The SRO Show – Carole King

Carole’s Timeless Tapestry

Produced by Lawrence Standifer Stevens

Written by Joseph E. Casanova

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Carole King was truly a phenomenon. She helped define what it was to be a singer/songwriter in the 60s and 70s.

With standards such as You’ve Got a Friend and It’s Too Late, Grammy winner Carole King has cemented her legacy as one of the greatest singer/songwriters of all time.

King, along with filmmaker George Lucas and actress/singer Rita Moreno, was recently recognized by the Kennedy Center Honors in Washington D.C. for representing “the voices, soundtracks, and stories. . . of our personal lives and memories.”

The segment included moving performances by pop star Sara Barreilles on You’ve Got a Friend, soul diva Janelle Monae on Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow and One Fine Day and friend, James Taylor on Up on the Roof.

Stars from Broadway’s Beautiful – the Carole King Musical narrated the tribute and sang So Far Away.

However, stealing the show was the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin with her incredible rendition of You Make Me Feel like a Natural Woman.

King couldn’t contain her excitement as she watched all of these talented artists show their appreciation and admiration for the composer.

In the late 60’s, she formed a band called The City who released one album, 1968’s Now That Everything’s Been Said and recorded her first solo album, Writer, two years later.

However, it was 1971’s Tapestry which propelled her career into the annals of musical history. The song list read like a greatest hits collection featuring some of her biggest compositions.

Tapestry earned the 1972 Grammy Album of the Year, andhad sold over 25 million copies worldwide.

She also garnered Record, Song, and Best Female Vocal Performance and had earned three platinum and seven gold albums.

According to King’s website, she wrote her first #1 song, Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow for the Shirelles when she was 17 with future husband Gerry Goffin.

Throughout the 60’s, the duo racked up a string of hits, including Take Good Care of My Baby and Run to Him for Bobby Vee and Crying in the Rain for the Everly Brothers.

Listening to Carole King’s music now, it’s nice to know that we’ll always have a friend.