May 27, 1999. Legendary lyricist Hal David, a current member of the ASCAP Board of Directors and former ASCAP President, will be honored with the first Ivor Novello International Achievement Award by BASCA (British Academy of Composers and Songwriters). The 44th annual Ivor Novello Awards gala will take place on this evening, Thursday, May 27th at London 's Grosvenor House. David will be on hand to accept his award.
The Ivor Novello Awards presentation is the British music industry's premier ceremony honoring the achievements of songwriters, composers ad music publishers. Oher Ivors (named for the pioneering British songwriter/playwright/actor, Ivor Novello) are presented in such categories as Best Contemporary Song, Best Song Commissioned for a Film or Broadcast, Best Original Film Score, Most Performed Work and Best-Selling UK Single.
Hal David, whose fifty-year career has brought him Oscar and Grammy Awards, among numerous other honors, is the lyricist of dozens of songs that have been hits on both sides of the Atlantic. His impact on included major hits recorded by Dusty Springfield ('Wishin' and Hopin',' 'The Look of Love'), Sandie Shaw ('Always Something There to Remind Me'), Tom Jones ('What's New Pussycat'), Cilla Black ('Alfie'), Shirley Bassey ('Moonraker'), and Manfred Mann ('My Little Red Book'). In addition, versions of song with lyrics by Hal David, recorded by U.S. artists such as Gene Pitney, B.J. Thomas, and, most notably, Dionne Warwick, have also been best-sellers in the UK. Best-known for his collaboration with composer Burt Bacharach, Hal David has also written notable songs with such collaborators as John Barry ('Moonraker') and Albert Hammond ('To All the Girls I've Loved Before'). The team of Bacharach and David has recently reunited to write new songs for the forthcoming Bette Midler film, Isn't She Great.