LOS ANGELES (AP) — His widow says "even at the end," Hal David "always had a song in his head."
The lyricist who teamed with Burt Bacharach on dozens of songs as the duo became one of the most successful songwriting teams in modern history died today in Los Angeles at the age of 91.
His wife says he died of complications from a stroke.
The hits he co-wrote with Bacharach included "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head," which won them an Oscar when it was featured in the movie "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid."
Several of their hits were recorded by Dionne Warwick, who first began singing their songs in 1962. They included "Walk On By," ''I Say a Little Prayer," Do You Know the Way to San Jose" and "Always Something There to Remind Me."
Their title song for the movie "What's New, Pussycat" was a hit for Tom Jones.
Just this past May, Bacharach and David received the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song during a White House tribute concert attended by President Barack Obama. David wasn't able to attend because of the stroke he had suffered.
Sound:
%@AP Links
189-a-13-(Archive audio of Hal David, songwriter, from June, 1996 AP interview)-"in my career"-In this archive audio from a 1996 interview, songwriter Hal David says there was no set pattern to how he wrote songs with Burt Bacharach. (1 Sep 2012)
<<CUT *189 (09/01/12)>> 00:13 "in my career"
194-r-24-(Sound of Tom Jones, singing "What's New Pussycat")--Sound of Tom Jones, singing "What's New Pussycat," written by Hal David and Burt Bacharach. (1 Sep 2012)
<<CUT *194 (09/01/12)>> 00:24
193-r-37-(Sound of B.J. Thomas, singing "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head")--Sound of B.J. Thomas, singing "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head," written by Hal David and Burt Bacharach. (1 Sep 2012)
<<CUT *193 (09/01/12)>> 00:37
185-r-24-(Excerpt of Dionne Warwick, performing "Walk on By", written by Hal David and Burt Bacharach)--Excerpt of Dionne Warwick, performing "Walk on By," written by Hal David and Burt Bacharach. (1 Sep 2012)
<<CUT *185 (09/01/12)>> 00:24
192-a-09-(Archive audio of Dionne Warwick, singer, from December 1996 AP interview)-"who ever lived"-Dionne Warwick, in a 1996 interview, has high praise for songwriter Hal David. (1 Sep 2012)
<<CUT *192 (09/01/12)>> 00:09 "who ever lived"
APPHOTO LA101: FILE - In this June 16, 2011 file photo, Hal David arrives at the 42nd Annual Songwriters Hall of Fame Awards in New York. David, who along with partner Burt Bacharach penned dozens of top 40 hits for a variety of recording artists in the 1960s and beyond, died Saturday Sept. 1, 2012 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Charles Sykes, File) (16 Jun 2011)
<<APPHOTO LA101 (06/16/11)>>
