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Carole King

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Carole King is a highly influential American singer, songwriter, and musician.

Carole King
Carole King

Her career spans several decades of significant impact on popular music. She has written or co-written 118 songs that appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. Additionally, 61 of her songs reached the charts in the United Kingdom. Between 1962 and 2005, she was the most successful female songwriter on the UK singles charts. Throughout her career, King has sold more than 75 million records worldwide.

King's musical journey began in Manhattan, New York City, where she was born in 1942. Her father, Sidney N. Klein, was a firefighter, and her mother, Eugenia, was a teacher.

Carole King Boston 2012
Carole King Boston 2012

Music entered her life through her mother, who taught her basic piano skills. By age four, King possessed absolute pitch, a rare ability to identify musical notes by ear. She practiced music theory and piano technique, learning to read notation and master timing. She was a gifted student, being promoted directly from kindergarten to second grade due to her skill with words and numbers.

In the late 1950s and 1960s, King established herself as a premier songwriter. She attended Queens College, where she met her first husband and songwriting partner, Gerry Goffin. The duo worked at 1650 Broadway, a famous location for songwriters known as the Brill Building Sound. They composed over two dozen hit songs for various artists during this period. One of their most significant achievements was writing "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" for The Shirelles. This song became the first number one hit by a Black girl group.

Little Eva, Carole King, Gerry Goffin - Cash Box 1962
Little Eva, Carole King, Gerry Goffin - Cash Box 1962

During her songwriting years, King's compositions reached many different musical styles. She wrote "Crying in the Rain" for the Everly Brothers, which reached number six on the US Billboard Hot 100. She also composed "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" for Aretha Franklin. Other notable songs included "Up on the Roof" for the Drifters and "Pleasant Valley Sunday" for the Monkees. In 1962, King had her own success with "It Might as Well Rain Until September." This track reached number three on the UK charts, becoming her all-time greatest hit in that country.

In the 1970s, King transitioned from writing for others to a successful solo performing career.

Carole King - Cash Box 1971
Carole King - Cash Box 1971

Her 1971 album, Tapestry, became a defining record of the era. It held the number one position on the U.S. album charts for 15 consecutive weeks. The album remained on the charts for over six years and sold more than 30 million copies. Tapestry earned King four Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year. She also became the first woman to win the Grammy for Song of the Year for "You've Got a Friend."

King continued to release successful music throughout the 1970s. Her album Wrap Around Joy reached number one and included the singles "Jazzman" and "Nightingale." In 1975, she also composed music for the animated television production Really Rosie.

Carole King - Cash Box 1971
Carole King - Cash Box 1971

Her ability to connect with audiences was demonstrated during a massive free concert in New York City's Central Park in 1973. This event drew at least 100,000 people and was recorded for a film titled Carole King: Home Again - Live in Central Park.

Her immense contributions to music have been recognized with numerous prestigious honors. King has been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She was recognized as both a performer and a songwriter. In 2013, she became the first female recipient of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.

You Can Close Your Eyes JT CK 2010 - crop
You Can Close Your Eyes JT CK 2010 - crop

She also received the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors. These awards reflect her lasting legacy in the global music industry.

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🖼️ Images & Media (6)
File:Little Eva, Carole King, Gerry Goffin - Cash Box 1962.png
Little Eva, Carole King, Gerry Goffin -...
File:Carole King - Cash Box 1971.jpg
Carole King - Cash Box 1971.jpg
File:Carole King - Capitol.jpg
Carole King - Capitol.jpg
File:Carole King.jpg
Carole King.jpg
File:You Can Close Your Eyes JT CK 2010 - crop.jpg
You Can Close Your Eyes JT CK 2010 - crop.jpg
File:Carole King Boston 2012.jpg
Carole King Boston 2012.jpg
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