Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on my Head”
OSCAR (3 times), TONY, and GRAMMY (8 times): All were won by Burt Bacharach (born in May of 1928 in Kansas City, Missouri)—composer, arranger, innovator, throwback, singer, performer, perfectionist, and even a worker with rapper, Dr. Dre, and singers, Elvis Costello and Sheryl Crow! 1982— Carole Bayer Sager (noted lyricist) and he teamed up to present the award winning, “Best That You Can Do,” the theme from the motion picture, ARTHUR. And, he also wrote soundtracks for Casino Royale, Alfie, and What’s New Pussycat?—still available for rental today!
He once told the Associated Press the following: “Music softens the heart, makes you feel something if it’s good, brings in emotion that you might not have felt before……it’s a very powerful thing……” If you want to experiment with his beliefs, listen to the song, “THE LOOK OF LOVE.” And also listen to his songs performed by Roberta Flack! He received some of his education at the Mannes School of Music, McGill University. He was best known for “pop songs” and “easy listening” and had 73 “Top 40 Hits” in the United States and more elsewhere.
Raised in New York and had an Army tour, he was married four times—Paula Stewart, ’53-’58—Angie Dickinson, ’65-‘80— Carole Bayer Sager, ’82-‘91—Jane Hansen, ’93 to present.
These four wives seemed to attest to his reputation as a “swinger” of his time, as did several other romances.
When Bacharach music was played, music “was in the air.”
At the “ripe ol’ age of ’94,” this quirky arranger, a genius of his era and music time, will never again direct or play “Walk on By,” “Alfie,” “I Say a Little Prayer,” “This Guy’s in Love with You,” “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again,” or “Do You Know the Way to San Jose?”…..and some famous folks, who “covered his songs”—Cyndi Lauper, Dionne Warwick, Stranglers (English punk rockers), Isaac Hayes, Ashanti, and Twista, will never do so again with him in the audience, for he has passed on, but his music will never die! Exemplifying his wide appeal, he appeared for and was a guest of U. S. Presidents from both Parties and was presented with his GERSHWIN PRIZE by President Obama in 2012.
Hal David and Burt Bacharach collaborated with Perry Como for a “million seller” with ”Magic Moments,” and later the two (songwriter, composer) joined Dionne Warrick (or vice-versa) for numerous hits, such as “Walk on By.” I will close by saying that this man’s songs were my favorite “Doctor’s Office Music.” They really calmed me and put my mind at ease!
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