Hal David

In 1957, David met composer Burt Bacharach, destined to be his most famous collaborator, at the coincidentally named "Famous Music" in the Brill Building, New York City. Soon after meeting, Bacharach and David wrote their first major hit, "The Story of My Life", recorded by Marty Robbins, released in 1957. Later in 1957, Perry Como also succeed with Bacharach and David's "Magic Moments".

1960s and 1970s: Burt Bacharach and David wrote some of the most enduring songs in American popular music, including many for Dionne Warwick, The Carpenters, Dusty Springfield, B.J. Thomas, Gene Pitney, Tom Jones and Jackie DeShannon, to name a few.

David also worked with composers other than Burt Bacharach, including writing for Willie Nelson and Julio Iglesias "To All the Girls I've Loved Before," with composer Albert Hammond; singer Sarah Vaughan's "Broken Hearted Melody," with composer Sherman Edwards; the 1962 Joanie Sommers hit "Johnny Get Angry," with Edwards; "We Have All the Time in the World," with composer John Barry, performed by Louis Armstrong for the James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969), and a few others.

Inducted into the American Songwriters Hall of Fame (1972) and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame (1984).

He was president of ASCAP, the songwriters and publishers organization from 1980 - 1986.

1991: Received an honorary degree (Doctor of Music) from Lincoln College, Illinois for his major contribution to American music.

Received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Claremont Graduate University in Claremont, California. [May 2000]

2003: Mr. David and his wife became avid art collectors and donated part of their collection of drawings to the UCLA Hammer Museum.

Along with his most prominent songwriting partner, Burt Bacharach, David was awarded the 2011 Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, bestowed by the United States Library of Congress. In the entire history of this award, this was the first time a songwriting team had this honor bestowed on them. David was recuperating from an illness, rendering him unable to attend the May 2012 presentation ceremony at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.

Died September 1, 2012, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, a hospital where he had previously been a member of the board of governors.