Jim Carroll facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jim Carroll
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In Seattle, 2000
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| Born | James Dennis Carroll August 1, 1949 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | September 11, 2009 (aged 60) New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation | Author, poet, musician |
| Period | 1967–2009 |
| Notable work | The Basketball Diaries |
| Spouse |
Rosemary Klemfuss
(m. 1978, divorced) |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Labels | Atlantic Records |
| Associated acts |
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James Dennis Carroll (born August 1, 1949 – died September 11, 2009) was an American writer, poet, and musician. He was known for his book The Basketball Diaries. This book was made into a movie in 1995 starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Jim Carroll was also famous for his 1980 song "People Who Died" with his band, The Jim Carroll Band.
Contents
About Jim Carroll's Life
His Early Years
Jim Carroll was born into a working-class family in New York City. He grew up in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. When he was about 11, his family moved to Inwood in Upper Manhattan.
He went to Rice High School in Harlem. Later, he received a scholarship to the special Trinity School. He attended Trinity from 1964 to 1968. Jim was a talented basketball player in high school. He also briefly attended Wagner College and Columbia University.
His Writing Career
Jim Carroll started writing poems while he was still in high school. His first collection of poems was called Organic Trains. His work quickly gained attention from other writers. His poems began appearing in magazines like The World and Paris Review.
In 1970, he published his second poetry book, 4 Ups and 1 Down. Around this time, he also started working for Andy Warhol. He helped Warhol with film dialogue and character names. He even co-managed Warhol's Theater.
His first book from a major publisher was Living at the Movies in 1973. In 1978, he published The Basketball Diaries. This book was a memoir about his teenage years in New York City. It was based on the diaries he kept during high school.
Later, in 1987, he wrote another memoir called Forced Entries: The Downtown Diaries 1971–1973. This book continued his story into his early adult life. It described his experiences in the New York City music and art scene.
After spending time as a musician, Jim Carroll returned to writing full-time. He often performed readings from his works. One of his short stories, "Curtis's Charm," was made into a film in 1995.
His Music Career
In 1978, Jim Carroll moved to California. There, he formed a new wave/punk rock band called Amsterdam. Patti Smith, a famous musician and friend, encouraged him to start the band.
The band later changed its name to The Jim Carroll Band. They signed a record deal with Atlantic Records. Their first album, Catholic Boy, came out in 1980. It included their most famous song, "People Who Died."
"People Who Died" became very popular. It was used in many movies and TV shows. These include Steven Spielberg's 1982 film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and the 1995 film The Basketball Diaries. It was also featured in Dawn of the Dead and The Suicide Squad.
The Jim Carroll Band released more albums, including Dry Dreams (1982) and I Write Your Name (1983). Jim Carroll also worked with other famous musicians like Lou Reed and Pearl Jam.
Personal Life
Jim Carroll married Rosemary Klemfuss in 1978. They later divorced but remained good friends.
His Death
Jim Carroll passed away on September 11, 2009, at his home in Manhattan. He was 60 years old. He died from a heart attack. He had been unwell for some time. He was working at his desk when he died. His funeral was held at Our Lady of Pompeii Catholic Church in Greenwich Village.
Books by Jim Carroll
Poetry
- Organic Trains (1967)
- 4 Ups and 1 Down (1970)
- Living at the Movies (1973)
- The Book of Nods (1986)
- Fear of Dreaming: The Selected Poems (1993)
- Void of Course: Poems 1994–1997 (1998)
- 8 Fragments for Kurt Cobain (1994)
Prose
- The Basketball Diaries (memoir) (1978)
- Forced Entries: The Downtown Diaries 1971–1973 (memoir) (1987)
- The Petting Zoo (novel) (2010; published after his death)
Music by Jim Carroll
Albums
- Catholic Boy (1980)
- Live Dreams (1981)
- Dry Dreams (1982)
- I Write Your Name (1983)
- A World Without Gravity: Best of The Jim Carroll Band (1993)
- Pools of Mercury (1998)
- Runaway EP (2000)
Spoken Word
- Praying Mantis (1991)
- The Basketball Diaries (1994)
- Pools of Mercury (1998)
Collaborations
- Live at Max's Kansas City, The Velvet Underground (1972)
- Club Ninja, Blue Öyster Cult (1985)
- Mistrial, Lou Reed (1986)
- Other Roads, Boz Scaggs (1988)
- Between Thought and Expression: The Lou Reed Anthology, Lou Reed (1992)
- ...And Out Come the Wolves, Rancid (1995)
- Catholic Boy, Pearl Jam (1995)
- Feeling You Up, Truly (1997)
- Yes I Ram, Jon Tiven Group (1999)
Compilations and Soundtracks
- The Dial-a-Poem Poets (1972)
- Disconnected (1974)
- The Nova Convention (1979)
- One World Poetry (1981)
- Better an Old Demon than a New God (1984)
- Lou Reed at the Capitol Theatre (1984)
- Tuff Turf soundtrack (1985)
- Release #8 - 1993 (1993)
- Back to the Streets: Celebrating the Music of Don Covay (1993)
- Sedated in the Eighties (1993)
- New Wave Dance Hits: Just Can't Get Enough, Vol. 6 (1994)
- The Basketball Diaries (soundtrack) (1995)
- Put Your Tongue to the Rail: The Philly Comp for Catholic Children (Songs of the Jim Carroll Band) (1999)
- Dawn of the Dead (2004)
- The Darwin Awards (2005)
See also
In Spanish: Jim Carroll para niños
- The Basketball Diaries
- James Parks Morton Interfaith Award
