Four Emmys. Three Oscars. Two Grammys. One-half of a legendary songwriting team who made an enduring impact on the soundtrack of Hollywood.
Alan Bergman — whose collaboration with wife Marilyn Bergman resulted in dozens of indelible songs performed by legends from Frank Sinatra to Barbra Streisand to Michael Jackson, and soundtracked iconic films from In the Heat of the Night to Severance — died Thursday at the age of 99. (Marilyn died in 2002.)
The Bergmans formed a formidable lyric-writing duo, teaming with several of the greatest composers of the 20th century, including Quincy Jones, John Williams, Ennio Morricone, Henry Mancini, and Marvin Hamlisch.
They received the Trustees Award from the Grammys in 2013 and were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1980; the couple also received the organization’s highest honor, the Johnny Mercer Award, in 1997.
Here are 10 must-hear classics from their award-winning songbook.
“Nice ‘n’ Easy” (1960)
Cowritten with Lew Spence, the swinging lead single from Frank Sinatra’s hit album was a breakout smash for the young songwriting tandem. It also earned them their first Song of the Year Grammy nomination.
“In the Heat of the Night” (1967)
With music by Quincy Jones, this is the song that put the Bergmans on Hollywood’s radar. From the Best Picture-winning film of the same name, the track — played over the opening titles — featured a soulful performance by Ray Charles.
“The Windmills of Your Mind” (1968)
The Bergmans had a fruitful partnership with French composer Michel Legrand. Their first team-up resulted in this classic from The Thomas Crown Affair, earning them their first Oscar for Best Original Song. Originally performed by Noel Harrison, it was later recorded by artists like Dusty Springfield, José Feliciano, Johnny Mathis, Don Knotts (in a manic rendition for The Muppet Show), and Mel Tormé — whose version memorably underscored the final scene of Severance Season 2.
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“The Way We Were” (1973)
The Bergmans won their second Oscar by teaming with Marvin Hamlisch for the theme to the hit Barbra Streisand-Robert Redford romance. The track was sung by Streisand, who became a frequent interpreter of the couple’s songs. The tune also earned the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song and the Grammy Award for Song of the Year, with the Bergmans winning a second Grammy for the soundtrack album.
“Good Times” (1974)
Two years after cowriting the theme song to Maude, the Bergmans and Dave Grusin came up with an even more impactful opening number for Good Times. Though the show didn’t earn any Emmy glory, the theme, performed by Jim Gilstrap and Blinky Williams, became an enduring piece of pop culture. This was partly due to its inscrutable lyrics, famously referenced in one of Dave Chappelle’s sketches on Chappelle’s Show.
“Fifty Percent” (1978)
The Bergmans and composer Billy Goldenberg earned an Emmy for their 1975 TV musical Queen of the Stardust Ballroom, starring Maureen Stapleton and Charles Durning. The production was adapted for Broadway in 1978 as Ballroom, with Dorothy Loudon and Vincent Gardenia in lead roles. Though it ran for only 116 performances, Ballroom earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Musical and featured Loudon’s show-stopping number in “Fifty Percent.”
“You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” (1978)
Cowritten by Neil Diamond for the Norman Lear sitcom All That Glitters, the song was initially unused when Lear changed the show’s direction. Diamond and Streisand each released solo versions, which DJs spliced into an unauthorized duet. The artists then recorded an official version, topping the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978 and winning the songwriters the Grammy for Song of the Year.
“Someone in the Dark” (1982)
With music by Rod Temperton, this Michael Jackson song was a hit from the E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial album, which included the iconic John Williams theme and an audiobook narrated by Jackson. Jackson later won a Grammy for Best Recording for Children.
“Papa, Can You Hear Me” / “The Way He Makes Me Feel” (1983)
The Bergmans and Michel Legrand received two Best Song Oscar nominations for these tracks from Barbra Streisand’s Yentl and ultimately won for Best Original Song Score.
