Gerald Goffin was born on 11 February 1939, in Brooklyn, New York City USA, of Russian and Jewish descent. He was a lyricist, known to have written many international pop hits alongside his first wife Carole King, including “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” and “Go Away Little Girl”. He also worked with other composers such as Michael Masser and Barry Goldberg. All of his efforts helped put his net worth to where it was prior to his passing.
How rich was Gerry Goffin? As of early-2017, sources inform us of a net worth of $50 million, mostly earned through a successful career in music, which ensured the position of his wealth.
Goffin attended Brooklyn Technical High School, and after matriculating would join the Marine Corps Reserve; he served a year at the US Naval Academy before resigning. He then went to Queens College to study chemistry. During this time he would meet Carol Klein, who then went by the stage name Carole King, with whom he collaborated in songwriting.
Gerry Goffin Net Worth $50 million
Gerry would write the lyrics to Carole’s music, and they would then start a relationship as well. At this time he also earned by working as part of a chemicals manufacturer, while writing songs. He helped create the single “Oh Neil”, and while it wasn’t a hit, it helped him secure a contract at Aldon. He worked with writers such as Jack Keller and Barry Mann, but his work with Carole King proved much more popular and enduring. He helped create “Will You Love Me Tomorrow”, and they would become one of the most successful songwriting partnerships of the time. Some of the other songs they created include “The Loco-Motion”, “One Fine Day”, “I’m into Something Good” , “Goin’ Back”, and “A Natural Woman”. The two would also work together with record producer Phil Spector.
Eventually, the duo would divorce in 1969. According to an interview, Carole wanted to be her own lyricist, but he suffered from the effects of taking LSD. Regardless, his net worth was rising.
In 1973, Goffin released his own album entitled “It Ain’t Exactly Entertainment”, but the endeavor was unsuccessful. He then started working with other composers and would win an Academy Award in 1976 for his work on the theme for the film “Mahogany”. He also helped write the Diana Ross song “Saving All My Love for You” and Whitney Houston’s “Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love for You”. He received a Golden Globe nomination for his song “So Sad the Song” which was featured in the film “Pipe Dreams”.
In 1987, Gerry was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame along with Carole King, and three years later they were inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame. He then released a second solo album entitled “Back Room Blood”, with two songs co-written with Bob Dylan. He was also one of the first to notice Kelly Clarkson prior to her audition on “American Idol”.
For his personal life, it is known that Goffin was married to Carole King from 1959 to 1969; they have two daughters, one of whom is singer Louise Goffin. He also has a daughter with Jeanie Reavis.
In the early 1970s, he married Barbara Behling and they have a son. They also divorced sometime in the next few years. In the 1980s, he married songwriter Ellen Minasian and they had a daughter but divorced in 1995, and he would then marry actress Michele Conaway. Gerry Goffin passed away in June 2014 in Los Angeles.
