In Memoriam: Alan Bergman, Oscar-Winning Lyricist of “The Way We Were,” “The Windmills of Your Mind,” Yentl and More

Lyricist Alan Bergman has died at the age of 99. An Oscar, Grammy, Emmy and Golden Globe-winning, Hall of Fame Songwriter, Bergman and his wife Marilyn (ASCAP President from 1994-2009) made countless contributions to the Great American Songbook in a career spanning over 60 years.

In a statement, ASCAP President and Chairman, songwriter Paul Williams said: "Alan Bergman was in a rarified class as a lyricist. Together with Marilyn, he crafted elegant rhymes and unforgettable imagery that are forever etched in our memories. I loved his songs and his generosity of spirit. When Alan offered encouragement to me as a songwriter early on – as I know he did for so many others – it truly meant the world. Alan, you will always be songwriting royalty."

Alan and Marilyn Bergman’s partnership began in 1956, when they were introduced by composer Lew Spence. One of their first cuts was “Yellow Bird,” an English setting of an old Haitian song that was recorded by the Norman Luboff Choir in 1957. The Bergmans got married in 1958, and soon after they scored a gig writing the title track for the 1960 Frank Sinatra album Nice ‘n’ Easy. The success of the song earned them the attention of 20th Century Fox, and from then on, the Bergmans regularly worked with both film/TV studios and A-list recording artists.

As a songwriter, Alan Bergman’s honors include three Academy Awards, four Emmy Awards and two Grammy Awards. Alan and Marilyn won Oscars for "The Windmills of Your Mind" (from The Thomas Crown Affair) and the title song from The Way We Were, recorded by Barbra Streisand (both songs received Golden Globe awards as well, and "The Way We Were" earned two Grammys). They earned a third Oscar for the score for Yentl, another Streisand collaboration. Alan’s four Emmys were for Sybil, Queen of the Stardust Ballroom, Ordinary Miracles and A Ticket to Dream.

The Bergman catalog also includes “How Do You Keep the Music Playing?” “It Might Be You,” “In the Heat of the Night,” “That Face,” ” You Don’t Bring Me Flowers,” “What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?,” “So Many Stars,” “The Summer Knows,” “Where Do You Start?,” “On My Way to You” and “You Must Believe In Spring.” They worked closely with some of the great composers of our time, including Michel Legrand, Marvin Hamlisch, Quincy Jones, Cy Coleman, Henry Mancini, Johnny Mandel, Dave Grusin and John Williams.