Carole King: An Overture to a Legendary Music Career

Explore the remarkable journey of Carole King, the iconic Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and passionate environmentalist. Born Carol Joan Klein on February 9, 1942, in New York, New York, she was destined to become a music legend. With her father, Sydney Klein, serving as a New York City fire lieutenant and her mother, Eugenia Klein, working as a speech therapist, Carole grew up in a supportive environment that contributed to her artistic development.

Personal Beginnings and Early Stardom

Carole discovered her musical talents early, starting piano lessons at the tender age of four. Her personal life includes four marriages, to Rick Sorenson, Rick Evers, Charles Larkey, and Gerry Goffin, and the joys and challenges of raising four children. Formally educated at Queens College, Carole King's roots in academia set the stage for her creative explosions in the music industry.

Writing Hits in the Brill Building

Partnering with then-husband Gerry Goffin in the 1960s, Carole composed numerous hits in New York's famous Brill Building, authoring music that would be performed by greats like Aretha Franklin and the Beatles, to name a few. These compositions earned her significant acclaim and a special place in the annals of music history.

Chart-Topping Solo Career and Accolades

Carole King's solo career skyrocketed with the release of her album ‘Tapestry’, which remained at the top of the Billboard charts for an impressive 15 weeks and sold over 15 million copies. This achievement marked just the beginning of a career that would see Carole win four Grammys in 1972, including the coveted Album of the Year, and eventually receive a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013. She also gained recognition in the Rock and Roll and Songwriters Halls of Fame alongside Gerry Goffin, and was celebrated on Broadway through the musical ‘Beautiful: The Carole King Musical’ and in a concert documentary with James Taylor. Always an activist, Carole leveraged her platform to support environmental causes, protecting the Northern Rockies and raising her voice in peaceful protest through her music.

Grammy, songwriter, environmentalist