Burt Bacharach was a legendary figure in modern American music. The charismatic pop musician, who was 94 when he recently died at his home in Los Angeles, had an incredible track record of success with music that ranged from romantic ballads to upbeat jazz numbers.
How did Burt Bacharach die? What was his cause of death?
Burt Bacharach, a charismatic pop musician and record producer, died at his home in Los Angeles on Feb 8 ,at the age of 94. He was beloved for his debonair style of composing, arranging, conducting and producing which encapsulated the optimism of 1960s romance in his songs. Cause of death has not been specified by his publicist Tina Brausam, who did confirm the news with the AP shortly after it happened. Tributes to the influence he had on the music industry have poured in from fans of all backgrounds and generations, reminding us all that Bacharach’s jazz-inflected pop remains timeless nearly 50 years later.
Burt Bacharach dies at 94. The legendary composer created hits for Dionne Warwick, Tom Jones, Aretha Franklin and more. https://t.co/pcnWSWgS0E
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) February 9, 2023
Who was Burt Bacharach?
Burt Freeman Bacharach was a trailblazing American composer, songwriter, and pianist who penned hundreds of pop classics throughout the many decades of his career. A six-time Grammy Award winner and three-time Academy Award winner, he composed an assortment of chart-topping hits that have been covered by well over 1,000 different artists. Incredibly, Bacharach wrote 73 US and 52 UK Top 40 hits throughout his lifetime
Legendary composer Burt Bacharach was born in Kansas City, Missouri and grew up in Kew Gardens, New York. He graduated from Forest Hills High School in 1946 and was the son of Irma M. (Freeman) and Mark Bertram “Bert” Bacharach, a well-known syndicated columnist. His mother was a talented painter and songwriter which led to his childhood piano lessons. Although his family was Jewish, he didn’t practice or give much attention to the religion growing up, surrounded by Catholic peers instead.
Awards and recognition
Burt Bacharach’s musical contribution to culture began in 1968, when he won a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement for Alfie. Two years later, Burt followed up with a duo of awards: The first, a Grammy recognizing Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid as the Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special; and the second, a Grammy awarded to Promises, Promises as the Best Musical Theater Album.
Burt Bacharach was again honored by the Academy Awards when his song Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head received recognition in 1970 as Best Original Song; Burt also received an Oscar that year for his original score on Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. In 1971 Burt was acknowledged with an Emmy Award for Outstanding Single Program – Variety or Musical-Variety-Popular Music for Singer Presents Burt Bacharach. Burt’s four decades of work in songwriting have earned him numerous awards throughout his career.
Tributes pours to Burt death
My condolences must go out to this great American Music composer’s family.
May Burt Bacharach rest in paradise.🙏
Sad Reading…RIP Burt Bacharach, wonderful songwriter of great songs and melodies.
Burt Bacharach and Hal David wrote many wonderful songs in the ’60s and ’70s. Arguably helped launch the career of Dionne Warwick, among many other singers.
OH WOW, PRAYERS FOR THE FAMILY AND MILLIONS OF FANS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. ALSO FOR ONE OF HIS GREATEST COLLABORATORS, MISS DIONE WARWICK.
I have fond memories of the “Bacharach Era”. RIP Burt. My fave? “A House Is Not a Home”
