Carole Bayer Sager’s songbook spans 40 years and contains some of the period’s most popular and successful songs. From the Grammy-winning “That’s What Friends Are For,” the Oscar-winning “Arthur’s Theme,”and the Oscar-nominated “The Prayer,” to “Don’t Cry Out Loud” and “On My Own,” Carole’s songs have become pop standards. Honors for her work include an Academy Award, a GRAMMY Award, two Golden Globe Awards, a Tony Award, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a Songwriter’s Hall of Fame induction, a Distinguished Alumni Award from the New York University Alumni Association and being honored by the LA Chapter of the Recording Academy. One of the most prolific and poignant writers in pop history, Carole’s songs have been recorded by such artists as Barbra Streisand, Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Whitney Houston, Ray Charles, Dolly Parton, Aretha Franklin, Bette Midler, Celine Dion, and Reba McEntire, among others.Born in New York City, Carole began her songwriting career while still a high school student. She wrote her first #1 hit, “A Groovy Kind of Love” for the English group The Mindbenders in 1966. Phil Collins re-recorded it taking it #1 and the most performed radio hit of 1990. Neil Diamond included it on his 1993 “Up on the Roof” CD.
In the 70s Carole began a long-lasting collaboration with Melissa Manchester resulting in many classics including “Midnight Blue” and “Come In From The Rain.”
Carole’s partnership with Burt Bacharach was fruitful, both professionally and personally. As husband and wife, they were one of song writing’s most successful teams, highlighted by the #1 song of 1986 “That What Friends Are For.” Recorded by Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Dionne Warwick and Gladys Knight, it won the Grammy Award for “Song of the Year.” Carole and Burt donated their publishing monies to the American Foundation for AIDS Research. The song has continued to heighten awareness of the disease, as well as raise over $2 million for AIDS research and care.
As part of her philanthropic efforts, Carole has donated her time and talents to write songs for a CD to benefit Elizabeth Glaser’s Pediatric AIDS charity and founded with, Joyce Bogart the Neil Bogart Children’s Cancer Research Labs at L. A.’s Children’s Hospital, to raise funds. She is also created a CD, “It’s Still Okay to Dream” for Save The Children.
In 2005, Carole and her husband, Bob Daly, underwrote the first two years of the Los Angeles operation of the non-profit organization known as DonorChoose.org (www.donorschoose.org) which allows teachers to post the projects they need funding for and donors to choose the classroom plan that they want to fund. In 2005, when Carole and Bob began their association, this program existed in five cities. Today, it is has grown to a nationwide network. Carole solicited Morgan Freeman, Bette Midler, Sidney Poitier and Claire Danes to participate as the four animated PSA voices that have helped the organization achieve national growth.
In addition, Sager is involved with an organization she found on the web called Globalgiving.org
Most recently she has created a PSA to raise awareness for LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) one of the two in 3D/ She serves as a trustee on the LACMA board.
Carole began painting in 2006. What began as a hobby now takes up almost all her time. She paints portraits as well as abstract works on canvas as well as in light boxes. Her first solo show is slated for January 13 at the LA Arthouse in Los Angeles.
In 2009 she completed a series of “Power Chairs”, a series of Portraits of some of her friends, all photographed by Carole in their favorite chairs.
Her Abstract work includes Photography as well as oil paint. Often her paintings are self generating. Within one painting she may find details that serve as new paintings on larger canvases. Her works play with scale in an orderly manner.
Carole sees many similarities between songwriting and painting. Both are intuitive. “Just as is songwriting, it is rewarding when your painting touches another person.
Carole lives in Los Angeles and New York with her husband, Bob Daly current advisor to Viacom, Chairman of The American Film Institute. and former Chairman of the Dodgers and Warner Bros. and their two dogs Benny and Devon. She has a 25-year-old son, Cristopher Bacharach.