In news that I know will be greeted with cheers by his many Italian fans, Burt Bacharach is scheduled to perform three concerts in Italy this summer. While the three cities are the same as previously posted on this site — Cremona, Ravenna and Rome — the venues are different and the date of the Rome concert has been changed.

As always, for the most up to date concert information I’ve got, visit the On Tour page.

Here are the links to a few of Burt’s recent media appearances to promote Anyone Who Had a Heart.

MSNBC/Morning Joe

Interview

May 7, 2013

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/3036789/ns/msnbc_tv-morning_joe/#51800842

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In conjunction with the U.K. release of Burt Bacharach’s new memoir, Anyone Who Had a Heart: My Life and Music, Universal Music is preparing to issue a new Bacharach box set celebrating his songwriting. The six-disc set spans his career and features discs devoted to his solo career as well jazz interpretations of his songs. There will also be a two-disc sampler of the British box set and a U.S. two-disc collection with a different track listing. Not only that, the U.S. and U.K. samplers include tracks not on the box set. Confused? Don’t be. Joe Marchese, a longtime friend of Bacharachonline.com, sorts out the different releases in this outstanding article at The Second Disc.

Is 2013 becoming the Year of Burt? In addition to his new memoir, a host of international tour dates and several new compilations, PBS will present a new special in June showcasing some of Burt Bacharach’s vintage television performances. Below is the full press release from PBS:

Dusty Springfield and Burt Bacharach. Credit: TJL Productions.

For over half a century, the immensely popular and immediately identifiable melodies of celebrated composer Burt Bacharach have touched millions of music lovers around the world. Beginning his career as an accompanist to the legendary Marlene Dietrich, Bacharach established himself in the 1960s as a successor to his Tin Pan Alley predecessors, creating some of the most beloved and successful pop music ever to grace radio, television and film. Hosted by Robert Wagner, this first-time ever archival PBS special includes all the original artists performing Bacharach’s hits with rare footage and clips from the 1960s-1980s. BURT BACHARACH’S BEST (MY MUSIC) is part of special programming premiering on PBS stations beginning June 1, 2013 (check local listings).

Bacharach teamed with lyricist Hal David for a stunning run of classic songs, many in tandem with songstress Dionne Warwick (“Walk On By,” “I Say a Little Prayer,” “Alfie”). British-born Dusty Springfield enjoyed an iconic Bacharach hit with the seductive “The Look of Love,” while Tom Jones popularized the playful “What’s New Pussycat?” and Herb Alpert romanticized with “This Guy’s in Love With You.” The smashes continued in the 70s when the Carpenters reached #1 with “(They Long to Be) Close to You,” following another chart-topper, “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head,” the Oscar-winning tune sung by B.J. Thomas in the film Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid.

The 1980s witnessed more Bacharach chart-toppers such as “Arthur’s Theme” by Christopher Cross and “That’s What Friends Are For” by Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight and Elton John. Film and TV star Robert Wagner brings his distinctively smooth charm and sophisticated style to his role as host for this first-time, all-archival compilation of Bacharach’s music and melodies.

BURT BACHARACH’S BEST (MY MUSIC) features these performances:

• Austin Powers Intro “Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Burt Bacharach”
• “Walk On By” – Dionne Warwick
• “I Say a Little Prayer” – Dionne Warwick
• “Any Day Now” – Chuck Jackson
• “What’s New Pussycat?” – Tom Jones
• “The Look of Love” – Dusty Springfield
• “This Guy’s in Love With You” – Herb Alpert
• “This Girl’s in Love With You” – Dionne Warwick
• “Alfie” – Dionne Warwick
• “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head” – B.J. Thomas
• “One Less Bell to Answer” – The Fifth Dimension
• “What the World Needs Now Is Love” – Jackie DeShannon
• “(They Long to Be) Close to You” – The Carpenters
• “A House Is Not a Home” – Burt Bacharach and Dusty Springfield
• “Arthur’s Theme” – Christopher Cross and Burt Bacharach with Carole Bayer Sager
• “That’s What Friends Are For” – Elton John, Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder and Gladys Knight

The New York leg of Burt Bacharach’s book tour shifted into high gear yesterday with a host of events. He did an interview on CBS This Morning and later spoke with Leonard Lopate on on WNYC in New York about his book. He closed out the evening with a book signing, Q&A and performance at Barnes & Noble that was .

Today, MSNBC’s Morning Joe featured an interview with Burt and it also has an excerpt from Anyone Who Had a Heart on its website.

Finally, as announced yesterday, Burt will answer fan questions TODAY at 2:30 p.m. EDT on SiriusXM Radio. The program, part of the SiriusXM Town Hall series, will be moderated by none other than Elvis Costello and will air on The Loft: Channel 30.

Burt Bacharach will answer fan questions during a Q&A session with an audience of SiriusXM listeners moderated by Elvis Costello as part of the SiriusXM “Town Hall” series. “SiriusXM’s Town Hall with Burt Bacharach” will air live on Tuesday, May 7, at 2:30 pm ET, via satellite on The Loft, channel 30, through the SiriusXM Internet Radio App on smartphones and other connected devices, as well as online at siriusxm.com. For rebroadcast times, please visit www.siriusxm.com/townhall.

Click here to read the full press release.

Burt Bacharach will appear on OMG! Insider tonight (Monday, May 6) to discuss Anyone Who Had a Heart: My Life and Music, his new memoir which is scheduled to be released tomorrow. For more info and to find out when OMG! Insider airs in your market, visit http://omg.yahoo.com/omg-insider/

Another interview has been added to Burt Bacharach’s upcoming publicity schedule in anticipation of the release of Anyone Who Had a Heart: My Life and Music. On Saturday, May 4, Burt will be interviewed by Scott Simon on NPR’s Weekend Edition. Burt’s segment is currently scheduled to air at around 8:40 a.m.

EDITED TO ADD: Scott Simon’s interview with Burt is now online at NPR.org.

As previously reported, Burt Bacharach will be doing two book signings in the New York area to promote the release of Anyone Who Had a Heart: My Life and Music this month.

In conjunction with those events, Burt will also be making the media rounds next week. On Monday, May 6, Burt will appear live on CBS This Morning in the 8 a.m. hour. Later that day, Burt will be interviewed by Leonard Lopate on WNYC-FM beginning at noon.

On Tuesday, May 7, Burt will be a guest on Morning Joe LIVE on MSNBC. Burt’s segment will be between 8:30 – 8:45 a.m. Burt will follow that appearance with a segment on Good Day New York LIVE on FOX 5 in New York City. Burt will be on the show between 9:30 – 10 a.m.

As you probably know, Burt Bacharach’s long-awaited memoir, Anyone Who Had a Heart: My Life and Music, will be published on May 7 by Harper Collins, and in conjunction with that event, Burt’s publicity team is planning a number of book-related appearances. As previously reported, Burt will be doing two talks in the Los Angeles area on May 14 and 17. Now comes word of two upcoming appearances in the New York area.

On Monday, May 6, Burt will discuss his book, answer questions and perform a few songs at Barnes & Noble, 150 East 86th St., New York, N.Y. 10028. According to the Barnes & Noble event listing, seating is first-come, first-served although there is priority seating with the purchase of the book. Also, please note that Burt will be signing Anyone Who Had a Heart only, no other books, memorabilia or CDs.

On Wednesday, May 8, Burt will be doing a book signing at Bookends, 211 East Ridgewood Ave. Ridgewood, N.J. 07450. This event is a book signing only.

I know Burt has many, many fans in the New York/New Jersey area, so this is a great opportunity for an intimate audience with him and a rare chance to hear him talk about his life and music.