborhood, graduated from Forest Hills High School.[2]
Faith in God
Bacharach is also the 'I Say a Little Prayer,' composer[5][9] with Hal David.[8]
Bacharach worked with Elvis Costello on “God Give Me Strength” from the movie Grace of My Heart (1995).[10][11]
References
- ↑ Nadine DeNinno and Samantha Ibrahim, Burt Bacharach, legendary ‘Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head’ composer, dead at 94, NYPost, Feb 9, 2023
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Hillel Italie, Burt Bacharach, NYC-Raised Music Legend, Dead at 94, NBC NY, February 9, 2023.
The composing king grew up in Queens' Kew Gardens neighborhood and graduated from Forest Hills High School in 1946.
Burt Bacharach, the singularly gifted and popular composer who delighted with the quirky arrangements and unforgettable melodies of "Walk on By," "Do You Know the Way to San Jose" and dozens of other hits, has died at 94.
The Grammy, Oscar and Tony-winning Bacharach died Wednesday at home in Los Angeles of natural causes, publicist Tina Brausam said Thursday. The music legend grew up in Queens' Kew Gardens neighborhood and graduated from Forest Hills High School in 1946.
Over the past 70 years, only Lennon-McCartney, Carole King and a handful of others rivaled his genius for instantly catchy songs that remained performed, played and hummed long after they were written.
He had a run of top 10 hits from the 1950s into the 21st century, and his music was heard everywhere from movie soundtracks and radios to home stereo systems and iPods, whether “Alfie” and “I Say a Little Prayer” or “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again” and “This Guy’s in Love with You.”
- ↑ Lauren Huff, Dionne Warwick says loss of Burt Bacharach is 'like losing a family member', Entertainment Weekly, February 10, 2023.
- ↑ John Bush, Burt Bacharach, AllMusic.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Brie Stimson, Burt Bacharach remembered by Dionne Warwick and Hollywood: It's 'like losing a family member', Fox News, Feb 9, 2023.
Brian Wilson, Rick Astley and Kristin Chenoweth also praised the 'I Say a Little Prayer' composer - ↑ Stephen Holden, Burt Bacharach, Composer Who Added a High Gloss to the ’60s, Dies at 94, The New York Times, Feb 9, 2023.
His sophisticated collaborations with the lyricist Hal David — “The Look of Love,” “Walk On By,” “Alfie” and many more hits — evoked a sleek era of airy romance. - ↑ Andy Greene, Flashback: Burt Bacharach Serenades Austin Powers With ‘What the World Needs Now Is Love’, Rolling Stone, Feb 9, 2023
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Andrew Silow-Carrol, Burt Bacharach, sophisticated Jewish hitmaker of the ’60s and ’70s, dies at 94, Times Of Israel, February 10, 2023.
Acclaimed composer turned out a string of hits like 'Walk on By' and 'I Say a Little Prayer' with longtime lyricist partner Hal David, a fellow Jewish New Yorker - ↑ Burt Bacharach Obituary (2023) Birmingham, AL - The Birmingham News.
Burt Bacharach was a songwriting giant whose credits include “What the World Needs Now Is Love” and “I Say a Little Prayer.” - ↑ https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/burt-bacharach
- ↑ Elvis Costello "God Give Me Strength" with Burt Bacharach, YouTube, July 28, 2018