Burt Bacharach, one of pop's greatest songwriters, dies aged 94
By Mark Savage
Music correspondent, BBC News
Bacharach with Dionne Warwick in the studio in 1964
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.
Along with lyricist Hal David, he also wrote numerous movie themes including What's New, Pussycat, Alfie, and The Look Of Love, a major hit for Dusty Springfield.
Bacharach died on Wednesday at home in Los Angeles of natural causes, his publicist Tina Brausam said.
Known for his airborne melodies and sumptuous orchestral arrangements, Bacharach was one of the most important songwriters of the 20th Century.
Over his career, he scored 50 chart hits in the US and UK, working with artists including Dionne Warwick, Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, Barbra Streisand, Tom Jones, Aretha Franklin and Elvis Costello.
His most popular songs included:
- Magic Moments - Perry Como
- I Say A Little Prayer - Aretha Franklin
- What Do You Get When You Fall In Love - Dionne Warwick
- The Look of Love - Dionne Warwick
- Close To You - The Carpenters
- Alfie - Dionne Warwick
- Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head - BJ Thomas
- 24 Hours From Tulsa - Gene Pitney
- Make It Easy on Yourself - The Walker Brothers
- I Just Don't Know What to Do With Myself - Dusty Springfield
- Alfie - Cilla Black
- What's New, Pussycat? - Tom Jones
- Arthur's Theme - Christopher Cross
- Anyone Who Had A Heart - Dionne Warwick/Cilla Black
'Our Beethoven'
Bacharach won three Oscars, two Golden Globes and six competitive Grammy Awards, and was hailed as music's "greatest living composer" when he accepted the Grammy lifetime achievement honour in 2008.
Tributes flooded in from across the music world.
The Beach Boys' Brian Wilson said Bacharach was "a hero of mine and very influential on my work", adding: "He was a giant in the music business. His songs will live forever," he added.
Former Oasis star
Noel Gallagher posted: "RIP Maestro. It was a pleasure to have known you."
Oscar-winning songwriter Diane Warren said the field had "lost its Beethoven", while film and TV composer David Arnold agreed he was "one of the greatest songwriters of all time".
Full article - Burt Bacharach, one of pop's greatest songwriters, dies aged 94
Pictured on stage in London with Adele in 2008