Adele is currently lighting up the Billboard charts and setting records, but she’s far from the first songstress to dominate the airwaves. An upcoming episode of PBS’s “American Masters” series will focus on one of her most accomplished predecessors, Carole King.
King’s multiple Grammy-winning “Tapestry” reigned over U.S. album charts for fifteen weeks in 1971. The album remained on the charts for over six years, and has sold more than 10 million copies.
Now “American Masters” will dig into the singer-songwriter’s life and career, including the making of the historic album in “Carole King: Natural Woman.” The episode will feature previously unseen footage, and rare performances and home videos.
A newly released clip from “Carole King: Natural Woman” reveals that the album was recorded in only three weeks. The cost was $22,000.
King says she was influenced by James Taylor, who made making music “seem so easy.”
Before she stepped into the spotlight as a performer, King spent years behind the scenes as a successful songwriter.
“You always felt she was sitting at the piano and singing to you,” comments Lou Adler, the record’s producer.
In 2013, King was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
“American Masters — Carole King: Natural Woman” premieres nationwide February 19 on PBS as part of the 30th anniversary season of the “American Masters” series. A DVD will be available February 23 via Virgil Films.
