Theater News

Songwriter Hal David Has Died

Hal David, who wrote numerous pop songs with Burt Bacharach, as well as the musical Promises, Promises, for which they received a Tony Award nomination for Best Score, has died in Los Angeles at age 91 from complications from a stroke.


David and Bacharach received an Academy Award for the song “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head,” and their many other hits include “Alfie,” “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again,” “Do You Know the Way to San Jose,” “Walk on By,” “What the World Needs Now is Love,” “I Say a Little Prayer,” “The Look of Love,” and “What’s New Pussycat.”


Working with other composers besides Bacharach, including Henry Mancini and John Barry, David wrote such hits as “Moonraker,” “To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before,” and “The Greatest Gift.”

He was head of the Songwriters Hall of Fame from 2001 to 2011, and was Chairman Emeritus at his death. In May 2012, Bacharach and David received the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. The pair also received numerous Grammy Awards for their work.


He is survived by his wife, Eunice.