red lights


basement tapes	concert reviews	cd reviews	interviews	ticket swap	music news

Music legend Carole King
rallies for Obama

Get-Out-The-Vote For Change Event
Elkhorn Campaign for Change Office
Elkhorn, WI
Oct. 24, 2008

Carole King

Rally supporter

buttons, buttons...

Story and photos by Phil Bonyata

Legendary singer-songwriter Carole King made a stop at The Walworth County Democratic Headquarters to rally Obama supporters on her Get-Out-The-Vote For Change Event. She finished up her two day swing on the campaign trail last week in Wisconsin in support of Democratic Presidential Nominee Barack Obama. Her rallies have landed nice crowds in other towns like Sturgeon Bay, Shawano, Oshkosh, Fond du Lac, Manitowoc, Sheboygan, Watertown, Fort Atkinson and Milwaukee. This Wisconsin tour comes after successful jaunts throughout Missouri, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Pennsylvania. More than 250 Obama supporters (a campaign worker said that this crowd was the largest to date) showed up to hear King fire up the troops and hopefully hear one of her tasty hits. "It's time to make our country and our world a better place," King shouted out to the primed supporters. "I have some words of inspiration for you," she said - "Colin Powell." Former secretary of state Colin Powell recently endorsed Barack Obama on "Meet the Press."

The supporters ages ran the gamut of wide-eyed school kid (who had no idea who King was) and the slightly greying who had many in attendance carrying a copy of King's 1971 best-selling record Tapestry. King, born in 1942, has won four Grammys and been inducted into both the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, along with long-time partner Gerry Goffin for their gifted songwriting. They have written such hits for other artists such as "Don't Bring Me Down" The Animals, "Wasn't Born to Follow" The Byrds, "Pleasant Valley Sunday" The Monkees, "Goin' Back" Dusty Springfield and "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" The Shirelles among others. But her big break came in 1971 when she released Tapestry. It instantly became a landmark album. It sold an estimated 22 million copies worldwide. It was the best selling solo pop album until Michael Jackson's 1982 release Thriller. One of her most famous songs "You've Got a Friend" (which was never a hit on Tapestry) become a monster #1 hit for her friend James Taylor in 1971. To this day, many singer-songwriters cite Tapestry as a major influence.

King also allayed fears of gun owners that Obama doesn't support gun rights. "I'm a gun owner and I support responsible hunting," King said. "Obama does, too. He's not going to take your guns away." One of King's central messages was to get out and vote early and to have people volunteer in the get-out-the-vote cause. "Wouldn't you say wealth has been redistributed from you to the CEOs?" was King's response to Senator McCain's smear tactic of calling Obama a socialist because the Illinois senator told "Joe the Plumber" that he wants to "spread the wealth." King closed out the 45 minute rally with an enthusiastic but short "You've Got A Friend" sing along.

Before moving to the signing table, King told the audience "I want each and every one of you to tell me your names - I really want to know who you are."

Livewire's official endorsement of Barack Obama