Burt Bacharach — champion of an elegant but inviting pop sophistication — joins WFUV Music Director Rita Houston for a performance and interview on her The Whole Wide World show over the airwaves in the NYC area and worldwide via the Internet on Friday, November 18 at 8:00 PM.
Bacharach, winner of three Academy Awards and four Grammys, is among the best and most popular songwriters of this half-century. Ira Gershwin once signed a piece of sheet music to him: "For Burt, the 5th 'B in no particular order - Beethoven, Brahms, Berlin, Bach and Bacharach."
The accomplished composer recently added the title of "lyricist" to his resume with the release of his new CD, At This Time. Produced with the help of Dr. Dre, Elvis Costello, Rufus Wainwright and Chris Botti, At This Time marks Bacharach's first-ever venture into lyric-writing.
His outstanding productions of his own hit compositions for Dionne Warwick, B.J. Thomas, Neil Diamond, Roberta Flack, Patti Labelle, and others — coupled with his track record as a low keyed but ingratiating recording artist — have made Bacharach an especially important and enduring figure.
Burt Bacharach was born in Kansas City in 1928. His father, a former professional football player, was a syndicated columnist whose work brought the family to Forest Hills, New York, when Burt was a child. A somewhat reluctant musical youth, Burt practiced piano, drums and cello when he would rather have been playing football or chatting up girls.
I spoke with him in the late-'90s.
"I didn't much like my lessons or what I was playing, but then I heard Ravel and I felt an excitement," he said. "I was also influenced when I was a kid by people like Dizzy Gillespie and Tadd Dameron, Charlie Parker. I studied classical music with people like Henry Cowell and Darius Milhaud [at the New School for Social Research, the David Mannes School in New York, Berkshire Music Center, Montreal's McGill University, and at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, Ca.]. I was influenced by a lot of Brazilian music. I guess that's why I don't much go for vanilla major chords. I much prefer a major or a minor 7th to a straight C."
Article comments
1 - Barry Stoller
Yes, Bacharach used cool chords and tempos when going the easy route would have earned him all those Grammies earlier; and, yes, he wrote (minor material) with Elvis Costello... but "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head," "I'll Never Fall In Love Again," "What The World Needs Now Is Love" and "Do You Know The Way To San Jose" are all egregious examples of atrophied ultra-smaltz, popularized largely by an indiscriminating audience. Cool only as a dreck master, not a serious composer.
2 - Eric Olsen
we seriously disagree on this one Barry - I think the best is brilliant, innovative, sophisticated AND catchy popular song.
3 - Eric Berlin
You really get an insight to Bacharach the craftsman here -- fantastic stuff!
I personally dig Bacharach for appearing in Austin Powers.
His stuff isn't something that I'd throw on, but I agree that it's elegant, sophisticated, yet easy listening.
4 - Eric Olsen
I'd throw on Dionne's greatest hits with no prodding at all
5 - Barry Stoller
Well, I think it's cool he's written a high-profile song condemning the Iraq war.
6 - Eric Olsen
there you go - and I agree he isn't rock 'n' roll!
7 - Mat Brewster
The Eric Olsen knows EVERYBODY hit parade continues...
Seriously, is there anybody you don't know personally, or haven't interviewed, or didn't DJ for? You need your own TV show :)
8 - Rhinocasts
Wanna know the secret behind some of Burt Bacharach's songwriting techniques or the magic behind your favorite "songs?" Burt Bacharach sits down with Ron Shapiro and tells all about his new studio album "At This Time," classic collaborations with Dionne Warwick and Hal David on this episode of the Rhinocast. Win an exclusive autographed Burt Bacharach Boxed set from Rhino by entering at Rhinocasts. Plus, the Lefsetz letter featuring Rock & Roll Hall of Fame artist Bob Seger.