Burt Bacharach memoir to be published in November
Top 40 hitmaker to address personal life, successes and break-up with lyrical partner Hal David
Burt Bacharach, the American musician, producer and composer behind dozens of Top 40 hits, plans to write his autobiography.
Bacharach is known for writing the music, while Hal David handled the lyrics, on dozens of songs for Dionne Warwick, including I Say a Little Prayer and What the World Needs Now.
However, for his memoir (to be published by HarperCollins in November), he will pen the words himself — with a little help from Robert Greenfield, who wrote a biography of Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun.
HarperCollins said the book will be called Anyone Who Had a Heart, the title of one of the hits Bacharach wrote for Warwick.
Bacharach, 83, has won three Academy Awards and eight Grammys. He wrote and arranged for everyone from Marlene Dietrich and Elvis Presley to Elvis Costello and Dr. Dre. His music has been used in dozens of films, including Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Alfie and The Heartbreak Kid.
Despite his professional success, his personal life has been troubled. Bacharach has been divorced three times after marriages to singer Paula Stewart, actress Angie Dickinson and fellow songwriter Carole Bayer Sager. His daughter by Dickinson, Nikki, committed suicide at age 40.
HarperCollins says Bacharach will open up about both his personal and professional life in the autobiography, including addressing his bitter breakup with lyricist David.
With files from the Associated Press