There are, literally, hundreds of singers and musicians thankful beyond words for Burt Bacharach’s unparalleled ability to compose, arrange and perform music. Because without Bacharach’s songwriting genius, those artists—too numerous to name—would have gaping holes in their careers. If they even had careers at all.
In just the 1960s and ’70s alone, he was responsible for 52 top 40 hits; overall, he’s had a hand in 48 top 10 songs, nine of which reached No. 1. So, yes, the hundreds of artists lucky enough to have been touched by Bacharach should indeed be grateful for his incomparable songwriting prowess. More than anything, though, they should be grateful Bacharach topped out at 5-foot-8, because a lack of size is what kept him from pursuing his initial dream: playing professional football. The gridiron’s loss was certainly the music world’s gain. Try to keep track of how many times you say to yourself, “I didn’t know he wrote that song!”
Reynolds Hall at The Smith Center, 7:30 p.m. Aug. 4, starting at $29 plus tax and fee. 702.749.2000
