Dionne Warwick joins discussion at dinner screening of songwriting documentary, May 20

The National Press Club Events Team will host a special dinner and screening of “What the World Needs Now: Words by Hal David," a PBS documentary tribute to the man who wrote many of the most enduring songs in American popular music, at 6 p.m. Monday, May 20.

Joining the event are producers John Paulson and Karen Sherry and special guests Dionne Warwick and noted songwriter Valerie Simpson (“Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”), both of whom are featured in the film. The discussion will be moderated by Club President Alison Fitzgerald Kodjak.

Tickets include dinner and the panel discussion and can be purchased online. A special addon gets attendees into a 5:30 p.m. VIP wine reception, which will offer an opportunity to meet the guests of honor before the show.

Hal David, in partnership with composer Burt Bacharach, dominated pop-music charts in the 1960s and early 70s, writing dozens of Top 40 hit recordings that continue to influence music today. Warwick’s first recording, “Don’t Make Me Over,” “launched the decade-long explosion of musical creativity and chart-topping hits that encompass the Bacharach-David songbook,” PBS said.

Don’t miss this trip down memory lane as these two icons - Warwick and Simpson - share their very personal stories about one of the greatest eras in pop music history.

Schedule:

VIP Reception / Meet & Greet with Dionne Warwick and Valerie Simpson: 5:30 PM

Doors open and cash bar: 6:00 PM

Dinner: 6:30 PM

Screening of film: Promptly at 7:00 PM

Conversation with Special Guests: 8:00 PM

More information about the film is available online.