MBE Feb. 9: Reflecting on Burt Bacarach’s vast cultural reach

Singer, composer, consummate collaborator, and all around musical genius Burt Bacharach has passed away at the age of 94. The word icon is one that’s in danger of being overused to the point of meaninglessness in modern context, but Burt Bacharach is an ICON to the fullest extent of the word.

His songs crafted with lyricist Hal David, and often sung by Dionne Warwick are their own chapter in the great American songbook. “Do You Know the Way to San José?,” “I Say A Little Prayer,” “Walk On By,” and countless others have all had a hand in re-shaping pop culture writ large. From the showstopping restaurant sing-along in My Best Friend’s Wedding to a blink and you’ll miss it aside in the mid-90s musical theater behemoth RENT, Bacharach’s work has been nothing short of definitional.

We’re dedicating the bulk of today’s MBE to him: Originals, far-flung covers, plenty of Dionne Warwick, and absolutely everything in between. And in the happiest of accidents, KCRW DJ, former Music Director/Morning Becomes Eclectic host, and highly regarded music supervisor Chris Douridas is stopping by to reflect on his personal relationship with Bacharach. Douridas shares his experience of learning the news from his Musicology Doctorate candidate son, growing up with his ear pressed to Bacharah’s records on his parents’ hifi, and how he eventually introduced Bacharach to both Elvis Costello AND Mike Myers. He also shares a snippet of his extended interview with Bacharach in 1994, which he will be airing in full during his own show this Sunday from noon to 3PM on KCRW. Mark your calendars, this is appointment listening.