Burt Bacharach was an American composer, pianist and singer known for his work in pop music and film. He studied music at McGill University and the Mannes School of Music. In the 1950s and early 1960s he was pianist, arranger and bandleader for Marlene Dietrich, with whom he toured. In the 1960s and 1970s, he co-wrote many popular songs with lyricist Hal David and others.
Bacharach began his career in the 1950s as a pianist and arranger on the jazz scene. In the 1960s, however, he became known as a songwriter and producer of such hits as “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head,” “I Say a Little Prayer” and “What the World Needs Now Is Love.” Together with his longtime lyricist Hal David, he created many well-known songs that were interpreted by artists such as Dionne Warwick, Dusty Springfield, Tom Jones and many others.
Bacharach’s work was highly praised by many critics and musicians, and he won several Grammys as well as an Oscar for Best Song in 1982 (“Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)”). He has also been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Bacharach’s music has a great influence on pop music and is still frequently covered and reinterpreted today.
You can find an excerpt of his works via the author’s biography in the database.
