Gerry Goffin

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Gerry Goffin


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Birth_name = Gerald Goffin
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Born = birth date and age|1939|2|11
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Origin = Brooklyn, New York
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Gerry Goffin (born Gerald Goffin, February 11 1939, Brooklyn, New York [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:k9fqxqy5ldte~T1 All Music Guide biography by William Ruhlmann] ] ) is an American lyricist. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 with former songwriting partner and first wife, Carole King. As of 2008 he has co-penned six Billboard Hot 100 chart-toppers.

Career

Goffin enlisted with the Marine Corps Reserve after graduating from Brooklyn Technical High School. After spending a year at the U.S. Naval Academy, he resigned from the Navy to study chemistry at Queens College.

Marrying Carole King in 1958, he and his wife together pursued a successful songwriting career, notably as part of the famous Brill Building songwriting team. Their breakthrough hit was 1961's "Will You Love Me Tomorrow", which was recorded by The Shirelles and later, Dusty Springfield. Although they divorced in 1968, the two continued to work together for some years afterwards. They are the parents of singer-songwriter, Louise Goffin.

In addition to King, Goffin also collaborated with other songwriters, notably Barry Mann, Russ Titelman, Barry Goldberg and Michael Masser. Works produced by these collaborations include:

*"It's Not the Spotlight" with Barry Goldberg, recorded by Rod Stewart
*"So Sad the Song" with Michael Masser, recorded by Gladys Knight & the Pips (nominated for a Golden Globe Award)
*"Yes I Will" with Russ Titelman, recorded by The Hollies, The Monkees and others

More recent works attributed to Goffin are:
*"Time, Don't Run Out On Me"; recorded by Anne Murray
*"A Long and Lasting Love"; recorded by Glenn Medeiros

In 1995, Goffin remarried. He was one of the first people to take notice of Kelly Clarkson's talent, and had hired her to do demo work prior to her auditioning for "American Idol" in 2001.

Today, Goffin lives and works in Los Angeles, California.

ongs by Goffin

Discography

*"It Ain't Exactly Entertainment" (1973)
*"Back Room Blood" (1995)

References

External links

* [http://www.rockhall.com/hof/inductee.asp?id=110 Rock Hall of Fame]
* [http://www.history-of-rock.com/carole_king_and_gerry_goffin.htm History of Rock]