Carly Simon is currently grieving the loss of her two sisters, Joanna and Lucy Simon. This week, the two were taken by cancer merely one day apart from one another. 

On Wednesday, at the age of 85, Joanna – a former opera singer – faced demise from thyroid cancer. Meanwhile, Lucy – a Broadway composer – faced death from breast cancer the day after at 82. 

According to Carly in a statement sent to EW, the losses will be “long and haunting.” 

“I am filled with sorrow to speak about the passing of Joanna and Lucy Simon,” she said. “Their loss will be long and haunting. As sad as this day is, it’s impossible to mourn them without celebrating their incredible lives that they lived.” 

The singer added: “We were three sisters who not only took turns blazing trails and marking courses for one another, we were each other’s secret shares.

“The co-keepers of each other’s memories. I have no words to explain the feeling of suddenly being the only remaining direct offspring of Richard and Andrea Simon.” 

Carly ended her statement by saying that Joanna and Lucy “touched everyone they knew. And those of us they’ve left behind will be lucky and honored to carry their memories forward.” 

The three sisters were born to Richard Simon – publisher and co-founder of Simon & Schuster – and Andrea. They also had a younger brother, who died in 2018 at 71. 

The Simon Success

All three Simon sisters were bound to find success in the music industry. 

Carly and Lucy initially joined showbiz in the 1960s ahead of going their separate ways. During that time, they formed the folk duo The Simon Sisters. Furthermore, they released three albums and compilation records such as Wikin’, Blinkin’ and Nod. 

Afterward, Lucy went to attend nursing school and started a family. But she returned to music in the 1970s. She then produced two award-winning children’s albums with her husband, David Levine: In Harmony: A Sesame Street Record and In Harmony 2. They earned a Grammy for it. 

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Furthermore, she gained acclamation on Broadway. There, she wrote music for the Tony-nominated The Secret Garden and Doctor Zhivago. 

Joanna echoed her name in the industry as well, starting in the 1960s. She debuted in Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro in New York. Later, the acclaimed mezzo-soprano became a staple on the opera stage. 

All her career, she played with several orchestras like the New York Philharmonic and Vienna Philharmonic. After her retirement, Joanna still excelled. She became an arts correspondent for PBS’ MacNeil-Lehrer NewsHour, earning an Emmy. 

Carly Time

Carly Simon’s series of hit records are commendable. 

Her Top 40 US hits are: “Anticipation” (No. 13); “The Right Thing to Do” (No. 17); “Haven’t Got Time for the Pain” (No. 14); “You Belong to Me” (No. 6); and “Coming Around Again” (No. 18) 

Meanwhile, her Gold-certified singles include “You’re So Vain” (No. 1); “Mockingbird” (No. 5); “Nobody Does It Better” (No. 2) from The Spy Who Loved Me, a James Bond movie; and “Jesse (No. 11). 

Furthermore, she has written five children’s books and two memoirs.

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Photo: Daily Pop Star