Bacharach’s songs have been recorded by some of the most influential artists in the World. Songs that would become classics…
OBITUARY by Ian Woolley
His compositions have earned 94-year-old Burt Bacharach countless awards including Grammys, Oscars, and Emmys. In his lifetime of writing, the classically trained pianist has written over seventy Top 40 hits on both sides of the Atlantic.
Born in Kansas City in 1928, as a child he studied piano, drums, and cello before moving to New York City. It was there his early musical influences were from jazz clubs when he would witness the likes of Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker.
Studying music theory at several prestigious schools in the city, his military service in Germany saw him play in various nightclubs. He backed the likes of Steve Lawrence, the Ames Brothers, and Paula Stewart, the latter of which he married in 1953.
When he returned to the US, he began to write songs for various artists. His first hit was “The Story Of My Life” sung by country singer Marty Robbins. Working with composer Hal David, they would go on to become one of the most successful songwriting partnerships in pop music history.
Dionne Warwick & Burt Bacharach at Pye Studios in 1964. Photograph: Trinity Mirror/Mirrorpix/Alamy
Working as a member of the Drifters’ backup vocal group, the Gospelaires, Dionne Warwick would become the vocal instrument for their perfectly crafted pop songs. “Anyone Who Had A Heart”, “Walk On By” and, “I Say A Little Prayer” all achieved worldwide sales that would span both sides of the Atlantic.
Artists such as Cilla Black, Sandie Shaw, and the Walker Brothers all had big-selling singles from the duo.
Working tirelessly very often through the night from the Brill building, they still found time to write some of the 60s greatest film scores like What’s New Pussycat? Alfie, and Casino Royale. It was in 1969 that they won two Oscars for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (best film score) and “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head” (best theme song).
Singing himself, Bacharach also made the UK charts with a top 5 hit “Trains and Boats and Planes” in 1968.
Although the 70s started brightly when The Carpenters reached the top spot with “(They Long to Be) Close to You” in the US, it would really be mostly downhill for the rest of the decade. They say bad luck comes in 3’s and songwriting partner David left, followed in close succession by Dionne Warwick and wife Angie Dickinson.
In his 2013 autobiography Anyone Who Had A Heart, Bacharach confessed that there was real friction between Marlene Dietrich (for whom he was working at the time), Dionne, and Angie. “By now it was getting serious with Angie and me, and that was a big threat for Marlene,” said Bacharach in the book.
“Because she didn’t want me to marry anybody. Not just Angie. Nobody!” he wrote.
It wouldn’t be until 1981 that he’d win another Oscar for Arthur’s Theme (sung by Christopher Cross). Two US chart toppers would follow, (with an all-star lineup including Warwick, Elton John, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder) and a duet by Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald “On My Own”.
In 1996, the BBC released a documentary of Bacharach with guest appearances of many artists who were greatly influenced by the songwriter.
In all, Bacharach married four times in his life including singer Carole Bayer-Sager in 1982. Through his many love interests and marriages, he expressed his most intimate feelings through the beautiful music he wrote. He died in his LA home on 8th February 2023. He was 94.