Gerry Goffin
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Gerry Goffin (born February 11, 1939) is an American lyricist.
Born in Brooklyn, New York he enlisted with the Marine Corps Reserve after graduating from Brooklyn Technical High School. After spending a year in the Annapolis Naval Academy he resigned from the navy to study chemistry at Queens College.
Marrying Carole King in 1959, he and his wife together pursued a successful song writing career, notably as part of the famous Brill Building song writing team. Although they divorced in 1968, the two continued to work together for some years afterwards. They are the parents of singer/songwriter Louise Goffin.
Among the works attributed to Goffin and King are:
- "Will You Love Me Tomorrow?", recorded by The Shirelles and later, Dusty Springfield
- "Take Good Care of My Baby", recorded by Bobby Vee and later Bobby Vinton
- "Go Away Little Girl", recorded by Steve Lawrence and later Donny Osmond
- "I Can't Stay Mad at You", recorded by Skeeter Davis
- "Up on the Roof", recorded by The Drifters
- "The Loco-Motion" , recorded by Little Eva
- "One Fine Day", recorded by The Chiffons
- "Pleasant Valley Sunday", recorded by The Monkees
- "Chains", recorded by The Cookies and later The Beatles
- "Some of Your Lovin"' recorded by Dusty Springfield
- "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman", recorded by Aretha Franklin
- "He Hit Me (and It Felt Like a Kiss)", recorded by The Crystals
- "Don't Say Nothin' Bad About My Baby" recorded by The Cookies
- "Hi-De-Ho", recorded by Blood, Sweat and Tears and later Dusty Springfield
- "Goin' Back", recorded by Dusty Springfield and later The Byrds
- "I Can't Hear You" recorded by Betty Everett
- "Child of Mine" recorded by Carole King and later Emmylou Harris
Goffin also collaborated with other songwriters, notably Barry Mann, Russ Titelman, Barry Goldberg and Michael Masser. Works produced by these collaborations include:
- "Who Put the Bomp (In the Bomp Bomp Bomp Bomp)" with Barry Mann, recorded by Mann
- "I've Got to Use My Imagination" with Barry Goldberg, recorded by Gladys Knight and the Pips
- "It's Not the Spotlight" with Barry Goldberg, recorded by Rod Stewart
- "Theme From Mahogany" with Michael Masser, recorded by Diana Ross (nominated for an Oscar)
- "So Sad the Song" with Michael Masser, recorded by Gladys Knight & the Pips (nominated for a Golden Globe)
More recent works attributed to Goffin are:
- "Tonight I Celebrate My Love", recorded by Roberta Flack and Peabo Bryson
- "Time, Don't Run Out On Me" recorded by Anne Murray
- "A Long and Lasting Love", recorded by Glenn Medeiros
- "Saving All My Love For You", recorded by Whitney Houston
- "Didn't We Almost Have It All", recorded by Whitney Houston
In 1995, Goffin remarried.
Gerry Goffin 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.
[edit] Discography
- Back Room Blood (1995)
