Hal David

Harold Lane David (May 25, 1921 – September 1, 2012) was an American lyricist renowned for his sophisticated and poignant song lyrics, particularly through his decades-long collaboration with composer Burt Bacharach, which produced over 70 top 40 hits and defined much of the pop music landscape from the late 1950s to the 1970s.

Born in New York City to Austrian-Jewish immigrant parents who operated a delicatessen in Brooklyn, David was inspired to pursue songwriting by his older brother, Mack David, a prominent Tin Pan Alley lyricist. He attended New York University and, after serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, began his career as a writer for the New York Post before turning to songwriting in the 1940s, joining ASCAP in 1943. David's partnership with Bacharach began in 1957 at the Brill Building, where they crafted hits for artists like Dionne Warwick, including enduring standards such as "Walk on By" (1964), "I Say a Little Prayer" (1967), and "Do You Know the Way to San José" (1968).

Harold Lane David was born on May 25, 1921, in New York City, to Austrian-Jewish immigrant parents, Lina (née Goldberg) and Gedalier David. The family later settled in Brooklyn, where David's father operated a delicatessen on Pennsylvania Avenue, providing a modest livelihood amid the challenges of immigrant life in early 20th-century America. As the youngest of three sons, David grew up in a close-knit household influenced by his parents' Eastern European heritage, which instilled a strong sense of cultural identity and resilience.