UB In Memoriam: The Indelible Carl Carlton

Legendary singer/songwriter Carl Carlton has passed away. Confirmed by his son yesterday Sunday, December 14th.

Carlton Hudgens II announced on Facebook; “RIP Dad, Legend Carl Carlton singer of “She’s a Bad Mama Jama.” Long hard fight in life and you will be missed. Dad was 73 years of age born May 21, 1952.”

“R.I.P Dad, You can finally rest now. Always love you.”

Carl Carlton was born May 21st, 1953 in Detroit, Michigan.

Carl started singing when he was 10 years old.

He got his start in the music business (indirectly) through baseball.

When a neighbor yelled down to some kids playing baseball, he asked them to stop playing ball against his wall and to turn that radio off. The kids yelled back “that ain’t no radio, Mister, that’s Carl.” The neighbor ran down to see where this astonishing soulful voice was coming from.

Carl first began recording in the late 1960″s as “Little Carl” Carlton, a likely marketing ploy to capitalize on some vocal similarities to established hitmaker Stevie Wonder, who also hails from Detroit and had recorded under the name “Little Stevie” Wonder in the early 60″s.

Having recorded sides for the Lando label which garnered him some local attention.

After scoring some minor local hits, Carlton was signed by Don D. Robey and moved to Houston, Texas, the home of his new record label, Back Beat Records.

Carl burst on the scene starting in ’68 with a string of soul stormers including “Look At Mary Wonder (How I Got Over)” and “Competition Ain’t Nothin’” and “46 Drums – 1 Guitar,” before shifting to the smoother Great Lakes balladry that echoed Jackie Wilson, Tyrone Davis and The Chi-Lites.

Carlton saw some success with the new label including his first major hit, a hallmark proto-disco pop-soul remake of Robert Knight“s “Everlasting Love” that went to #6 on in the U.S.

“Everlasting Love” gave Carl his highest charting record, despite being released in the midst of ABC Records’ purchase of Robey’s Duke/Peacock/Back Beat empire.

The resultant album, “I Wanna Be With You,” is generally regarded as Carlton’s best album.

Carlton’s vocals are much more relaxed and supple than on the “Everlasting Love” album.

Despite good reviews and the singles “Ain’t Gonna Tell Nobody (About You)“, and “Live for Today, Not for Tomorrow” the album weakly charted.

Some believe that it had to do with the royalty dispute that Carlton was involved in with ABC at the time.

Robey sold his labels to ABC Records in 1972, and in 1976 Carlton became embroiled in a royalty dispute.

For a year and a half, Carlton had to wait until his contract with ABC lapsed until he could do anymore recording.

He resurfaced in late 1977 with a Mercury single, “You You,” a lovely lush ballad produced by the Dramatics’ L.J. Reynolds along with the group’s musical director John Brinson.

On the flip was a funky blues number called “Something’s Wrong.”

There were two other tracks recorded, but they were never released. With a lot of time on his hands, Carlton got into fitness.

Weightlifting and jogging appealed to him and he found a workout partner in boxer Thomas “Hitman” Hearns.

Carlton continued to perform around Detroit.

Many people in the music business promised to work with Carlton, but the only one to come through was veteran soul singer Leon Haywood.

Relocating to 20th Century Records where, under the guidance of Leon Haywood, he scored the biggest hit of his career, “She’s A Bad Mama Jama (She’s Built, She’s Stacked).”

Peaking at #2 on Billboard on the soul chart and earning Carlton a Grammy Award nomination for Best R&B Vocal Performance.

This song was written by Mac Gayden & Buzz Cason. It was originally a 1967 hit for Robert Knight, and has been recorded by a number of prominent Artists. However, Carlton‘s version of this song is the most successful U.S. release of the song.

Carlton“s subsequent album, “Carl Carlton,” went gold in 1981.

“She’s a Bad Mama Jama” has since become a staple of compilation albums and soundtracks and is often sampled in hip hop.

“Private Property” was released in 1985 via Casablanca.

It is safe to say that Carlton wanted and needed a hit. So one can probably excuse the title track and first single for being a “Mama Jama” clone.

It did the trick, landing in the upper half of the Billboard R&B charts. The same can be said for the follow-up, “Slipped, Tripped and Fall in Love.”

But the album shouldn’t be overlooked because of this.

It’s one of the last albums produced by Memphis hitmaker Allen Jones with able backing from his main band, the Barkays.

Dropped from the Casablanca roster, Carlton started working with Leon Haywood again in 1994, for the album “Main Event.”

“God Is Good” came in 2010.

In late 2002, Carlton appeared with in the “Rhythm, Love, and Soul” edition of the PBS series “American Soundtrack.”

“Everlasting Love” was included on the accompanying live album that was released in 2004.

UB Sends Our Condolences to the Family, Friends and Fans of Carl Carlton!