One of pop music's greatest composers, Burt Bacharach, has died aged 94.
He wrote enduring hits like I Say A Little Prayer, Walk On By and What The World Needs Now Is Love.
Bacharach died on Wednesday at home in Los Angeles of natural causes, his publicist Tina Brausam said.
Burt Bacharach, the iconic American composer, songwriter, and record producer, passed away at the age of 94 on February 8, 2023. He was a true legend in the music industry, having created some of the most memorable and timeless songs in popular music history.
Bacharach was born in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1928. He grew up in a musical family and began playing piano at a young age. He studied music at the Mannes College of Music in New York City and later at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, California. In the 1950s, he began working as a songwriter in New York City and eventually moved to Los Angeles to work in the film and television industry.
It was in the 1960s when Bacharach really hit his stride as a songwriter, teaming up with lyricist Hal David to create a string of hit songs for some of the biggest names in the music business, including Dionne Warwick, Tom Jones, Dusty Springfield, and many others. Songs such as "What the World Needs Now is Love," "I Say a Little Prayer," and "Walk on By" became instant classics and remain popular to this day.
Bacharach's unique blend of pop, jazz, and classical elements, combined with his memorable melodies and intricate arrangements, made him one of the most recognizable and influential songwriters of the 20th century. He won six Grammy Awards, was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Popular Music.
In addition to his songwriting, Bacharach was also a highly successful record producer, working with some of the biggest names in the industry, including Barbra Streisand, Frank Sinatra, and Elvis Costello. He was known for his innovative and creative approach to production, and his work on albums such as "Promises, Promises" and "Reach Out" helped to define the sound of popular music in the 1960s and 1970s.
Bacharach continued to write and record music well into his 80s and 90s, releasing several albums and collaborating with a new generation of musicians and songwriters. His music continues to be beloved by fans all over the world, and his influence can be heard in the work of countless musicians and songwriters who followed in his footsteps.
Burt Bacharach was a true giant of popular music, and his legacy will continue to inspire and entertain for generations to come. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him, and his music will live on as a testament to his incredible talent and creativity.
