About the poignant tribute to friendship, You've Got a Friend, its songwriter Carole King (1942-) said, "That song was as close to pure inspiration as I've ever experienced. The song wrote itself. It was written by something outside of myself through me."

"It happens from time to time," she explained. "That song is one of the examples of that process where it was almost completely written by inspiration and very little if any perspiration."

Of the song, Bob Dylan said, " You've Got a Friend on some level means more to me than a lot of my songs do."

Born Carole Klein in Brooklyn, New York, the prolific pianist wrote her first song at age nine. A few years later, she collaborated with Paul Simon and Gerry Goffin. She married Goffin and their first hit, Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow, launched their careers. Their songwriting influenced generations, including John Lennon and Paul McCartney, who aspired "to be the next Goffin and King."

"The Beatles, who have been influenced by myself and Gerry, came back and made such an impact and, of course, left their mark on me as somebody to aspire to and emulate," King said.

Ain't it good to know?