Hal David Death

Hal David has died in Los Angeles, California at age 91, leaving songwriting partner Burt Bacharach, the music industry and generations of fans to mourn the death of lyricist Hal David.

Half of the legendary Burt Bacharach-Hal David composing duo, Hal David transformed song lyrics into gold and platinum records for many of music's top recording artists.

Dionne Warwick, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Tom Jones, Marty Robbins, The Carpenters, BJ Thomas, Jackie DeShannon, Julio Iglesias, Willie Nelson, Perry Como, Dusty Springfield, Gene Pitney, Louie Armstrong, The 5th Dimension, Herb Alpert, Lou Christie, José Feliciano, Wayne Fontana, The Four Seasons, The Hippos, Jay and the Americans, Patti LaBelle, Brenda Lee, Juice Newton, Peggy Lee, Martha and the Vandellas, Barbara Mason, La Lupe, Johnny Mathis, Don Williams, The Troggs, Michael McDonald and N*ked Eyes.

Those are just a few of the hundreds of singers and bands who have recorded the profoundly popular lyrics of songwriting icon Hal David.   

Hal David's cause of death was complications from a stroke, according to doctors at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where Mr. David served on the Board of Governors.

Harold Lane David was born on May 25, 1921 to Austrian immigrant parents.  He always knew that he wanted to be a songwriter, but Hal David did not know he would become a music industry giant and an L.A. legend.

A Grammy winner, an Oscar winner, and a prolific lyricist, Hal David wrote more than 1,000 pop songs, including the following timeless megahits:

• "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head"
• "Walk On By"
• "Promises, Promises"
• "I'll Never Fall In Love Again"
• "What The World Needs Now Is Love"
• "I Say A Little Prayer"
• "Broken Hearted Melody"
• "Do You Know The Way To San Jose"
• "(They Long To Be) Close To You"
• "This Guy's In Love With You"
• "One Less Bell To Answer"
• "Anyone Who Had A Heart"
• "Sea Of Heartbreak"
• "What's New Pussycat?"
• "Alfie"
• "The Look Of Love"
• "We Have All The Time In The World"
• "Johnny Get Angry"
• "To All The Girls I've Loved Before"

...and, of course, the metasong "Always Something There To Remind Me," which has been recorded by nearly everyone in music and is still playing on the radio in 2012.

In addition to winning a Grammy Award and an Academy Award, Hal David was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, and was presented with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Mr. David was the founder of the Los Angeles Music Center who served for six years as President of ASCAP, served on the advisory board of the Society of Singers, and was an intellectual property rights reformer.

On top of his role as a member of the Board of Governors at Cedars-Sinai, Hal David was Chairman of the National Academy of Popular Music, and Chairman of the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Hal David and Burt Bacharach were awarded the Gershwin Prize by the U.S. Library of Congress, along with a Washington, DC presentation ceremony in May 2012.  It was the first time a songwriting team was honored with the national award.

The late Hal David is survived by his wife of 24 years, Eunice David, two sons, two stepsons and three grandchildren, along with friends, colleagues and fans who mourn the death of Hal David.

Hal David 1921-2012

"Always Something There To Remind Me"