Burt Bacharach
Burt Bacharach (1928-2023) was one of the world's most acclaimed, award-winning composer/songwriters. His music is as diverse as his audiences, spanning generations and continents, as he is celebrated both as a pop culture icon and one of the world’s greatest contemporary composers. Bacharach’s credits read like the world’s favorite radio stations’ playlist: “Alfie,” “Arthur’s Theme,” “Close To You,” “Do You Know The Way To San Jose,” “I Say A Little Prayer,” “I'll Never Fall In Love Again,” “This Guy’s In Love With You,” “Walk On By,” “What The World Needs Now Is Love,” and “Wishin' And Hopin’” are among just the 48 top ten hits and nine #1 songs. Bacharach and Hal David were the recipients of the 2012 Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. The prize is awarded to musicians whose lifetime contributions in the field of popular song exemplify the standard of excellence associated with the Gershwins. Bacharach and David received the Library’s Gershwin Medal in May 2012 at an all-star tribute in Washington, DC. Bacharach’s memoir, Anyone Who Had a Heart, was released in May 2013. For the first time in his long and astonishing career, Bacharach told his story of love, heartbreak, success, failure, and unbridled ambition in Anyone Who Had a Heart, which is named after one of many songs Bacharach and David wrote for Dionne Warwick. The memoir was published by HarperCollins. Bacharach composed his first film score in 16 years for John Asher’s autism-based drama film Po. The film was released in April 2016. Po tells the story of a recently widowed father struggling to raise his ten-year-old son who has autism. Bacharach and Daniel Tashian released two new songs called “Moon Over Wichita” and “Heartbreak Storms” via Big Yellow Dog Music in April 2022. The songs are a continuation of their Grammy nominated Blue Umbrella EP, released in 2020, and Blue Umbrella (The Complete Recordings), which was released in 2021 and featured four never-before-heard songs. Bacharach and Steven Sater's Some Lovers, featuring vocal performances from some of Broadway's most beloved co-stars, was released on November 26, 2021. The album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.
Hal David
Hal David (1921-2012) is known for his award-winning lyrics that have been featured in films, Broadway shows, and music charts throughout his career. Being honored through numerous Grammys, the NARM Presidential Award, and more, he is most known for his collaborations with composer Burt Bacharach whom he met in 1957. The two wrote their first hit, "The Story of My Life", and then continued to write iconic American pop songs throughout the 1960s and 70s. In 2012, David and Burt Bacharach received the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. But the duo was not just known for the pop songs they created, they also wrote for movies, four of their songs being nominated for Academy Awards: “What’s New, Pussycat?,” “Alfie,” “The Look of Love” and “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head.” “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head” also won an Oscar in 1970. Lincoln College bestowed a Doctor of Music degree on David for his contribution to American music. In October of 2007, David received an Honorary Degree from the Five Towns College in Long Island, and in addition, they named their new Music Library building "The Hal David Music Library." David is a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and was the first non-British person to receive the Ivor Novello Award from the British Performing Rights Society.