Library of Congress acquires papers of Academy Award-Winning songwriter Burt Bacharach

On behalf of the Bacharach family, we are grateful that Burt’s collection of music has a home in the Library of Congress,” said Jane Bacharach, his wife. “Out of all of his awards and accolades, Burt was most proud of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, which was presented to him by President Obama

 

 

Admin I Friday, Nov. 2024

 

WASHINGTON – The Library of Congress has acquired the papers of songwriter and composer Burt Bacharach. Bacharach’s songs are best known for influencing popular music starting in the late 1950s.This is the first collection acquired from a recipient of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. Songwriting duo Burt Bacharach and Hal David received the Gershwin Prize in 2012.

Bacharach was best known for his songwriting scores for various films and popular artists such as “Alfie,” “Arthur’s Theme,” “Close To You,” “Do You Know the Way to San Jose,” “I Say a Little Prayer,” “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again,” “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head,” “This Guy’s in Love with You” and “What the World Needs Now is Love” to name a few. His work is recognized with three Academy Awards and eight Grammy Awards, including the 2008 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Burt Bacharach Papers came to the Library as a generous gift from his wife Jane Bacharach. The rich collection includes thousands of musical scores and parts, such as Bacharach’s arrangement for “The Look of Love,” and dozens of musical sketches, including for “Alfie” and “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head.” The collection also includes 180 photographs, letters and telegrams, passports and more.

“Burt Bacharach’s timeless songs are legendary and are championed by artists across genres and generations,” said Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden. “The Library is proud to be entrusted with ensuring Bacharach’s music and legacy will remain accessible for future generations, in hopes of inspiring them with his creativity and distinctly American musical genius.”

The collection will be available for researchers beginning in early summer 2025.

“On behalf of the Bacharach family, we are grateful that Burt’s collection of music has a home in the Library of Congress,” said Jane Bacharach, his wife. “Out of all of his awards and accolades, Burt was most proud of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, which was presented to him by President Obama.”

“In this regard, it seems even more appropriate that his archive belongs here,” Jane Bacharach added. “Burt poured his heart and soul into his music, and we are so proud that the Library will give others the opportunity to visit and enjoy his legacy.”

In Burt Bacharach’s 2013 memoir, “Anyone Who Had a Heart: My Life in Music,” he wrote about receiving the Gershwin Prize from the Library and how meaningful it was to him. He compared it to the thrill of winning an Oscar.

“This award was for all my work, and so for me it was the best of all awards possible, and I meant that with all my heart,” Bacharach wrote. While he was at the Library of Congress accepting his award in May of 2012, he sat down for a video interview.

Bacharach collaborated with many lyricists over the years including Carole Bayer Sager and Elvis Costello. Original recordings of Bacharach’s songs were made by an astonishing list of the best singers and groups of their day, including Perry Como, The Drifters, The Shirelles, Gene Pitney, Bobby Vinton, Dusty Springfield, Tom Jones, Herb Alpert and The Tijuana Brass, the Carpenters, The 5th Dimension and Christopher Cross. His songs are particularly associated with Dionne Warwick and her extraordinary ability to effortlessly manage Bacharach’s most difficult and demanding tunes.

The Burt Bacharach Papers join dozens of other songwriter collections in the Library’s Music Division. These collections include the manuscripts and papers of Jerome Kern, Irving Berlin, George and Ira Gershwin, Cole Porter, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe, Billy Strayhorn, Leonard Bernstein, Henry Mancini, Leslie Bricusse, Harry Chapin and Judy Collins.

The Library of Congress is the world’s largest library, offering access to the creative record of the United States — and extensive materials from around the world — both on-site and online. It is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office. Explore collections, reference services and other programs and plan a visit at loc.gov; access the official site for U.S. federal legislative information at congress.gov; and register creative works of authorship at copyright.gov.