Died On This Date (September 1, 2012) Hal David / Award Winning Lyricist
themusicsover Harold David
May 25, 1921 – September 1, 2012
Hal David was an Oscar and Grammy-winning lyricist who penned the words to such pop music classics as “What’s New, Pussycat?,” “Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head,” “Do You Know The Way To San Jose,” and countless more. His best known work was with longtime writing partner, Burt Bacharach. David launched his writing career during the ’40s, when he wrote songs for the likes of Sammy Kaye and Guy Lombardo. In 1957, he hooked up with Bacharach when the two were writing for Famous Music at the legendary Brill Building in New York City. The pair went on to write many of popular music’s most enduring songs which were recorded by the likes of Tom Jones, Dionne Warwick, the Carpenters, and Jackie DeShannon. The pair won an Oscar for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid‘s “Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head.” Their “(They Long to Be) Close to You” – a huge hit for the Carpenters, was a wedding dance favorite through most of the ’70s and ’80s. David/Bacharach hits were on the singles charts nearly every month between 1963 and 1971. Hal David was 91 when he passed away on September 1, 2012.
Thanks to Harold Lepidus of Bob Dylan Examiner for the assist.
Scott McKenzie is perhaps best remembered for his 1967 hit, “San Francisco (Be Sure To Where Flowers In Your Hair).” Written by 
Marvin Hamlisch was a New York City born composer who is one of just two people (the other being Richard Rodgers) to have won an Emmy, an Oscar, a Tony, a Grammy, and a Pulitzer Prize. His total count was four Emmys, three Oscars, one Tony, four Grammys, one Pulitzer Prize, plus two Golden Globes. A child prodigy, Hamlisch was just seven when he was accepted to Julliard’s pre-college division. Years later, his first job was as Barbra Streisand’s rehearsal pianist for Funny Girl. His movie score credits include The Way We Were, The Sting, Ordinary People, The Spy Who Loved Me, and Sophie’s Choice. For Broadway, he composed the award-winning score for A Chorus Line among others. A songwriter as well, Hamlisch wrote hits for Lesley Gore and Carly Simon. Marvin Hamlisch was 68 when, on August 6, 2012, he died following a brief illness. Cause of death was not immediately released.
Johnnie Bassett was an American electric blues guitarist, singer and songwriter who, over the course of a career that spanned some 60 years, worked as a band leader as well as an in-demand session player for many of music’s biggest names. The list of those that the self-taught guitarist played with includes B.B.King, 
Tony Sly is best remembered as the longtime front man of San Jose, California punk band, No Use For A Name. Formed in 1987, NUFAN welcomed Sly into the fold in 1989. What started out as a hardcore band soon grew into a more melodic skate punk outfit as their fan base grew. With albums like The Daily Grind, Leche Con Carne, and Making Friends on the respected independent label, Fat Wreck Chords, the band built a loyal legion of fans the world over. In 2004, Sly released a split acoustic album with label mate and Lagwagon lead singer, Joey Cape. At least one review of the album referred to duo as punk rock’s Simon and Garfunkel. In 2008, Sly toured as a solo folk punk act and followed that two years later with 12 Song Program. That lead to another solo album in 2010. What would ultimately be his final album with No Use For A Name was 2008’s The Feel Good Album Of The Year. Tony Sly was 41 when he passed away on August 1, 2012. Cause of death was not immediately released.