Grammy®, Oscar®, Emmy & Golden Globe–Nominated Songwriter • Trailblazing Artist • Pop & Film Music Icon
Carol Connors is one of the most influential and boundary-breaking songwriters of the last six decades—an artist whose work shaped pop, rock, and Hollywood film music at a time when few women were allowed into the writing rooms. Her career began at 16½, when she became the unmistakable voice of The Teddy Bears, singing the Phil Spector–penned global No. 1 hit “To Know Him Is To Love Him.” In the 1960s, she made history again as the co-writer of “Hey Little Cobra,” still the only major hot-rod hit written by a woman—reaching the top of the charts in a male-dominated genre.
Connors’ most defining achievement came in 1976 when she co-wrote “Gonna Fly Now,” the electrifying theme to Rocky, alongside Bill Conti and Ayn Robbins. The song earned an Academy Award® nomination, helped turn Rocky into a worldwide phenomenon, and remains one of the most iconic musical themes in cinematic history. She continued shaping the musical identity of the franchise with iconic contributions to Rocky II, III, IV, Rocky Balboa and Creed.
Her wide-ranging work includes the original songs for Walt Disney’s The Rescuers, the international ballad “With You I’m Born Again”, music for Orca, The Killer Whale, Looking for Mr. Goodbar, and the beloved Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous theme performed by Dionne Warwick. In 2025, Connors released her memoir Elvis, Rocky & Me, brought to audio format with producer David Longoria and narrated by Kathy Garver. The audiobook is now a 2026 GRAMMY® nominee. From pop stages to Hollywood studios, Carol Connors remains a pioneering force—and a woman whose work continues to inspire generations.
