Burt Bacharach, legendary composer for Dionne Warwick, Tom Jones, Aretha Franklin, dies at 94

For half a century, Burt Bacharach composed songs for Dionne Warwick, Dusty Springfield, Tom Jones and Aretha Franklin – and for the millions of fans who still sing along.

The prolific hit-maker behind "Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head," "Wishin’ and Hopin’," "A House is Not a Home" and "That’s What Friends Are For," died Wednesday. He was 94.

Bacharach died at home in Los Angeles of natural causes, publicist Tina Brausam said Thursday.

Born May 12, 1928, in Kansas City, Missouri, Bacharach began playing piano at his mother's insistence. His love for music grew, however, while he was a teen living in Queens, New York, where he had access to the nightclubs where jazz greats Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker performed.

Mr. Bacharach’s success transcended the Top 40. He won two Academy Awards for best song: for “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head,” written with Mr. David, in 1970, and “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do),” written with Peter Allen, Carole Bayer Sager and Christopher Cross, in 1982.