Carl Carlton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Carl Carlton
Carlton in 1968
Background information
Born	(1952-05-21)May 21, 1952 Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Died	December 13, 2025(2025-12-13) (aged 73)
Genres	Pop, R&B, soul, funk
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter
Years active	1965–2025

Carl Carlton (born May 21, 1952, died December 13, 2025) was an American singer and songwriter. He was famous for his R&B, soul, and funk music. Many people know him for his popular songs like "Everlasting Love" and "She's a Bad Mama Jama (She's Built, She's Stacked)".

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Carl Carlton was born in Detroit, Michigan, on May 21, 1952. He started his music career in the mid-1960s. Back then, he was known as "Little" Carl Carlton. This name was used because his voice sounded a bit like Stevie Wonder, who was also called "Little Stevie Wonder" when he started.

Carl made his first songs for Lando Records. He had a few small hits in his local area, like "So What" and "Don't You Need a Boy Like Me". In 1968, a music executive named Don D. Robey signed Carl to his record company, Back Beat Records. Carl then moved to Houston, Texas, to be closer to his new record label.

Music Career Highlights

Carl's first song with Back Beat Records was "Competition Ain't Nothing". This song became very popular in the UK. In 1970, a music magazine called Cash Box named him one of the best R&B artists.

In 1971, Carl had another hit song called "I Can Feel It". It reached number 47 on the Billboard soul music chart.

Big Hits and New Labels

Carl Carlton became very famous in the United States with his song "Everlasting Love". This was a new version of a song by Robert Knight. In 1974, "Everlasting Love" reached number 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. It stayed on the charts for 15 weeks!

Later, ABC Records bought Back Beat Records. Carl had some disagreements about the money he earned from his music. This caused him to stop recording for a while. He then signed with Mercury Records in 1977.

Carl found major success again in 1981 with the song "She's a Bad Mama Jama (She's Built, She's Stacked)". This song was written by Leon Haywood. It became a huge hit, reaching number 2 on the soul chart. Carl was even nominated for a Grammy Award for this song in 1982. His album, also called Carl Carlton, sold so well that it was certified gold. "She's a Bad Mama Jama" is still a popular song today and is often heard in movies and other music.

Later Music and Appearances

After his big 1981 album, Carl released more music, like Private Property in 1985 and Main Event in 1994. However, these albums were not as popular.

In 2003, Carl Carlton appeared on a PBS TV show called American Soundtrack: Rhythm, Love, and Soul. He performed "Everlasting Love" alongside other famous R&B singers like Aretha Franklin. His performance was also on a live album released in 2004.

In 2010, Carl released his first gospel song, "God Is Good". The next year, he was nominated for a Detroit Music Award for his gospel singing.

Later Years and Passing

In 2019, Carl Carlton had some health challenges after a stroke. He passed away on December 13, 2025, when he was 73 years old.

Carl Carlton's Music (Discography)

Albums

Everlasting Love (1974) from a 1975 Billboard magazine ad