As our cultural icons age, society runs the risk of losing them. Collectively we mourn these devastating losses while finding comfort in their distinguished bodies of work. On Wednesday, February 8, 2023, legendary pop music composer Burt Bacharach died of natural causes in his Los Angeles, California, home, as confirmed by his publicist, Tina Brausam.
He was the brainchild behind 73 top 40 hits in the United States, such as “I Say a Little Prayer,” “Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head,” “Walk on By,” and many more. He worked with iconic artists such as Frank Sinatra, the Beatles, Barbra Streisand, and Aretha Franklin. His impact on popular music is immeasurable.
Burt was born on May 12, 1928, in Kansas City, Missouri, and raised in New York City. His mother is responsible for his artistic education, as she dabbled in songwriting herself and encouraged Burt to learn how to play the piano. He would go on to study at McGill University, the Mannes School of Music, and the Music Academy of the West.
Burt’s first big break came at 28 years old when a friend introduced him to Marlene Dietrich. The pair hit it off, and he became her music director, touring around Europe with the movie star in support of her nightclub act. In 1957, Burt met lyricist Hal David, which would be the beginning of their longtime artistic partnership. Their first big hit was "The Story of My Life," recorded by Marty Robbins.
Burt was married four times in his life. His first marriage was to Paula Stewart, which lasted from 1953 to 1958. He married Angie Dickinson in 1965. The couple shared a daughter named Nikki, who unfortunately took her own life in 2007 at 40 years old. He married lyricist Carole Bayer Sager in 1982 and collaborated with her artistically. They also collabed on a son, Cristopher. In 1993, he wed Jane Hansen, with whom he shared two children, son Oliver and daughter Raleigh.
To learn more about Burt’s death, watch this video.
