The Two Shocking Discoveries Carly Simon Made About Her Father, Richard Simon
Carly Simon’s life, both on and off the stage, has been defined by powerful songs and deeply held family secrets. As of late December 2025, the narrative surrounding the legendary singer-songwriter’s father, Richard L. Simon—the co-founder of the publishing giant Simon & Schuster—continues to evolve, driven by her candid memoirs and, more recently, a startling genetic revelation. The "discovery" is not a single event, but a two-part unmasking: first, the emotional truth of her childhood, and second, a hidden ancestral lineage that fundamentally rewrites her family history.
The famed musician, known for her hits like "You're So Vain" and "Anticipation," has spent decades processing a privileged yet emotionally complex upbringing. Her father's professional success was colossal, yet his personal life was shrouded in a silence that she only began to understand and articulate much later in life. The most profound and recent discovery, however, came through a DNA test that revealed a long-concealed truth about the Simon family's deep, multicultural roots.
The Complete Profile: Carly Simon's Life and Legacy
Carly Elisabeth Simon was born into a world of literary and cultural prominence, yet her path led her to become one of the most celebrated singer-songwriters of the 1970s and beyond. Her father, Richard L. Simon, co-founded Simon & Schuster with Max Schuster, cementing the family's place in American publishing history.
- Full Name: Carly Elisabeth Simon
- Born: June 25, 1943, in New York City, New York, U.S.
- Parents: Richard L. Simon (Co-founder of Simon & Schuster) and Andrea Simon (née Heinemann), an activist and philanthropist.
- Siblings: Joanna Simon (opera singer), Lucy Simon (composer), and Peter Simon (photographer).
- Spouse: James Taylor (m. 1972; div. 1983).
- Children: Sally Taylor and Ben Taylor (both musicians).
- Key Albums: Carly Simon, No Secrets, Hotcakes, Boys in the Trees.
- Major Awards: She was the first artist to win an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, and a Golden Globe for a single track, "Let the River Run" (from the film Working Girl). She also has two Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.
- Memoirs: Boys in the Trees: A Memoir (2015) and Touched by the Sun: My Friendship with Jackie (2019).
The Childhood Secret: Richard Simon's Hidden Emotional Life
The first major "discovery" Carly Simon made about her father was the realization of his professional magnitude and, more importantly, the emotional turmoil he concealed. Growing up, she was largely shielded from the reality of his fame, describing a childhood that, while privileged, was "shrouded in secrets" that eventually fractured the family.
In her best-selling memoir, Boys in the Trees, Simon details her father's complex personality, describing him as a "beloved hero" yet a man understood "too late for our peace to come during our lives." Richard Simon was a brilliant businessman and a passionate amateur classical pianist, but suffered from severe depression and anxiety. This emotional distance and the atmosphere of unspoken tension created a profound sense of isolation for young Carly.
The book's dedication, which refers to Richard L. Simon as "the first Orpheus," alludes to the Greek myth of the tragic musician who descends into the underworld—a powerful metaphor for her father's hidden suffering and his inability to fully connect with his family. This biographical discovery—the true, painful depth of her father's inner life—was a key theme in her writing and music, providing a crucial context for her own artistic expression.
The Ultimate Discovery: Unmasking the Family's Hidden Ancestry
The second, and arguably most shocking and recent, "father discovery" came to light during her appearance on the PBS show Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr. The genealogical research revealed an extraordinary family secret that had been intentionally concealed for generations, fundamentally altering the Simon family's narrative.
The DNA test revealed that Carly Simon is approximately 10 percent Black. This ancestry traces back to her paternal lineage, specifically her grandmother (Richard Simon's mother, or an ancestor on that side) who was a Black woman from Cuba. This ancestor, Simon learned, had fabricated a story of being of Spanish and Moroccan heritage to pass as white in American society, a decision that would have been a necessity for survival and social mobility in the early 20th century.
This revelation provides a powerful, new lens through which to view the "secrets" that pervaded the Simon household. The intense psychological pressure of maintaining such a profound lie—concealing a significant part of their identity—likely contributed to the emotional turbulence and silence that Carly Simon experienced during her childhood. The discovery of this African American ancestry from Cuba connects the Simon family to a much broader, more complex tapestry of American history than previously known.
The Lasting Impact of the Simon Family Revelations
The two discoveries—the emotional truth of her father's depression and the genetic truth of her African American heritage—have provided Carly Simon and her family with a new sense of clarity. The knowledge of her Cuban and Black ancestry helps to explain the "shrouded" feeling of her upbringing and adds a layer of profound cultural complexity to the legacy of Richard L. Simon, the co-founder of Simon & Schuster.
For fans and historians, these revelations offer a deeper understanding of the personal wellspring for Simon's famously introspective and emotionally resonant songwriting. Her music, which often explores themes of identity, secrecy, and complicated relationships, is now understood to be the product of a life spent navigating a family history far more intricate and historically significant than anyone outside the inner circle had ever imagined. The ultimate discovery is that the secrets of the Simon family were not just personal burdens, but a reflection of the larger, hidden histories of race and identity in America.
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