AMERICAN MUSIC LEGEND BURT BACHARACH TO
PERFORM WITH THE OREGON SYMPHONY
____________________________________________________________________________________

Portland, Ore. … The legendary Burt Bacharach, one of America's most enduring and popular songwriters, will join the Oregon Symphony for a Bank of America Pops concert with performances of hit songs like "Walk on By" Nov. 10 through 12 at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall and Nov. 13 at Salem's Smith Auditorium. Associate Conductor Norman Leyden and the Leyden Singers will perform during the first half of the concert. Oregon Symphony Pops concerts are sponsored by Bank of America. Media support is provided by KPTV-Oregon's 12, News Radio 750 KXL and Media America.

With an audience that spans all generations, Bacharach has been called "the greatest composer since George Gershwin and the closest to Gershwin anyone born in the second half of the 20th century is ever going to see" (Arizona Tribune). Recent projects like his contributions in "Austin Powers" and his critically acclaimed collaboration with Elvis Costello have turned him into "a figure of cult admiration" (The Atlantic Monthy). Bacharach will join the Symphony for the second half of the concert with hit songs like "What the World Needs Now," "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head," "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" and "Walk on By." Bacharach will announce the program from the stage.

Favorites like "It Might As Well Be Spring," "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive," "It's Only A Paper Moon" and "Pennies From Heaven" will be performed by Leyden and the Leyden Singers during the first half of the concert.

Performances are scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 10, at 8 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 11, at 3 and 8 p.m. and Monday, Nov. 11, at 8 p.m. in the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in the Portland Center for the Performing Arts, as well as Tuesday, Nov. 13, at 8 p.m. in Salem's Smith Auditorium. Tickets range from $22 to $63 and may be purchased at the Oregon Symphony Ticket Office (923 S.W. Washington), Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (and Saturdays starting in September) or charged by phone at 503-228-1353 or (800) 228-7343. Tickets also may be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets (790-ARTS) or through Ticketmaster Online, via the Symphony's Web site at www.orsymphony.org. Service fees may apply.

Burt Bacharach

Six decades into one of songwriting's most successful and honored careers - with scores of "firsts" and "#1s" - Burt Bacharach's music continues to set industry records and standards. His audiences span all generations, and he is considered everything from one of the greatest of all composers to the "coolest cult" hero of the contemporary music set.

His recent projects range from serving as co-musical director on the 72nd Academy Awards in March, 2000, to contributions in "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me" (and in the original "Austin Powers" feature), to his critically-acclaimed collaboration with Elvis Costello ("Painted From Memory"), and its Grammy-winning single, "I Still Have That Other Girl," to his pairing with lyricist Tim Rice on "Walkin' Tall" performed by Lyle Lovett for the movie "Stuart Little," and re-teaming with Hal David for the score of Bette Midler's film, "Isn't She Great," featuring vocals by Dionne Warwick.

People Magazine named him one of "the Sexiest Men Alive" for 2000, and one of "the 50 Most Beautiful People" in 1999. Bacharach was the recipient of the Polar Music prize, presented in Stockholm by His Majesty Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, in May, 2001. The Royal Albert Hall hosted a tribute to Bacharach and David in July, 2000, to benefit Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy with performances by Petula Clark, Costello and Warwick, and the songwriting duo picked up the prestigious lifetime achievement award.

Daily Variety named him the "American Music Legend" of 1998, noting "from hit songs to film scores, Burt Bacharach has turned pop conventions on their ear.

Rhino Records released "The Very Best of Burt Bacharach" in March, 2001, featuring tracks with artists including Warwick, Dusty Springfield, The Carpenters and Jackie DeShannon. Rhino had earlier released a three-CD Greatest Hits collection in 1998, "The Look of Love: The Burt Bacharach Collection." Tributes to the diversity and appeal of his music have been paid by recording artists from Costello ("I'll Never Fall in Love Again"), to Ben Folds Five, Barenaked Ladies, Sheryl Crow, Wynonna Judd, and Mike Myers. The Platinum-selling soundtrack from "My Best Friend's Wedding" featured several Bacharach songs, with interpretations by Ani DiFranco ("Wishin' and Hopin') and Diana King, whose recording of "I Say A Little Prayer" hit the top of the charts.

Bacharach currently divides his time between performing live concerts worldwide (including some with Warwick) and writing. Bacharach's songs are included in albums by Barbra Streisand, Aretha Franklin, Maureen McGovern, Linda Ronstadt, Neil Diamond, Warwick and Tevin Campbell. He was the subject of a PBS "Great Performances" biography, "Burt Bacharach: This is Now," which aired in May 1997.

In April 1998, TNT launched its highly-acclaimed "TNT Masters Series" with "Bacharach: One Amazing Night," a special tribute show with many of today's hottest stars -- including Costello, Crow, Judd and Myers - performing his songs.

The A&M release, "The Look of Love," entered the U.K. compilation charts at #6 in 1996. With the special reverence the British hold for this gifted musician, Gabrielle's cover of a Burt Bacharach - Hal David hit, "Walk On By," entered the U.K. Top Ten at #9, in 1997. Bacharach and Costello were nominated for a Grammy Award in 1997 for their collaboration, "God Give Me Strength" (from the movie, "Grace of My Heart"). In 1997, he and David received the Trustees Award from NARAS (National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences) as part of the Grammy Awards broadcast.

One of his standards, "Close To You," was recorded by the Cranberries for the "If I Were A Carpenter" tribute album to Karen and Richard Carpenter. Michael Stipe of R.E.M also covered a Bacharach song, as did English notables Massive Attack and Paul Weller. Two more of his songs, "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" and "What the World Needs Now Is Love," were featured in the movie, "Forrest Gump" and on its top-selling soundtrack album.

Along with Lennon and McCartney, Bob Dylan and Paul Simon, Bacharach is a legend in popular music. He revolutionized the music of the 1960s and remains one of America's most popular songwriters, bracketed with such famous names as Cole Porter and Richard Rodgers. As a record producer, he ranks with Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller, Phil Spector and a handful of tough?minded musical visionaries who pioneered new forms of rhythm and blues during the early '60s.

His music in the 1980s made as much of an impact as his early songs. Two of the songs Bacharach co?wrote and co?produced with lyricist Carole Bayer Sager captured the #1 positions on three of the most prestigious year?end record charts in 1986. "That's What Friends Are For" (recorded by Dionne Warwick with Stevie Wonder, Elton John and Gladys Knight) was the #1 song on both the "Hot 100/Pop" and "Adult Contemporary" charts for 1986, and it received the Grammy for "Song of the Year."

Also, "On My Own" (recorded by Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald) became the #1 R&B song for that year, and that Grammy nominee was #4 for 1986. Other 1980s hits include "Love Power," one of the Bacharach-Sager songs produced and written for Dionne Warwick's "Reservations For Two" album; "Everchanging Times," recorded by Siedah Garrett for the film, "Baby Boom" (and later by Aretha Franklin and a number of singers in the U.K.); "Over You," by Natalie Cole and Ray Parker, Jr.; "Love Always," by El DeBarge, and "They Don't Make Them Like They Used To" (recorded by Kenny Rogers for the film, "Tough Guys"), the country hit nominated for a Golden Globe.

"That's What Friends Are For" has also become an international anthem for friendship. It became an overnight icon when released by Dionne and Friends, won a Grammy award, and holds a special place in Bacharach's heart. The songwriters and artists donated all the proceeds from the song to the American Foundation for AIDS Research (AmFAR), and more than $1,500,000 has been donated. Ironically, the song was one of the first Bacharach?Sager collaborations, originally written for Rod Stewart for the film, "Night Shift."

Bacharach?Sager?Diamond also collaborated on "Heartlight," the Neil Diamond hit. Inspired by the film, "E.T.," the song had a special meaning to Bacharach. He and Ms. Sager named one of their horses "Heartlight No. One" in hopes that the filly would do as well as the hit record and album. The Bacharachs and Diamond sang "Heartlight" to her before her races. Indeed, the horse was a champion - winning the prestigious Eclipse Award.

Bacharach's scores and songs for films include the 1997 Grammy nominated, "God Give Me Strength," a collaboration with Elvis Costello for the film, "Grace of My Heart"; "Walkin' Tall" with lyricist Tim Rice, performed by Lyle Lovett for the film "Stuart Little"; "Wives and Lovers" for "The First Wives Club"; "Always Something There to Remind Me" for "Romy and Michele's High School Reunion"; "What's New Pussycat?" (the title song was a million?seller for Tom Jones); "Casino Royale" ("The Look of Love" was gold for Dusty Springfield as well as Sergio Mendes and Brazil '66, and was a top ten hit for Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass); "After The Fox"; "Together?" (with Michael McDonald, Jackie De Shannon and Libby Titus); "Arthur," "Night Shift," "Making Love," "Baby Boom," and the movie for which he received two more Academy Awards and a Grammy award, "Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid."

Bacharach broke new ground stylistically and won another Grammy Award for his collaboration with his lyricist Hal David on the smash Broadway musical, "Promises, Promises."

Although his first love remains writing, Bacharach feels performing is another bonus of his illustrious career. He is one artist who will always remain in the limelight no matter what endeavor he pursues.