Carole King to be named 2014 MusiCares Person of the Year

By Mikael Wood

Sept. 19, 2013 12 AM PT

For Carole King, Jan. 24 promises to be one fine day.

That’s when the singer and songwriter known for her own hits and those she wrote for others -- including the Chiffons, the Everly Brothers and Herman’s Hermits -- is to be named Person of the Year at the MusiCares Foundation’s annual pre-Grammy gala, it was announced Thursday.

Performers at the all-star benefit -- which in recent years has honored Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney and Barbra Streisand -- are to include Lady Gaga, Bette Midler, the Dixie Chicks, Steven Tyler, Jason Mraz and King’s longtime friend and collaborator James Taylor. Additional artists are expected to join the roster in the coming months.

King’s “contributions as a songwriter and performer have truly changed the landscape of pop music, and her philanthropy speaks volumes about her generosity and personal passions,” said Neil Portnow, president and CEO of the MusiCares Foundation and the Recording Academy, in a statement.

Added Bill Silva, chair of the MusiCares board, “Carole’s artistic output is remarkable in its depth, her influence and charitable legacy are equally impressive, and her approach to art and life is enthusiastic and joyous.”

MusiCares “provides a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need,” according to the organization’s website, with “services and resources [that] cover a wide range of financial, medical and personal emergencies.”

Last year King released a well-regarded memoir, “A Natural Woman,” as well as a collection of early recordings called “The Legendary Demos.”

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Twitter: @mikaelwood