RIP Burt Bacharach

 A master tunesmith.  You are going to read variations of that sentence many times when discussing the career of Burt Bacharach.  He was a genius songwriter.  A composer of some of the most perfect melodies ever crafted in Pop music.  His greatest moments occurred with Hal David (who died in 2012).  David wrote the words, Bacharach the music. It was an undeniable partnership.  And throughout the 60's it was their work with Dionne Warwick that turned them into songwriting legends.  You know the songs: Walk On By, Don't Make Me Over, Alfie, Do You Know The Way To San Jose, I Say A Little Prayer, Anyone Who Had A Heart.  Two of my favorites that weren't big hits: Promises, Promises, Reach Out For Me. I shouldn't forget Bacharach/David's first two hits in the 50's as well.  The first with Marty Robbins' "Story Of My Life" in 1957, followed by Perry Como's "Magic Moments".

  There were other hits in the 60's too with Gene Pitney, Tom Jones, Jerry Butler, Chuck Jackson, Shirelles, Dusty Springfield, Jackie DeShannon, Herb Alpert and Love ("My Little Red Book"). Both Bacharach and David's hit pace slowed in the early 70's, but they still had with hits by the Fifth Dimension and the Carpenters. After the duo broke up in 1973 Bacharach's hits came to a crawl.  But he made a big comeback in the 80's with then wife and co-writer Carole Bayer Sager. There's "Arthur's Theme" and hits with Neil Diamond, Roberta Flack and "On My Own".  Plus "That's What Friends Are For" in 1985. 

  Although the Pop hits dried up in the 90's, Bacharach's songs continued to be covered.  In 1998 he made duet album with Elvis Costello that won a Grammy.  He did the same with Ron Isley in 2003. He continued to write music in his last years.

 I called Bacharach a master tunesmith at the opening of this tribute.  You could call him a master Pop craftsman as well.  Pop music Composers like Bacharach aren't as easy to find nowadays.  He set a standard. His legacy are the songs that will be covered for ages.