Stevie Wonder Leads Tribute to Composer Hal David

Facebook.com/StevieWonderStevie Wonder, Burt Bacharach, Elvis Costello, Marilyn McCoo, Valerie Simpson, and Jackie DeShannon were among the stars who performed a tribute to the late composer Hal David Friday night at the Hillcrest Country Club in Los Angeles.  David, who wrote numerous classic songs with Bacharach for Dionne Warwick, Herb Alpert, Tom Jones and many more, passed away September 1.  He was 91.

According to Showbiz411.com, Bacharach performed their song "Windows of the World" which Warwick recorded in 1967.  He said, “Hal always liked the lyric on this song, but it wasn’t a hit.  It was my fault.  I screwed it up.  The tempo was too fast and the drums are in the wrong place.”  Their list of Warwick hits includes "Walk On By," "Alfie," "Reach Out for Me," "Message to Michael," "Trains and Boats and Planes," "I Say a Little Prayer," "Do You Know the Way to San Jose" and "I'll Never Fall in Love Again."

Wonder, who also recorded "Alfie," added his personal stamp to the song with a harmonica solo.  Simpson sang “I Say a Little Prayer," McCoo of The Fifth Dimension performed their hit “One Less Bell to Answer," and Costello contributed a song he covered that was was recorded by Dusty Springfield, "I Just Don’t Know What to Do with Myself."  

DeShannon closed the show with another Bacharach/David classic, “What the World Needs Now is Love.”

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