Fifty years have gone by in a blink. I was seventeen years old in 1971, a senior in high school, I had college and boys on the brain, and a female artist hit the charts big time. Carole King appeared with “Taspesty”, and the world stopped to take notice.

“Tapestry” made its mark on the music world in February of 1971. It stayed in the number one position in the charts for fifteen weeks as well as being on the LP charts for nearly six years. Naturally, you will find the song on many of the “Top 100 Best Songs” lists everywhere.

Carole King remained a mystery to me until I became interested in her music. Little did I know that she was a precocious fourteen-year old when she started writing music and playing in a band called the “Co-Sines”. As a teenager, she wrote songs for Paul Simon, The Shirelles, Little Eva, and others. She married at age seventeen, but that didn’t last. Soon afterward, she branched out on her on own at age nineteen. That’s when “Tapestry” was born. She also wrote “You Got a Friend in Me” about the same time which she gave to her good friend, James Taylor.

Carole writes her songs about her own personal life and also branches out to sing about the world’s social problems and issues that everyone can relate to today. She’s calm, reflective, warm, and has an ability to have a genuine presence whether on the stage or just casually meeting. Just like in her song, “Tapesty”, she exudes empathy, humility, and dignity. She listens and pays close attention to people’s emotions and feelings which is why her stage presence is so accepting.

Probably most music listeners are not aware that Carole has written songs for many singers and performers. For example, “You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Women” sung by Aretha Franklin, “Up on the Roof” sung by the Drifters, or “Chains” sung by the Beatles were all written by Carole King. There are many more that Carole wrote that became big hits, as well. She is one talented woman!

So, let’s call this Carole King Day! February 10th is the day that “Tapestry” was released, and we are certainly joyful that she did. Can you think of a Carole King song that you like? Do you know of any that she wrote? Are you a fan of Carole King? Until then….have a wild and wonderful Wednesday, be safe, and I love you!