Carole Bayer Sager

Easton Press Carole Bayer Sager books

They're Playing Our Song - signed first edition - 2016

Who is Carole Bayer Sager?

Carole Bayer Sager, born on March 8, 1947, in New York City, is an American lyricist, singer, and songwriter renowned for her prolific contributions to the music industry. With a career spanning several decades, Sager has written lyrics for numerous chart-topping songs, showcasing her talent for crafting memorable and emotionally resonant lyrics. Sager's early interest in music and songwriting led her to pursue a career in the music industry. She gained recognition in the 1970s for her collaborations with various artists, writing lyrics that became part of the soundtrack of that era. Some of her early successes include songs like A Groovy Kind of Love recorded by The Mindbenders and later by Phil Collins, and Don't Cry Out Loud performed by Melissa Manchester.

One of the defining moments in Carole Bayer Sager's career was her collaboration with composer Burt Bacharach, whom she later married. Together, they created a string of hits, including On My Own performed by Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald, and That's What Friends Are For performed by Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, and Elton John. The latter, released as a charity single, became a chart-topping hit and won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 1987. Beyond her collaborations, Carole Bayer Sager also pursued a solo career as a singer and released several albums. Her songwriting talents earned her numerous awards, including Academy Awards, Grammy Awards, and a Tony Award.

Through the Eyes of Love is a song co-written by Carole Bayer Sager, Marvin Hamlisch, and Burrt Bacharach. It was performed by Melissa Manchester and served as the theme song for the 1978 film Ice Castles. The song became a hit and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song. The lyrics of Through the Eyes of Love convey a message of love, resilience, and seeing the world in a positive light. The song gained popularity not only for its association with the film but also for its emotional and uplifting melody.

In addition to her work in the music industry, Sager has been involved in philanthropy, supporting causes related to healthcare and the arts. Her autobiography, They're Playing Our Song, published in 2016, provides insights into her life and career. Carole Bayer Sager's enduring impact on the music industry is a testament to her ability to craft lyrics that resonate with audiences. Her contributions to the American songbook and her collaborations with some of the industry's most iconic figures have solidified her place as a respected and influential songwriter.

They're Playing Our Song

Grammy and Academy Award winning songwriter Carole Bayer Sager shares the remarkably frank and darkly funny story of her life in and out of the recording studio, from her fascinating (and sometimes calamitous) relationships to her collaborations with some of the greatest composers and musical artists of our time.

For five decades, Carole Bayer Sager has been among the most admired and successful songwriters at work, responsible for her lyrical contributions to some of the most popular songs in the English language, including “Nobody Does It Better,” “A Groovy Kind of Love,” “Don’t Cry Out Loud,” and the theme from the movie Arthur , “The Best That You Can Do” (about getting lost between the moon and New York City).

She has collaborated with (and written for) a dizzying number of stars, including Peter Allen, Ray Charles, Celine Dion, Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, Clint Eastwood, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Carole King, Melissa Manchester, Reba McEntire, Bette Midler, Dolly Parton, Carly Simon, Frank Sinatra, and Barbra Streisand.

Her relationship with composer Marvin Hamlisch was the basis of the long-running hit musical, They’re Playing Our Song , for which she wrote the lyrics. And her work with composer Burt Bacharach, to whom she was also married for ten years, produced pop standards such as “On My Own” and “That’s What Friends Are For” (inspired by her friendship with Elizabeth Taylor), which raised over two million dollars for AIDS research.

But while her professional life was filled with success and fascinating people, her personal life was far more difficult and dramatic. In this memoir, Carole Bayer Sager tells the surprisingly frank and darkly humorous story of a woman whose sometimes crippling fears and devastating relationships inspired many of the songs she would ultimately write.

They’re Playing Our Song will fascinate anyone interested in the craft of songwriting and the joy of collaboration, but Carole Bayer Sager’s memoir is also a deeply personal account of how love and heartbreak made her the woman, and the writer, she is.