Dec 13 (Reuters) - American singer-songwriter Carole King
will be awarded the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for
Popular Song, the U.S. national library said on Thursday.
The multiple Grammy Award winner co-wrote her first No. 1
hit at age 17 with then-husband Gerry Goffin and was the first
female solo artist to sell more than 10 million copies of a
single album, with her 1971 release "Tapestry."
The prize honors individuals for lifetime achievement in
popular music, the library said. It is named after songwriting
brothers George and Ira Gershwin.
King, now 70, topped the charts with the song "It's Too
Late" in 1971, but is best known for her work performed by
others, including "You've Got a Friend" by James Taylor and
"(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" by Aretha Franklin.
"I was so pleased when the venerable Library of Congress
began honoring writers of popular songs with the Gershwin
Prize," King said in a statement. "I'm proud to be the fifth
such honoree and the first woman among such distinguished
company."
King and Goffin wrote some the biggest hits of the 1960s
before their nine-year marriage ended in 1968. They rose to
prominence in 1960 writing "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" for the
Shirelles.
The duo also scored hits with "Take Good Care of My Baby,"
performed by Bobby Vee in 1961, "The Loco-Motion," performed by
Little Eva in 1962 and "Pleasant Valley Sunday," performed by
The Monkees in 1967, among others.
New York-born King did not hit it big as a singer until
1971, when "Tapestry" topped the U.S. album charts for 15 weeks,
then a record for a female solo artist.
Past recipients of the award include Paul Simon, Stevie
Wonder, Paul McCartney and songwriting tandem Burt Bacharach and
Hal David.
(Reporting by Eric Kelsey; Editing by Jill Serjeant and Xavier
Briand)