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Burt Bacharach was born on 12th May 1928 in Kansas City, Missouri, and grew up in Forest Hills, Queens, New York. His father, Bert Bacharach, was a syndicated newspaper columnist and men's fashion journalist, while his mother, Irma Freeman Bacharach, was a classically trained pianist and painter who encouraged her son's early interest in music.
Burt studied cello, drums and piano as a child, but initially disliked his piano lessons until he discovered jazz. He attended Forest Hills High School and later studied music at McGill University in Montreal, where he majored in music theory and composition. He also studied at the Mannes School of Music in New York and the Music Academy of the West in California, learning under composers such as Darius Milhaud, Henry Cowell and Bohuslav Martinu. His early musical training gave him a strong foundation in classical structure, but his heart leaned toward jazz harmonies and pop melodies.
Following a stint in the U.S. Army, during which he arranged music for entertainment shows on military bases, Burt began working as a pianist and arranger for various performers, most notably accompanying Marlene Dietrich on her cabaret tours through the 1950s. His break as a songwriter came when he teamed up with lyricist Hal David, with whom he forged one of the most enduring and fruitful partnerships in American popular music. Together they wrote a long string of hits that blended catchy, unconventional melodies with sophisticated lyrics and lush orchestrations.
Their early successes included “The Story of My Life” for Marty Robbins and “Magic Moments” for Perry Como, both of which became major hits in 1957. In the 1960s, they created a defining body of work with singer Dionne Warwick, including “Don’t Make Me Over,” “Walk On By,” “Anyone Who Had a Heart,” “I Say a Little Prayer,” “Alfie,” “Do You Know the Way to San Jose?” and “Promises, Promises.” These songs showcased Bacharach’s distinctive style - changing time signatures, jazzy chords, unexpected modulations - and cemented Warwick as the definitive voice for his melodies.
Beyond Warwick, Bacharach and David also wrote major hits for other artists, such as “What the World Needs Now Is Love” for Jackie DeShannon, “This Guy’s in Love with You” for Herb Alpert, and “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head,” sung by B.J. Thomas for the film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, which won them an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1970. Burt’s work on that film, and others such as Casino Royale and What’s New Pussycat?, revealed his talent for scoring, often blending pop and orchestral traditions.
In the 1970s, after parting ways with Hal David following an acrimonious dispute related to the failure of their musical Lost Horizon, Burt continued to compose, perform, and record, often collaborating with other lyricists such as Carole Bayer Sager, whom he married in 1982. Together they wrote hits like “That’s What Friends Are For,” recorded by Dionne Warwick and friends as a charity single for AIDS research, and “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do),” co-written with Peter Allen and Christopher Cross, which won an Oscar.
His remarkable early success continued. He released several albums during the 80s, including Burt Bacharach, (1981), The Burt Bacharach Collection (1982), Make It Easy on Yourself (1983), and At This Time. (2005). He also wrote music for the films Arthur (1981) and Lost In America (1985). Additionally, he collaborated with other artists such as Elvis Costello (with whom he recorded the acclaimed album Painted from Memory , Dionne Warwick, Michael McDonald, and Christopher Cross.
His hits during the 1990s included "That's What Friends Are For" (1995), "The Look of Love" (1997), and "What The World Needs Now Is Love" (1999). He also wrote scores for a number of films, including The Addams Family Values (1993) and Grace of My Heart (1996).
As he entered his seventies. Burt continued to compose and perform with a wide range of artists, releasing the critically acclaimed album At This Time in 2005 which featured collaborations with Elvis Costello, Rufus Wainwright and Chris Botti. In 2006 he collaborated with Hal David on an album called Painted From Memory which won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals. In 2008 he released another solo album called One Amazing Night featuring collaborations by Dr John, Dionne Warwick and Stevie Wonder among others. Subsequently, Burt worked on numerous movie scores including The Look Of Love (2013), Red 2 (2013) and On The Basis Of Sex (2018).
His music influenced countless songwriters and found renewed appreciation in the 1990s and 2000s, both through covers and appearances in films such as Austin Powers, where he made cameo appearances playing his trademark grand piano.
Burt Bacharach died on 8th February 2023 in Los Angeles, California, USA aged 94. of undisclosed causes. His legacy endured through a vast and influential catalogue of songs that balanced sophistication and emotional immediacy, making him one of the most important songwriters in 20th-century American music.
International Songwriters Association Hall Of Fame Member.
The above is just one of the many profiles of leading songwriters, singers, musicians and music industry personnel, published by the International Songwriters Association and "Songwriter Magazine". Please click HERE for more.
© Jim Liddane
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