LAST UPDATE | 9 Feb 2023

TRIBUTES HAVE POURED in following the death of Burt Bacharach, composer of classic pop songs including I Say A Little Prayer and Walk On By. He was 94.

He was known for romantic and melancholic ballads crossing the border between jazz and pop, and regularly topped the charts on both sides of the Atlantic.

His publicist confirmed to the PA news agency that he died surrounded by relatives at home today, and said his family requested privacy at this time.

The songwriter and pianist wrote hundreds of songs from the 1960s to the 1980s, including hits for artists including Cilla Black, Dusty Springfield, Tom Jones and the Carpenters.

He was nominated for 21 Grammy Awards, winning six.

We use the term ‘Legend’ too often but in the case of Burt Bacharach it’s the only word that fits.
RIP Burt, your gorgeous music will live on forever - Rick ❤️ #burtbacharach pic.twitter.com/ACFTCo6lnl

— Rick Astley (@rickastley) February 9, 2023

Springfield was one of his best known collaborators, producing a series of hits that are still well played today, including The Look Of Love, while he also composed What’s New Pussycat? and Promise Her Anything for Jones.

His song I Say a Little Prayer, originally performed by Dionne Warwick, featured in the film My Best Friend’s Wedding.

Aretha Franklin also recorded a version of the song which is considered the definitive version.

Warwick has paid tribute to her “dear friend and musical partner”, said the death of the composer “is like losing a family member”.

Warwick was another of his favourite collaborators, co-writing 1985 hit That’s What Friends Are For which featured Elton John, Stevie Wonder and Gladys Knight.

In a statement given to the PA news agency, the 82-year-old American singer said: “These words I’ve been asked to write are being written with sadness over the loss of my Dear Friend and my Musical Partner.

“On the lighter side we laughed a lot and had our run ins but always found a way to let each other know our family-like roots were the most important part of our relationship.

“My heartfelt condolences go out to his family letting them know he is now peacefully resting and I too will miss him.”

Very sad day, probably one of the most influential songwriters of our time. He was a great inspiration . Rest in peace Burt Bacharach #burtbacharach https://t.co/BgZaJAk5qQ

— Dave Davies (@davedavieskinks) February 9, 2023

Noel Gallagher also paid tribute to Bacharach, sharing a photograph of the songwriter on Instagram, captioning it: “RIP Maestro. It was a pleasure to have known you.”

American trumpet player and singer Herb Alpert, whose track This Guy’s In Love With You was written by Bacharach and David, said in a statement to PA: “Burt was a dear friend… Who was a humble creative giant with a big heart.”

Oscar-winning songwriter Diane Warren said the field had “lost its Beethoven” after the death of Bacharach.

Warren, who has written for stars including Whitney Houston, Beyonce, Lady Gaga and Aretha Franklin, tweeted: “The songwriting world has lost its Beethoven today. Compose in Power forever Burt Bacharach.”

Boyzone singer Ronan Keating said it was an “honour” to make the 2011 album When Ronan Met Burt with the late composer.

He tweeted: “Very sad day, probably one of the most influential songwriters of our time. He was a great inspiration. Rest in peace Burt Bacharach.”

Bacharach was also a three-time Oscar winner, receiving two Academy awards in 1970 for his original score for Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid and for Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head.

In 1982 he and his then-wife, lyricist Carole Bayer Sager, won the Oscar for Best That You Can Do from Arthur.

In 2008 he was proclaimed music’s “greatest living composer” as he accepted the Grammy lifetime achievement award.

More recently Bacharach developed a songwriting partnership with Elvis Costello, the British new wave singer-songwriter, and they were due to release a compilation of their published songs from the last 30 years in the coming months.

A pianist passionate about jazz, he was born on 12 May, 1928 in Kansas City, Missouri, and studied the art of composition in several American universities.

After his military service, he was hired by Marlene Dietrich as an arranger and musical director for her tours.

In 1957, he met lyricist Hal David, who died in 2012, with whom he would form one of the most successful partnerships in the music industry.

Four years later, they would discover during a recording session a young chorus girl who will become their standard bearer: Dionne Warwick.

The Songwriting world has lost its Beethoven today. Compose in Power forever Burt Bacharach🎵🎶🎼💔

— Diane Warren (@Diane_Warren) February 9, 2023

Between 1962 and 1968, they wrote 15 titles that rose into the American Top 40.

In 1973, a financial dispute broke out between the two men. For ten years, they spoke only through lawyers and never worked together again.

Bacharach is survived by his fourth wife Jane Hansen, who he married in 1993, and his three children Oliver and Raleigh from his marriage to Hansen, and Cristopher who he shared with ex-wife Sager.

Additional reporting by AFP