[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 51 (Wednesday, May 3, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E702]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                          TRIBUTE TO HAL DAVID

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. HOWARD L. BERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 3, 2006

  Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to rise in recognition of 
Hal David on the occasion of his 85th birthday. Hal's philanthropic 
work in Los Angeles has made him a great asset to our community, and 
his professional career has touched the lives of countless people 
across the world.
  You may not know his name, and you may not know his face, but you all 
know Hal David. Hal is the lyrical mastermind behind countless musical 
hits. His lyrics include hits like ``Raindrops Keep Falling on My 
Head,'' ``What the World Needs Now Is Love, Sweet Love,'' ``Always 
Something There to Remind Me,'' and ``Do You Know the Way to San 
Jose''. If you're not already humming along, I'm sure you will be soon. 
The words are simple but the songs are moving and memorable.
  Hal says a lyricist must learn ``not to fall in love with his own 
lines.'' If that's true, then he's in a very small minority. Hal's 
lyrical genius is widely recognized by both music aficionados and 
amateurs like me. His talent has earned him countless awards: four 
Academy Award nominations, with an Oscar for ``Raindrops'' in the movie 
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid; several Grammys, with three songs 
in the Grammy Hall of Fame; 20 gold records, the Grammy Trustees Award, 
and more. He has also been elected to the Songwriter's Hall of Fame, 
and currently serves as their Chairman of the Board.
  His songs span genres and generations. He is the author of lyrics to 
the film scores of Alfie, What's New Pussycat, A House is not a Home, 
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, and Moonraker. His songs also appear 
in countless other movies, from Forest Gump to Runaway Bride. Not 
limited to the screen, Hal's Broadway show Promises, Promises was 
nominated for a Tony Award and received a Grammy.
  Aretha Franklin, the Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Isaac Hayes, Patti 
LaBelle, Smoky Robinson, the Carpenters, Willie Nelson and Julio 
Iglesias are just some of the musical legends who have sung Hal David's 
lyrics. Hal's impact on the music world is truly immeasurable and his 
many accomplishments are too numerous to list in full.
  Hal's notable achievements don't stop with his musical career. He 
also donates generously of his time and effort to charitable 
organizations. He and his wife are founders of the Los Angeles Music 
Center, which lists him as a ``Distinguished Patron of the Arts.'' He 
is also a member of the Cedars Sinai Medical Center Board of Governors 
in West Los Angeles and a member of the Board of Directors of the 
American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers, which he 
formerly served as President. There he is known for his work on 
intellectual property protection and preservation of artists' rights.
  Please join me in wishing him a very happy birthday and many happy 
returns.

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