Category: Media

Carole Bayer Sager Discusses Her Extraordinary Life

Someone brought this clip up to Carole recently and we thought we’d share it with you

A snippet from a few years ago




 

Carole honored as a BMI Icon!

Songwriting Legends Carole Bayer Sager and Mike Stoller To Be Honored as BMI Icons at 70th Annual BMI Pop Awards

Carole was honored as a BMI Icon on Tuesday, May 10th, 2022 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.




An excerpt from the article from bmi.com

BMI is thrilled to be honoring two iconic songwriters, Carole Bayer Sager and Mike Stoller, alongside the creators of some of today’s most-performed songs,” said Cane. “As we commemorate BMI’s 70th Pop Awards, we pay homage to the craft of these two musical legends and their timeless contributions to BMI and the great American songbook. We’re proud to present them with the BMI Icon Award for their lasting impression on fans worldwide and on the songwriters following the path they’ve laid out to musical greatness, which is second to none.”

With a career spanning over five decades, GRAMMY and Academy Award-winning songwriter Carole Bayer Sager is responsible for lyrics to some of the most popular songs of our time, including “Nobody Does It Better,” “A Groovy Kind of Love,” “Don’t Cry Out Loud,” and the Oscar-winning theme from the movie Arthur, “Best That You Can Do.” She’s written more than 400 songs that transcend generations and has worked with some of the biggest stars in music, such as Ray Charles, Celine Dion, Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Carole King, Melissa Manchester, Reba McEntire, Bette Midler, Dolly Parton, Carly Simon, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand and many more.

Sager has received many accolades and honors throughout her illustrious career, including 26 BMI Awards, and she was named BMI’s Pop Songwriter of the Year in 1977. She’s also received an Oscar, two Golden Globe Awards, a GRAMMY win for Song of the Year for “That What Friends Are For,” and a combined 15 nominations. Adding to her collection of prestigious awards, Sager has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and in 2019, she was the recipient of the Johnny Mercer Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

As the newest BMI Icon honorees, Carole Bayer Sager and Mike Stoller join an elite group of songwriters who have received BMI’s highest honor for their “unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers.” Previous recipients include Barry Manilow, The Bee Gees, Brian Wilson, Carlos Santana, Carole King, Crosby, Stills & Nash, David Foster, Dolly Parton, the Jacksons, John Fogerty, Kris Kristofferson, Mann & Weil, Merle Haggard, Nile Rodgers, Paul Simon, Stevie Nicks, Sting and Willie Nelson, among others.

BMI’s family of songwriters and publishers will also be celebrated throughout the evening with the revealing of the 50 most-performed pop songs in the United States from BMI’s repertoire of more than 18.7 million musical works.

Full article available at

https://www.bmi.com/press/entry/586481

BMI-Pop-Awards-Press-Release-FINAL-4.12.22

 

WSJ-A look back at “Nobody Does It Better”

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal looks back on the theme song to the James Bond movie

Read the full article at https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-secret-agent-in-carly-simons-nobody-does-it-better-11589031471

The Secret Agent in Carly Simon’s ‘Nobody Does It Better

The singer, the lyricist Carole Bayer Sager and others look back on the Bond theme for ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’—and the duality of James

an excerpt from the article:

In the fall of 1977, Carly Simon’s sultry rendition of “Nobody Does It Better” rose to No. 2 on Billboard’s pop chart, casting James Bond in a new light.

Written by Carole Bayer Sager (words) and Marvin Hamlisch (music) for “The Spy Who Loved Me,” the Bond theme was the first to be titled differently from the movie.

As 007 fans await “No Time to Die”—delayed until November but already teased with a theme by Billie Eilish—Ms. Bayer Sager, Ms. Simon, pianist Michael Omartian and arranger Richard Hewson revisited their hit. Last year, Ms. Bayer Sager received the Songwriters Hall of Fame’s Johnny Mercer Award; Ms. Simon’s most recent book is “Touched by the Sun: My Friendship with Jackie.”

Later in the article…

Ms. Simon: As I recorded my vocal, I imagined how the movie would start. Bond films always had plenty of action before the theme song came on.

I also felt Carole’s female perspective in the lyrics. They fit me perfectly. Adding “James, you’re the best” was the perfect homage.

 







 

 

Carole Co-writing on Barbra Streisand’s New Album, “Walls”

Barbra Streisand’s new album

Carole co-wrote two songs “Better Angels” and “What’s On My Mind,” on Barbra Streisand’s “Walls” Album.

Barbra’s timely album just came out November 2018

Listen to WALLS here: http://smarturl.it/BarbraWalls

Better Angels




What’s On My Mind

 




 

Carole’s collaboration on Kanye West’s “Ghost Town”

Carole collaborated with Kanye West on “Ghost Town” on his “Ye” Album

On the week of Ye being released, “Ghost Town” entered the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 16. “Ghost Town” also debuted in the UK Singles Chart at number 17 following the release of West’s album

Available on iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/ye/1392975931

“On My Own” one of Best Michael McDonald songs of all time

“On My Own,” Co-written by Burt Bacharach and Carole, honored as #2 of the 9 of the Best Michael McDonald songs of all time.

A beautiful duet, sung by Michael McDonald and Patti Labelle

was initially not intended to be a duet at all, but LaBelle decided to invite McDonald to help her turn the song into a duet, as she stated: “The song was sent to me and I did a version of it but somehow it just didn’t quite work. We were going over things I’d done and we talked about turning it into a duet. Someone asked, ‘If you could do it with anyone, who would you sing it with?’, and Michael was my first choice.” (Excerpt from Wikipedia…)

http://www.smoothradio.com/features/michael-mcdonald-best-songs-doobie-brothers/

Collaboration with Jonas Myrin

A lot of exciting news coming up

Carole’s been collaborating with an exciting musical talent and wonderful collaborator, Jonas Myrin.

Their efforts will be heard on Barbra Streisand’s upcoming album, and another song for Celine Dion. We’ll have more details soon!

Carole’s song “Living in the Moment” will be featured in “Book Club”

Carole has co-written the theme from the movie, “Book Club.”

Performed by Katherine McPhee, “Living in the Moment” was written in collaboration with Walter Afanasieff and Jay Landers

Book Club stars Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen and opens in theaters May 18th

Later, we’ll post links to the song, but for now here’s the official trailer:

They’re Playing Her Song – Carole Bayer Sager At USC

On Friday, March 24, the Songwriters Hall of Fame (SHOF) and the USC Thornton School of Music spring Master Session Series presented the incomparable 1987 SHOF inductee, Carole Bayer Sager, on the USC campus.

“Carole is the ultimate collaborator,” said Chris Sampson, vice dean of the Division of Contemporary Music and founding director of the Popular Music program. “As a lyricist, her ability to distill powerful emotions into only a few, but essential words is unmatched. Our students also noticed her uncanny ability to fuse a lyric to a melody which has made her songs unforgettable and timeless.”

“Beginning with the 1965 classic hit ‘Groovy Kind Of Love,’ Carole’s unique and impressive catalog contains songs that are embedded in the world’s musical vocabulary,” commented SHOF President & CEO Linda Moran. “This was such a wonderful opportunity for the USC Thornton students to experience her songwriting craft!”

Before class, Sampson announced SONGS Music Publishing founder/CEO and SHOF Board Member Matt Pincus, along with the Songwriters Hall of Fame, will sponsor twenty SHOF student memberships for the second year in a row.

President – North America of Universal Music Publishing Group and SHOF Board Member Evan Lamberg’s introduction of Sager highlighted her prolific and extensive catalog of songs that have helped define the American popular songbook. Sager has won an Academy Award (“Arthur’s Theme”), a Grammy Award (“That’s What Friends are For”) and two Golden Globe Awards (“Arthur’s Theme” and “The Prayer”). She’s also penned some of the most popular songs of the 20th century.

Carole Bayer Sager’s new book, “They’re Playing My Song,” served as a timely syllabus for the afternoon session. Sampson’s interview showcased her stunning array of collaborations, behind the scene stories and insights from collaborating with hit songwriters including Melissa Manchester and Peter Allen (’Don’t Cry Out Loud’), sessions with Bette Midler and Bruce Roberts (“You’re Moving Out”). Her songs have been covered by everyone from Frank Sinatra and Dolly Parton to Barbra Streisand, Neil Diamond, Melissa Manchester, Christopher Cross, Ray Charles, Michael Jackson, The Doobie Brothers, Gladys Knight, Roberta Flack, Johnny Mathis, Leo Sayer, Carly Simon, Bette Midler, Aretha Franklin, Dionne Warwick, Patti LaBelle, El DeBarge, Bob Dylan, Kenny Rogers and even Carole herself.

Sager described the process behind some of her greatest hits and spoke about her working relationships with SHOF inductees Marvin Hamlisch (“Nobody Does It Better,” and “They’re Playing Our Song”) and Burt Bacharach (“On My Own,” “That’s What Friends are For”), and educated students on how the process for writing songs for artists differs for films and Broadway. She also shared marvelous anecdotes and stories about working and writing with SHOF inductees Michael Jackson, Bob Dylan and David Foster (“The Prayer”) during her extraordinary career, which continues to flourish.

The theme of the day was “collaboration.” Sager relayed her expertise in the role as lyricist explaining the techniques of adapting to each writing session and having a destination and purpose for each song.

As a perfect conclusion to the school year, the extraordinarily talented USC students Madeleine Meyer and Michael Arrom concluded the session with a heartfelt tribute performance of Sager’s hit song, ‘That’s What Friends Are For.”

The Songwriter Hall of Fame and USC’s special bond has been forged and nurtured through the leadership of SHOF West Coast Committee Chair and Board Member Mary Jo Mennella, Events Chair Barbara Cane, who was in attendance, along with West Coast Committee Vice-Chair Kathy Spanberger. Now in its fourth year, the SHOF/USC Master Sessions educational series has included world renowned songwriters, producers and music executives including Bill Withers, David Foster, Billy Steinberg, Benny Blanco, Grahoam Nash, Donovan & Ralph Peer, Carole Bayer Sager, Desmond Child, Dan Reynolds, Evan Lamberg and Lamont Dozier.


as originally posted in the Songwriters Hall of Fame

http://songhall.org/news/entry/theyre_playing_her_song_carole_bayer_sager_at_usc

Some of Carole’s TV appearances

Carole will be making a few appearances on some shows to talk about her book “They’re playing our song”

Check your local listings for exact times and stations…

Wednesday, November 2, 2016: The Talk on CBS
http://www.cbs.com/shows/the_talk/

Thursday, November 3rd : Charlie Rose on PBS
http://www.charlierose.com/

Friday, November 4, 2016: Tavis Smiley on PBS
http://www.pbs.org/show/tavis-smiley/

Friday December 16, 2016: Larry King (11AM PST) on
www.Ora.TV/larrykingnow as well as http://www.hulu.com/larry-king-now

You can even contribute to questions for Carole’s Larry King appearance.

http://www.ora.tv/larrykingnow/article/2016/11/1/what-would-you-ask-carole-bayer-sager

 

Good Day LA: Carole’s interview

“Carole Bayer Sager has had a very successful career that spans five decades. She has written more than 400 songs and among them are some of the greatest hits of pop culture. ‘Arthur’s Theme’, ‘Midnight Blue’, ‘That’s What Friends Are For”

 

Wall Street Journal: Carole writing about “Somewhere”

Songwriter Carole Bayer Sager on how ‘Somewhere,’ a yearning ‘West Side Story’ ballad, inspired her as she struggled with her family.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/songwriter-carole-bayer-sager-on-somewhere-1477406816

Oprah: Carole’s appearance on “Super Soul Sunday”

Oprah Winfrey talks with Grammy, Golden Globe and Academy Award-winning singer/songwriter Carole Bayer Sager about her legendary career, the stories behind some of her biggest songs and her ability to touch others through her artistry.

Photos:

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Photo Credit: Harpo, Inc. Huy Doan

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Photo credit: Harpo, Inc. / Huy Doan

Episode Clips:

 

http://www.supersoul.tv/supersoul-sunday/story-behind-iconic-song-thats-friends

http://www.supersoul.tv/supersoul-sunday/carole-bayer-sager-songs-make-people-feel-less-alone

http://www.supersoul.tv/supersoul-sunday/carole-bayer-sager-songwriting-gave-identity

http://www.supersoul.tv/supersoul-sunday/carole-bayer-sager-love-changed-life

 

 

Live with Kelly: Carole talked about her book with Kelly and Sam Champion

Carole Bayer Sager talks about her book, “They’re Playing Our Song: A Memoir” in this extended interview.




 

Whole show on YouTube:

LA Times: Songwriter Carole Bayer Sager talks about her candid new memoir

Released Oct. 18 by Simon & Schuster, “They’re Playing Our Song” is an exceptionally candid memoir goes behind the scenes of her success to describe the fear and insecurity Sager says she’s experienced throughout her life, first as a girl growing up with an intensely critical mother and later as an artist involved both creatively and romantically with a series of powerful men.

http://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-ca-jc-carole-bayer-sager-20161020-snap-story.html

Wall Street Journal: At Home with the Hitmakers

So what if Burt Bacharach was a narcissist? What was that failing next to his bright blue eyes, salt-and-pepper hair and sexy voice? Joanne Kaufman reviews “They’re Playing Our Song” by Carole Bayer Sager.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/at-home-with-the-hitmakers-1477260703

CBS Sunday Morning News: They’re Playing Her Song

Carole was on CBS’ Sunday Morning News
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/carole-bayer-sager-playing-her-song/

The interview is here on YouTube




The full interview is available via Vimeo (click on the link to watch it on Vimeo’s site) https://vimeo.com/187834025

 

Washington Post: Carole Bayer Sager’s life story told in ‘Song’

Oscar-winning songwriter Carole Bayer Sager had no idea how many stories she had to tell until she worked on her memoir.

“For the first time it occurred to me, ‘My God, I’ve had a really big life,’” she says.

For

For the full article, see the Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/songwriter-sager-reflects-on-music-marriage-friendships/2016/10/25/a52178f4-9ac1-11e6-b552-b1f85e484086_story.html

KTLA Interview at William Turner Gallery

Songwriter to the stars Carole Bayer Sager cuts her snack food cravings by painting.

Lu Parker reports on KTLA News at 10 on Sept. 16, 2014.




Source : ktla.com

Santa Monica Opening on KABC TV

Carole Bayer Sager Art Opening at William Turner Gallery – KABC TV
George Pennacchio’s interview with Carole at the William Turner Gallery




Carole Bayer Sager and Burt Bacharach at LACMA Fundraiser

Carole Bayer Sager and Burt Bacharach in a rare joint concert for a LACMA fundraising event September 21, 2013




An Evening with Carole Presentation Video

The video presentation from “AN EVENING WITH CAROLE BAYER SAGER: ART AND MUSIC”

The GRAMMY Museum is pleased to welcome one of the most prolific and poignant writers in pop history, Carole Bayer Sager, to the Clive Davis Theater.




Sager’s songbook spans almost 40 years and contains some of the period’s most popular and successful songs. From the GRAMMY-winning That’s What Friends Are For, the Oscar-winningArthur’s Theme, and the Oscar-nominated The Prayer, to Don’t Cry Out Loud and On My Own, Sager’s songs have become pop standards. Her songs have been recorded by celebrated artists such as Barbra Streisand, Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston among many others. With her talents, it is no surprise Sager has won a GRAMMY Award, an Academy Award, two Golden Globe Awards and a Tony Award. Hear Sager, with GRAMMY Museum Executive Director Bob Santelli, discuss her accomplished career including her latest passion: painting. From portraits to abstracts, Sager’s work has received notice in the art world and beyond, including her successful debut solo art show at the LA Arthouse in Los Angeles in 2011.

That´s What Friends Are For

Olivia Newton John & Dionne Burt Bacharach & Carole Bayer Sager – That´s What Friends Are For

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZ9_8XE1meM

Carole Bayer Sager – You’re Moving Out Today (1977)

The original promo video for Carole’s song from 1977 co-written with Bette Midler and Bruce Roberts.  Better known as a songwriter rather than a singer , Carole’s version was a worldwide hit including No.1




 

Carole Bayer Sager / Charlie Rose Interview

Carole is interviewd by Charlie Rose




“Arthur’s Theme” Wins Original Song: 1982 Oscars

Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager, Christopher Cross and Peter Allen win the Oscar for Music (Song) for “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)” from Arthur at the 54th Academy Awards. Bette Midler presents the award; hosted by Johnny Carson.




Carole is a guest judge on American Idol

Carole is a guest judge on American Idol

Part 1




Part 2




For My Friends Perfomance

For My Friends Perfomance

Part 1




Part 2




Carole Bayer Sager ~ You’re Moving Out Today

Songwriter Carole Bayer Sager singing her #6 hit ‘You’re moving out Today’ on Top of the Pops in 1977, introduced by Noel Edmonds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhbkW31477g

Carole Bayer Sager