Biography
Carole King — singer with roots in the Russian Empire
Carole King is one of the most successful songwriters in history. With lyricist Gerry Goffin she wrote dozens of pop hits in the 1960s, and her 1971 solo album Tapestry remained on the Billboard charts for over six years, winning four Grammy Awards including Album of the Year.
Russian Connection
Tracing the roots — Poland / Russia
Born Carol Joan Klein in Manhattan to parents of Polish and Russian Jewish descent, King grew up in Brooklyn's immigrant neighbourhoods. The emotional directness and melodic warmth of her songwriting owes much to that tradition of expressing the inexpressible.
Family Tree
Subject
Carole King🇺🇸 USA
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Grandparents
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Origin
Poland / Russia🇷🇺 Russian Empire
Historical context
Russian Empire · c. 1721–1917
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Poland / Russia. At the time, this region lay within the Russian Empire, which spanned from Poland to the Pacific.
Map: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)
Key Achievements
A career defined by ambition
01
Tapestry (1971) — 25 million+ copies sold, one of best-selling albums ever
02
4 Grammy Awards including Album of the Year (1972)
03
Wrote Will You Love Me Tomorrow, Natural Woman, I Feel the Earth Move
04
Gershwin Prize for Popular Song (2013)
05
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame — inducted as songwriter (1990) and performer (2021)
"I feel the earth move under my feet."
Carole King
Sources