Songwriter Hal David Dead At 91 (VIDEO)

Hal David, who wrote the lyrics in a successful songwriting partnership with Burt Bacharach, died today at the age of 91 of complications from a stroke. Read his obituary at the New York Times.

Hal David, the Oscar-winning, Grammy-winning lyricist who in the 1960s and ’70s gave pop music vernacular the questions “What’s It All About?,” “What’s New, Pussycat?,” “Do You Know the Way to San Jose?” and “What Do You Get When You Fall in Love?,” died on Saturday in Los Angeles. He was 91.

The cause was a stroke, according to his wife, Eunice, who said he died at Cedars Sinai Medical Center.

Mr. David, whose lyrics could be anguished pleas, wistful yearnings, sexy mash notes or wry musings, and sometimes all four in the same song, was best known for the long strand of hits he and the composer Burt Bacharach wrote for Dionne Warwick.

As much of a rocker as I am, I have ALWAYS loved the songs of Hal David and Burt Bacharach.

So many great songs! My Dionne Warwick greatest hits album was well-worn. The great British chanteuse, Dusty Springfield, also recorded hit songs from the Bacharach/David catalog back in the 60s. As recently as 2010, a revival of the 60’s musical they scored, Promises Promises returned to Broadway staring Kristin Chenoweth and Sean Hays.

Check out some great music below: Watch Dionne Warwick lip sync “Walk on By” on a 60s TV show. Listen to Dusty Springfield’s version of “Anyone Who Had A Heart”. The Carpenters croon “Close to You.” Kristin Chenoweth sings “I Say A Little Prayer” on Regis and Kelly, a love-sick Chris Colfer performs “A House is Not a Home” on Glee. And finally, the Season 5 Idols sing a Burt Bacharach medley at the finale with Dionne Warwick.

ETA: Added a couple of performances from Season 1 Burt Bacharach night by special request.

Dionne Warwick – Walk on By