Burt Bacharach

Co-author (with lyricist Hal David) of an extensive string of hits in the '60s, Burt Bacharach is one of the most respected composer/producers in pop history. In Dionne Warwick, Bacharach found a perfect vehicle for his innovations, which fused uncommon rhythms, creative arrangements, and gorgeous melodies, often bringing the sophistication of classical music and jazz to the Top 40 charts. In the '90s, years after the hits dried up, the burgeoning "lounge" music movement provided him with a resurgence in popularity. His late-'90s collaborations with admirer Elvis Costello were widely lauded.