| Ask any modern singer or songwriter for a list of | | | | Burt Bacharach and Hal David then found success |
| their influences, and you're more than likely to see | | | | writing songs for artists like Johnny Mathis, Dionne |
| pop mastermind Burt Bacharach at the top of | | | | Warwick, The Drifters and Chuck Jackson in the |
| their list. Know best for his many hits that span | | | | early 1960s. Their popularity as a songwriting |
| the 1960s, '70s and '80s, Burt Bacharach's | | | | team snowballed as they continued to compose |
| songbook is one of the best known in modern | | | | hit songs for many of the brightest talents of the |
| times. | | | | time. |
| Burt Bacharach was born on May 12, 1928 in | | | | By the late 1960s and early 1970s, Burt |
| Kansas City, Missouri. From an early age, he | | | | Bacharach was writing songs for best artists |
| showed interest in music. He studied the subject | | | | around. Through the '60s, '70s and '80s, he was |
| extensively at the Mannes School of Music, McGill | | | | one of the most sought after songwriters in the |
| University and the Music Academy of the West in | | | | world. His list of clients included The Beatles, Dusty |
| Santa Barbara, California. | | | | Springfield, The Shirelles, The Carpenters, Aretha |
| Bacharach's career began to blossom in 1957 | | | | Franklin, Tom Jones, Herb Alpert and Luther |
| when he joined forces with lyrical mastermind Hal | | | | Vandross. |
| David. A year later, their first big hit was recorded | | | | His success carried over into the 1990s and |
| by Marty Robbins, entitled "The Story of My Life." | | | | beyond into the new millennium. He worked with |
| It became a number one hit on U.S. country and | | | | Elvis Costello on a Grammy award winning album |
| UK charts. The success was followed up in early | | | | entitled, "Painted From Memory" in 1998. He even |
| 1958 with Perry Como's hit, "Magic Moments." | | | | collaborated with hip hop mogul Dr. Dre on his |
| Como's song reached number four hit on | | | | recent album release entitled, "At This Time. |
| American charts and number one in the UK. | | | | |