Kim Carnes Bette Davis Eyes (1981)

Kim Carnes distinctively raspy, throaty voice graced one of the biggest hits of the 80s, the Grammywinning smash Bette Davis Eyes, which spent nine weeks on top of the Billboard charts in 1981. Carnes was born in Los Angeles on July 20, 1945, and during the 60s began writing songs for other artists while performing in local clubs and as a session vocalist. In 1966, she joined the popular folk group the New Christy Minstrels for a time, later leaving (along with husband, songwriting partner Dave Ellingson) to form the duo Kim Dave. Thanks in part to her folkmusic background, Carnes landed an acting role in the 1967 film C Mon, Let s Live a Little, a folkthemed musical with a staunchly antiradical viewpoint. In 1971, Carnes Sing Out for Jesus was recorded by blues legend Big Mama Thornton for the soundtrack of the film Vanishing Point, which also featured Kim Dave s performance of the song Nobody This success landed Carnes a solo deal with Amos, the label on which the soundtrack had app