Hal David

Harold Lane David (May 25, 1921 – September 1, 2012) was an American lyricist. He was best known for his collaborations with composer Burt Bacharach and his association with Dionne Warwick.

Early life David was born and raised in New York City, a son of Austrian Jewish immigrants Lina (née Goldberg) and Gedalie David ( Gedalie Dawid), who owned a delicatessen in New York. He is the younger brother of American lyricist and songwriter Mack David. Their second musical, the Broadway musical Promises, Promises, was nominated for the 1969 Tony Award for Best Musical at the 23rd Tony Awards. The original cast recording won the 1969 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album at the 12th Annual Grammy Awards.

The Bacharach-David partnership, which had been long and both critically and financially successful, was effectively terminated by their experiences working on the score of their third musical. The 1973 musical film Lost Horizon was a critical and commercial disappointment. Increasing tensions between the two with regard to the work led to an exchange of lawsuits, destroying their professional relationship. Despite the professional split, Bacharach continued to acknowledge David's contributions, frequently highlighting the lyrics of Alfie, which he described as "one of the best lyrics Hal, or anyone else, has written," and calling the song "as close to the best [they] ever wrote."

David worked successfully as a lyricist with other composers before, during and after his time with Bacharach. Perhaps his best known non-Bacharach song was "To All the Girls I've Loved Before", with music by Albert Hammond, which was a hit for Willie Nelson and Julio Iglesias.

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, Dionne Warwick, Valerie Simpson, Barbra Streisand, Cher, Dusty Springfield, B.J. Thomas, and Glen Campbell.

Personal life and death David had two sons with his first wife Anne. After his first wife died, he married his second wife Eunice Forester. At the time of his death he had three grandchildren.

On September 1, 2012, David died from a stroke at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center 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.

Awards and nominations Academy Awards Year Category Nominated work Result Ref. 1965 Best Original Song "What's New Pussycat?" 1966 "Alfie" 1967 "The Look of Love" 1969 "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head"

Academy of Country Music Awards Year Category Nominated work Result Ref. 1984 Single Record of the Year "To All the Girls I've Loved Before" Song of the Year

Country Music Association Awards Year Category Nominated work Result Ref. 1977 Song of the Year "It Was Almost Like a Song" 1978 1984 "To All the Girls I've Loved Before"

Golden Globe Awards Year Category Nominated work Result Ref. 1966 Best Original Song "Alfie" 1969 "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head" 1971 "Long Ago Tomorrow" 1973 "Send a Little Love My Way"

Grammy Awards Year Category Nominated work Result Ref. 1964 Song of the Year "Wives and Lovers" 1968 Best Instrumental Theme "Casino Royale" 1970 Song of the Year "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head" Best Contemporary Song Best Score from an Original Cast Show Album Promises, Promises 1978 Best Country Song "It Was Almost Like a Song"

Tony Awards Year Category Nominated work Result Ref. 1969 Best Musical Promises, Promises

Honors 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 1997: Grammy Trustees Award (with Burt Bacharach) 2000: received an honorary doctorate of humane letters degree from Claremont Graduate University 2009: Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement 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

Achievements Founder of the Los Angeles Music Center Member of the board of governors of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center 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

Work on Broadway Promises, Promises (1968) – musical – lyricist André DeShields' Haarlem Nocturne (1984) – revue – featured songwriter The Look of Love (2003) – revue – lyricist