Carole Bayer Sager will receive the Johnny Mercer Award by the Songwriters Hall of Fame in June
The Oscar- and Grammy-winner, who was inducted into the Songwriters Hall in 1987, will earn the organization’s highest honor on June 13 at its 50th induction ceremony in New York City.
Bayer Sager, who turned 72 on Friday, has written more than 400 songs, including the Oscar-winning “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)” from “Arthur.” Carole Bayer Sager and former husband Burt Bacharach teamed up to write hits like Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald’s “On My Own” and “That’s What Friends Are For,” best known for its version featuring Dionne Warwick, Elton John, Gladys Knight and Stevie Wonder.
Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Ray Charles and Bette Midler have all recorded songs written by Bayer Sager.
Bette Midler and Carole Bayer Sager wrote a handful of songs together usually with Bruce Roberts
Mister D: Bette Midler and Carole Bayer Sager collaborated on may be two handfuls of songs, one’s you know such as the two bouncy songs that I love, You’re Moving Out Today and Blueberry Pie. So fun and so out to lunch. Bette also recorded a song Carole King, and Carole Bayer Sager collaborated on with Gerry Goffin, King’s ex-husband, that I know many of you love, My One True Friend, from the Meryl Streep movie, One True Thing,
Tid-bit: Bette let her husband, Martin von Haselberg, direct the video. For the entre shoot, he placed her atop a real live, and huge elephant. I wonder what might have been going on in their relationship for that to transpire. LOL
On Carole’s first album she recorded You’re Moving Out Today, which became an international hit. Bette put out at least 2 or 3 versions because of certain words, and another time because people said they couldn’t hear her over the mix. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a major hit, but the critics were impressed with her writing skills. Also on Carole’s record was another Bette song called, called Steal Away Again, We have unearthed a demo Bette made of it, which you can find on the site by using the search engine to look up the title. Others who recorded it were Bruce Roberts, who helped write it too, Lisa Hartman (remember her!) . Sam Harris did an awesome video of it that I want to post. It may already be on the site,
Tidbit: Actress Madelyn Kahn sings back up vocals on the Sager version and you can tell it’s her. Bette didn’t write this, but she sang harmony with Sager on a song called, Shy As A Violet. I loved that album and went through several copies in the 70’s and 80’s. I loved the albums Bruce Robert’s put out, three albums, and they were fantastic. I wore those out too.
All the songs Bette Midler Collaborated on with Carole Bayer Sager and others
- You’re Moving Out Today – Writers: Bette Midler, Bruce Roberts, Carole Bayer Sager
- Steal Away Again – Writer: Bette Midler, Bruce Roberts, Carole Bayer Sager
- People Say They Love You – Writers: Bette Midler, Bruce Roberts, Carole Bayer Sager
- I Love Me – Writers: Bette Midler, Bruce Roberts Carole Bayer Sager
- I Could Have Loved You –Writers: Bette Midler, Carole Bayer Sager, Bruce Roberts
- Danger –Writers: Bette Midler, Bruce Roberts, Carole Bayer Sager
- Blueberry Pie –Writers: Bette Midler, Carole Bayer Sager, Bruce Roberts
- Amelia – Writers: Bette Midler, Bruce Roberts, Carole Bayer Sager
