He met Carly Simon in 1968 when they were both working as counselors at a summer camp in the Berkshires and the two became close friends.
Among the dozens of songs they have written together are the top ten hits "That's the Way I've Always Heard It Should Be" (1971) and "Haven't Got Time for the Pain" (1974), both of which were sung by Simon.
He has also collaborated musically with James Taylor, Steve Winwood, Dr. John, Fred Astaire, Michel Polnareff and Dionne Warwick.
He was the executive producer for the acclaimed Terrence Malick film, Days of Heaven (1978).
[3] Brackman has been an influence on many other artists, including Welsh rock group the Manic Street Preachers, who included a cover version of his song "Damn Dog" from the film Times Square in their 1992 album Generation Terrorists.