Carl Hall (singer) facts for kids

Carl Hall (born June 24, 1934 – died September 28, 1999) was an American singer, actor, and a person who helped arrange music. He was known for his powerful voice and his work in both gospel and soul music.

Early Life and Name

Carl Henry Carldwell was born on June 24, 1934, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His parents were Carl and Jessie M. Carldwell. He grew up in the West End area of Pittsburgh. Later in his life, he became known as Carl Hall.

Music Career

Carl Hall started singing at a young age in church. He also performed with singing groups at his junior high and high school. After finishing school, he joined a famous gospel group called "The Rasberry Singers." This group was based in Ohio and recorded music for Savoy Records. Carl Hall became the main singer for the group.

He later left the group to serve in the U.S. Army. After leaving the army in 1962, he began singing in nightclubs.

Soul Music and Recordings

In the 1960s and 1970s, Carl Hall recorded many soul music songs. In 1964, he worked with Mercury Records. A famous music producer named Quincy Jones was one of his producers. Carl Hall released songs under different names, like C. Henry Hall and Carl Henry Hall, before settling on Carl Hall.

Later, he teamed up with Jerry Ragovoy, a top R&B producer in New York. Ragovoy was very impressed by Carl Hall's amazing four-octave voice. He helped Carl Hall get a contract with Loma Records. Together, they recorded popular songs like "You Don't Know Nothing About Love" and "Mean It Baby." These songs had a strong gospel sound.

Carl Hall also sang as a background vocalist for other artists. He contributed to songs by Lou Courtney and Stephanie Mills.

Theatre Performances

Besides singing, Carl Hall was also an actor. He performed in plays and musicals for over 30 years. His first musical was "Tambourines to Glory" in 1963, which was based on gospel music. He also appeared on Broadway in the well-known musical "The Wiz" and other shows.

Death

Carl Hall passed away in New York City on September 28, 1999.