Kim Carnes -

Kim Carnes (born July 20, 1945) is an American country and pop vocalist from Los Angeles, best known for the 1981 mega-hit “Bette Davis Eyes,” a synth-oriented Jackie DeShannon cover noted for its New Romantic video.

Carnes originated in Sixties folksters the New Christy Minstrels and made five solo albums between 1972 and 1980, culminating with Romance Dance and its hit Miracles cover “More Love.” After her 1981 breakthrough with Mistaken Identity, she continued the synth-rock style on her 1982/83 albums Voyeur and Café Racers and notched further video hits with “Draw of the Cards,” “Does It Make You Remember,” and “Invisible Hands.”

As a songwriter, Carnes and husband David Ellingson co-wrote “Don’t Fall in Love with a Dreamer,” a 1980 duet hit with fellow ex-Minstrels singer Kenny Rogers.

Background

Kim Carnes was born on July 20, 1945, in Los Angeles, California, and grew up in Pasadena. She wrote songs from early childhood and performed original material with a school friend by sixth grade in a piano-and-bongos duo. Carnes graduated from San Marino High School in 1963 and later attended Pasadena City College.

In 1966, Carnes joined the New Christy Minstrels, a large American folk ensemble formed in 1961 by singer–songwriter Randy Sparks. She appeared on their Columbia album New Kick!, then teamed with fellow Minstrel Dave Ellingson in the duo Kim & Dave. Carnes also played Melinda in the 1967 musical film C’mon, Let’s Live a Little.

Carnes sang commercials and songwriter demos after leaving the New Christy Minstrels. Mike Settle heard several Carnes compositions and introduced her to producer Jimmy Bowen, who signed Carnes to his publishing company. Bowen produced Kim & Dave on the Settle composition “Nobody Knows” for Amos Records. The recording appeared over the closing credits of the 1971 film Vanishing Point and on an Amos single. Big Mama Thornton recorded the Carnes composition “Sing Out for Jesus” for the same soundtrack, the first released recording of a Carnes composition.

Carnes also joined Settle in the studio group the Sugar Bears under the name Honey Bear. She sang on the 1971 album Presenting the Sugar Bears, which included the Carnes compositions “All of My Life,” “Feather Balloon,” and “It’s a Good Day.” Carnes subsequently signed with Amos as a solo artist and recorded Rest on Me with Bowen at Hollywood Sound Recorders in Los Angeles.

Discography: