Hal David

Hal David (born May 25, 1921 in New York City, New York) is an American lyricist and songwriter. His elder brother, Mack David, was also a lyricist and songwriter. David is best known for his words and music that were written along with musician, composer and singer, Burt Bacharach. David is credited with popular music lyrics beginning in the 1940s with material written for band leader Sammy Kaye, and Guy Lombardo. In 1957 David met Burt Bacharach at Famous Music in the Brill Building in New York. The two teamed up and wrote their first hit "The Story of My Life" recorded by Marty Robbins in 1957. Later that year the duo wrote the Perry Como hit "Magic Moments". By the 1960s, '70s and '80s Bacharach and David were responsible for writing some of the most enduring songs in American popular music. The music of Bacharach and David includes songs written for, or made popular by artists such as Dionne Warwick, Dusty Springfield, B. J. Thomas, Gene Pitney, Tom Jones, Jackie DeShannon, and others in the 1960s. His best selling hits include: "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head", "This Guy's in Love with You", "I'll Never Fall in Love Again", "Do You Know the Way to San Jose", "Walk on By", "What the World Needs Now Is Love", "I Say a Little Prayer", "(There's) Always Something There to Remind Me", "One Less Bell to Answer", and "Anyone Who Had a Heart". "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" won an Academy Award as the score for the movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. "Don't Make Me Over", "(They Long to Be) Close to You", and Walk on By are all in the Grammy Hall of Fame. "What's New Pussycat?" (the theme song to the film of the same name), "Alfie", and "The Look of Love" received Oscar nominations. He also co-wrote many country music hits, including Willie Nelson's "To All the Girls I've Loved Before". For these and many other songs, Hal David is considered to be one of the most influential songwriters of the 20th century. In 1970 Johnny Mathis issued a double-LP album set, "Sings the Music of Bacharach & Kaempfert," for Columbia. It consisted of a total 21 tracks in a heavyweight gatefold picture sleeve. The Bert Kaempfert tracks were done in the arrangement style of the great German composer and orchestra leader, and the Bacharach/David tracks were done in the Americans' unique upbeat style. Other achievements: * In 1984 he was elected to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. * He received a Doctor of Music degree from Lincoln College, Illinois in 1991 for his major contribution to American music. * In May 2000 he received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters Degree from Claremont Graduate University. * He is a Founder of the Los Angeles Music Center * He is a member of the Board of Governors of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. * He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of ASCAP, having served as its President, and where he now works on reform of intellectual property rights. * He serves the Advisory Board of the Society of Singers. * He is a member of the Board of Visitors of Claremont University in California. * He is currently the Chairman of the Board of the National Academy of Popular Music and its Songwriters Hall of Fame. Work on Broadway: * Promises, Promises (1968) - musical - lyricist - Tony Nomination for Best Musical * André DeShield's Haarlem Nocturne (1984) - revue - featured songwriter * The Look of Love (2003) - revue - lyricist