At nineteen, Carole King is a succesful writer. This teenage Queen of Melody has already penned hot “Hit” tunes. How did she do it? We’ll let her tell you. 

"Sometimes I feel annoyed when people start complimenting me for being a teenage songwriter. Is it so surprising that a teenager should write songs? To me it seems the most natural thing in the world! What Is surprising, I suppose, is that a teenager should have her songs published and write hit tunes. 

Maybe I was just lucky, but it seems to me there are probably a lot more teenage songwriters around who just haven’t gotten the breaks I did.

I started out by organizing a vocal group at Madison High in Brookyn. We needed material so I began writing our own songs. One day I decided to cut a record on a song called “Oh Neil”. And here’s where “luck” came in.

Don Kirshner and Al Nevins of Aldon Music heard the song-one of my friends who knew them played it for them. They liked the song and contacted me. When I got into their office they had a contract waiting for me to sign. It was the big break, the break so many amateurs songwriters reach for but never grasp-the dream come true.

It wasn’t long before I began writing songs that a lot of teenage stars recorded.

Songs like “Will you Love Me Tomorow”, grooved by The Shirelles; “Take Good Care Of My Baby”, with Bobbye Vee; “Some Kind Of Wonderful”, sung by Tony Ornaldo; and “Every Breath That I Take”, vocalist Gene Pitney. Let me add here that I collaborated with my husband, Gerald, on all these songs.

I don’t think too many people realize how important it is for a young songwriter to have someone with a thorough knowledge of the music business to work with. I geuss I’m doubly fortunate, in this case, since it’s my husband. Being very close to each other, naturally, we are able to work as a real team.

Unfortunately, it’s not ususally as easy for a teenager to break into the business as it was for me. You’ve got to stick with it and have faith in yourself. Try to find a singing group, a song stylist, or a good instrumental group who will record your songs. Sooner or later, someone will hear them,and if they have the beat, the appeal that the public wants, you’ll be on your way.

In the near future I feel certain that many more teenage tunesmiths will be writing songs that sell, just as I have done. For it’s a young world in the music business, and the sound that clicks with the vast, teenage audience is the sound that sells."