Hi, everyone. Welcome to this week’s edition of Music Monday.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Today is Carole King’s 84th birthday. Born Carol Joan Klein on February 9, 1942 in New York City, she began playing piano at the age of three from her mother. While she was in high school, she formed her first band & changed her last name to King. In August 1959, she married her first husband, Gerry Goffin, whom she met while she was a student at Queens College.

They started writing songs together in their spare time. After their hit, “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” became a #1 song for The Shirelles for two consecutive weeks in 1961, Goffin & King became full time songwriters at the Brill Building. Over the next several years, they wrote over 100 songs together, including hits like “The Loco-Motion”, “Up On The Roof”, “Hey Girl”, “One Fine Day”, “Pleasant Valley Sunday” and ” (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman”, amongst others. Goffin & King divorced in 1968 and King moved to Laurel Canyon, California to pursue her own recording career.

Carole King circa 1971. (Image found (Image found on her Facebook page with photo credited to Jim McCrary. Courtesy Lou Adler /Ode Records).

Her debut album, Writer, was released in May 1970. Tomorrow marks the 55th anniversary of her second album, Tapestry, which is widely considered the greatest record by a female artist. Released on February 10, 1971, it became a massive hit. The first single-a double A-sided one including “It’s Too Late”-was released three months later. It spent five consecutive weeks at #1, from June 19, 1971 until July 23, 1971. The album was #1 for 15 consecutive weeks, starting on June 19 as well and stayed on the chart for nearly a year, a total of 318 weeks. It also won her three Grammy Awards in 1972 (she actually won four that year, including “Song Of The Yeat” for James Taylor’s cover of “You’ve Got A Friend”).

Happy birthday, Carole King. Congratulations on 55 years of Tapestry.

My well loved copy of King’s 1971 landmark album. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

At the 14th Annual Grammy Ceremony in 1972, King won four awards including the top three-Album Of The Year (for Tapestry), Record Of The Year (for “It’s Too Late”) and Song Of The Year (for “You’ve Got A Friend”)-along with Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female (for “Tapestry”). (Image found on her Facebook page with photo credited to Jim McCrary. Courtesy Lou Adler /Ode Records).

It was 62 years ago today that The Beatles made their American television debut on “The Ed Sullivan Show”. They arrived in America-at JFK Airport in New York City, to be exact-on February 7, 1964 & made history two days later. The Fab Four had six #1 hits in 1964. Today we celebrate the first three, two of which were performed during their first appearance on Sullivan.

The Beatles at JFK Airport in New York City on February 7, 1964 (L-R: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The Beatles’ first performance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” on February 9, 1964 (L-R: McCartney, Harrison, Starr (on drums) and Lennon). (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The Beatles with Ed Sullivan on February 9, 1964 (L-R: Starr, Harrison, Sullivan, Lennon and McCartney. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Carole King: “I Feel the Earth Move” (1971, written by Carole King).

Carole King: “So Far Away” (1971, written by Carole King).

Carole King: “Tapestry” (1971, written by Carole King).

The Beatles: “I Want To Hold Your Hand” (Performed live on “The Ed Sullivan Show” on February 9, 1964. Originally released in 1963. Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney).

The Beatles: “She Loves You” (1963, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney).

The Beatles: “Can’t Buy Me Love” (1964, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney).

Stay safe & well.