Hal David May 25, 1921 – September 1, 2012

The American songwriter Hal David died yesterday. Famous for his writing partnership with Burt Bacharach he wrote some of the worlds most enduring romantic songs. Songs such as “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,”  “Anyone Who Had a Heart,” “What’s New Pussycat?”, “Alfie,” “The Look of Love,” “Don’t Make Me Over,” “(They Long to Be) Close to You” and “Walk On By”.

In the end with their muse Dionne Warwick , they created an enduring and creative partnership in which Dionne Warwick interpreted a song which the duo wrote and produced. They were so successful that they were able to survive the ‘British invasion’ during the 1960’s. In fact in the late 1990’s there was a big underground movement which saw a return of ‘easy listening’ music on the London club scene. In this scene men in turtle neck sweaters and women in optical illusion dresses chilled out to David/Bacharach/Warwick music.

The partnership broke up after a song they wrote for the film ‘Lost Horizon’ had the misfortune to be part of a film which bombed and subsequently the partnership broke up. After this Hal David went into a quiet period and only resurfaced in 2011 when he and Burt Bacharach  were awarded the 2011 Gershwin Prize for Popular Song bestowed by the Library of Congress, the first time a songwriting team was given the honor. David was recuperating from a recent illness and was unable to attend the Washington D.C. presentation ceremony in May 2012. He died on September 1st 2012 of a stroke.

Here are some of his greatest hits:

Alfie – Dionne Warwick

I’ll never fall in love again – Dionne Warwick

 Don’t Make Me Over – Dionne Warwick