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 "Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head," "Close to You," and "I'll Never Fall in Love Again," are just three of the hits in a string of standards written by lyricist Hal David. "Raindrops," it should be noted, garnered an Academy Award for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
In addition, "What's New Pussycat," " Alfie," and "The Look of Love" received Oscar nominations.
Amongst Hal David's million-sellers are such standards as "Do You Know the Way to San Jose," "Walk on By," "What the World Needs Now Is Love" and "One Less Bell to Answer."
Small wonder that Hal David has been honored for his way with words with every major award bestowed by the music industry, including 20 gold records, a Grammy, the NARM Presidential Award, and the B'Nai B'rith Creative Achievement Award. He has also been elected to the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and has been presented with their coveted Johnny Mercer Award. Just recently, Mr. David was awarded the prestigious Grammy Trustees Award by the NARAS organization, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.
In addition, Mr. David wrote the lyrics for film scores to Alfie, What's New Pussycat, Casino Royale, The April Fools, A House is not a Home, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance and Moonraker.
Famed country singer Willie Nelson duetted with the Latin star Julio Iglesias to sing David's hugely successful "To All The Girls I've Loved Before," which garnered a Top Country Hit of the Year award, before becoming a major pop hit. His Broadway show Promises, Promises received a Grammy and was nominated for a Tony Award, when it first appeared on Broadway. Two songs, written for the show: "Promises, Promises" and "I'll Never Fall in Love Again," became instant hits. The Encore Series recently showcased Promises, Promises at the City Center -- prompting a new song to be written for the show -- successfully bringing together Hal David and his collaborator Burt Bacharach, after many years. Following that successful revival, the Reprise Series produced it in Los Angeles, where it was so successful that they presented it a second time in the same series. When Dionne Warwick recorded his hit song "What the World Needs Now is Love," she commented that she felt it "should be the new national anthem."
His work is quoted in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, and the book of his lyrics, entitled What the World Needs Now and Other Love Lyrics, was published by Simon & Schuster. The Joffrey Ballet features two of Mr. David's songs, "Make it Easy on Yourself" and "There's Always Something There to Remind Me" in its production of Love Songs, which is in its permanent repertoire.
Lincoln College bestowed a Doctor of Music degree on Mr. David in 1991 for his major contribution to American music.
His civic and charitable activities include The New York City Food Bank, member of the Artist's Committee for Kennedy Center Honors, and he is a Founder of the Los Angeles Music Center. He is a member of the Board of Governors of Cedars Sinai Medical Center, as well as the Board of Directors of ASCAP, having formerly served as its President. He also serves in an advisory capacity to the Society of Singers. Mr. David is a member of the Acquisitions Committee of the Whitney Museum in New York and is a member of the Board of Visitors Committee of Claremont University in California.
ASCAP Board of Directors
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