Songwriter and composer Burt Bacharach dies aged 94

US Correspondent Dan Rivers reflects on the life and legacy of Burt Bacharach

Burt Bacharach, the American composer of classic pop songs including I Say A Little Prayer and Walk On By, has died at the age of 94.

Bacharach died on Wednesday of natural causes, publicist Tina Brausam said on Thursday.

He was surrounded by family at his home in Los Angeles when he passed, she added.

The songwriter and pianist wrote hundreds of songs from the 1960s to the 1980s, many with his long-standing lyricist Hal David, who died in 2012 aged 91.

Dionne Warwick, Cilla Black, Dusty Springfield, Sir Tom Jones and the Carpenters, where among the artists Bacharach penned hits for.

Warwick, 82, has remembered her “dear friend and musical partner” and said the death of the composer “is like losing a family member”.

Warwick, who sang hits written by Bacharach including I’ll Never Fall In Love Again and Do You Know The Way To San Jose, said: “Burt’s transition is like losing a family member.

“These words I’ve been asked to write are being written with sadness over the loss of my Dear Friend and my Musical Partner.

“On the lighter side we laughed a lot and had our run ins but always found a way to let each other know our family-like roots were the most important part of our relationship.

“My heartfelt condolences go out to his family letting them know he is now peacefully resting and I too will miss him.”

Noel Gallagher was among stars paying tribute to Bacharach, sharing a photograph of the songwriter on Instagram, captioning it: “RIP Maestro. It was a pleasure to have known you.”

Sir Elton John hailed Bacharach as “the Rolls Royce of songwriters” in a touching tribute posted to Instagram.

Bacharach had a run of top 10 songs, including Alfie, Do You Know the Way to San Jose and This Guy’s in Love with You. He was nominated for 21 Grammy Awards, winning six.

Boyzone singer Ronan Keating said it was an “honour” to make the 2011 album When Ronan Met Burt with the late composer.

Kiss frontman Paul Stanley reflected on the body of work Bacharach has left behind, writing on Twitter: “Burt Bacharach… What a loss but what a treasure of amazing songs he’s left us.

“His work with Hal David, Carole Bayer Sager and others, share an effortless combination of simplicity & sophistication. Walk On By? That’s What Friends Are For? Alfie? This Guy’s In Love With You? WOW.”

Simply Red also shared a black and white photo of Bacharach as they paid tribute, captioning the post: “Farewell Genius.. RIP #BurtBacharach”.Bacharach received two Academy Awards in 1970, for the score of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and for the song Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head.

In 1982, he and his then-wife, lyricist Carole Bayer Sager, won Oscars for Best That You Can Do, the theme from Arthur.

His other movie soundtracks included What’s New, Pussycat?, Alfie and the 1967 James Bond spoof Casino Royale.

In the 21st century, Bacharach was still testing new ground, writing his own lyrics and recording with rapper Dr. Dre.

He was married to his first wife, Paula Stewart, from 1953-58, and married for a fourth time, to Jane Hansen, in 1993.

He is survived by Hansen, as well as his children Oliver, Raleigh and Cristopher. He was preceded in death by his daughter with Dickinson, Nikki Bacharach.

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