Hal David
Hal David
May 25, 1921 – September 1, 2012
From SCL President Dan Foliart:
Today, the world lost one of its great creative spirits and today I lost a dear friend. Celebrated lyricist, Hal David touched all of us with his way with words. Many of us within the SCL were fortunate to be in the audience when Hal was honored as one of our Ambassadors in 2008. We were charmed by his own versions of two of his most beloved songs, I’ll Never Fall in Love Again and Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head.
Hal’s career spanned seven decades and though he had many collaborators, history was made when he teamed with a young Burt Bacharach in 1957 and together they gave us some of the great gems of the twentieth century. One of the seminal moments of my life was leaving an ASCAP board meeting and traveling with Hal to the legendary Brill Build. We took the elevator to the sixth floor. It was in a small office there that he and Burt composed so many of the classics that are now indelibly pressed into our consciousness. He showed me where Burt’s piano was situated and I began to imagine the writing sessions that transpired there. Just a few of their collaborations were: What the World Needs Now is Love, One Less Bell to Answer, Blue on Blue, Don’t Make me Over, The Windows of the World, A House is Not a Home, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Wives and Lovers, Walk on By, Only Love Can Break a Heart, A Message to Michael, There’s Always Something There to Remind Me, Anyone Who Had a Heart, Make it Easy on Yourself, I Say a Little Prayer, Reach Out for Me, Wishin’ and Hopin’, Do You Know the Way to San Jose, This Guys in Love With You, Close to You, Promises, Promises, Alfie and The Look of Love.
In addition to his beautiful lyrics, Hal’s legacy will also be the time that he gave selflessly to protecting the rights of creators. He served as ASCAP’s president for many years and was still actively involved in walking the halls of Washington in hopes of improving our condition. He and Burt were honored there last spring by President Obama with the prestigious Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. Our deepest love and sympathy goes out to his wife, Eunice and Hal’s family. His lyrics will live in our hearts and will continue to live in hearts as long as a song is sung.
HAL DAVID Honored as SCL Ambassador
Hal David Official Website
Hollywood Reporter
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hal-david-dies-obituary-songwriter-burt-bacharach-367366
Variety / Associated Press
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118058560
ASCAP
http://www.ascap.com/Playback/2012/09/oscar-winning-lyricist-hal-david-dies-at-91.aspx
Los Angeles Times
http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-hal-david-20120902,0,7114680.story
New York Times