Listening to a tune, whether in a movie theater, on a stage, or even watching TV during a night at home, it seems to provide such a sense of joy, placing a smile on an otherwise dismal-looking day. Taking a look at music, we lost some of the most incredible lyricists in the world this year. However, they left us some creatively artistic music expressions that will last a lifetime.
Richard Adler |
March 3, 1921 - June 21, 2012
Born in New York, NY, Richard Adler composed many tunes for various genres,
including Broadway shows, and motion picture musicals, like "The Pajama Game." Collaborating
with Jerry Ross, many songs became desirable for recording, by such
legendary performers as Rosemary Clooney, Pattie Page, Sammy Davis, Jr., Sarah Vaughn, and The Shirelles. Mr. Adler was 90 years old.
Memorable songs, composed, to name a few:
- 1. Rags To Riches
- 2. Hernando's Hideaway
- 3. You Gotta Have Heart
- 4. Steam Heat
- 5. Baby Be My Toy
- 6. Whatever Lola Wants
- 7. Everybody Loves A Lover
- 8. Hey There
Hal David |
Hal David
May 25, 1921 - September 1, 2012
Born in New York, NY, the lyricist who composed some of the most loved songs, especially during the 1960s and 70s. Collaborating with Burt Bacharach, they wrote a vast number of beautiful melodies, helping to fill my youth and young adult years, many that I personally still love to this day.
Singers who gave amazing life to the duo's magnificent work, making you want to pattern after their vocal ability - Dusty Springfield, Jackie DeShannon, Tom Jones, and B. J. Thomas. Of course, one in particular, Dionne Warwick's smooth resonant voice showed us how easy she made it performing their works of art. When I first heard her tackle "Don't Make Me Over," it sent warm fuzzies through me, and I wanted to project notes just like her. She recorded more than sixty of their hits, nine of which became Top 40 charted. I loved every one she handled, and after that, each movie I attended that introduced another Bacharach/David tune, would send me that much closer into orbit.
Even greats like Aretha Franklin, The Carpenters, Herb Alpert and The Fifth Dimension proved that recording one of their love treats would be gold-struck.
Among the more memorable songs:
1. Walk On By2. Alfie
3. I Say A Little Prayer
4. (They Long To Be) Close To You
5. Raindrops Keep Fallin' From My Head
6. What The World Needs Now Is Love
7. There's Always Something There To Remind Me
8. The Look of Love
9. What's New, Pussycat?
10. Promises, Promises
11. This Guy's In Love With You
He was 91.
Marvin Hamlisch |
Marvin Hamlisch
June 2, 1944 - August 6, 2012
Born in New York, NY, Marvin Frederick Hamlisch was a child prodigy who attended Julliard School Pre-College at the tender age of 6 1/2. Instrumental in co-writing Leslie Gore's 1965 hit song, "Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows." Was responsible for composing very familiar tunes that continue to be heard regularly, all over the world. Devised movie scores, Broadway-stage tunes, etc. One of two individuals to win Tony, Grammy, Oscar, Emmy, Pulitzer AND Golden Globe awards.
Hum-along melodies, like Barbra Streisand's bellowing "The Way We Were" from the movie title, "Nobody Does It Better," recorded by Carly Simon, from The Spy Who Loved Me, which he co-wrote with Carole Bayer Sager. Even the Broadway hit "One" that always reminds me of my daughter's first dance concert, where she performed that great number.
Not a stranger to movie show-stoppers, as he wrote several. His list of film score achievements:
1. The Chorus Line
2. The Way We Were
3. The Sting (adaptation of the great Scott Joplin's ragtime music)
4. Sophie's Choice
5. Three Men And A Baby6. Ordinary People
He was 68 years old.
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