Burt Bacharach

Bacharach at the Walt Disney Concert Hall 10th Anniversary Celebration, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles, CA 09-30-13 s_bukley/bigstock.com

Birth Name: Burt Freeman Bacharach

Date of Birth: May 12, 1928

Place of Birth: Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.

Date of Death: February 8, 2023

Place of Death: Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish

Burt Bacharach was an American composer, songwriter, record producer, and pianist. He composed hundreds of pop songs, and is regarded as one of the most important composers of 20th century pop music, including “This Guy’s in Love with You,” “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head,” “(They Long to Be) Close to You,” “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do),” and “That’s What Friends Are For.”

Burt was the son of Irma (Freeman), a painter and songwriter, and Mark Bertram “Bert” Bacharach, a syndicated newspaper columnist. He grew up mostly in Kew Gardens, Queens, New York City, New York.

He was married to Jane Hansen, until his death. He had a daughter with his former wife, actress Angie Dickinson; a son, who was adopted, with his former wife, lyricist, singer, songwriter, and painter Carole Bayer Sager; and two children with Jane.

Burt was a first cousin, twice removed, of brothers, and politicians, Harry Bacharach, who was Mayor of Atlantic City, New Jersey, in 1912, again, from 1916 to 1920, and again, from 1930 to 1935; and Isaac Bacharach, who was a Republican Party Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey, from March 4, 1915 to January 3, 1937.

Burt’s paternal grandfather was Marks/Max Bacharach (the son of Seligmann Simon Bacharach and Esther Kleine/Klein). Marks was born in Pennsylvania, to German Jewish parents. Seligmann was born in Mansbach, Hessen, the son of Marcus Bacharach and Jette “Nettie” Baum. Esther was the daughter of Bernard Kleine and Caroline Reke.

Burt’s paternal grandmother was Rose Lyne Goldsmith (the daughter of Joseph Goldsmith and Eliza Hexter). Rose was born in Pennsylvania. Joseph was a German Jewish immigrant. Eliza was the daughter of German Jewish parents, Abraham Hexter/Höchster, from Treysa, Hesse Cassel, and Augusta Stein, from Storndorf, Hesse-Darmstadt.

Burt’s maternal grandfather was Abraham/Abe Freeman (the son of Isaac Friedman/Freeman and Esther Hester Altmark). Abraham was born in London, England, to German Jewish parents.

Burt’s maternal grandmother was Rose Meyerhoff (the daughter of Raphael Robert Meyerhoff and Julie/Julia Belchen Goldchen Isenberg). Rose was born in Pennsylvania, to German Jewish parents. Raphael was born in Medebach, Westphalia, the son of Salomon Meyerhoff/Meierhoff and Hannchen Schönemann/Schoenemann.

Sources: Genealogies of Burt Bacharach – https://www.geni.com
https://www.findagrave.com

Burt’s mother on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org