Burt Bacharach Biography

Fast Facts

• The Royal Swedish Academy of Music honored him with the Polar Music Prize in 2001
• In 1972, he was inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame
• After serving in the army, he worked as a solo pianist and accompanist
• Quote: "I would like to believe after all is said and done that there's something about being a nice person that's admirable․"
• Quote: "(On the quality of his music) "It's part sound, part sophistication - the different time signatures, different harmonies; maybe a little bit in front of its time․ Maybe not too sophisticated, but sophisticated enough to have some durability․ And not too sophisticated to have you just hear it by some piano-player in a bar․""
• From the mid-1950s through the 1980s, he and lyricist Hal David teamed up to produce a number of popular hit songs and compositions, many of which were intended for singer Dionne Warwick to perform
• Uses unusual chord progressions, syncopated rhythmic patterns, irregular phrasing, frequent modulation and meter changes in his music
• After appearing in cameo roles in all three "Austin Powers" movies, he began each show of his concert tours with a brief video clip from "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery" in which the lead character introduces him
• His racehorse, Soul of Matter, one a one million dollar prize race in 1995
• Has stated that his favorite song he has ever written is "Alfie․"