King, Carole (1942–)

American composer and performer. Born Carole Klein, Feb 9, 1942, in Brooklyn, NY; attended Queens College; m. Gerry Goffin, 1960 (div. 1968); m. Charles Larkey (div.); m. Rick Evers (died from drug overdose one year after their marriage); m. Richard Sorenson; children: (1st m.) Louise Goffin and Sherry Goffin-Kondor; (2nd m.) daughter Molly Larkey.

After studying piano as a child, wrote songs and organized her 1st group in high school, a vocal quarter called The Co-Sines, changing last name to King; dropped out of college and worked part-time for a NY music publishing co., composing with lyricist husband the music for a string of Top-40 hits which came to be called "uptown R&B," including 1st #1 song, "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?" (1960), followed by "Chains," "One Fine Day," "The Loco-Motion," "Up on the Roof," "Go Away, Little Girl" and (You Make Me Feel Like a) "Natural Woman," written for Aretha Franklin; after a divorce (1968), began to promote herself as a solo performer and wrote "You've Got a Friend"; released album Tapestry to great acclaim (1971), winning 4 Grammy awards; released a collection of children's songs based on Sendak's Really Rosie, which was later turned into the score for an animated film and, later still, a Broadway play; has continued to write and perform, as well as composing music for film scores and occasionally acting in films and on stage; is also an outspoken environmentalist. Inducted into Songwriters' Hall of Fame and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

See also "Tapestry Revisited: A Tribute to Carole King," Lifetime TV (1st aired, 1995); and Women in World History.