King was born Carol Klein on February 9, 1942 in Manhattan, New York, and grew up in Brooklyn. She was still in her teens when she scored her first number one as a songwriter – the Shirelles’ “Will You Love Me Tomorrow,” co-written with her husband Gerry Goffin. The partnership with Goffin would produce some of the most memorable hits of the 1960s, including “One Fine Day,” “Up On The Roof,” “I’m Into Something Good,” and “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.” The Goffin and King songwriting team was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1987 and into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.

King had a minor hit as a performer with the single “It Might As Well Rain Until September” in 1962, but it wasn’t until the early 1970s that she broke through as a performer with her album “Tapestry” topping the US album chart for 15 weeks. “Tapestry” won King four Grammys, including Album of the Year, and is one of the best selling albums of all time. The “Tapestry – Legacy Edition” was released in 2008, complete with a second disc of live versions.

“Tapestry” also yielded the number one single “It’s Too Late” which was backed with “I Feel the Earth Move.”

Carole King – “I Feel The Earth Move”

Another standout track on “Tapestry” was “You’ve Got A Friend,” which was covered by her friend James Taylor and became one of his signature tunes. King and Taylor also performed together in this period and in 2010 would celebrate the 40th anniversary of their early live collaborations with the best selling album “Live at the Troubadour” and the subsequent Troubadour Reunion Tour.

After “Tapestry,” King scored six Top Twenty albums in a row in the US, including “Music” (#1), “Rhymes and Reasons” (#2), and “Wrap Around Joy” (#1).

King has announced that her forthcoming memoir, “A Natural Woman,” will be published by Grand Central Publishing in April 2012. Deb Futter, VP and Editor-in-Chief of Grand Central Pubishing Hardbook Division, has said:

“Natural Woman” will also be released as an audio book.

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A 3-CD box set featuring the Award show nominees is scheduled for release on February 6.

Don McLean is an American singer-songwriter best known for his classic hits “American Pie” and “Vincent (Starry Starry Night)”. He has released over 40 gold and platinum records world-wide since 1971 and remains a popular touring artist, including an appearance at last year’s Glastonbury Festival. McLean has welcomed the lifetime achievement award:

The Dubliners are one of Ireland’s most recognisable folk groups. They celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2012. Don McLean and The Dubliners will both perform live during the awards show.

BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards nominees

Folk Singer of the Year

• Jon Boden
• Jackie Oates
• Emily Smith
• June Tabor.

Best Duo

• Tim Edey & Brendan Power
• Jonny Kearney & Lucy Farrell
• Spiers & Boden
• Marry Waterson & Oliver Knight.

Best Group

• Bellowhead
• The Home Service
• June Tabor & Oysterband
• The Unthanks.

Best Album

• Last – The Unthanks
• Purpose & Grace – Martin Simpson
• Ragged Kingdom – June Tabor & Oysterband
• Saturnine – Jackie Oates.

Best Original Song

• The Herring Girl – Bella Hardy
• Last – Adrian McNally (performed by The Unthanks)
• On Morecambe Bay – Kevin Littlewood (performed by Christy Moore)
• The Reckoning – Steve Tilston.

Best Traditional Track

• Bonny Bunch of Roses – June Tabor & Oysterband
• Lakes of Ponchartrain – Martin Simpson
• Maids When You’re Young – Lucy Ward
• Sweet Lover of Mine – Emily Smith.

Horizon Award

• Megan Henwood
• Lady Maisery
• Pilgrims’ Way
• Lucy Ward.

Musician of the Year

• Andy Cutting
• Tim Edey
• Will Pound
• Martin Simpson.

Best Live Act

• Bellowhead
• The Home Service
• Peatbog Faeries
• The Unthanks.

BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award

• Sunjay Brayne
• Blair Dunlop
• Ioscaid
• Graham Mackenzie.

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“Old Ideas” is Cohen’s 12th studio album and his first since “Dear Heather” in 2004. The song “Darkness” was included in the set list on Cohen’s 2011 World Tour, but this will be its first appearance on CD.

Leonard Cohen – “Darkness”

The first single from “Old Ideas” was “Show Me The Place,” released last November.

Leonard Cohen – “Show Me The Place”

The complete tracklist for “Old Ideas” is as follows:

1. “Going Home”
2. “Amen”
3. “Show Me The Place”
4. “The Darkness”
5. “Anyhow”
6. “Crazy To Love You”
7. “Come Healing”
8. “Banjo”
9. “Lullaby”
10. “Different Sides.”

“Old Ideas” is released on 31 January in the US/Canada and 30 January in the UK. You can pre-order it now from:

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Highlights for January include:

• “Elvis Country – Legacy Edition” – Jan 3
• a number of releases in the Original Album Classics series from the likes of Johnny Cash, Elvis, Journey, the Byrds, Bob Dylan and David Bowie – Jan 17
• the Doors’ “L.A. Woman – 40th Anniversary Edition” and “Mr. Mojo Risin’” DVD and Blu-ray releases – Jan 24
• Dion DiMucci’s “Tank Full of Blues” – Jan 24
• Leonard Cohen’s “Old Ideas” on CD and vinyl – Jan 31.

January

• 4 Jan – Gerry Rafferty (solo singer-songwriter and former member of the Humblebums and Stealers Wheel), age 63
• 4 Jan – Mick Karn (bassist with Japan), age 52
• 7 Jan – Phil Kennemore (bassist with Y&T), age 57
• 10 Jan – Pat Moran (record producer for Robert Plant and Iggy Pop), age 63
• 12 Jan – Tommy Crain (country rock guitarist and songwriter), age 59
• 13 Jan – Alex Kirst (former drummer with Iggy Pop), age 47
• 14 Jan – Trish Keenan (member of Broadcast), age 42
• 17 Jan – Don Kirshner (song publisher/producer), age 76
• 20 Jan – Margaret Whiting (pop and country singer), age 86
• 22 Jan – Bobby Poe (singer with 1950s rockabilly band Bobby Poe and the Poe Kats), age 77
• 26 Jan – Charlie Louvin (country singer), age 83
• 26 Jan – Gladys Horton (member of the Marvelettes), age 65
• 29 Jan – Bruce Jackson (audio engineer), age 61
• 29 Jan 11 – Milton Babbitt (composer), age 94
• 30 Jan – John Barry (Oscar-winning composer), age 77.

February

• 1 Feb – Doc Williams (bandleader and singer), age 96
• 6 Feb – Gary Moore (rock guitarist), age 58
• 14 Feb – George Shearing (jazz pianist), age 94
• 20 Feb – Harrell “Buddy” Jones (drummer), age 70
• 27 Feb – Eddie Kirkland (blues singer), age 88.

March

• 4 Mar – Johnny Preston (pop singer), age 71
• 8 Mar – Mike Star (bassist with Alice in Chains), age 44
• 9 Mar – Robert Marcucci (record company owner and songwriter), age 81
• 12 Mar – Joe Morello (jazz drummer), age 82
• 14 Mar – Todd Cerney (songwriter and musician), age 57
• 14 Mar – Ronnie Hammond (former lead singer for the Atlanta Rhythm Section), age 60
• 15 Mar – Nate Dogg (rapper), age 41
• 15 Mar – Melvin Sparks (soul and jazz guitarist), age 64
• 17 Mar – Ferlin Husky (country singer), age 85
• 18 Mar – Jet Harris (bassist with the Shadows), age 71
• 20 Mar – Joseph “Pinetop” Perkins (blues pianist), age 97
• 20 Mar – Ralph Mooney (steel guitar pioneer), age 82
• 21 Mar – Loleatta Holloway (soul/disco singer), age 64
• 30 Mar – Harley Allen (country music songwriter), age 55
• 31 Mar – Mel McDaniel (country singer), age 68.

April

• 5 Apr – Gil Gibbons (folk singer), age 80
• 9 Apr – Roger Nichols (Grammy-winning recording engineer), age 66
• 11 Apr – Lacy Gibson (Chicago blues guitarist), age 74
• 11 Apr – Billy Bang (jazz violinist and composer), age 63
• 22 Apr – Hazel Dickens (bluegrass singer-songwriter), age 75
• 25 Apr – Poly Styrene, aka Marianne Joan Elliott-Said (singer with punk band X-Ray Spex), age 53
• 26 Apr – Phoebe Snow (singer-songwriter), age 60
• 29 Apr – David Mason (classical musician who played the piccolo trumpet on “Penny Lane”), age 85.

May

• 3 May – Odell Brown (jazz organist and songwriter), age 70
• 7 May – John Walker (founding member of The Walker Brothers), age 67
• 8 May – Cornell Dupree (guitarist for Miles Davis, Aretha Franklin and more), age 69
• 9 May – Dolores Fuller (actress and songwriter), age 88
• 12 May – Lloyd Knibb (drummer for The Skatalites), age 80
• 13 May – Jack Richardson (record producer), age 81
• Bob Flanigan – (singer with the Four Freshmen), age 84
• 19 May – Kathy Kirby (pop singer and television host), age 72.

June

• 3 Jun – Andrew Gold (singer, musician and songwriter), age 59
• 4 Jun – Martin Rushent (record producer), aged 62
• 10 Jun – Kenny Hawkes (DJ and producer), age 42
• 10 Jun – Darryl Pandy (singer and producer), age 48
• 12 Jun – Carl Gardner (member of the Coasters), age 83
• 16 Jun – Larry Wayne Fischer, aka Wild Man Fischer (songwriter), age 66
• 18 Jun – Clarence Clemons (saxophonist with Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band), age 69
• 30 Jun – Jimmy Roselli (pop singer), age 85.

July

• 7 Jul – Manuel Galbán (guitarist with Los Zafiros and Buena Vista Social Club), age 80
• 9 Jul – Michael “Würzel” Burston (former Motorhead guitarist), age 61
• 11 Jul – Rob Grill (singer and bassist with Grass Roots), age 67
• 23 Jul – Amy Winehouse (pop singer), age 27
• 24 Jul – Dan Peek (co-founder of America), age 60
• 25 Jul – Mike Reaves (former guitarist with Full Devil Jacket), age 52
• 26 Jul – Joe Arroyo (Columbian singer-songwriter), age 55
• 29 Jul – Gene McDaniels (singer-songwriter), age 76
• 31 Jul – Tom Garvin (pianist and composer), age 67.

August

• 4 Aug – Conrad Schnitzler (multi-instrumentalist and composer), age 74
• 6 Aug – Marshall Grant (bass player with Johnny Cash & the Tennessee Two), age 83
• 10 Aug – Billy Grammer (singer-guitarist), age 85
• 11 Aug – Jani Lane (former lead singer of Warrant), age 47
• 22 Aug – Nick Ashford (soul/R&B singer), age 70
• 22 Aug – Jerry Leiber (songwriter/producer), age 78
• 24 Aug – Frank DiLeo (music executive, actor and former manager of Michael Jackson), age 63
• 29 Aug – David “Honeyboy” Edwards (blues guitarist and singer), age 96.

September

• 13 Sep – Richard Hamilton (pop artist who designed “White Album” cover), age 89
• 16 Sep – Willie “Big Eyes” Smith (singer and harmonica player), age 75
• 21 Sep – John DuCann (guitarist), age 65
• 26 Sep – Harry “Cuby” Muskee (singer), age 70
• 26 Sep – Sylvia Robinson (singer-songwriter and owner of Sugar Hill Records), age 75.

October

• 1 Oct – David Bedford (composer, musician), age 74
• 5 Oct – Bert Jansch (folk guitarist), age 67
• 8 Oct – Roger Williams (pianist), age 87
• 8 Oct – Mikey Welsh (former Weezer bassist), age 40
• 12 Oct – Paul Leka (songwriter, producer and pianist), age 68
• 18 Oct – Bob Brunning (original Fleetwood Mac bassist), age 68
• 20 Oct – Barry Feinstein (rock photographer), aged 80
• 29 Oct – Sir Jimmy Savile (DJ and television presenter), age 84.

November

• 3 Nov – Cory Smoot, aka Flattus Maximus (Gwar guitarist), age 34
• 7 Nov – Andrea True (singer and actress), age 68
• 8 Nov – Heavy D (rapper), age 44
• 12 Nov – Doyle Bramhall (singer-songwriter and drummer), age 62
• 14 Nov – Lee Pockriss (songwriter), age 87
• 15 Nov – Mark “Moogy” Klingman (musician, songwriter and producer), age 61
• 23 Nov – Montserrat Figueras (soprano singer), age 69
• 25 Nov – Don DeVito (record producer), age 72
• 27 Nov – Sultan Khan (sarangi player and singer), age 71
• 28 Nov – Tom Roady (percussionist), age 62.

December

• 2 Dec – Howard Tate (soul singer and songwriter), age 72
• 4 Dec – Hubert Sumlin (blues guitarist), age 80
• 6 Dec – Dobie Gray (singer-songwriter), age 71
• 8 Dec – Dan “Bee” Spears (bass player for Willie Nelson), age 62
• 8 Dec – Dick Sims (keyboarist for Eric Clapton), age 60
• 14 Dec – Billie Jo Spears (country singer), age 74
• 18 Dec – Ralph MacDonald (percussionist and composer), age 67
• 21 Dec – Nilesh Patel, aka Nilz (mastering engineer), age 46
• 25 Dec – Jim Sherwood (saxophonist and singer for the Mothers of Invention), age 69
• 26 Dec – Sam Rivers (jazz musician and composer), age 88
• 28 Dec – Kaye Stevens (singer and actress), age 79.

The Dead Rock Star Club website offers a more extensive list of musicians we lost in 2011 and before.

The Small Faces/the Faces, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Guns ‘N Roses will be among the 2012 inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next spring.

The full list of inductees in the Performance category is as follows:

• The Small Faces/The Faces
• Donovan
• Red Hot Chili Peppers
• Guns ‘N Roses
• Beastie Boys
• Laura Nyro

Donovan, the Beastie Boys and Laura Nyro make it in after missing out in last year’s nomination process.

Faces member, Rod Stewart, has welcomed the induction news:

A Guns ‘N Roses reunion is likely to be far more complicated. The band’s former drummer, Steven Adler, told Rolling Stone that he wants the band to reunite, but doesn’t think it will happen due to the rift between Axl Rose and Slash.

Guitarist Freddie King will be inducted in the Early Influence category. Guitarists who have acknowledged their debt to King include Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Carlos Santana and Peter Green.

The Award for Musical Excellence (previously the sideman category) goes to Cosino Matassa, Glyn Johns and Tom Dowd. Matassa recorded artists such as Fats Domino, Little Richard and Lloyd Price at his J&M Recording Studios in New Orleans. As an engineeer/producer, Glyn Johns worked with some of the biggest names in popular music, including the Rolling Stones, the Who, the Kinks, the Eagles and the Clash. Tom Dowd was a physicist who turned his hand to engineering and occasionally producing music for Atlantic Records. Dowd worked with great names such as Ray Charles, Solomon Burke, Wilson Pickett and Otis Redding.

The annual Ahmet Ertegun Award for influential record executives will go to Don Kirshner who was a highly successful music publisher, producer, record company owner and television host/producer. Kirshner was instrumental in kick starting the careers of Bobby Darin, Neil Diamond, the Monkees, Carole King and many more.

The following artists were on the final ballot but missed out this year:

• The Cure
• Eric B. & Rakim
• Heart
• Joan Jett and The Blackhearts
• Rufus with Chaka Khan
• The Spinners
• Donna Summer
• War.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2012 induction ceremony will take place on April 14, 2012 in Cleveland and premiere on HBO in early May.

It’s a quieter month than usual as many top titles were released last month to coincide with the start of the Christmas shopping spree. Check the November 2011 releases page for those titles.

Highlights for December include:

• Paul McCartney’s “Love We Make” on DVD and Blu-ray – Dec 6 (US/CA), Nov 28 (UK)
• “The Very Best Of Neil Diamond” – Dec 6 (US/CA)
• the Queen “Live at Wembley Roadie Box Set” and “Orb Gift Box” – Dec 13 (US/CA)
• The Yardbirds 5-CD “Glimpses – 1963-1968″ box set – Dec 27 (US), Dec 6 (CA), Dec 5 (UK)
• the “Kinks in Mono” box set – Dec 27 (US), Nov 29 (CA), Nov 21 (UK).

Fans all over the world can catch the show online at www.xpn.org. Paul’s interview is in the first hour of the two-hour show.

Those who can’t listen to the show live will be able to hear it in the World Cafe archives on NPR.

Let’s celebrate Art’s birthday with seven great performances – one for each decade. These include a song from each of Simon and Garfunkel’s five studio albums, and two solo tracks.

“The Sounds of Silence” – Simon & Garfunkel

If it were not for “The Sounds of Silence,” the Simon and Garfunkel partnership might have been over after their debut album “Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M.” The duo’s producer, Tom Wilson, hit upon the idea of overdubbing “The Sounds of Silence” with electric guitars, bass and drums, and the result was a number one single that brought the duo back together.

Here’s a great live version of the song from the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival:

“April Come She Will” – Simon & Garfunkel

“April Come She Will” is a Simon and Garfunkel track with a great solo vocal from Garfunkel. It originally appeared on the 1966 album “Sounds of Silence” and also featured on the soundtrack to “The Graduate” movie in 1967.

“Scarborough Fair” – Simon & Garfunkel

“Scarborough Fair” is a great showcase for the skilled harmony singing of Simon and Garfunkel. The traditional song featured on their 1966 album “Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme.”

Here’s a live version of “Scarborough Fair” from Simon and Garfunkel’s renowned 1981 concert in New York City’s Central Park:

“Mrs Robinson” – Simon & Garfunkel

“Mrs Robinson” first appeared on the soundtrack of “The Graduate” in 1967, but in abbreviated form. The complete version would first appear on their “Bookends” album the following year and it would also become the duo’s second of three number one singles in the US.

“Bridge Over Troubled Water” – Simon & Garfunkel

“Bridge Over Troubled Water” is Art Garfunkel’s defining moment on record. It was released on the album of the same name in January 1970 and is up there as one of the finest pop vocals of the decade. The single was the duo’s third and final US number one.

“All I Know” – Art Garfunkel

“All I Know” featured on Art Garfunkel’s first solo album, “Angel Clare,” and was his only Top Ten solo hit on the Billboard Hot 100. “All I Know” was written by Jimmy Webb, who also wrote such classics as “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” and “Wichita Lineman.”

“Bright Eyes” – Art Garfunkel

“Bright Eyes” was penned by Mike Batt as the theme for the animated movie “Watership Down.” Garfunkel’s single was the biggest hit of 1979 in the UK, occupying the top spot for six weeks. It would also appear on the UK version fof his 1979 album “Fate for Breakfast,” but not the US edition.

Here’s a live version from Art Garfunkel’s live show on Ellis Island, New York in 1996.

The Simon and Garfunkel tracks are all present on the excellent “Simon and Garfunkel – The Collection” box set which features the duo’s five original studio albums and a DVD of the 1981 Central Park show.

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With Christmas coming, it’s no surprise that this is a busy month for new releases. Highlights include:

• the “Ed Sullivan Shows starring the Rolling Stones” on DVD – Nov 1 (US/CA)
• The Beach Boys’ “Smile Sessions” in multiple formats – Nov 1 (US/CA), Oct 31 (UK)
• Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here” in Immersion and Experience Editions – Nov 8 (US/CA), Nov 7 (UK)
• Thin Lizzy “Live at the BBC” box set and 2-CD editions – Nov 15 (US/CA), Nov 7 (UK)
• The Who’s “Quadrophenia Director’s Cut” – Nov 15 (US/CA), Nov 14 (UK)
• The Rolling Stones “Some Girls” box set and “Some Girls – Live in Texas” releases – Nov 21 (US/CA/UK).

You can browse the music CD, DVD and Blu-ray releases for previous months in the New Releases archive.