Carly Simon Biography

(Singer-Songwriter Known for Her Songs: ‘You're So Vain’, ‘Nobody Does It Better’ & ‘Let the River Run’)

Birthday: June 25, 1943 (Cancer)

Born In: New York City, New York, United States

Carly Simon is an American singer who rose to fame in the 1970’s with back-to-back hit records. She has written many of her own songs and has authored a number of children’s books. She had a deep interest in music from childhood and taught herself to play the guitar. She began a music group The Simon Sisters’ with her sister Lucy. The group enjoyed minor success and made three albums together before Lucy left the band to start a family. Carly went solo in 1971 with her self-titled album ‘Carly Simon.’ She had her first big hit with her single ‘You’re so vain’, which till date remains one of her most successful songs generally regarded as her “signature song.” A Grammy Award followed and she became one of the most famous singers of the 1970’s decade. Her trail of success continued well into the next decade though the 1970’s are considered her golden period. After becoming a mother she recorded a children’s album that was very well received by the public. She followed it up by publishing a series of children’s books, thus making a foray into writing. In addition to singing and writing, Simon has also made a few film and television appearances. She is cancer survivor who fought and won a tough battle against breast cancer in the late 1990’s.

13
Quick Facts

Also Known As: Carly Elisabeth Simon

Age: 81 Years, 81 Year Old Females

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: James Hart (m. 1987–2007) James Taylor

father: Richard L. Simon

mother: Andrea Heinemann Simon

children: Ben Taylor Sally Taylor

Born Country: United States

Jewish Singers Musicians

Height: 5'10" (178 cm), 5'10" Females

Ancestry: Swiss American, Cuban American, German American, Spanish American

City: New York City

U.S. State: New Yorkers

More Facts

education: Sarah Lawrence College

  • 1

    What inspired Carly Simon to write the song "You're So Vain?"

    Carly Simon has revealed that the song "You're So Vain" was inspired by a number of men she encountered in her life, but she has never disclosed the identity of the person it is about.

  • 2

    What is Carly Simon's connection to the iconic James Bond theme song "Nobody Does It Better?"

    Carly Simon performed the theme song for the James Bond film "The Spy Who Loved Me" in 1977, titled "Nobody Does It Better."

  • 3

    How did Carly Simon's music career begin?

    Carly Simon's music career began in the 1960s when she formed a musical duo with her sister Lucy Simon called "The Simon Sisters" before launching her solo career.

  • 4

    What is the significance of Carly Simon's album "No Secrets?"

    Carly Simon's album "No Secrets," released in 1972, is notable for featuring the hit song "You're So Vain" and becoming one of her most successful and critically acclaimed albums.

  • 5

    What genre of music is Carly Simon known for?

    Carly Simon is known for her work in the folk rock and pop genres, blending introspective lyrics with catchy melodies in her music.

Childhood & Early Life

Carly Simon was born on 25 June 1943, in New York. Her father, Richard Simon, a pianist by profession was also the co-founder of the famous Simon & Schuster publishing house. Her mother Andrea Louise was a civil rights activist and singer.

She went to Riverdale Country School before attending Sarah Lawrence College. She dropped out of college to pursue music.

Continue Reading Below
Career
Simon began her musical career in 1971 with the release of her self-titled album ‘Carly Simon.’ It was followed by her second album ‘Anticipation’ in the same year.
Her album ‘No Secrets’, out in 1972 was her first big commercial success. It included the super-hit song ‘You're So Vain.’ Her next album ‘Hotcakes’ was released in 1974.
She steadily released other albums “Playing Possum’ (1975), ‘Another Passenger’ (1976), ‘Boys in the Trees’ (1978), and Spy (1979) over the decade.
During the early 1980’s, she released three albums, ‘Come Upstairs’ (1980), ‘Torch’ (1981), ‘Hello Big Man’ (1983), but none of them were big hits.
She was not as prolific during the later part of 1980’s and the 1990’s in her music career as she was concentrating more on her writing. Her only successful album released during this period was ‘Coming around Again’ (1987).
Simon made her debut as an author with her first children’s book ‘Amy the Dancing Bear’ in 1989. She followed it with ‘The Boy of the Bells’ (1990) and ‘The Fisherman’s Song’ (1991). Her fourth book ‘The Nighttime Chauffeur’ was published in 1993.
She tried to make a comeback in the new millennium with ‘Bedroom Tapes’ (2000) and ‘Christmas is Almost Here’ (2002). Some of her other albums during that decade were ‘Moonlight Serenade’ (2005), ‘Into white’ (2007), ‘Never been Gone’ (2009).
Major Works
Simon’s second album, ‘Anticipation’, released in 1971 was her first major hit. It was accredited Gold in the U.S by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). She was nominated for Grammy in 1972 for Best Pop Female Vocalist for the song ‘Anticipation.’
Continue Reading Below
Her 1972 album ‘No Secrets’ was a huge commercial success. The hit single ‘You’re So Vain’ is regarded as her most popular song even today. The album was certified Platinum in the U.S and Gold in the U.K.
Simon’s album ‘Hotcakes’ (1974) was one of her best selling albums, accredited Gold in the U.S. it included hit singles like ‘Haven't Got Time for the Pain’ and ‘Mockingbird.’
She released a compilation album, ‘The Best of Carly Simon’ in 1975 which included her greatest hits from her previous albums. The album became a best-seller and was certified Multi-Platinum in the U.S and Gold in Canada.
The album ‘Boys in the Trees’, released in 1978 included the hit single ‘You Belong to Me’ for which Simon received a Grammy Nomination for Best Pop Female Vocalist. The album got a Platinum rating in the U.S.
Her album ‘Coming around Again’ (1987) was her first big hit after a number of years. It was certified Platinum in both the U.S and Canada, and Silver in the U.K. Simon was nominated for the Grammy in Best Pop Female Vocalist category in 1988.
In 2004, her second compilation album ‘Reflections: Carly Simon's Greatest Hits’ was released. It included a collection of some of her biggest hits and was certified Gold in the U.S.
Awards & Achievements
Shen won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1972. This award is given to “a new artist who releases, during the eligibility Year, the first recording which establishes the public identity of that artist.”
Her song ‘Let the River Run’ (1988) won her three prestigious awards: Grammy Award for ‘Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or Television’ (1990); Academy Award for ‘Best Song’ (1989); and Golden Globe Award for ‘Best Original Song’ (1989).
She received the Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 2004 for her 1972 song ‘You’re So Vain.’ This Award is given to honour recordings that are at least 25 years old and that have "qualitative or historical significance".
Personal Life & Legacy
Carly Simon was married to fellow singer James Taylor in 1972. They had two children, both of whom are musicians. The couple divorced in 1983. She married James Hart in 1987 and later divorced him in 2007.
Facts About Carly Simon

Carly Simon once worked as a backup singer for famous artists such as Aretha Franklin and James Taylor before launching her own successful solo career.

She wrote the hit song "You're So Vain," which became a classic and sparked speculation about the identity of the subject of the song's lyrics.

Carly Simon is not only a talented singer but also a children's book author, having written several books for young readers.

In addition to her music career, Carly Simon has a passion for photography and has published her own photography book showcasing her work.

Carly Simon has also been involved in various charitable causes, including advocating for children's literacy and supporting environmental conservation efforts.

Awards

Academy Awards(Oscars)
1989 Best Music, Original Song Working Girl (1988)
Golden Globe Awards
1989 Best Original Song - Motion Picture Working Girl (1988)
Grammy Awards
1990 Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or Television Working Girl (1988)
1979 Best Album Package Winner
1972 Best New Artist of the Year Winner

See the events in life of Carly Simon in Chronological Order

How To Cite

Article Title
- Carly Simon Biography
Author
- Editors, TheFamousPeople.com
Website
- TheFamousPeople.com
URL
https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/carly-simon-3307.php

People Also Viewed

Taylor Swift Biography
Taylor Swift
(American)
 
Billie Eilish Biography
Billie Eilish
(American)
 
Lady Gaga Biography
Lady Gaga
(American)
 
Jennifer Lopez Biography
Jennifer Lopez
(American)
 
Katy Perry Biography
Katy Perry
(American)
 
Selena Gomez Biography
Selena Gomez
(American)
 
Olivia Rodrigo Biography
Olivia Rodrigo
(American)
 
Lana Del Rey Biography
Lana Del Rey
(American)