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Here's a look at the life of Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and environmentalist Carole King.
Birthdate: February 9, 1942
Place of birth: New York, New York
Birth name: Carol Joan Klein
Father: New York City Fire Lieutenant Sydney Klein
Mother: Eugenia (Cammer) Klein, speech therapist
Marriages: Rick Sorenson (1982-divorced); Rick Evers (1977-1978, death of him); Charles Larkey (1970-divorced); Gerry Goffin (1959-divorced)
Children: with Charles Larkey: Levi and Molly; with Gerry Goffin: Sherry and Louise
Education: Attended Queens University
Working with his partner Gerry Goffin in the early 1960s, King composed melodies on piano and Goffin wrote lyrics. They were based in New York's famous Brill Building, an office complex where some of the catchiest tunes of the time for vocal groups were written.
King and Goffin's songs were recorded by popular artists such as Aretha Franklin (“(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman”), the Drifters (“Up on the Roof”), the Chiffons (“One Fine Day”), the Monkees (“Pleasant Valley Sunday”), the Beatles (“Chains”), Linda Ronstadt (“Oh No, Not My Baby”) and James Taylor (“You've Got a Friend”).
He started playing the piano when he was 4 years old.
Nominated for nine Grammy Awards and won four, as well as a lifetime achievement award.
Nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award.
1960 – Shirelles’ recording of “Will You Love Me Tomorrow?” by King and Goffin. It becomes her first hit single.
1962 – King and Goffin ask their teenage babysitter, Eva Boyd, to record one of their songs, “The Loco-Motion.” The song, which Boyd records under the stage name “Little Eva,” rockets to the top of the singles charts.
1967 – He moves to the Los Angeles area and forms a folk rock band, The City. Their only album, “Now That Everything's Been Said,” was released in 1968.
1970 – King releases his first solo album, “Writer.”
February 10, 1971 – Their second album, “Tapestry,” is released. It reaches number 1 on the Billboard chart and stays there for 15 weeks. It is the first album by a female artist to be certified “Diamond,” selling more than 15 million copies.
1972 – King wins four Grammy Awards: Record of the Year (“It's Too Late”), Song of the Year (“You've Got a Friend”), Album of the Year (“Tapestry”) and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for “Tapiz.”
May 1973 – He performs a free concert in New York City's Central Park before an audience of nearly 100,000 people.
1987 – He is inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame with Goffin.
1990 – He is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Goffin.
2002-2005 – King has a recurring role as a music store owner on the television series “Gilmore Girls.” The catchy opening track of “Gilmore Girls” is a re-recording of “Where You Lead,” King’s song from 1971’s “Tapestry.”
November 2007 – King and fellow singer-songwriter James Taylor play three nights at the famed Troubadour nightclub in West Hollywood to celebrate the venue's 50th anniversary. King also tours Japan with Mary J. Blige and Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas as “Three Great American Voices.”
May 2009 – Testify before Congress in support of a bill that will protect the Northern Rockies ecosystem, preventing development and promoting wildlife expansion.
April 2012 – Her memoirs, “A Natural Woman,” are published.
February 9, 2013 – Receives the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
2013 – Receives the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song from the Library of Congress. She is the first woman to receive the award.
January 2014 – “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” premieres on Broadway. The show chronicles King's beginnings as a singer-songwriter and her professional and personal association with Goffin.
February 8, 2015 – The cast recording of “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” wins the Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album.
December 29, 2015 – Receives Kennedy Center Honors along with George Lucas, Rita Moreno, Seiji Ozawa and Cicely Tyson.
January 26, 2017 – After more than two decades, he re-releases a version of “One Small Voice” in support of the protests against President Donald Trump.
January 2, 2022 – “Carole King & James Taylor: Just Call Out My Name,” a concert documentary, premieres on CNN.
March 16, 2022 – King testifies before Congress, speaking about his support for the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act and the connection between logging and increased wildfires.
