Burt Bacharach - Anyone who had a heart: my life and music

Over the past six decades, Burt Bacharach's songwriting has touched millions of listeners all over the world. Here, Bacharach steps out from behind the music to give an honest, engaging look at his life ... from his work with Hal David, Dionne Warwick, Elvis Costello and many others, to his tumultuous marriages and the devastating fate of his beloved daughter. Growing up in Forest Hills, NY, during the 1930s and 1940s, Bacharach fell in love with music after sneaking into a Manhattan club to see the legendary Dizzy Gillespie. After a stint in the Korean War, he toured the world with Marlene Dietrich, wrote an endless string of hits, scored numerous Hollywood films, married movie star Angie Dickinson, and composed the music for the Broadway hit Promises, Promises. While he soared professionally, Bacharach's private life was dominated by the never-ending search for love ... and the heartbreak that comes when it is lost ... which is reflected in his greatest songs ... From publisher description. Over The Past Six Decades, Burt Bacharach's Songwriting Has Touched Millions Of Listeners All Over The World. Here, Bacharach Steps Out From Behind The Music To Give An Honest, Engaging Look At His Life--from His Work With Hal David, Dionne Warwick, Elvis Costello And Many Others, To His Tumultuous Marriages And The Devastating Fate Of His Beloved Daughter. Growing Up In Forest Hills, Ny, During The 1930s And 1940s, Bacharach Fell In Love With Music After Sneaking Into A Manhattan Club To See The Legendary Dizzy Gillespie. After A Stint In The Korean War, He Toured The World With Marlene Dietrich, Wrote An Endless String Of Hits, Scored Numerous Hollywood Films, Married Movie Star Angie Dickinson, And Composed The Music For The Broadway Hit Promises, Promises. While He Soared Professionally, Bacharach's Private Life Was Dominated By The Never-ending Search For Love--and The Heartbreak That Comes When It Is Lost--which Is Reflected In His Greatest Songs.--from Publisher Description. Prologue: Nikki -- The Story Of My Life -- Night Plane To Heaven -- I Married An Angel -- Warm And Tender -- The Blue Angel -- Baby, It's You -- Make It Easy On Yourself -- Land Of Make Believe -- What's New Pussycat? -- Love, Sweet Love -- What's It All About? -- The Look Of Love -- I'll Never Fall In Love Again -- Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head -- Lost Horizon -- Only Love Can Break A Heart -- Best That You Can Do -- That's What Friends Are For -- Anyone Who Had A Heart -- This Guy's In Love With You -- Battle Royal -- God Give Me Strength -- Man Of Mystery -- Overture 2000 -- Nikki, It's You -- Night And Day -- What The World Needs Now -- The Gershwin Prize -- Epilogue: Happy. Burt Bacharach With Robert Greenfield. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [283]) And Index. One of the greatest songwriters of all time finally shares his story in this "absorbing" autobiography ( Rolling Stone ). From his tumultuous marriages and the tragic loss of his daughter to his collaborations with Dionne Warwick and the surprising stories behind the songs that generations have come to know and love, Burt Bacharach offers a frank, moving account of an unparalleled life. Over six decades, Burt Bacharach's legendary songwriting touched millions of devoted listeners all over the world. In Anyone Who Had a Heart , Bacharach steps out from behind the music to give an honest, engaging look at his life—from his childhood in Forest Hills, New York, during the 1930s and 1940s to his rise as one of the most accomplished composers in modern popular music, working with Hal David, Dionne Warwick, Elvis Costello, and many others. While he soared professionally, Bacharach's private life was dominated by the never-ending search for love—and the heartbreak that comes when it is lost. His first three marriages ended in divorce. His long-running partnership with the late Hal David suffered a bitter split that lasted seventeen years. Throughout the highs and lows, Bacharach pursued his muse. Powerful and honest, Anyone Who Had a Heart illuminates the sensitivity and intelligence of a musical legend and offers a unique backstage look at the world of show business. "A congenial overview of a life devoted to music. . . . Illuminating and gritty."— Kirkus Reviews Over the past six decades, Burt Bacharach's songwriting has touched millions of listeners all over the world. Here, Bacharach steps out from behind the music to give an honest, engaging look at his life--from his work with Hal David, Dionne Warwick, Elvis Costello and many others, to his tumultuous marriages and the devastating fate of his beloved daughter. Growing up in Forest Hills, NY, during the 1930s and 1940s, Bacharach fell in love with music after sneaking into a Manhattan club to see the legendary Dizzy Gillespie. After a stint in the Korean War, he toured the world with Marlene Dietrich, wrote an endless string of hits, scored numerous Hollywood films, married movie star Angie Dickinson, and composed the music for the Broadway hit Promises, Promises. While he soared professionally, Bacharach's private life was dominated by the never-ending search for love--and the heartbreak that comes when it is lost--which is reflected in his greatest songs. -- From publisher's description One of the greatest songwriters of all time offers a frank and riveting account of his life and the stories behind the hits. Over the past six decades, Burt Bacharach's legendary songwriting has touched millions of devoted listeners all over the world. In Anyone Who Had a Heart , Bacharach steps out from behind the music to give an honest, engaging look at his life--from his work with Hal David, Dionne Warwick, Elvis Costello, and many others to his tumultuous marriages and the devastating fate of his beloved daughter. Growing up in Forest Hills, New York, during the 1930s and '40s, Burt Bacharach fell in love with music after sneaking into a Manhattan jazz club to see the legendary Dizzy Gillespie. After a stint in the Army during the Korean War, he toured the world with Marlene Dietrich, wrote an endless string of hits, scored numerous Hollywood films, married the glamorous movie star Angie Dickinson, and composed the music for the huge Broadway hit... In his memoir Anyone Who Had a Heart, Burt Bacharach, one of the greatest songwriters of all time, offers a frank and riveting account of his unparalleled life. From his tumultuous marriages and the tragic suicide of his daughter, to his collaborations with Hal David, Carole Bayer Sager, Neil Diamond, Elvis Costello, and others, Bacharach details his long-lasting success as well as the never-before-told stories behind the hits. Candid and emotional, and with 16 pages of color photographs, Anyone Who Had a Heart: My Life and Music is Burt Bacharach in his own words—a powerful and personal look at the award-winning songwriter and composer. Burt Bacharach is one of the most celebrated and legendary song-writers of the twentieth century. Throughout his sixty year career he has worked with artists from Dionne Warwick to Dr Dre, Marlene Dietrich to Elvis Costello. Anyone Who Had a Heart is the story of one of the greatest song writers of all time. It traces for the first time in his own words, the life and times of the man who created the music that has become the sound track for the lives of his millions of devoted fans all over the world. One of the greatest songwriters of all time discusses his tumultuous marriages, the tragic suicide of his daughter, his long-lasting success, and the never-before-told stories behind the hits