Carole Bayer Sager (born Carol Bayer on March 8, 1947) is an American lyricist, singer, and songwriter.

Early life and career

Bayer Sager was born in Manhattan, New York City, to Anita Nathan Bayer and Eli Bayer. Her family was Jewish. She graduated from New York University, where she majored in English, dramatic arts, and speech. She had already written her first pop hit, " A Groovy Kind of Love", with Toni Wine, while still a student at New York City's

High School of Music and Art The High School of Music & Art, informally known as "Music & Art" (or "M&A"), was a public specialized high school located at 443-465 West 135th Street in the borough of Manhattan, New York, from 1936 until 1984. In 1961, Music & Art and the H ...

. It was recorded by the British invasion band The Mindbenders, whose version was a worldwide hit, reaching number 2 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. This song was later recorded by Sonny & Cher, Petula Clark, and

Phil Collins Philip David Charles Collins (born 30 January 1951) is an English singer, musician, songwriter, record producer and actor. He was the drummer and lead singer of the rock band Genesis and also has a career as a solo performer. Between 1982 and ...

, whose rendition for the film ''

Buster Buster may refer to: People First name *Buster Drayton (born 1952), American boxer *Buster Glosson, retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant general *Buster Mathis (1943–1995), American heavyweight boxer *Buster Mathis Jr. (born 1970), American heavyw ...

'' reached number one in 1988.

Solo albums

Bayer Sager's first recording as a singer was the 1977 album '' Carole Bayer Sager'', produced by Brooks Arthur. It included the hit single "

You're Moving Out Today "You're Moving Out Today" is a song written by Carole Bayer Sager, Bette Midler and Bruce Roberts. It became an international hit in 1977, in two versions. Both Sager and Midler recorded the song. The first U.S. release was by Bette Midler, i ...

", a song which she co-wrote with

Bette Midler Bette Midler (;''Inside the Actors Studio'', 2004 born December 1, 1945) is an American singer, actress, comedian and author. Throughout her career, which spans over five decades, Midler has received List of awards and nominations received by Be ...

and Bruce Roberts."You're Moving Out Today"
Musicnotes.com. Retrieved June 22, 2012 The single became a 1977 Australian number one single and also reached number 6 in the UK Singles Chart in June 1977.

Paul Buckmaster Paul John Buckmaster (13 June 1946 – 7 November 2017) was a Grammy Award-winning British cellist, arranger, conductor and composer, with a career spanning five decades. He is best known for his orchestral collaborations with David Bowie, Sha ...

provided horn and string arrangements for the album. The album also included Bayer Sager's versions of two songs previously recorded by Melissa Manchester – "Home to Myself" and the oft-covered "Come in from the Rain". It went platinum in Japan and Australia. It was followed by '' ...Too'' in 1978, also produced by Brooks Arthur, which included all-star cameos by the likes of Michael McDonald, Alice Cooper and Manchester. It also included the first recording of "

It's the Falling in Love "It's the Falling in Love" is a song by American recording artist Michael Jackson with guest vocals by R&B singer–songwriter Patti Austin. It is the ninth track from his fifth studio album, ''Off the Wall'' (1979). It was written by Carole ...

" which subsequently would be covered by Michael Jackson on his 1979 multi-platinum album ''

Off the Wall ''Off the Wall'' is the fifth studio album by American singer Michael Jackson, released on August 10, 1979, by Epic Records. It was Jackson's first album released through Epic Records, the label he recorded under until his death in 2009, and t ...

''. In 1981, she recorded ''Sometimes Late at Night'', which was co-produced by future-husband

Burt Bacharach Burt Freeman Bacharach ( ; born May 12, 1928) is an American composer, songwriter, record producer and pianist who composed hundreds of pop songs from the late 1950s through the 1980s, many in collaboration with lyricist Hal David. A six-time Gra ...

with Brooks Arthur, and included the single "Stronger Than Before", later recorded by

Chaka Khan Yvette Marie Stevens (born March 23, 1953), better known by her stage name Chaka Khan (), is an American singer. Her career has spanned more than five decades, beginning in the 1970s as the lead vocalist of the funk band Rufus. Known as the " Qu ...

and

Dionne Warwick Marie Dionne Warwick (; born December 12, 1940) is an American singer, actress, and television host. Warwick ranks among the 40 biggest U.S. hit makers between 1955 and 1999, based on her chart history on ''Billboards Hot 100 pop singles cha ...

. The song became Bayer Sager's only song to hit

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

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as a performer, peaking at number 30. The track "Just Friends" featured a vocal cameo from Michael Jackson, who also co-produced the track with Bacharach, while

Neil Diamond Neil Leslie Diamond (born January 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. He has sold more than 130 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling musicians of all time. He has had ten No. 1 singles on the Hot 100 and Adul ...

also co-produced and played guitar on the track "On The Way To The Sky" which he also recorded as the title track of his concurrent album ''On the Way to the Sky''.

Songwriting

Bayer Sager had many hits during the 1970s. She co-wrote many songs with Melissa Manchester that appeared on Manchester's solo albums of the period including "Come In From The Rain" and " Midnight Blue" which would go on to be covered by many other artists. She also worked with Australian songwriter Peter Allen crafting hits like " I'd Rather Leave While I'm In Love" and " Don't Cry Out Loud". She also scored major hits collaborating with Albert Hammond (" When I Need You") and Bruce Roberts (" You're The Only One"). With Marvin Hamlisch and Neil Simon, she wrote the lyrics for the 1978 stage musical '' They're Playing Our Song'', which was loosely based on her relationship with Hamlisch. The musical ran for over three years on Broadway. Many of Bayer Sager's 1980s songs were co-written with her husband at the time, the composer Burt Bacharach. She executive-produced the eponymous solo album for June Pointer, of The Pointer Sisters, in 1989. CaroleBayerSagerCaroleKingCynthiaWeilBarryMannHWOFDec2012

CaroleBayerSagerCaroleKingCynthiaWeilBarryMannHWOFDec2012

Bayer Sager has won an Academy Award (out of six nominations), a Grammy Award (out of nine nominations), and two

Golden Globe Award The Golden Globe Awards are accolades bestowed by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association beginning in January 1944, recognizing excellence in both American and international film and television. Beginning in 2022, there are 105 members of t ...

s (out of seven nominations). She was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1987. Bayer Sager won the

Academy Award for Best Original Song The Academy Award for Best Original Song is one of the awards given annually to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It is presented to the ''songwriters'' who have composed th ...

in 1982 for " Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)", which was the theme song of the movie '' Arthur''. Bayer Sager received the Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 1987 for the song " That's What Friends Are For", which she co-wrote with Bacharach. This song was originally written for the movie '' Night Shift'' (1982), and it was recorded for this movie by

Rod Stewart Sir Roderick David Stewart (born 10 January 1945) is a British rock and pop singer and songwriter. Born and raised in London, he is of Scottish and English ancestry. With his distinctive raspy singing voice, Stewart is among the best-selling ...

. The song was popularized in a 1986 cover version by

Stevie Wonder Stevland Hardaway Morris ( Judkins; May 13, 1950), known professionally as Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, who is credited as a pioneer and influence by musicians across a range of genres that include rhythm and blues, Pop musi ...

, Gladys Knight, and

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. Her song with David Foster, "The Prayer", originally recorded by Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli, won the Golden Globe, and is often performed at weddings and funerals. She was awarded a star on the

Hollywood Walk of Fame The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a historic landmark which consists of more than 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, Californ ...

and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Bayer Sager received the New York University Steinhardt Distinguished Alumni award in 2006. She received the 2019 "Johnny Mercer Award" from the Songwriters Hall of Fame during their 50th-anniversary induction ceremony. She was the sixth female songwriter to ever be awarded this honor. She occasionally collaborated with Neil Sedaka, with 11 songs co-written between the two. Along with Bruce Roberts and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Bayer Sager helped write the song "Stronger Together", sung by Jessica Sanchez. The song was played after Hillary Clinton's speech at the

2016 Democratic National Convention The 2016 Democratic National Convention was a presidential nominating convention, held at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from July 25 to 28, 2016. The convention gathered delegates of the Democratic Party, the majo ...

. The song's title is named after the slogan that the Clinton campaign used as a show of uniting behind the Democratic nominee. In 2018, she co-wrote the song "Living in the Moment" for the film '' Book Club'', recorded by Katharine McPhee, as well as two songs on Barbra Streisand's album Walls: "Better Angels" and "What's on My Mind". She contributed lyrics to "GhostTown" on Kanye West's album '' Ye''. In April 2020, Lady Gaga closed out her "One World: Together At Home concert with a new rendition of "The Prayer", performed by Gaga, Celine Dion, Andrea Bocelli, John Legend and classical pianist Lang Lang. The performance helped raise 127 million dollars for the World Health Organization battling COVID-19 cases in America. May 2022, she was honored with a BMI Icon award at the 70th Annual BMI Pop Awards

Personal life

She married record-producer Andrew Sager in 1970, and they divorced in 1978. Bayer Sager was involved in a romantic relationship with composer

Marvin Hamlisch Marvin Frederick Hamlisch (June 2, 1944 – August 6, 2012) was an American composer and conductor. Hamlisch was one of only seventeen people to win Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards. This collection of all four is referred to as an " EGOT ...

in the late 1970s. On April 3, 1982, she married composer and pianist

after over a year's co-habitation: in December 1985 the couple adopted an infant son, whom they named Cristopher Elton Bacharach. Bacharach and Sager divorced in 1991. Since June 1996, Bayer Sager has been married to Robert Daly, former chairman of Warner Brothers and former chairman /

CEO A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a central executive officer (CEO), chief administrator officer (CAO) or just chief executive (CE), is one of a number of corporate executives charged with the management of an organization especially ...

of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team, and currently chairman of the

American Film Institute The American Film Institute (AFI) is an American nonprofit film organization that educates filmmakers and honors the heritage of the motion picture arts in the United States. AFI is supported by private funding and public membership fees. Leade ...

(AFI). Bayer Sager and her husband live in Los Angeles. In October 2016, Bayer Sager published her memoir ''They're Playing Our Song: A Memoir'' ( Simon & Schuster). She also narrated the audiobook version.

Discography

Studio albums

Charting singles

Selected songs, with artists who performed them

* "Anyone at All" (theme from '' You've Got Mail'') –

Carole King Carole King Klein (born Carol Joan Klein; February 9, 1942) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who has been active since 1958, initially as one of the staff songwriters at 1650 Broadway and later as a solo artist. Regarded as one ...

* " Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)", from '' Arthur'' –

Christopher Cross Christopher Cross (born Christopher Charles Geppert; May 3, 1951) is an American singer-songwriter from San Antonio, Texas. He won five Grammy Awards for his eponymous debut album released in 1979. The singles "Sailing" (1980), and "Arthur's T ...

* "Better Off Alone" (Song from ''

The Magic Is You ''The Magic Is You'' is a 1979 album by Welsh singer Shirley Bassey. Her final album for United Artists Records, the album notably featured a disco version of her signature 1968 song "This Is My Life". Overview Following the UK top three succe ...

'') –

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*"Crazy" –

*"We Were Made For Each Other" – The Monkees *" Don't Cry Out Loud" – Melissa Manchester *"Don't Say You Love Me" – The Corrs *"Ever Changing Times (ft Michael McDonald)" –

Aretha Franklin Aretha Louise Franklin ( ; March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018) was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Referred to as the " Queen of Soul", she has twice been placed ninth in ''Rolling Stone''s "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". With ...

*"Everything Old Is New Again" – Peter Allen *"Fly Away' – Peter Allen *"Fool That I Am' (song from ''Coast to Coast'') – Rita Coolidge *" Front Page Story" –

*"GhostTown" – (from ''Ye'') – Kanye West *"

Groovy Kind of Love "A Groovy Kind of Love" is a song written by Toni Wine and Carole Bayer Sager based on a melody by the classical composer Muzio Clementi. The original rendition was recorded by American singing duo Diane & Annita and released as "Groovey Kind of ...

" – The Mindbenders and

*" Heartlight" –

*"How Do The Fools Survive" – Doobie Brothers *"

I Never Loved You Anyway "I Never Loved You Anyway" is a song by Irish band the Corrs, released in December 1997 as the second single from their second album, '' Talk on Corners'' (1997). The music was written by the band with Carole Bayer Sager, who also wrote the lyri ...

" – The Corrs *"I'd Rather Leave While I'm in Love" – Rita Coolidge *"I'm Guilty" –

*"It's The Falling in Love" – Michael Jackson *"Maybe" (themes from '' Romantic Comedy'' and '' Making Love'') – Roberta Flack *" Midnight Blue" – Melissa Manchester *" On My Own" –

Patti LaBelle Patricia Louise Holte (born May 24, 1944), known professionally as Patti LaBelle, is an American R&B singer, actress and businesswoman. LaBelle is referred to as the " Godmother of Soul". She began her career in the early 1960s as lead singe ...

& Michael McDonald *"On The Way to the Sky" –

*"One Hello" (theme from '' I Ought to Be in Pictures'') – Randy Crawford *"One Man" (co-written with Bayer Sager) – Sheena Easton *"Our Night" – Shaun Cassidy *"Past Forever" – Agnetha Fältskog, of ABBA *" The Prayer" (theme from '' Quest for Camelot'') – Céline Dion and Andrea Bocelli; Josh Groban and

Charlotte Church Charlotte Maria Church (born Charlotte Maria Reed, 21 February 1986) is a Welsh singer-songwriter, actress, television presenter and political activist from Cardiff. Church rose to fame in childhood as a classical singer before branching i ...

*"Sleep With Me Tonight" –

*"Someone Else's Eyes" –

ft Michael McDonald *" Starmaker" –

Judy Collins Judith Marjorie Collins (born May 1, 1939) is an American singer-songwriter and musician with a career spanning seven decades. An Academy Award-nominated documentary director and a Grammy Award-winning recording artist, she is known for her ec ...

; The Kids from "Fame" *"Through the Eyes of Love" (theme from Ice Castles) –

*" Turn Around" –

*"We've Had Enough" – Michael Jackson *"When You Love Someone" (theme from '' Forget Paris'') – Anita Baker *"Why Should I Care" (written for '' True Crime'') Diana Krall *"You Are My Life" – Michael Jackson *"You're Moving Out Today" – Carole Bayer Sager * Melissa Manchester (" Midnight Blue", "Come in From The Rain", " Don't Cry Out Loud", theme from '' Ice Castles'' ( Through the Eyes of Love), etc..) *

Richard Marx Richard Noel Marx (born September 16, 1963) is an American adult contemporary music, adult contemporary and pop rock singer-songwriter. He has sold over 30 million albums worldwide. Marx's Richard Marx (album), self-titled debut album went tri ...

(" Now and Forever") *

("You're Moving Out Today", "Blueberry Pie", "My One True Friend" etc.) *

Liza Minnelli Liza May Minnelli ( ; born March 12, 1946) is an American actress, singer, dancer, and choreographer. Known for her commanding stage presence and powerful alto singing voice, Minnelli is among a rare group of performers awarded an Emmy, Grammy ...

("More Than I Like You", "Don't Cry Out Loud") * Dolly Parton (" You're the Only One", " Heartbreaker", "The Day I Fall in Love" (theme from '' Beethoven's 2nd'')) * Steve Perry ("I Stand Alone") * Bernadette Peters ("Only Wounded", "Sweet Alibis") * Kenny Rogers ("They Don't Make Them Like They Used To" (theme from '' Tough Guys'')) *

Diana Ross Diana Ross (born March 26, 1944) is an American singer and actress. She rose to fame as the lead singer of the vocal group the Supremes, who became Motown's most successful act during the 1960s and one of the world's best-selling girl groups o ...

(" It's My Turn", "Come in from the Rain") * Leo Sayer (" When I Need You") *

Frank Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Chairman of the Board" and later called "Ol' Blue Eyes", Sinatra was one of the most popular ...

("You and Me (We Wanted It All)") *

Carly Simon Carly Elisabeth Simon (born June 25, 1943) is an American singer-songwriter, memoirist, and children's author. She rose to fame in the 1970s with a string of hit records; her 13 Top 40 U.S. hits include "Anticipation" (No. 13), " The Right Thin ...

(" Nobody Does It Better" (theme from '' The Spy Who Loved Me'')) * Dusty Springfield ("Dream On", "Home to Myself", "I'd Rather Leave While I'm in Love", etc...) *

(" That's What Friends Are For" (closing theme from '' Night Shift)'') * Barbra Streisand ("Niagara", "Love Light", "You and Me for Always", "One More Time Around", "Better Angels", "What's On My Mind" ) *

("Extravagant Gestures", "Love Power", "Stronger Than Before", etc...) * Dionne & Friends ( Gladys Knight,

and

) (" That's What Friends Are For")

Works for stage

*'' Georgy'' (1970) –

musical Musical is the adjective of music. Musical may also refer to: * Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance * Musical film and television, a genre of film and television that incorporates into the narr ...

– lyricist *''Dancin' '' (1978) – revue – featured lyricist for ''If It Feels Good, Let It Ride'' and ''Easy'' *'' They're Playing Our Song'' (1979) – musical – lyricist *''Up in One'' (1979) – revue – featured songwriter *'' The Madwoman of Central Park West'' (1979) – musical – featured songwriter *'' Barbara Cook: A Concert for the Theatre'' (1987) – concert – featured songwriter *'' The Boy from Oz'' (2003) – musical – featured songwriter with Peter Allen Television *'' American Idol'' (2007) – guest judge

References

External links

Official website for Carole Bayer Sager
* * * *
Radio interview
on '' The Diane Rehm Show'' (50 mins, 2016) {{DEFAULTSORT:Sager, Carole Bayer 1947 births Living people New York University alumni Singers from New York City Songwriters from New York (state) American women composers American musical theatre composers American musical theatre lyricists 21st-century American composers Jewish American songwriters Broadway composers and lyricists Best Original Song Academy Award-winning songwriters Golden Globe Award-winning musicians Grammy Award winners The High School of Music & Art alumni 21st-century American women musicians 21st-century women composers 21st-century American Jews