[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 129 (Friday, September 21, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1621-E1622]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING THE LIFE AND WORK OF HAL DAVID

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. HOWARD L. BERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 21, 2012

  Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I'm joined by my colleagues Representatives 
Lamar Smith, John Conyers, Henry Waxman, Marsha Blackburn, and Jerry 
Nadler. We rise today to honor the life and memory of one of America's 
greatest musical treasures, Hal David. As a lyricist who teamed up with 
composer Burt Bacharach beginning in the late 1950s, Hal created an 
extraordinary body of hit songs which continue to touch the lives of 
countless people around the world.
  Hal emerged from a humble immigrant family in Brooklyn. After serving 
in the Army's Entertainment Section during World War II, he began his 
songwriting career. He came to be the lyrical mastermind behind some of 
the 20th Century's most recognized and beloved songs. He composed the 
lyrics to such classic hits as ``Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head,'' 
``What the World Needs Now Is Love,'' ``Always Something There to 
Remind Me,'' ``Do You Know the Way to San Jose,'' ``Don't Make Me 
Over,'' ``Anyone Who Had a Heart,'' ``The Look of Love,'' ``Walk on 
By,'' ``(They Long to Be) Close to You'' and many, many more.
  Hal said that a lyricist must learn ``not to fall in love with his 
own lines.'' That may be true, but that hasn't stopped millions of 
music lovers like me, and others in every corner of the globe, from 
falling in love with them. Hal's lyrical genius earned him countless 
honors: four Academy Award nominations, with an Oscar for ``Raindrops'' 
in the movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid; a Grammy along with 
three songs in the Grammy Hall of Fame; and Gold and Platinum records. 
Additional accolades include induction into the Songwriters Hall of 
Fame and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, receipt of the 
Songwriters Hall of Fame Johnny Mercer and Visionary Leadership Awards, 
the Ivor Novello Award of the British Academy of Composers and 
Songwriters, and more. Just this past May, President Barack Obama 
presented the prestigious Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for 
Popular Song to David and Bacharach at a White House musical tribute.
  Hal's work not only spans generations but also genres. He is the 
author of lyrics for the film scores of Alfie, What's New Pussycat, 
Casino Royale, The April Fools and Moonraker. His songs also appear in 
countless other movies, from Forrest 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, and has enjoyed two successful 
runs on the Great White Way.
  Hal's songs have been recorded by artists from across the musical 
spectrum, including Marty Robbins, Perry Como, Bobby Vinton, Gene 
Pitney, Dusty Springfield, Tom Jones, Herb Alpert, Jackie DeSharmon, 
B.J. Thomas, Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan, the Fifth Dimension, the 
Carpenters, Barbra Streisand, and, most unforgettably, Dionne Warwick.
  Hal's notable achievements don't stop with his musical career. As 
ASCAP President and Chairman from 1980 to 1986 and as an ASCAP Board 
member for almost 40 years, Hal was a music industry leader and devoted 
much of his life to protecting the copyrights of music creators. He 
also led the Songwriters Hall of Fame as Chairman and CEO from 2001 to 
2011, and was Chairman Emeritus at the time of his death.
  Hal's philanthropic work in Los Angeles also made him a great asset 
to our community. He donated generously of his time and effort to 
charitable organizations. In addition, he and his wife, Eunice, were 
founders of the Los Angeles Music Center. In the fall of 2011, a 
fundraiser, Love Sweet Love, A Musical Tribute to Hal David, honored 
Hal's 90th birthday and benefited the Blue Ribbon Children's Festival 
and The ASCAP Foundation. It was the most successful ASCAP Foundation 
fundraiser to date, reflecting Hal's longstanding commitment to arts 
and music education.
  Hal was a musical legend and one of the strongest advocates for music 
creators of the past century. He will be sorely missed, but thankfully, 
his songs live on.

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