Bacharach, 87 and still swinging, coming to Canberra

HOTTEST musical news for patrons of a certain age is that Burt Bacharach is coming to the Royal Theatre on October 30.

In case you’ve never heard of the now 87-year-old, award-winning composer/songwriter, he was honoured with his eighth Grammy (Lifetime Achievement Award) and proclaimed music’s “Greatest Living Composer” at the 50th Grammy Awards in 2008, coincidentally while he  was on tour in Australia and recording his first live album, “Burt Bacharach Live at the Sydney Opera House.”

In 2012, Bacharach and his lyricist Hal David were the recipients of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song – the first awarded to a song writing team. Previous recipients have been Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney.

They’ve also won three Academy Awards, eight Grammy Awards, 48 Top 10 hits, nine number one songs, more than 500 compositions and a landmark 50-year plus run on the charts.

Even if you’re young, chances are you’ll have some of the following Bacharach/David numbers —”Alfie”, “Do You Know The Way To San Jose”, “Raindrops Keep Fallin” On My Head”, “A House Is Not A Home”, “What”s New Pussycat?”, Arthur’s Theme, “Always Something There To Remind Me”, “What The World Needs Now Is Love”, “That’s What Friends Are For”, “I Say A Little Prayer”, “This Guy’s In Love With You”, “On My Own”,” I’ll Never Fall In Love Again” and “Close To You.”

These days Bacharach tours the world conducting orchestras with his own musicians and singers performing his music at sold-out concerts where audiences span several generations. His recent European itinerary included a Glastonbury Festival Main Stage performance to 100,000 fans.

Burt Bacharach with his band and vocalists in concert at the Royal Theatre, Friday, October 30, tickets on sale from Friday, July 31 to ticketek.com.au and 132 849.  

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