Biography
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Born
12 May 1928
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Born In
Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri, United States
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Died
8 February 2023 (aged 94)
Burt Freeman Bacharach (May 12, 1928 – February 8, 2023) was an American composer, songwriter, record producer, and pianist, recognised for his extensive contributions to 20th-century popular music. Beginning in the 1950s, he composed numerous pop songs, many in collaboration with lyricist Hal David. His compositions are noted for their unconventional chord progressions, varied time signatures, and distinctive instrumentation, drawing influence from his background in jazz. Bacharach often arranged, conducted, and produced his own recordings.
Over 1,000 artists have recorded his songs. Between 1961 and 1972, Bacharach and David frequently wrote for Dionne Warwick, though their earlier collaborations between 1957 and 1963 involved artists such as Marty Robbins, Perry Como, Gene McDaniels, and Jerry Butler. After establishing their success, Bacharach composed songs for performers including Gene Pitney, Cilla Black, Dusty Springfield, Tom Jones, and B. J. Thomas.
He achieved 52 Top 40 hits in the United States, with several reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100, including "This Guy's in Love with You" by Herb Alpert, "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" by B. J. Thomas, "(They Long to Be) Close to You" by the Carpenters, "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" by Christopher Cross, "That's What Friends Are For" by Dionne Warwick, and "On My Own" by Carole Bayer Sager. His work earned him multiple accolades, including six Grammy Awards, three Academy Awards, and one Emmy Award.
Later in his career, Bacharach’s music was widely featured in film soundtracks, and he remained a prominent figure in popular culture. His influence extended into genres such as easy listening, chamber pop, and Shibuya-kei. In 2012, he and Hal David received the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, the first songwriting team to receive the award. In 2015, Rolling Stone ranked them 32nd on its list of the 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time.
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