Burt Bacharach

Burt Freeman Bacharach (May 12, 1928 – February 8, 2023) was an American composer, songwriter, record producer, and pianist. Widely considered one of the most important and influential figures in 20th-century popular music, he was known for his sophisticated melodies and complex orchestrations. Over the course of his career, he wrote hundreds of pop songs, garnering six Grammy Awards and three Academy Awards.

Early Life and Connection to Forest Hills Gardens

Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Bacharach moved to Queens, New York, as a young child. After a brief period in Kew Gardens, the family settled in Forest Hills Gardens, a planned community known for its English garden city style. He lived at 150 Burns Street in The Grosvenor Square, a historic Tudor-style apartment building near the West Side Tennis Club.

Burt Bacharach grew up in this apartment building in Forest Hills Gardens

Bacharach was deeply embedded in the local community. He attended P.S. 101 (The School in the Gardens) and graduated from Forest Hills High School in 1946. It was here that his musical ambitions took root; at age 15, he formed a 10-piece band with classmates, playing at local parties and dances. He also honed his skills playing piano at the nearby Forest Hills Inn piano bar, a popular local gathering spot.

Although he initially showed more interest in sports than music, he studied cello, drums, and piano as a child. As a teenager, he was captivated by the bebop era of jazz, frequently sneaking into New York clubs to watch legends like Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker. He formally studied music at McGill University in Montreal, the Mannes School of Music in New York, and the Music Academy of the West in Montecito, California.

Career Beginnings

After serving in the U.S. Army, Bacharach began his career in the 1950s as a pianist and conductor for singers such as Vic Damone and Steve Lawrence. A significant early milestone was his tenure as the musical director and arranger for Marlene Dietrich, with whom he toured worldwide from 1958 to 1964.

During this period, he began working as a songwriter in New York’s famous Brill Building. It was there, in 1957, that he met lyricist Hal David, initiating one of the most successful songwriting partnerships in history. Their early hits included “The Story of My Life” (Marty Robbins) and “Magic Moments” (Perry Como).

The Golden Era: Collaboration with Hal David and Dionne Warwick

In 1961, Bacharach discovered a young backup singer named Dionne Warwick during a recording session for The Drifters. Recognizing her unique vocal ability to navigate his complex melodies, Bacharach and David began writing almost exclusively for her.

This trio produced an extraordinary run of 39 chart-topping hits over the next decade. Songs such as “Walk On By,” “I Say a Little Prayer,” “Do You Know the Way to San Jose,” and “Anyone Who Had a Heart” defined the “Bacharach Sound”—a blend of jazz textures, unconventional time signatures, and romantic lyrics.

Bacharach returned to his roots during the height of his fame, performing at the Forest Hills Stadium as part of the Forest Hills Music Festival in 1966, 1967, 1968, and 1970. He also participated in the 1973 Robert F. Kennedy Pro-Celebrity Tennis Tournament held at the stadium, showcasing his lifelong love for tennis on the courts he grew up near.

Musical Style

Bacharach’s music was distinct for its sophistication. Unlike standard pop songs of the era, his compositions often featured changing meters, asymmetrical phrasing, and complex chord progressions influenced by his background in jazz and classical music. Despite their complexity, his songs remained accessible and commercially successful, leading him to be described as a composer who revolutionized the pop song format.

Mid-Career and Resurgence

The Bacharach-David partnership dissolved in the early 1970s following the critical and commercial failure of the musical film Lost Horizon (1973), which resulted in lawsuits and a period of estrangement.

Bacharach revitalized his career in the 1980s through a collaboration with lyricist Carole Bayer Sager, whom he later married. Together, they wrote hits such as “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)” (for which he won his third Oscar) and the AIDS charity anthem “That’s What Friends Are For,” recorded by Warwick, Elton John, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder.

In the 1990s, Bacharach experienced a cultural resurgence, championed by a new generation of musicians. He collaborated with Elvis Costello on the acclaimed 1998 album Painted from Memory and made iconic cameo appearances in the Austin Powers film franchise, introducing his music to younger audiences.

Personal Life

Bacharach was married four times:

  1. Paula Stewart (1953–1958): An actress and singer.
  2. Angie Dickinson (1965–1981): The famous actress; they had a daughter, Nikki Bacharach, who struggled with Asperger’s syndrome and died by suicide in 2007 at age 40.
  3. Carole Bayer Sager (1982–1991): A lyricist and songwriter; they adopted a son, Christopher.
  4. Jane Hansen (1993–2023): They remained married until his death and had two children, Oliver and Raleigh.

Death

Burt Bacharach died of natural causes at his home in Los Angeles, California, on February 8, 2023, at the age of 94.

Sources

Famous Residents