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Harold Lane David (May 25, 1921 – September 1, 2012) was an American lyricist. He grew up in New York City. He was best known for his collaborations with composer
Burt Bacharach Burt Freeman Bacharach ( ; born May 12, 1928) is an American composer, songwriter, record producer and pianist who composed hundreds of pop songs from the late 1950s through the 1980s, many in collaboration with lyricist Hal David. A six-time Gr ...
and his association with
Dionne Warwick Marie Dionne Warwick (; born December 12, 1940) is an American singer, actress, and television host. Warwick ranks among the 40 biggest U.S. hit makers between 1955 and 1999, based on her chart history on ''Billboards Hot 100 pop singles ch ...
.


Early life

David was born in New York City, a son of Austrian Jewish immigrants Lina (née Goldberg) and Gedalier David, who owned a delicatessen in New York. He is the younger brother of American lyricist and songwriter Mack David.


Career

David is credited with popular music lyrics, beginning in the 1940s with material written for bandleader Sammy Kaye and for Guy Lombardo. He worked with Morty Nevins of The Three Suns on four songs for the feature film '' Two Gals and a Guy'' (1951), starring Janis Paige and
Robert Alda Robert Alda (born Alfonso Giuseppe Giovanni Roberto D'Abruzzo; February 26, 1914 – May 3, 1986) was an Italian-American theatrical and film actor, a singer, and a dancer. He was the father of actors Alan and Antony Alda. Alda was featured in a ...
. In 1957, David met composer Burt Bacharach at Famous Music in the Brill Building in New York. The two teamed up and wrote their first hit "
The Story of My Life The Story of My Life or Story of My Life may refer to: Literature * ''The Story of My Life'' (biography), a 1903 autobiography by Helen Keller * ''Story of My Life'' (novel), 1988 novel by Jay McInerney * ''Histoire de ma vie'' (''Story of my l ...
", recorded by Marty Robbins in 1957. Subsequently, in the 1960s and early 1970s Bacharach and David wrote some of the most enduring songs in American popular music, many for
Dionne Warwick Marie Dionne Warwick (; born December 12, 1940) is an American singer, actress, and television host. Warwick ranks among the 40 biggest U.S. hit makers between 1955 and 1999, based on her chart history on ''Billboards Hot 100 pop singles ch ...
but also for The Carpenters, Dusty Springfield, B. J. Thomas, Gene Pitney,
Tom Jones Tom Jones may refer to: Arts and entertainment *Tom Jones (singer) (born 1940), Welsh singer * Tom Jones (writer) (1928–2023), American librettist and lyricist *''The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling'', a novel by Henry Fielding published in ...
, Jackie DeShannon and others. In the UK, a version of "The Story of My Life" recorded by Michael Holliday reached No. 1 in 1958 before being replaced by Perry Como's " Magic Moments", the first time any songwriter had consecutive #1 hits in the
UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...
. Bacharach and David hits included " Alfie", " 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 "Walk On By" is a song composed by Burt Bacharach, with lyrics by Hal David, for singer Dionne Warwick in 1963. The song peaked at number 6 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and number 1 on the Cash Box Rhythm and Blues Chart In June 1964 and w ...
", " 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" and " Anyone Who Had a Heart". The duo's film work includes the Oscar-nominated title songs for "
What's New Pussycat? ''What's New Pussycat?'' is a 1965 screwball comedy film directed by Clive Donner, written by Woody Allen in his first produced screenplay, and starring Allen in his acting debut, along with Peter Sellers, Peter O'Toole, Romy Schneider, Capuc ...
" and " Alfie", " The Look of Love", from '' Casino Royale''; and the Oscar-winning " Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" from '' Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid''. In addition, " Don't Make Me Over", " (They Long to Be) Close to You" and "
Walk On By "Walk On By" is a song composed by Burt Bacharach, with lyrics by Hal David, for singer Dionne Warwick in 1963. The song peaked at number 6 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and number 1 on the Cash Box Rhythm and Blues Chart In June 1964 and w ...
" have been inducted into the
Grammy Hall of Fame The Grammy Hall of Fame is a hall of fame to honor musical recordings of lasting qualitative or historical significance. Inductees are selected annually by a special member committee of eminent and knowledgeable professionals from all branches of ...
. David's work with other composers includes Albert Hammond for
Willie Nelson Willie Hugh Nelson (born April 29, 1933) is an American country musician. The critical success of the album ''Shotgun Willie'' (1973), combined with the critical and commercial success of '' Red Headed Stranger'' (1975) and ''Stardust'' (1978 ...
and
Julio Iglesias Julio José Iglesias de la Cueva (; born 23 September 1943) is a Spanish singer, songwriter and former professional footballer. Iglesias is recognized as the most commercially successful Spanish singer in the world and one of the top record ...
's " To All the Girls I've Loved Before"; Sarah Vaughan's " Broken Hearted Melody", with Sherman Edwards; the 1962 Joanie Sommers hit " Johnny Get Angry" also with Edwards; and "
99 Miles From L.A. "99 Miles from L.A." is a 1975 single written by Albert Hammond and Hal David and performed by Hammond. The song was Hammond's only number one on the Easy Listening chart as well as his most successful release on the chart. "99 Miles from L.A." s ...
" with Albert Hammond, recorded by Hammond and later Art Garfunkel. With
Paul Hampton Paul Hampton (born August 20, 1937) is an American actor, singer, lyricist and writer. He is listed as one of one hundred major architects of American rock and roll in the British rock journal "Footsoldiers and Kings." While he was a sophomore ...
, David co-wrote the country standard " Sea of Heartbreak", a hit for Don Gibson and others, and, with Archie Jordan, the top 20, Ronnie Milsap hit, "It Was Almost Like a Song". David contributed lyrics to three
James Bond film James Bond is a fictional character created by British novelist Ian Fleming in 1953. A British secret agent working for MI6 under the codename 007, Bond has been portrayed on film in twenty-seven productions by actors Sean Connery, David Niv ...
themes—in addition to "The Look of Love" from '' Casino Royale'' (1967) with Bacharach, he wrote " We Have All the Time in the World", with John Barry and sung by Louis Armstrong for the 1969 film ''
On Her Majesty's Secret Service On Her Majesty's Secret Service may refer to: * ''On Her Majesty's Secret Service'' (novel), a 1963 novel by Ian Fleming * ''On Her Majesty's Secret Service'' (film), a 1969 film adaptation of the novel ** ''On Her Majesty's Secret Service'' (sou ...
'', and in 1979, " Moonraker", also with Barry, sung by Bond regular Shirley Bassey for the film of the same name. David and Bacharach were awarded the 2011
Gershwin Prize The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song is an award given to a composer or performer for their lifetime contributions to popular music. Created in 2007 by the United States Library of Congress, the prize is named after brothers Ge ...
for Popular Song, bestowed by the
Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the country. The librar ...
, the first time a songwriting team was given the honor. David was recuperating from an illness and was unable to attend the Washington D.C. presentation ceremony in May 2012. The television tribute, ''What the World Needs Now: Words by Hal David'' was aired on public television stations and released on home video in 2019. The program was hosted by Bette Midler and contained archival interviews with Hal David, and commentary, tributes, and archival performances with
Burt Bacharach Burt Freeman Bacharach ( ; born May 12, 1928) is an American composer, songwriter, record producer and pianist who composed hundreds of pop songs from the late 1950s through the 1980s, many in collaboration with lyricist Hal David. A six-time Gr ...
,
Dionne Warwick Marie Dionne Warwick (; born December 12, 1940) is an American singer, actress, and television host. Warwick ranks among the 40 biggest U.S. hit makers between 1955 and 1999, based on her chart history on ''Billboards Hot 100 pop singles ch ...
, Valerie Simpson, Barbra Streisand,
Cher Cher (; born Cherilyn Sarkisian; May 20, 1946) is an American singer, actress and television personality. Often referred to by the media as the "Goddess of Pop", she has been described as embodying female autonomy in a male-dominated industr ...
, Dusty Springfield, B.J. Thomas, and Glen Campbell.


Personal life and death

David had two sons with his first wife Anne (died 1987). He married his second wife Eunice and had three grandchildren. David lived for many years in Roslyn, New York in the historic
Mackay Estate Dairyman's Cottage Mackay Estate Dairyman's Cottage is a historic home located at East Hills in Nassau County, New York, USA, designed about 1902 by architects Warren and Wetmore in an eclectic style. It is a -story frame house with a brick first floor set on a r ...
of the Harbor Hill estate. On September 1, 2012, David died from a stroke at
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is a nonprofit, tertiary, 886-bed teaching hospital and multi-specialty academic health science center located in Los Angeles, California. Part of the Cedars-Sinai Health System, the hospital employs a staff of over 2, ...
in Los Angeles, at the age of 91. He is interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park beside his first wife, Anne, who died in 1987.


Achievements

* 1972: inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame * 1984: elected to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame * 1991: received a Doctor of Music degree from Lincoln College, Illinois, for his major contribution to American music * May 2000: received an honorary doctorate of humane letters degree from Claremont Graduate University * Founder of the Los Angeles Music Center * Member of the board of governors of
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is a nonprofit, tertiary, 886-bed teaching hospital and multi-specialty academic health science center located in Los Angeles, California. Part of the Cedars-Sinai Health System, the hospital employs a staff of over 2, ...
* Member of the board of directors of ASCAP, having served as its president, and later worked on reform of intellectual property rights * Served on the advisory board of the Society of Singers * Member of the board of visitors of Claremont Graduate University in California * Chairman of the board of the National Academy of Popular Music and its Songwriters Hall of Fame * 2009: Golden Plate Award of the
American Academy of Achievement The American Academy of Achievement, colloquially known as the Academy of Achievement, is a non-profit educational organization that recognizes some of the highest achieving individuals in diverse fields and gives them the opportunity to meet o ...
* 2011: The Songwriters Hall of Fame presented him their newest award, the Visionary Leadership Award, for his decades of service * 2011: received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame * 2012: Gershwin prize recipient


Work on Broadway

*'' Promises, Promises'' (1968) –
musical Musical is the adjective of music Music is generally defined as the The arts, art of arranging sound to create some combination of Musical form, form, harmony, melody, rhythm or otherwise Musical expression, expressive content. Exact def ...
 – lyricist – Tony Nomination for Best Musical *''André DeShields' Haarlem Nocturne'' (1984) – revue – featured songwriter *'' The Look of Love'' (2003) – revue – lyricist


See also

* List of songwriter tandems *
List of songs written by Burt Bacharach This is a list of songs written by Burt Bacharach. Chart hits and other notable songs written by Burt Bacharach References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Burt Bacharach Lists of songs by songwriters, Bacharach, Burt Burt Bacharach, ...


References


External links

* *
Official Hal David website
* {{DEFAULTSORT:David, Hal 1921 births 2012 deaths 20th-century American Jews 21st-century American Jews APRA Award winners ASCAP composers and authors American lyricists American musical theatre lyricists American people of Austrian-Jewish descent Best Original Song Academy Award-winning songwriters Broadway composers and lyricists Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) Burt Bacharach Gershwin Prize recipients Grammy Award winners Jewish American musicians Jewish American songwriters Musicians from New York City Songwriters from New York (state)