You may not know the name Alan Bergman, but you surely know the famous movie and television theme songs whose lyrics he wrote with his late wife, Marilyn. The classic theme from the 1973 romantic film, The Way We Were, starring Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford, was one. They also wrote the words for "The Windmills of Your Mind," from the stylish Steve McQueen - Faye Dunaway 1968 crime caper, The Thomas Crown Affair. Those songs earned the couple Academy Awards. Their television theme songs included tunes for Good Times and Maude. Bergman passed away on July 17 at the age of 99, according to Music News. Marilyn Bergman died in 2022. They were married for 64 years.
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Per the outlet, "...[T]he husband-and-wife duo scored 16 Oscar nominations and won three, as well as two Grammys and four Emmys. They were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1980."
Alan Bergman Loved What He Did
Per People, Bergman said of crafting songs, "Making songs is very enjoyable. There's not much pain connected with it. When you're creating something, you sometimes have to go through a lot of stupid or silly things to spark your collaboration. You learn to say what comes into your head."
Marilyn Bergman said they didn't argue when they had divergent ideas. "We've had enough experience to know that a compromise is going to be worked out. If one of us feels strongly about something, we'll let it go for the moment, come back to it the next day and look for a third way to do it."
He Continued To Craft Songs After Marilyn Died
Per People via Classical Voice, Bergman said in 2022, "We always wrote facing each other, never side by side. I would sit on one chair, and she sat about five or six feet away from me. The role of the creator and editor would change within seconds. We would toss ideas back and forth. I can't do that anymore. I toss them in my head. Luckily, the ideas are still coming."
The Bergmans gave us such beautiful songs. That is their legacy and their gift to us.
