Carl Anderson (singer) facts for kids

Carlton Earl "Carl" Anderson (February 27, 1945 – February 23, 2004) was an American singer and actor. He was best known for playing Judas Iscariot in the famous rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar. He performed this role on Broadway and in the movie. Carl Anderson also had a big hit song called "Friends and Lovers" with singer Gloria Loring. This song reached number 2 on the Billboard music chart in 1986.

Carl Anderson's Life and Career

Early Life and Start in Music

Carl Anderson was born in Lynchburg, Virginia. He was one of 12 children in his family. During high school, he joined the U.S. Air Force for two years. After finishing high school in 1965, he sang at military bases across the United States. This was part of a talent contest for the Air Force.

In 1969, Anderson moved to Washington, D.C.. There, he formed a music group called "The Second Eagle." Carl was the lead singer. They performed many jazz and rock songs. They also sang songs from the album Jesus Christ Superstar, even before it became a stage show. In 1971, a talent agent saw him sing these songs. The agent realized Carl had great potential as a solo artist.

Becoming Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar

Carl Anderson first played Judas in a touring version of Jesus Christ Superstar. This was before the show opened on Broadway. For the first Broadway show in 1971, another actor, Ben Vereen, got the main role. Carl was cast as an understudy, meaning he would fill in if needed.

A big chance came when Carl took over the role from Ben Vereen. He performed as Judas on Broadway and in Los Angeles. After Ben Vereen got better, both actors took turns playing the part. Carl's close friend, Ted Neeley, was also in the tour. He was the understudy for Jesus. Yvonne Elliman played Mary Magdalene.

The Movie Role and Golden Globe Nominations

While performing in Los Angeles, Carl flew to London for an audition. This was for the movie version of Jesus Christ Superstar. Two weeks later, he left the stage show to start filming in Israel. He filmed alongside Ted Neeley (as Jesus) and Yvonne Elliman (as Mary Magdalene). The movie came out in 1973. It made Carl Anderson very famous. He even received two Golden Globe nominations. These were for "Most Promising Newcomer" and "Best Musical Actor."

In the late 1970s, Carl played Judas again in two shows in California. He reunited with Ted Neeley and Yvonne Elliman for one of these shows.

Other Acting and Music Work

Carl Anderson also appeared in other movies. These included The Black Pearl (1978) and Steven Spielberg's The Color Purple (1985). He was also on TV shows like Days of Our Lives and Hill Street Blues.

As a singer, Carl was very active. He signed with Motown Records in 1972. He worked with famous artists like Stevie Wonder. He sang on Stevie Wonder's album Songs in the Key of Life.

Carl released nine jazz and Soul albums as a solo artist. Some of his popular songs were "How Deep Does It Go" and "Hot Coffee." His biggest hit was "Friends and Lovers" with Gloria Loring in 1986. This song was very popular and reached number two on the music charts. They even performed it on the TV show Days of Our Lives.

Later Career and Tours

In 1992, Carl Anderson played Judas again in Jesus Christ Superstar. This was for a "20th Anniversary of the Movie" tour. Ted Neeley also returned as Jesus. They both agreed to do the tour only if they could work together. The tour was planned for three months but lasted five years! It earned over $100 million. They visited more than 50 cities in North America. Carl performed his role over 1,700 times during this tour.

In 1997, Carl performed on Broadway in a show called Play On!. This show was based on William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night and featured the music of Duke Ellington. Carl played the role of The Duke. From 1998 until later in his life, he continued to play Judas in Superstar to sold-out audiences around the world.

In 2002, Carl Anderson went on another national tour of Jesus Christ Superstar. He played Judas, and Sebastian Bach played Jesus. Carl was praised for his performance. He left the tour in 2003 after being diagnosed with an illness.

Personal Life and Passing

In 1992, Carl Anderson married Veronica Porché. She was the former wife of the famous boxer Muhammad Ali.

Carl was diagnosed with leukemia in 2003. This happened while he was performing on the Superstar tour. Doctors found the illness after he had a minor car accident. Carl Anderson passed away from leukemia on February 23, 2004. He was almost 59 years old. A song called "Nightingale" by Leonard Cohen and Anjani was recorded in his memory.

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Carl Anderson para niños