Successful songwriter – hit composer Burt Bacharach died – culture

He became known with evergreens like “Walk On By”, “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head” or “I Say A Little Prayer”. The American composer and pianist Burt Bacharach has died at the age of 94.

Over 500 songs, several Grammys and Golden Globes, three Oscars: Burt Bacharach has had a meteoric career. The musician, who was also an arranger, conductor and producer and sometimes even sang himself, was one of the most successful US composers since the 1950s. During his career he has placed more than 70 tracks in the top 40 of the US charts.

His evergreens include songs like “Do You Know the Way to San Jose”, “That’s What Friends Are For” or “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again”.

By first name with Dietrich

The songs he wrote for the singer Dionne Warwick in the 1960s and 1970s were particularly successful. The German icon Marlene Dietrich also accompanied Bacharach for several years.

Along with lyricist Hal David, the composer also wrote songs for Aretha Franklin, Dusty Springfield, Tom Jones and many others. The two had 30 top 40 hits in the US in the 1960s alone.

Legend:

Their collaboration wrote music history: Burt Bacharach and Dionne Warwick recording together in the London studio on November 29, 1964.

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Bacharach has received numerous awards for his work. He was a six-time Grammy winner. He was also recognized for the Broadway musical Promises, Promises.

Two Oscars for “Two Bandits”

The composer also received three Oscars. In 1970 there were two: on the one hand for the film music for “Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid” (“Two Bandits”), on the other hand for the film song “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head”, which he had written together with Hal David .

In 1982, Burt Bacharach and his then-wife, lyricist Carole Bayer Sager, won another Oscar, this time for the song “Best That You Can Do,” the theme song for the film Arthur. Also for the comedy «What’s New, Pussycat?» and the 1967 James Bond parody «Casino Royale» Bacharach created the film score.

Despite his successes, Burt Bacharch always remained humble. He is a person who always tries to work with melodies, he once said. Bacharach died of natural causes on January 8th at his home in Los Angeles surrounded by his family. This was announced by his spokeswoman on Thursday.