Gerry Goffin

Gerry Goffin (born Gerald Goffin, February 11, 1939, Brooklyn, New York) is an American lyricist. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 with former songwriting partner and first wife, Carole King. As of 2008 he has co-written seven Billboard Hot 100 chart-toppers, and 59 Top 40 hits.

Goffin enlisted with the Marine Corps Reserve after graduating from Brooklyn Technical High School. After spending a year at the U.S. Naval Academy, he resigned from the Navy to study chemistry at Queens College.

He married Carole King in September 1960, and the husband-wife team pursued a successful songwriting career, notably as part of the famous Brill Building songwriting collective. Their breakthrough hit was “Will You Love Me Tomorrow”, which was recorded by The Shirelles and went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1961. They also wrote Pleasant Valley Sunday which was recorded by The Monkees and which reached the number three spot on the Billboard chart in the U.S. Although they divorced in 1968, the two continued to work together for some years afterward. They are the parents of singer-songwriter Louise Goffin and Sherry Goffin Kondor.

Today, Goffin lives and works in Los Angeles, California.