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.

Among the works attributed to Goffin and King are:

"Will You Love Me Tomorrow?", recorded by The Shirelles
"Take Good Care of My Baby", recorded by Bobby Vee, Bobby Vinton
"Go Away Little Girl", recorded by Steve Lawrence
"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
"Up on the Roof", recorded by The Drifters
"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"
"Hi-De-Ho", recorded by Blood, Sweat and Tears
"Goin' Back", recorded by The Byrds

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 Jan & Dean
"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 of Mahogany" with Michael Masser, nominated for an Oscar
"So Sad the Song" with Michael Masser, nominated for a Golden Globe

More recent works attributed to Goffin are:

"Tonight I Celebrate My Love"
"Time, Don't Run Out on Me"
"A Long and Lasting Love"
"Savin' All My Love for You", 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.

Discography

Back Room Blood (1995)

External links

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