Carole King
American singer-songwriter and pianist, prolific hitmaker.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Carole King (born Carol Joan Klein, February 9, 1942) is an American singer-songwriter and musician whose impact on popular music is vast. Over the second half of the 20th century, she wrote or co-wrote 118 songs that made the Billboard Hot 100 and 61 that charted in the UK, making her the most successful female songwriter on the UK singles charts between 1962 and 2005. During the 1960s, she and her first husband, Gerry Goffin, wrote more than two dozen hits for other artists, many of which are still considered standards. In the 1970s, she moved into a solo performing career. Her debut album, *Writer*, came out in 1970, followed by *Tapestry* in 1971, which was widely praised, spent 15 weeks at number one on the U.S. album chart, and remained on the charts for over six years. She has released 16 solo studio albums, with *Tapestry* being her biggest success, and has sold more than 75 million records worldwide. Her awards include four Grammys, inductions into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as a non-performer via the Ahmet Ertegun Award in 1990), the 2013 Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song—where she was the first woman to receive it—and the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors.
King was born Carol Joan Klein in Manhattan, New York City, to Jewish parents Eugenia (née Cammer), a teacher, and Sidney N. Klein, a firefighter. Her parents met in 1936 in an elevator at Brooklyn College, where her father studied chemistry and her mother studied English and drama. They married in 1937, during the tail end of the Great Depression. Her mother left college to manage the household; her father also left college, briefly worked as a radio announcer, then took a more stable job as a firefighter. After King was born, the family settled in Brooklyn and eventually bought a small two-story duplex, renting out the upstairs for extra income. King’s mother had learned piano as a child and sometimes practiced after buying a piano. When King was three, she became intensely curious about music, and her mother began teaching her basic piano skills without formal lessons. At age four, her parents discovered she had absolute pitch—she could name a note just by hearing it. Her father liked showing off this talent to friends, and King enjoyed making him happy by getting the notes right. Her mother started giving her real music
- born
- February 9, 1942, Manhattan, New York City
- field
- Singer-songwriter, musician
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- Most successful female songwriter on UK singles charts (1962–2005); album Tapestry (1971)
Lore & Background
King was born Carol Joan Klein on February 9, 1942, in Manhattan, New York City, to Jewish parents Eugenia (née Cammer), a teacher, and Sidney N. Klein, a firefighter. Her parents met in 1936 at Brooklyn College, where her father was a chemistry major and her mother was an English and drama major. They married in 1937. King's mother had learned to play piano as a child and began teaching King basic piano skills when King was three. At age four, her parents discovered she had absolute pitch. King attended James Madison High School in Brooklyn, formed a band called the Co-Sines, changed her name from Carol Klein to Carole King, and made demo records with Paul Simon. Her first official recording was the promotional single 'The Right Girl' in 1958. She attended Queens College, where she met Gerry Goffin; they married in August 19
Reader's Guide
Carole King's significance lies in her dual impact as a songwriter and performer. With Gerry Goffin, she wrote enduring standards such as 'Will You Love Me Tomorrow,' 'The Loco-Motion,' and '(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.' Her solo album Tapestry (1971) became a landmark, holding the number one spot for 15 weeks and selling over 30 million copies worldwide. King's honors include four Grammy Awards, inductions into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as a performer and songwriter), the 2013 Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song as its first female recipient, and the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors. Her work bridged the Brill Building era of the 1960s with the singer-songwriter movement of the 1970s, influencing generations of artists.
Did You Know?
- King wrote or co-wrote 118 songs that charted on the Billboard Hot 100 during the latter half of the 20th century.
- She was the first female recipient of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song in 2013.
- King's first official recording was the promotional single 'The Right Girl' in 1958.
- She has sold over 75 million records worldwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Carole King?
Carole King is an American singer-songwriter and pianist born Carol Joan Klein on February 9, 1942, in Manhattan. She is best known for her enormous catalog of hit songs and her landmark 1971 solo album Tapestry.
What is Tapestry and why is it famous?
Tapestry is Carole King's debut solo album, released in 1971, and it went on to become one of the best-selling records in the history of popular music. It marked her shift from behind-the-scenes songwriter to front-and-center performing artist.
Who was Carole King's songwriting partner in the 1960s?
Gerry Goffin, her first husband, was her primary co-writer during that era. Together they crafted over two dozen charting hits performed by other artists, many of which have since become pop standards.
Why is Carole King considered one of the most important songwriters in music history?
She wrote or co-wrote 118 tracks that reached the Billboard Hot 100 and 61 that charted in the UK, making her the top female songwriter on UK singles charts from 1962 through 2005. Her influence spans decades and genres of popular music.
When and where was Carole King born?
She was born on February 9, 1942, in Manhattan, New York City, under the name Carol Joan Klein. She later adopted the stage name Carole King as her career in music took off.
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