Carole King

Balancing romance and realism, celebrating love and friendship in uncertain times, Carole King connected with a vast audience in the '70s. Her music hasn't lost its resonance with the passing decades — tunes like "It's Too Late" and "So Far Away" still speak to the heart. King matches R&B passion with unguarded lyric honesty. Here's the core of her canon.

It's Carole King's special gift to distill ordinary experience into succinct, exquisitely simple works of songcraft. The sparks of blossoming desire and the embers of fading love illuminate her music. Curling up with one of Carole's tunes offers the deep pleasure of a long conversation with an old friend.

In her 40-plus years making music, Carole King has created as rich and enduring a body of work as any songwriter can lay claim to. Instantly catchy, radio-ready hits; smoldering R&B ballads; and gentle, folk-tinged introspections have all flowed from her prolific touch. Carole's catalog runs deep with lesser-known tunes well worth exploring.

During the '60s, Carole King was one of pop music's great behind-the-scenes hitmakers, composing classics for the Drifters, the Shirelles, and others. In 1971, she entered the upper echelon of the singer/songwriter pantheon with her brilliant Tapestry. King's warmly soulful vocals and emotionally candid, rhythmically flowing songs have worn exceptionally well. From "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" through "It's Too Late" and "Now and Forever," she remains an American treasure.