[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 7569]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          TRIBUTE TO HAL DAVID

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I would like to take a moment to 
congratulate Hal David on his upcoming 90th birthday. Hal is a pioneer 
in the music industry and a world class lyricist, having composed some 
of the most enduring songs in American popular music. Marcelle and I 
spend many wonderful evenings with him and so enjoy hearing his stories 
of not only his song writing, but others.
  Hal was born on May 25, 1921, in Brooklyn, NY, and was the son of two 
immigrants. He served in the U.S. Army Entertainment Section in the 
Central Pacific during World War II with Carl Reiner and Werner 
Klemperer. The dedication to his country and the entertainment he 
provided for the men serving will never be forgotten.
  Hal's musical writing career took off with his first hit record ``The 
Four Winds and the Seven Seas.'' His legendary collaboration with 
composer Burt Bacharach began in 1957 with the Marty Robbins hit ``The 
Story of My Life'' and included other hits such as ``Magic Moments'' 
and ``What the World Needs Now is Love.'' Through this successful 
partnership, Hal and Burt Bacharach were nominated for four Academy 
Awards and won the Oscar for best song in the 1969 film ``Butch Cassidy 
and the Sundance Kid'' with ``Raindrops.''
  Hal David also works on legislative efforts as a board member on the 
American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers, ASCAP, and led 
the battle against source licensing. During Hal's time as chairman and 
CEO of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, he helped launch the Songwriters 
Hall of Fame Gallery at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles.
  Hal's achievements have earned recognition on a local and 
international stage. He has been inducted into the Nashville 
Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Songwriter Hall of Fame, which honors 
the most popular songs from around the world. He was also the first 
non-British award recipient to receive the Recording Academy and Ivor 
Novello Award bestowed by the British Performing Rights Society. I 
commend him on his impressive lyricist career that has entertained 
countless Americans and citizens around the world. Hal David is a 
dedicated and talented lyricist and friend, and I am pleased to join in 
wishing him a happy 90th birthday and all the best in his future 
endeavors.

                          ____________________