Kim Carnes facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kim Carnes
Carnes performing in 1981
Background information
Born	(1945-07-20) July 20, 1945 (age 80) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres	Pop rock soft rock country folk
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter
Years active	1962–present
Labels	Amos A&M EMI America MCA Sparky Dawg

Kim Carnes (born July 20, 1945) is an American singer and songwriter. She was born and grew up in Los Angeles. Kim Carnes has written many of her own hit songs. She also wrote songs for other famous artists.

She started her music journey in 1966. She was part of a folk group called The New Christy Minstrels. In the early 1970s, she began her solo career. She performed in local clubs and wrote songs. Kim also sang backup for other artists. In 1971, she released her first album, Rest on Me. Her second album in 1975 had her first song to appear on music charts, "You're a Part of Me."

In 1980, Kim Carnes became very well known. She wrote songs for Kenny Rogers' album Gideon with her husband, David Ellingson. Their duet, "Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer", became a top-5 hit. It also earned them a Grammy Award nomination. Later that year, her song "More Love" reached the top 10.

The next year, she released Mistaken Identity. This album featured her biggest hit, "Bette Davis Eyes". This song was a huge success around the world. It was the best-selling song in the U.S. in 1981. It stayed at number one for nine weeks. "Bette Davis Eyes" won two Grammy Awards: Record of the Year and Song of the Year. The album Mistaken Identity also reached number one and was nominated for Album of the Year.

Kim Carnes had other successful songs too. These include "Draw of the Cards", "Crazy in the Night (Barking at Airplanes)", and "What About Me?" with Kenny Rogers and James Ingram. She also sang "Make No Mistake, He's Mine" with Barbra Streisand. As a songwriter, she co-wrote "The Heart Won't Lie". This song became a number one hit for Reba McEntire and Vince Gill. Her most recent album is Chasin' Wild Trains (2004). Since 1994, Kim Carnes has lived in Nashville. She still writes and performs music. Her songs have been used in many movies and TV shows.

Kim Carnes' Early Life

Kim Carnes was born on July 20, 1945, in Los Angeles. Her father was a lawyer and her mother worked at a hospital. Kim knew she wanted to be a singer and songwriter from a very young age. She was only three years old when she decided this. Her family was not musical, so her parents did not quite understand her dream at first.

Kim Carnes' Music Career

Starting in Music

In 1966, Kim Carnes joined a folk music group called The New Christy Minstrels. She stayed with them until she started her solo career. Kenny Rogers, who she later sang with, was also in the group around the same time.

First Solo Album and Early Songs

Kim Carnes signed her first music deal with producer Jimmy Bowen. During this time, she recorded demo songs with other writers. These included famous artists like Don Henley and Glenn Frey. Kim also sang "Nobody Knows" for the 1971 movie Vanishing Point. Her first song as a songwriter, "Sing Out for Jesus", was also in the film. After signing with Amos Records, her first solo album Rest on Me came out in 1971.

In the early 1970s, Kim and her husband Dave Ellingson wrote songs with David Cassidy. He was a very popular singer at that time. Kim and Dave toured with Cassidy as his opening act. Kim also sang backup vocals on his albums.

First Songs on the Charts (1975–1979)

In 1975, Kim Carnes released her second album. Her song "You're a Part of Me" became her first song to appear on the U.S. Adult Contemporary chart. Many songs on this album were written by Kim and her husband.

Her third album, Sailin', came out in 1976. A song from this album, "Love Comes from Unexpected Places", won a big award at the American Song Festival. It also won an award at the Tokyo Song Festival. Barbra Streisand later recorded this song, which helped it get more attention. In 1978, Kim had her first song in the Top 40. It was a duet with Gene Cotton called "You're a Part of Me".

Working with Kenny Rogers and "Bette Davis Eyes" (1980–1981)

In 1980, Kim's duet with Kenny Rogers, "Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer", became a huge hit. It reached number 4 on the Pop charts. This song was from Kenny Rogers' album Gideon, which Kim and her husband wrote entirely. Later that year, her song "More Love" reached the top 10.

In 1981, Kim Carnes recorded "Bette Davis Eyes". This song was originally written in 1974. It was the first song from her album Mistaken Identity. "Bette Davis Eyes" stayed at number one on the U.S. charts for nine weeks. It became a worldwide hit. The song's success made her album Mistaken Identity reach number one for four weeks. "Bette Davis Eyes" was the biggest hit of 1981. It won the Record of the Year and Song of the Year awards at the 1982 Grammy Awards. Kim Carnes was also nominated for Best Pop Female Singer.

The actress Bette Davis loved the song and thanked Kim Carnes and the songwriters. She even wrote to Kim, saying she was thrilled to be part of the rock music world. Kim and Bette Davis became friends. Kim even performed the song live for Bette Davis before she passed away in 1989. The song is still used in movies and TV shows today.

More Hits and Awards (1982–1985)

Kim Carnes had more hits after "Bette Davis Eyes." These included "Crazy in the Night" and "What About Me?" with Kenny Rogers and James Ingram. She also had a Top 10 Adult Contemporary hit with "Make No Mistake, He's Mine" with Barbra Streisand. In 1985, Kim Carnes had three songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart at the same time.

Kim was nominated for more Grammy Awards. ..... Her song "I'll Be Here Where the Heart Is" was on the 1983 Flashdance movie soundtrack. This soundtrack won a Grammy Award. In 1985, Kim Carnes was one of the many artists who sang on the charity song "We Are the World". She sang a part of the song with Huey Lewis and Cyndi Lauper.

Later Career and Songwriting (1988–Present)

In 1988, Kim Carnes released her album View from the House. It featured musicians like Vince Gill and Bruce Hornsby. The album showed her country and folk music roots.

In the 1990s, Kim Carnes moved to Nashville. She continued to write songs for other artists. Her song "The Heart Won't Lie" became a number one country hit for Reba McEntire and Vince Gill. Many country artists recorded Kim's songs. These included Tim McGraw and Collin Raye. Kim often sang backup vocals on these recordings.

In 2004, Kim Carnes released her most recent album, Chasin' Wild Trains. This album had a country and folk sound. She also sang backup vocals for two songs on Tim McGraw's album Live Like You Were Dying that same year. Kim Carnes continues to write and record songs for movie soundtracks. She also performs and collaborates with other artists.

Kim Carnes' Singing Style

Kim Carnes' voice is known for being "distinctively raspy" and "throaty." People often compare her voice to singers like Rod Stewart and Bonnie Tyler. In 1993, a magazine article called her "The Queen of Rasp 'n' Roll."

Kim Carnes' Personal Life

Kim Carnes lives in Nashville with her husband, Dave Ellingson. They have been married since 1967. They have two sons, Collin and Ry.

Her son Ry, named after musician Ry Cooder, sings with her on her song "Rough Edges." Her son Collin is featured at the beginning of her song "Crazy in the Night." Collin also co-wrote several songs with his mother, including "Gypsy Honeymoon."

Awards and Achievements

Grammy Awards

The Grammy Awards are very important music awards in the United States. Kim Carnes has won two Grammy Awards and has been nominated eight times.

• The song "Bette Davis Eyes" also won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year. This award went to the songwriters Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon.
• Kim Carnes was one of the many artists on the song "We Are the World". This song won four Grammy Awards in 1986.

Other Awards

Kim Carnes' Albums

• Rest on Me (1971)
• Kim Carnes (1975)
• Sailin' (1976)
• St. Vincent's Court (1979)
• Romance Dance (1980)
• Mistaken Identity (1981)
• Café Racers (1983)
• Barking at Airplanes (1985)
• Light House (1986)
• View from the House (1988)
• Checkin' Out the Ghosts (1991)
• Chasin' Wild Trains (2004)

See also

In Spanish: Kim Carnes para niños