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From Aretha Franklin to Austin Powers, here are the hits that made Burt Bacharach a legend

Grammy, Oscar and Tony award-winning Burt Bacharach died on Wednesday. (AP: John Salangsang/Invision)

Singers and composers from across the world have paid tribute to influential songwriter Burt Bacharach. 

Boasting a musical career that sustained over half a century, Bacharach took home five Grammys, three Oscars, a Golden Globe and a Emmy.

The 94-year-old died from natural causes at his home in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

Collab King: Dionne Warwick to Tom Jones to Dusty Springfield

While Bacharach performed his own songs in his signature smooth jazz voice, he was perhaps more well-known for penning some of the most recognisable pop songs of the 20th century with lyricist Hal David.

His first professionally recorded song was in 1952 for jazz legend Nat King Cole - and the hits just kept coming from there.

Bacharach scored one of his first charting singles with Perry Como's Magic Moments in 1958 with the tune hitting #22 on the UK charts.

His 1962 hit I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself - originally recorded by Tommy Hunt - charted four times over four decades. First by Dusty Springfield in 1964, then Dionne Warwick in 1966, Garry Puckett in 1970 and finally hitting #13 on the UK charts when covered by The White Stripes in 2003. 

While Bacharach worked with dozens of artists over the years, there were a handful of collaborators he returned to.

Warwick continued their musical friendship over the '60s and '70s with tunes like Don't Make Me Over and Hopin' and Wishin' before cracking the top 10 in both the UK and US with Walk On By.

And while Warwick was the original recording artist, soul icon Aretha Franklin made Bacharach's I Say A Little Prayer For You a classic in her oeuvre in 1968.

Springfield also went on to be a frequent collaborator, knocking into the charts in 1967 with The Look Of Love, which featured in the "James Bond" spy parody Casino Royale in the same year.

Beyond longtime collaborators, Bacharach had a knack for penning well-renowned hits in superstars' discographies, such as Rod Stewart's That's What Friends Are For in 1982 and the 1965 Tom Jones classic What's New, Pussycat?

Cinematic crossover

Not only did Bacharach dominate pop music charts for multiple decades but he also wrote the defining songs for many films, landing him multiple Oscars in the process.

His first Academy Award was Best Original Song for Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head from the 1969 film Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid. He also took home Best Score for his work on the same film.

Over a decade later in 1981, he did it again — winning Best Original Song with Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do) and Best Score for the Dudley Moore-led comedy.

Even the songs that didn't rack up Oscars went on to be iconic in their own right. Such as the titular tune from the 1966 film Alfie, originally a hit for Cilla Black but later re-recorded by Cher.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr Burt Bacharach …

While Bacharach continued to write and perform well into the 21st century, younger audiences were introduced to him through his multiple cameos in the Austin Powers trilogy.

Looking to lend some pedigree to his James Bond spoof,  creator Mike Myers sought out Bacharach who had previously penned tunes for the real 007.

Bacharach first appeared in the closing scene of Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery singing What The World Needs Now atop a double-decker bus.

Director Jay Roach told the LA Times that during the filming of the scene, Bacharach was so sublime he couldn't bear to yell "cut".

"Elizabeth, Mike and I all went up and kissed Burt with tears in our eyes. That night his song became the heart of our film. Burt’s love — which the world does desperately need — will live on through his music, as will our love for Burt," he said.

He then went on to cameo with fellow collaborator Elvis Costello in 1999's Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, singing I'll Never Fall In Love Again.

Finally, he made a brief appearance during the closing credits of 2002's Austin Powers in Goldmember.

Songwriters pay tribute

A number of artists have taken to social media to remember Bacharach in the wake of his death. 

Oscar-winning songwriter Diane Warren described him as the songwriting world's Beethoven. 

Both Oasis brothers, Liam and Noel Gallagher, posted tributes online. 

The Beach Boys' Brian Wilson described Bacharach as one of his heroes, Sheryl Crow said he was one of the greatest songwriters of all time, and Paul Stanley of Kiss noted the "treasure of amazing songs" Bacharach had left behind. 

James Bond score composer David Arnold said Bacharach "found the finest lyricists to match his elegant, sophisticated, beguiling, intensely beautiful melodic and harmonic skill", while The Kinks' Dave Davies said he was one of the most influential songwriters of our time. 

Irish songwriter Gilbert O'Sullivan shared a photo from his appearance on Bacharach's TV special, and Journey frontman Steven Perry described becoming friends with Bacharach as one of the biggest thrills of his life. 

Bacharach is survived by wife Jane Hansen and children Oliver, Raleigh and Cristopher.

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