Songwriting legend Burt Bacharach died of natural causes on February 8th at age 94. Bacharach was responsible for some of the most memorable pop songs of the 20th century many co-written with Hal David. Dionne Warwick became a star in the ’60s singing “Don’t Make Me Over,” Anyone Who Had A Heart,” “Walk On By,” “I Say A Little Prayer” and “Do You Know The Way To San Jose” all written by Bacharach and David. Their work continued with endless hits recorded by Dusty Springfield, Herb Alpert, Tom Jones, Christopher Cross, Rod Stewart, Neil Diamond, Patti LaBelle and so many others. “The Look Of Love,” “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head” “Promises Promises” “I’ll Never Fall In Love Again” and “Only Love Can Keep Break A Heart” would all be recorded by several artists through the decades. Aretha Franklin recorded “I Say A Little Prayer” in the ’60s and Luther Vandross would be one of the artists to bring his legacy to the ’80s with his recording of “A House Is Not A Home.”
Warwick’s career was revived in the ’80s when she recorded “That’s What Friends Are For” written by Bacharach and his partner Carole Bayer Sager. Bacharach started recording as a solo artist in 1965 and was most successful in that realm with his song “Trains and Boats and Planes” becoming a top hit in the UK that year. In the late ’90s, he co-wrote the Grammy-winning album Painted From Memory with Elvis Costello. His 2005 solo album At This Time, had guest appearances from Elvis Costello, Rufus Wainwright and Dr. Dre. Ron Isley collaborated with Bacharach on the Here I Am album of his compositions in Isley’s style. In 2013, Bacharach’s autobiography, Anyone Who Had A Heart was released. The songwriter was active through his later years performing at Glastonbury in 2015, scoring the film A Boy Called Po and working with pop artist Daniel Tashian. He was honored with induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. There are plans to release another Elvis Costello collaboration album in March 2023. The Songs of Bacharach and Costello are from the musical Taken From Life.
