Carole King, born in Manhattan in 1942, wrote 1960s hits for the Shirelles, Aretha Franklin, and Little Eva with Gerry Goffin before going solo. Tapestry (1971) sold more than 25 million copies, won Album of the Year, and defined the singer-songwriter era — every collection needs a copy. Browse Carole King vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
Carol Joan Klein was born in Manhattan, New York on February 9, 1942 and raised in Brooklyn. She and Gerry Goffin (her husband from 1959 to 1968) were among the most successful songwriting partnerships of the 1960s, writing hits including Will You Love Me Tomorrow (The Shirelles), (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman (Aretha Franklin), The Loco-Motion (Little Eva), and many others. After their divorce, King launched her solo recording career, with Tapestry (1971) on Ode Records becoming an international phenomenon - selling more than 25 million copies worldwide and winning four Grammy Awards including Album of the Year. She has continued recording and performing across the subsequent decades.
Carole King's sound is foundational to the singer-songwriter movement of the early 1970s - confessional songwriting, piano-led arrangements, intimate vocal delivery, and the integration of pop melodic structure with personal lyrical content. Her songwriting influence extends across pop, soul, rock, and country traditions.
Original Ode Records pressings of Tapestry are widely collected. Multiple anniversary editions, audiophile pressings (including Mobile Fidelity), and box sets covering King's career have been released across the catalog.
Listeners new to Carole King's solo work typically start with Tapestry (1971).
