American singer-songwriter Kim Carnes, who was reared in Los Angeles, is well-known. She started her musical career in the 1960s, focusing mostly on composition for other musicians. She performed in local taverns while also recording music for the famed Water Sisters, the subject of the movie “20 Feet from Stardom.”
Jimmy Bowen signed Carnes to her first publishing deal, and in 1971 she released her self-titled debut album. Her second self-titled album, which was released shortly after, contained “You’re a Part of Me,” her debut song, which peaked at No. 35 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in 1975.
Carnes continued her singing career and released the “Sailin’” CD the following year. This album’s lead song, “Love Comes from Unexpected Places,” took home the Best Composition award at both the American Song Festival and the Tokyo Song Festival in 1976.
Carnes’ career did not, however, completely take off until 1980. For the concept album “Gideon” by Kenny Rogers, she was requested to co-write tracks.
Their duet, “Don’t Fall in Love with a Dreamer,” shot to No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned them a Grammy Award nomination. Later that year, Carnes released “Romance Dance,” her fifth album. Smokey Robinson’s “More Love,” which was covered for this album and reached its chart high at No. 10, was featured.
What was Kim Carnes’ biggest hit?
Jackie DeShannon and Donna Weiss first wrote and composed the song “Bette Davis Eyes” in 1974. In 1981, Carnes covered it. It spent nine weeks at the top of the U.S. singles charts as the first single from the album Mistaken Identity and went on to become a global hit.
What is Kim Carnes doing now?
Carnes and her husband Dave Ellingson (1967–present) reside in Nashville. She has Collin and Ry as her sons. She is vocally accompanied in the song “Rough Edges” from her album Barking at Airplanes by her son Ry, who bears the same name as the musician Ry Cooder.