Iconic composer Burt Bacharach has passed away at 94. Bacharach penned hundreds of songs throughout his storied career, including “That’s What Friends Are For,” “Wishin’ and Hopin’,” and “(They Long to Be) Close to You,” which was later popularized by The Carpenters. He and his frequent collaborator Hal David also wrote many songs for Hollywood films including Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid‘s iconic theme “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head.”
Per Deadline, yesterday the three-time Oscar Award winner Bacharach passed away of natural causes at his L.A. home. He is survived by his wife of three decades Jane Hansen and his children Cristopher, Oliver, and Raleigh. Already, tributes have come pouring in from friends, collaborators, and fans. Read select posts honoring his legacy below:
Burt Bacharach’s Hollywood Legacy Explained
Bacharach’s contributions to cinema history include original songs beginning with the title theme of the 1958 B-movie The Blob. After that, he composed scores and original songs for films including What’s New, Pussycat and Arthur. The Arthur theme won him his third Oscar (the second was for the score of Butch Cassidy), but he was nominated three additional times before his first win, for Casino Royale, Alfie, and What’s New, Pussycat. He also appeared onscreen occasionally, including cameos in the Austin Powers movies.
Additionally, plenty of his songs that weren’t written for movies eventually ended up being used as part of soundtracks. This includes “Wishin’ and Hopin’,” which was performed by the cast of the 1997 romantic comedy My Best Friend’s Wedding. Over 700 film and television projects have included songs written by Bacharach.
Burt Bacharach is a widely celebrated icon of both the music and film industries. On top of his Oscar wins, he has also won six Gramys and an Emmy. He was nominated for a Tony but didn’t win, unfortunately preventing him from earning EGOT status. However, his massively important cultural legacy, which will likely be honored in the upcoming Butch and Sundance series, will live on.
Source: Deadline