This article is about the renowned and talented American singer who has written or co-written over 118 songs and released 25 solo albums, the most successful of which is “Tapestry.” Learn more about Carole King’s childhood, career rise, successes, and personal life below on manhattan-trend.
Early Years
Carole King Klein is an American singer, musician, and songwriter. She was born in Manhattan on February 9, 1942, to a Jewish family. Her mother, Eugenia, was a teacher, and her father, Sidney N. Klein, was a firefighter.
Music was a constant presence in the Klein household from Carole’s earliest days. Her mother, who had learned to play in her youth, often performed for the family on their piano. At age three, Carole developed a keen interest in music, prompting her mother to teach her the basics of piano. By four, her parents discovered she had perfect pitch, an ability that allowed her to name any note just by hearing it. She later recalled how her father was incredibly proud of this, often showing off her talent to friends with a smile so wide it seemed to take up the bottom half of his face. At that same age, her mother began giving Carole formal music lessons, where she studied music theory and fundamental piano techniques, including reading music and playing in rhythm. Importantly, King’s desire to learn was her own; she was never forced.
Carole started kindergarten at four, and after her first year, she was promoted directly to second grade due to her exceptional abilities with words and numbers. In the 1950s, King attended James Madison High School, where she formed a band called the Co-Sines, changed her name from Carol Klein to Carole King, and recorded demos with her friend, Paul Simon. Her first official record was the promotional single “The Right Girl,” released by ABC-Paramount in 1958. Later, King attended Queens College, where she met her future songwriting partner and husband, Gerry Goffin. They soon married, and after King became pregnant, the couple dropped out of college, took day jobs, and spent their evenings writing songs together.
Becoming an Artist: The First Steps
In the 1960s, Carole and Gerry wrote a series of hit songs for various artists, including “Chains,” “The Loco-Motion,” “Keep Your Hands off My Baby,” and “It Might as Well Rain Until September.” Other early songs penned by King include “Crying in the Rain,” which hit number six on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1962, as well as “Take Good Care of My Baby,” “One Fine Day,” “Pleasant Valley Sunday,” “Up on the Roof,” and “I’m into Something Good.” By 1968, Goffin and King had divorced and were no longer in contact. Carole King moved to Laurel Canyon with her two daughters and relaunched her music career by forming “The City,” a musical trio with bassist Charles Larkey (her future husband), guitarist-vocalist Danny Kortchmar, and King herself on piano and vocals. The City released one album, “Now That Everything’s Been Said,” but the band’s progress was stalled by King’s reluctance to perform live, and they soon disbanded.
A New Era
In 1970, King released her debut solo album, “Writer,” which peaked at number 84 on the Billboard 200. The following year, her second album, “Tapestry,” became an instant success. Fueled by multiple hits, including the Billboard No. 1 “It’s Too Late,” the album remained on the charts for nearly six years and sold over 30 million copies worldwide. It also won four Grammy Awards: Album of the Year, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year, with King becoming the first woman to win the latter award. That same year, she released her third album, “Music,” in December 1971, which quickly went gold and broke into the top ten. Her next albums, “Rhymes & Reasons” and “Fantasy,” also earned gold certifications.
In September 1974, King released “Wrap Around Joy,” which also achieved gold status and topped the charts. She went on to release many more recognized and successful albums, including “Thoroughbred,” “Simple Things,” “Touch the Sky,” “One to One,” “Speeding Time,” and “Love Makes the World.” Her discography also features live albums like “In Concert,” “The Living Room Tour,” and “Live at the Troubadour.” Throughout her career, the singer toured extensively. Among her final albums were “Live at the Troubadour” and “A Holiday Carole,” released in 2010-2011. The latter earned a Grammy nomination for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album. In May 2012, King announced her retirement from her music career.
In early December 2012, Carole King received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She was honored as the MusiCares Person of the Year in January 2014, and in 2015, she was a Kennedy Center Honoree. Beyond her music career, King also built a notable acting portfolio, with appearances in productions like “Gilmore Girls,” “The Trials of Rosie O’Neill,” and “Faerie Tale Theatre.”
Personal Life
Singer Carole King has been married four times: to Gerry Goffin, Charles Larkey, Rick Evers, and Rick Sorenson. Evers was reportedly abusive toward her and later died of a drug overdose. From her marriages, King has four children: artist Molly Larkey, Levi Larkey, and musicians Louise Goffin and Sherry Goffin Kondor.
