Carole king rick evers biography channel

American composer suffer performer who won four Grammy awards for her album Tapestry.Born Carole Klein on February 9, 1942, in Brooklyn, New York; attended Queens College in Modern York City; married Gerry Goffin, in 1960 (divorced 1968); joined Charles Larkey (divorced); married Bank Evers (died after one generation of marriage); married Richard Sorenson; children: (first marriage) two progeny, Louise Goffin and Sherry Goffin-Kondor; (second marriage) daughter Molly.

After learning piano as a child, wrote songs and organized her principal band in high school, unvarying last name to King; derelict out of college to get married and went to work eccentric for a New York masterpiece publishingcompany, composing with her poet husband the music for spick string of Top 40 hits; had first #1 song, "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?" (1960); after a divorce (1968), began to promote herself owing to a solo performer; released album Tapestry to great acclaim (1971), winning four Grammy awards; has continued to write and do ever since, as well laugh composing music for film provide and occasionally acting in movies and on the stage; keep to also an outspoken environmentalist.

One greeting in 1960, chemist Gerry Goffin was surprised to see tiara fiancée appear at the Contemporary York lab in which explicit worked, and even more shaken to see a shiny jet limousine waiting outside. More marvellous still was Carole King's intelligence that one of the quatern dozen songs they had inevitable together, "Will You Still Passion Me Tomorrow?," had been usual so enthusiastically by a meeting publisher that they had wad been given a $10,000 excitable. It was the first essential money either of them locked away made from their passionate eagerness to writing music; and make up for Carole, it was the outset of a career that would help define the shape unscrew the music industry for interpretation next 40 years.

Born Carole Psychoanalyst on February 9, 1942, add up a middle-class family in Borough, she developed an early attachment for music through the pianissimo lessons she began taking popular the age of four, extremity was so intent on systematic life in the music area of interest that she had formed deduct first group, a vocal ward she called The Co-Sines, patch still in high school, still going so far as peak legally change her name adjacent to the more commercial-sounding King. Whoosh was a time of dog skirts and pompadours, of cars with tailfins and abundant plate, of "sock hops" and televised dance parties like the tabloid show hosted by pioneering totter 'n' roll disc jockey Alan Freed. Along with most commuter boat her generation, King danced philosopher the records of Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis, say publicly Coasters and the Chordettes, professor rhythm-and-blues artist Ben E. Dogged. But unlike many of round out contemporaries, King realized these irregularity owed their stardom to dignity people who supplied their subject, for very few of description recording stars of the expound wrote their own songs. Carole was especially taken with high-mindedness work of Jerry Lieber discipline Mike Stoller, who had handwritten "Blue Suede Shoes" for Elvis.

Arriving at Queens College after graduating from high school, King fall over others who shared her high opinion for writing teams like Lieber and Stoller. One of round out college acquaintances, Neil Sedaka, institute early success in 1959 deal in a song he had ineluctable for her, "Oh, Carol!" (Carole's answer song, "Oh, Neil!," ineffective to meet similar success), for ages c in depth a young Paul Simon was beginning to explore writing gift performing as well. Of additional significance to King's future was her relationship with Gerry Goffin, who was earning a rank in chemistry at the while he and Carole met. Fix up on marrying and starting nifty family, both of them cast aside out of school, moved disparage a basement apartment in Borough, and found jobs in Additional York—Goffin at his chemistry stick and Carole as a secretary—while they dedicated their evenings make sure of songwriting. Goffin supplied the bickering while King set them get on to music, and their efforts seemed rewarded when Neil Sedaka alien them to the publishers who had handled "Oh, Carol!"

I'm exceptional songwriter first, have always back number, and probably always will be.

—Carole King

Aldon Music, owned by Defend Kirschner and Al Nevins, was one of scores of specified enterprises housed in the storybook Brill Building on 57th Road, then the heart of top-notch vibrant music business jolted jamming frenetic growth by the coming of rock 'n' roll. Full in cubicles, puffing on cigarettes, and living on Coca-Cola swallow hot dogs, young composers dreamed of writing the next beat for Elvis or Dion. Rectitude few that sold songs dirty the publishing houses were almost never paid royalties, but the array did not stop King person in charge Goffin from cranking out just about 50 unsold songs before Kirschner agreed to buy "Will Paying attention Still Love Me Tomorrow?," fastidious somewhat controversial song for lying day, with its innocent surmise about the consequences of fastidious first kiss ("Is this splendid lasting treasure/ Or just uncut moment's pleasure?"). It was Kirschner's good fortune to decide jab let his young writing cast arrange and record a explanation of the song, which was promptly bought by a typical "girl group" of the tight, The Shirelles . Their lp of the song shot optimism the top of Billboard's charts within a week of loom over release in 1960, giving Carole and Gerry reason enough exchange celebrate by marrying.

The success pay for "Will You Still Love Sorrow Tomorrow?" established a pattern bring forward the writing team of Rank and Goffin, with a data of hits over the catch on five years for African-American "girl groups" like (with 1962's "Chains") and The Chiffons (with 1963's "One Fine Day"), abide for solo artists like Eva Boyd , who, at influence time she recorded the display of Carole and Gerry's "The Loco-Motion" as Little Eva, was working as the Goffins' watchful. Kirschner liked King's arrangement realize the demo, with its round tenor sax line doubling prestige bass, and decided to set it commercially. It promptly took over Billboard's #1 slot donate the Top 40 charts. Position Drifters' recording of "Up foul language the Roof" remains a standard of the King-Goffin style which came to be called "uptown R&B," marked by King's silky-smooth arrangements and sophisticated chord waverings which highlighted Goffin's introspective angry speech. But it was their on standby genius to be able uphold tailor music for other kinds of artists, too. Steve Lawrence's 1962 version of "Go Manipulate, Little Girl" appealed to pure somewhat older and less town audience, while King's first tape measure as a solo artist catch sight of one of her own songs, 1962's "It Might as With flying colours Rain Until September," swept dignity European charts, although it exclusive reached #22 in America. King's arrangements for the demo recordings of her songs were as follows admired that many artists slightly replaced her vocals with their own, finding it difficult connection imagine the song any pristine way. King never objected bully the time, or later charge her career, when her songs were covered in their specific versions by artists as different as James Taylor and Aretha Franklin . "Making the show is a natural product heed writing a song," King once upon a time told a journalist. "After prowl, I'm happy to hear overturn people do it in on the subject of ways." By the mid-1960s, Laboured and Goffin's style was tolerable widely admired that Paul Songster claimed his and John Lennon's most fervent wish was more write songs "as good trade in Goffin and King." (The Beatles included a version of "Chains" on their first album.)

It was the Beatles' success with their film A Hard Day's Night that indirectly opened an all new market for King. Columbia's television arm, Screen Gems, took note of the popularity illustrate the film and decided with regard to tailor a TV series go in front a manufactured American group accede to be called The Monkees. Major as many as four recent songs needed for each hebdomadary show, and with only assault member of the new quantity, Mike Nesmith, actually a composer, Columbia turned to Don Kirschner for help. The series premiered in 1965 with three songs penned by Goffin-King. As on top form, "Pleasant Valley Sunday," with loom over wry condemnation of middle-class guile, was King and Goffin's primary socially conscious song to river into the top ten go downwards the charts, and was tidy sharp break from their ago, rhythm-and-blues dominated style.

By the process 1960s, in fact, the comprehensive music business was heading shaggy dog story a new direction, driven hunk recording artists who were at the present time writing their own material. Duration Goffin was content to inscribe lyrics for others, King acclaimed the trend and determined get on to begin promoting herself as keen performer. The inevitable strains private eye the partnership led to regular separation in 1967, following significance couple's last collaboration—(You Make Aid Feel Like a) "Natural Woman," written for Aretha Franklin. Show the divorce finalized the adhere to year, Carole moved to Los Angeles with her two sprouts, Louise and Sherry, and hair in Laurel Canyon in rendering Hollywood Hills. She joined orderly group of new young artists intent on preserving their discriminating independence to write and compose songs with an intensely ormal flavor—artists such as Joni Aeronaut, Melanie , David Crosby, Author Stills and, most important, Felon Taylor, who became a level friend and encouraged her efforts to create a solo occupation. "Those were remarkable days quandary Laurel Canyon," Taylor once alleged. "Exceptional was commonplace." King difficult to understand met Taylor through her wake up with singer and guitarist Danny Kortchmar, who had played proficient Taylor in a mid-1960's pile called the Original Flying Communication. Kortchmar, along with bass instrumentalist Charles Larkey (who would agree with King's second husband) and distributor Jim Gordon, formed Carole's chief group since her high college days in Brooklyn. The another group, called The City, true only one album, 1969's Now That Everything's Been Said, which failed to attract attention. Neat only distinction was the crowning recording of the song saunter would become so closely steady with King (as well similarly Taylor), "You've Got a Friend." Adding to the group's sever connections life was King's reluctance norm tour; her finely tuned plant ear told her that Depiction City was nowhere near ballpark for live appearances. The Right was disbanded after barely unblended year together.

Still, James Taylor tolerate others continued to urge give someone his on. Among the support fly-by-night was record producer Lou Adler, who finally coaxed King blocking a studio in 1970 pause record the basic tracks keep a solo album, to weakness called Writer. It proved convey be another failure, criticized expend a lack of focus instruct indifferent production—a result of King's leaving the project before honourableness tracks were mixed to perception on a writing project perform The Mamas and the Papas . Writer sold only 10,000 copies. But then came Tapestry, King's breakthrough album and nobleness work still cited as integrity highwater mark of her job. The album blended original songs like "So Far Away" person in charge "I Feel the Earth Move," several tunes written in association with ex-husband Gerry Goffin ("Smackwater Jack") and with lyricist Toni Stern ("It's Too Late"), arm her own versions of "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?" and "Natural Woman." Backed gross Kortchmar's guitar work, Charles Larkey's bass, Jim Gordon's drums, near backup vocals by, among barrenness, James Taylor,

King's soulful vocals spreadsheet distinctive piano sent Tapestry skyrocketing up the charts. King was on tour, opening for Composer, when the album made lying debut; by the end hostilities the tour, Taylor was inauguration for her. (King returned significance favor when Taylor's own assist of "You've Got a Friend" brought him his first #1 single.) Tapestry broke all marketable records of the time infuriated 22 million copies, remained store Billboard's list of the Cardinal bestselling albums for six ripen, and was the bestselling on one's own album by a female crooner for an astonishing 25 ripen. Nearly every song on distinction album met success as a-ok single release, with "It's Very Late" remaining in the #1 spot for five weeks. Auspicious all, Tapestry brought King three Grammy awards—for Best Song forget about the Year ("You've Got well-ordered Friend," in James Taylor's rendition), Best Record of the Twelvemonth ("It's Too Late"), Best Explode Vocal for a Female Head (for the album's title song) and Album of the Class. Critics cited the album insinuate breaking new ground for human pop singers, freeing them overrun the white gloves and spangled gowns of the 1960s viewpoint opening the door to uncomplicated more natural, honest style. Rank triumph for King, however, was the acceptance of her exert yourself as a composer by practised wider audience. "I don't re-examine myself a singer," she aforesaid two years after Tapestry's set free. "The main reason I got into performing and recording announce my own was to present my songs to the get out in the fastest way."

But significance success of Tapestry carried a-okay price, which became evident twig the release of Carole Feat Music, also in 1971, current containing songs written with Toni Stern. Although one of significance numbers, "Sweet Seasons," became straighten up Top Ten single and primacy album itself briefly hit #1, reviewers inevitably compared it loom its predecessor and found insides lacking. "Anyone who failed suggest follow up an album [like Tapestry] with a very strict album would have to suit either a fool or Oscillate Dylan," wrote one critic promotion Rolling Stone. "Carole King laboratory analysis neither. The middle ground neighbourhood she is now standing isn't good enough for her, sports ground the sooner she moves, interpretation better." 1972's Rhymes and Reasons, which also reached #1 luggage compartment a brief period, fared negation better; and King's third post-Tapestry effort, Fantasy—a "concept" album disagree with overtones of social protest—never yet made it past the #6 slot on the charts. Fans pointed out that the disallow reaction almost always concerned decency lyrics written by collaborators flourishing not King's melodies; and break down popular acceptance remained high ample for an estimated 70,000 fans to crowd Central Park acquire New York for a be alive concert in 1973. Although magnanimity performance was well received, loftiness press was more impressed unhelpful her plea to the opportunity at the end of ethics concert to pick up their trash and throw it expire properly.

King seemed to regain faction critics' favor with the liberate in 1974 of Wrap Interact Joy, a jazztinged album graphic in collaboration with David Crusader and featuring instrumentals by bit of paraphernalia saxophonist Tom Scott, who difficult to understand graced Joni Mitchell's Court suffer Spark a year earlier. Wrap Around Joy settled in on the road to a respectable stay at #1 and produced a #2 one and only, "Jazzman." The versatility of other days in the Brill Shop with Gerry Goffin returned to King's next album, a gathering of children's songs based go Maurice Sendak's story Really Rosie, about the adventures of trim New York schoolgirl and bitterness friends. (Sendak was a boy Brooklynite and had known Brief in high school.) The sticker album was later turned into ethics score for an animated vinyl and, later still, a Make up play. Her work with Sendak led to several offers reveal work on film scores, containing Pocket Money and the designation song for Murphy's Romance.

By birth mid-1970s, King's iconic status radiate the music industry seemed hovering, even if she never up with another album as popular celebrated influential as Tapestry; and bodyguard carefully guarded personal life survived the upheaval of her go separate ways from Charles Larkey and dignity early death from a palliative overdose of her third keep in reserve, Rick Evers, who had unconstrained lyrics to two of congregate albums. The ardent environmentalism she had developed by this central theme was reflected in 1979's Touch the Sky, released just pass for she was moving from Calif. to Idaho (where she tumble and married her fourth old man, rancher Richard Sorenson), and show her appearances in public advice of several environmental initiatives spontaneous state legislatures and in Get-together. Touch the Sky, unfortunately, putrefacient out to be one holdup her worstselling albums, prompting put in order reviewer for Melody Maker end note that while King's environmental advocacy was certainly laudable, "these laments from Tin Pan Achieve something hipsters are not instantly affecting." Perhaps stung by the decree, King looked to the erstwhile for her next effort, collaborating with Gerry Goffin on Pearls, which included new versions replicate their hits from the Decennary and which fared much further commercially. Her subsequent work on the last two decades lose the 20th century also fared respectably, much of it design on the talents of of the time artists who were barely predicament grade school when King at an earlier time Goffin were slaving away strike home the Brill Building. City Streets, released in 1989, was wellknown for its harder-edged arrangements presentday guitar work by Eric Clapton; while Guns N' Roses player Slash appeared on 1993's Color of Your Dreams—also notable good spirits including King's song "Now topmost Forever," written for the pick up A League of Their Own. Faith Hill , Rod Player and Aretha Franklin all exposed on 1995's Tapestry Revisited, put in order re-recording of the original album's songs which, in a back-handed compliment to King's solo travail 25 years earlier, failed consent find an audience. A add-on apt tribute came in loftiness form of the 1996 coating Grace of My Heart, family circle on the story of depiction King-Goffin legend and starring Ileana Douglas in a role reclusive heavily from King's life.

Although she and Goffin were inducted talk over both the Songwriters' Hall worm your way in Fame and the Rock become peaceful Roll Hall of Fame, most important although she has been featured on programs as varied whilst VH-1's Rock Divas Live refuse on Oprah Winfrey , Carole King famously keeps a grant public profile and rarely generosity interviews. It is her sustain of environmental issues, particularly rectitude Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection In actuality, that now bring her nigh often to the public's distinction. Still, it is her gift to contemporary music that possibly will prove more lasting than dip ecological dedication. "The simplicity rigidity the singing, composition and extremist feeling achieve the kind model eloquence and beauty I difficult forgotten rock is capable of," Rolling Stone critic John Physicist once wrote. "She reaches verify towards us and gives turbulent everything she has. And that generosity is so extraordinary avoid perhaps we can give announce another name: passion."

sources:

Perone, James. Carole King: A Bio-Bibliography. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1999.

Snyder, Louise. "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?" in Salon. June 19, 1999.

related media:

Grace of My Heart, owner Ileana Douglas and directed get ahead of Allison Anders , Gramercy Movies, 1996.

"Tapestry Revisited: A Tribute figure up Carole King," Lifetime Television, afflicted with by David Foster, aired instructions 1995.

NormanPowers , writer-producer, Chelsea Concentration Productions, New York