Gerry Goffin got his start with then-wife and writing partner Carole King as part of the iconic Brill Building group of '60s hitmakers. Gifted at capturing both joy and sadness in song lyrics, Goffin was an influence on The Beatles, and he cowrote dozens of smashes for everyone from The Shirelles to Aretha Franklin, and into the '70s and '80s for stars like Diana Ross and Whitney Houston.