Carly Simon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carly Simon
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Simon in 1972
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Carly Elisabeth Simon
June 25, 1943 New York City, U.S.
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| Years active | 1963–present |
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| Children | 2, including Sally Taylor |
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Carly Elisabeth Simon (born June 25, 1943) is an American singer, songwriter, and author. She became famous in the 1970s with many hit songs. Some of her most popular songs include "Anticipation", "You Belong to Me", and "Coming Around Again".
She also had four songs that sold over 500,000 copies each, earning "gold" awards. These hits were "You're So Vain" (which reached No. 1), "Mockingbird" (a duet with James Taylor), "Nobody Does It Better" from the 1977 James Bond movie The Spy Who Loved Me, and "Jesse". Carly Simon has also written two memoirs and five books for children.
In 1963, Carly started performing with her sister Lucy Simon as the Simon Sisters. Their first album, Meet the Simon Sisters, included the song "Winkin', Blinkin' and Nod". This song was based on a poem and became a small hit. After Lucy left the group, Carly became a very successful solo artist. Her first solo album in 1971 won her a Grammy Award for Best New Artist. It also featured her first top 10 song, "That's the Way I've Always Heard It Should Be".
Carly Simon became internationally famous with her third album, No Secrets (1972). This album stayed at No. 1 on the Billboard charts for five weeks. It included the worldwide hit "You're So Vain", which was No. 1 for three weeks. Her fourth album, Hotcakes (1974), also became a big success. It featured the popular songs "Mockingbird" and "Haven't Got Time for the Pain".
In 1977, Carly Simon sang "Nobody Does It Better" for the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me. This song became a huge hit around the world. In the 1980s, she recorded more songs for movies. Her 1988 hit "Let the River Run", from the film Working Girl, made her the first artist to win a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Golden Globe for a song she wrote and performed herself.
Carly Simon is known as one of the most important singer-songwriters of the 1970s. She has won two Grammy Awards and was added to the Grammy Hall of Fame for "You're So Vain" in 2004. She was also inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1994 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.
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Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Carly Simon was born on June 25, 1943, in New York City. Her father, Richard L. Simon, helped start the publishing company Simon & Schuster. He was also a classical pianist. Her mother, Andrea, was a singer and worked for civil rights.
Carly grew up in the Riverdale area of the Bronx. She had two older sisters, Joanna and Lucy Simon, and a younger brother, Peter. All of her siblings have passed away from cancer.
When Carly was eight years old, she started to stutter a lot. Singing and songwriting helped her deal with this. She found she could sing without stuttering. She also has dyslexia, which she believes helped her songwriting. She said her song "Anticipation" came to her easily, "bypassing the mind." Carly attended Riverdale Country School and also studied at Sarah Lawrence College and Juilliard School of Music.
Career Highlights
The Simon Sisters and Early Solo Work
Carly Simon started her music career with her sister Lucy as the Simon Sisters. They sang together and released two albums with Kapp Records. Their song "Winkin', Blinkin' and Nod" was a small hit. After these albums, they made one more album for children in 1969.
After her sister Lucy left the group, Carly began her solo career. She signed with Elektra Records in 1970. Her first solo album, Carly Simon, came out in 1971. It reached No. 30 on the Billboard charts. This album included her first big hit, "That's the Way I've Always Heard It Should Be", which reached No. 10. She won a Grammy Award for Best New Artist for this album.
Her second album, Anticipation, was released later in 1971. It also reached No. 30 on the charts. The main song, "Anticipation", became a big hit. It was even used in commercials for ketchup. Carly wrote this song very quickly while waiting for singer Cat Stevens for a date.
International Fame and Hit Songs
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Carly Simon became very famous in 1972 with her song "You're So Vain". This song reached No. 1 in the U.S. and sold over a million copies. It was one of the biggest hits of the 1970s. The song's success helped her album, No Secrets, reach No. 1 on the Billboard charts for five weeks. "You're So Vain" was later added to the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2004.
For many years, people wondered who the song "You're So Vain" was about. Carly Simon kept it a secret. She later said that the second verse was about actor Warren Beatty. She added that other parts of the song were about two other men she did not name.
Her next hit, "The Right Thing to Do", was a love song for her husband at the time, James Taylor. It was also very successful. In 1974, Carly released her album Hotcakes. It quickly became a hit, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard charts. This album included the popular duet "Mockingbird" with James Taylor, and "Haven't Got Time for the Pain".
Continued Success and Film Music
Carly Simon's albums Playing Possum (1975) and Another Passenger (1976) continued her success. Playing Possum reached the Top 10 and had the hit song "Attitude Dancing". Soon after, her first greatest hits album, The Best of Carly Simon, was released. It became her best-selling album ever, selling over three million copies in the U.S.
In 1977, Carly Simon had a huge international hit with "Nobody Does It Better". This was the theme song for the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me. It was her second-biggest hit in the U.S. and was nominated for a Grammy. Many people consider it one of the best James Bond theme songs.
Her 1978 album, Boys in the Trees, was also a big success. It included two Top 40 songs: "You Belong to Me" and "Devoted to You", another duet with James Taylor.
In 1988, Carly Simon won an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Grammy Award for her song "Let the River Run" from the movie Working Girl. She was the first artist to win all three major awards for a song she wrote and performed herself.
Later Career and Memoirs
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Carly Simon continued to release new music and re-record some of her classic songs. In 2009, she released Never Been Gone, which featured acoustic versions of her hits.
In 2015, Carly Simon published her memoir, Boys in the Trees: A Memoir. This book shared stories from her childhood and early life. It was very well-received by critics. A music collection called Songs from the Trees (A Musical Memoir Collection) was released at the same time.
In 2019, she released a second memoir, Touched by the Sun: My Friendship with Jackie. This book was about her friendship with former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
In 2022, Carly Simon was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She was recognized for her lasting impact on music.
Personal Life
Carly Simon married fellow singer-songwriter James Taylor on November 3, 1972. They had two children, Sally and Benjamin "Ben" Simon Taylor. Both of their children are also musicians. Carly and James divorced in 1983.
Carly Simon later married James Hart in 1987. They divorced in 2007.
In 1997, Carly Simon was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had surgery and chemotherapy. She has been open about her health journey.
Carly Simon has been close friends with James Taylor's younger brother, Livingston Taylor, for many years. They have also worked on music together.
Achievements and Legacy
Awards and Recognition
Carly Simon has received many awards throughout her career. She has won two Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe Award. She was nominated for two British Academy Film Awards for her film music.
In 1994, she was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 1998, she received an honorary music degree from Berklee College of Music. In 2022, Carly Simon was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Her album No Secrets was listed among the top 1000 albums of all time. Her song "You're So Vain" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2004. It was also ranked among the top 100 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. "Nobody Does It Better" is considered one of the greatest James Bond theme songs.
Influence on Other Artists
Carly Simon's songs have been covered by many other musicians. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has said that her "influence on fellow artists is incalculable." For example, Marilyn Manson recorded a unique version of "You're So Vain".
Taylor Swift has said that Carly Simon is a big musical influence on her. In 2013, Taylor Swift even brought Carly Simon onstage to sing "You're So Vain" together at a concert. Swift called it "the best song that's ever been written."
Other artists like Tori Amos and Carly Rae Jepsen have also said that Carly Simon's music and songwriting have inspired them.
Discography
Studio Albums
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Christmas Albums
Live Albums
Other Albums
Compilation Albums
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Filmography
Concert Films
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Film Appearances
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Television Appearances
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Certifications
The years listed are when the albums and singles were released.
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U.S. Billboard 200 Top 10 Albums
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 Singles
U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary Top 10 Singles
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Albums and Singles Certifications (RIAA)
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See also
In Spanish: Carly Simon para niños
