Gerry Goffin, Prolific Songwriter and Carole King's Ex-Husband, Has Died

Photo via GAB Archive

Gerry Goffin, a prolific songwriter who penned over fifty Top 40 hits-- including several with his former wife Carole King-- has died at his home in Los Angeles, the New York Times reports. He was 75.

Goffin was born in Brooklyn in 1939 and was working as an assistant chemist when he met King at Queens College. The two began writing songs together, and their first hit, 1961's "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" for the Shirelles, followed shortly thereafter.

Goffin and King were married in 1959, and continued to write hit singles, including "Pleasant Valley Sunday" for the Monkees, "Crying in the Rain" for the Everly Brothers, "Some Kind of Wonderful" for the Drifters, "Take Good Care of My Baby" for Bobby Vee, and "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" for Aretha Franklin.

King and Goffin divorced in 1968, but Goffin kept writing hits, including "Savin' All My Love for You" for Whitney Houston, among others.

Goffin earned an Academy Award nomination alongside Michael Masser for the theme to the 1975 film "Mahogany", as recorded by Diana Ross. He also garnered a Golden Globe nomination for 1977's "So Sad the Song", from the film "Pipe Dreams". Eventually, Goffin's marriage and professional relationship with King was adapted into the Broadway musical Beautiful, which won two Tony Awards.

Goffin and King were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1987 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.

He is survived by his wife, Michelle Goffin, and their five children.

via Molly Beauchemin