MUMBAI: The music industry has said goodbye to yet another talent- lyricist Gerry Goffin. Although better known as husband of Grammy winning singer Carole King, Goffin was responsible for some of the most popular oldies including ‘(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman’, ‘Up on the Roof’ and ‘Will You Love Me Tomorrow’.
Reports state that Goffin died on Thursday, 19 June 2014 of natural causes in his Los Angeles home; he was 75 years old. His wife- Michelle Goffin confirmed the news of his passing.
Goffin and singer/ songwriter King married in 1959, while both were still teenagers. In his song writing career, Goffin penned over 50 top 40 hits. Along with writing lyrics for his then wife, he also penned some of the biggest classic songs for a number of other artistes like Bobby Vee’s ‘Take Good Care of My Baby’, Everly Brothers’ ‘Crying in the Rain’, The Drifters’ ‘Some Kind of Wonderful’ and The Monkees’ ‘Pleasant Valley Sunday’.
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Despite splitting up in 1968, the couple were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1987. Three years later, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
In a statement, King, 72, called Goffin her “first love”. She said that he not only had an impact on her life, but also on the world. “Gerry was a good man and a dynamic force, whose words and creative influence will resonate for generations to come,” her statement read.
Goffin, along with Michael Masser earned an Academy Award nomination for the theme to 1975 film ‘Mahogany’, which was sung by Diana Ross. He was also nominated for a Golden Globe for ‘So Sad the Song’ from the 1977 film ‘Pipe Dreams’.
He continued to write a number of other hits through the 80s and 90 which include ‘Tonight I Celebrate My Love’ by Roberta Flack and Peabo Bryson, and the mega Whitney Houston hit ‘Saving All My Love for You’.
