[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 112 (Monday, July 25, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1404]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           HONORING HAL DAVID

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. HOWARD L. BERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 25, 2011

  Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my good friend Hal 
David on the occasion of his 90th birthday. Hal is being honored by his 
many colleagues, family and friends for his ability to touch the lives 
of others through the art of songwriting.
  Hal is a first-generation American, born in Brooklyn to immigrant 
parents. One of his earliest ventures in using his musical talents to 
help others occurred when he served in the U.S. Army Entertainment 
Section during World War II, along with his colleagues Carl Reiner and 
Werner Klemperer. Four years after the conclusion of the war, Hal--
along with Don Rodney--co-wrote his first hit record, ``The Four Winds 
and the Seven Seas'' recorded by Vic Damone. Hal continued to write 
hits, including ``Bell Bottom Blues'' for Teresa Brewer, 
``Brokenhearted Melody'' for Sarah Vaughan and ``Johnny Get Angry'' for 
Joanie Sommers.
  Hal then began his legendary collaboration with composer Burt 
Bacharach. The two comprised one of the best-known songwriting teams of 
the 50's and 60's. The incredibly prolific duo Hal and Burt wrote four 
songs that were nominated for Academy Awards, with ``Raindrops'' from 
the 1969 film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid winning the Oscar for 
``Best Song.'' The two also co-wrote the score for the hit 1968 
Broadway musical Promises, Promises, for which the original cast 
recording won a Grammy Award. The show was revived last year with Hal's 
original lyrics.
  In addition to his career as a lyricist, Hal also served as President 
of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. I was 
fortunate enough to meet and work with him during these years. Hal's 
devotion to his art was apparent as he led the battle against source 
licensing efforts and today he continues to serve on ASCAP's Board of 
Directors.
  Hal also spent ten years as the Chairman and CEO of the Songwriters 
Hall of Fame. During his tenure, the Songwriters Hall of Fame 
established an important digital presence and launched a gallery at the 
Grammy Museum in Los Angeles.
  As a result of his professional accomplishments, Hal has been 
inducted into both the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Nashville 
Songwriters Hall of Fame. He has also received the prestigious 
Songwriters Hall of Fame Towering Song Award and its Johnny Mercer 
Award. Hal has also been honored with The Recording Academy's Grammy 
Trustees Award and the British Performing Rights Society's Ivor Novello 
Award, becoming the first American citizen ever to receive that award. 
He is also listed as a ``Distinguished Patron of the Arts'' at the Los 
Angeles Music Center and serves as a member of the Board of Governors 
at Cedars Sinai Medical Center.
  Mr. Speaker and distinguished colleagues, I ask that you join me in 
thanking Hal for the joy his music has brought to our lives, and in 
wishing him a happy birthday and many happy returns.

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