It’s one of Carly Simon and James Taylor‘s most beloved duets, but this 1974 soft-rock hit was originally performed by another duo during the ’60s.
“Mockingbird” was a massive chart success for Simon and Taylor, but the song first was introduced to listeners in 1963 by the R&B duo Inez and Charlie Foxx.
Inspired by the “Hush, Little Baby” lullaby, the 1963 version of the song gave “Mockingbird” its first run on the charts. It spent a total of 18 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 7 in September 1963. It also reached No. 2 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart that summer.
A decade later, Simon and Taylor brought the song back to the charts when they recorded their playful, upbeat version of “Mockingbird.” It was released as the lead single on Simon’s fourth studio album, Hotcakes.
Simon and Taylor’s rendition ended up hitting No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March 1974, and it reached No. 10 on the Adult Contemporary Chart the following month. It outperformed another one of the pair’s iconic duets, the 1978 hit “Devoted to You,” which peaked at No. 36 on the Hot 100.
Taylor and Simon were not just notable duet partners, but an actual couple in real life. They were married for 11 years between 1972 and 1983, during which they welcomed two children together: daughter Sarah, 52, and son Benjamin, 49.
After his relationship with Simon ended, Taylor went on to have two other marriages, first to Kathryn Walker between 1985 and 1995, before marrying his current wife, Caroline Smedvig in 2001.
He and Smedvig have two children together: 25-year-old twin sons Henry and Rufus.
As for Simon, she remarried in 1987 to writer and poet James Hart, until they divorced in 2007.
Related: 1975 Classic Rock Hit Reaches a Milestone Few Songs Ever Achieve, 51 Years Later
This story was originally published by Parade on Jun 23, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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