I read this news yesterday. In fact, the story chronicled his life and it was a long article. There are people who have a rare genius for certain things, and Burt Bacharach is a sterling exemplar of this. Although he loved sports, his mother was the parent who fostered and developed his interest in the piano. (Moms know these things, I guess.)
We have so much to be thankful for musically when we listen to his compositions. Rest in peace.