Jean Carn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jean Carn |
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Carn in 1997
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Sarah Jean Perkins |
| Also known as | Jean Carne |
| Born | March 15, 1947 Columbus, Georgia, U.S. |
| Origin | Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1969–present |
| Labels | |
Jean Carn, also spelled Jean Carne (born Sarah Jean Perkins on March 15, 1947), is a talented American singer. She is known for her amazing voice, which can reach five different octaves! This means she can sing very low notes and very high notes. Jean Carn sings R&B, soul, jazz, and disco music. Later in her career, she added a final "e" to her name.
Contents
Jean Carn's Early Life and Music Journey
Jean Carn was born Sarah Jean Perkins in Columbus, Georgia. She started singing in her church choir when she was only four years old. This shows how early she began her musical path!
Starting a Professional Career
Jean planned to study music at the Juilliard School of Music in New York City. However, her plans changed when she met and married jazz pianist Doug Carn. She became a main singer in his jazz fusion band.
The couple moved to Los Angeles, California. Jean sang on three of Doug's early albums: Infant Eyes, Spirit of the New Land, and Revelation. These albums were released on Black Jazz/Ovation.
Joining Major Record Labels
In 1976, Jean Carn signed with Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff's Philadelphia International Records. This was a big step in her career! She released her first album, Jean Carn, that same year.
In June 1978, her second album, Happy to Be With You, came out. It featured the popular song "Don't Let It Go to Your Head". Her third album for the label, When I Find You Love, was released in 1979. The song "My Love Don't Come Easy" reached number 43 on the R&B charts. Another song, "Was That All It Was?", became a big disco hit in UK clubs.
Jean then moved to the TSOP record label for her 1981 album, Sweet and Wonderful. In 1982, she signed with Motown Records. Her only album with Motown was Trust Me. A cover of "If You Don't Know Me By Now", originally by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, reached number 49 on the R&B chart. The Temptations sang backing vocals on this song.
Later Career and Awards
By 1986, Jean Carn signed with Omni Records. Her album Closer Than Close, produced by saxophonist Grover Washington Jr., became a number one hit on the R&B charts. In 1988, she released You're a Part of Me on Atlantic Records.
Jean Carn has received special recognition for her long career. In 2014, the National R&B Music Society gave her a Lifetime Achievement Award in Philadelphia. In 2020, she performed on the Soul Train Cruise. Her life story was also featured on the TV One series Unsung on October 16, 2022.
Discography
Studio albums
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Record label | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US |
US R&B |
US Jazz |
||||||||||||
| 1976 | Jean Carn | 122 | 46 | 26 | Philadelphia International | |||||||||
| 1978 | Happy to Be with You | — | 55 | — | ||||||||||
| 1979 | When I Find You Love | — | 42 | 28 | ||||||||||
| 1981 | Sweet and Wonderful | 176 | 38 | — | TSOP | |||||||||
| 1982 | Trust Me | 210 | 37 | — | Motown | |||||||||
| 1986 | Closer Than Close | 162 | 9 | — | Omni | |||||||||
| 1988 | You're a Part of Me | — | 40 | — | Atlantic | |||||||||
| 1995 | Carn Sings McCoy | — | — | — | Vammi | |||||||||
| 1996 | Love Lessons | — | — | — | Moja | |||||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||||||||||||
Compilations
- The Best of Jean Carn & The Best of The Jones Girls (1998, Recall 2cd)
- Closer Than Close: The Best of Jean Carn (1999, Philadelphia International/The Right Stuff)
- Collaborations (2002, Expansion)
- Don't Let It Go to Your Head: The Anthology (2018, SoulMusic)
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Album | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US |
US R&B |
US Dan |
UK |
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| 1971 | "Peace" | — | — | — | — | Infant Eyes | ||||||||
| 1975 | "Valentine Love" (with Norman Connors & Michael Henderson) | 97 | 10 | — | — | Saturday Night Special | ||||||||
| 1977 | "..." | — | 23 | 18 | — | Jean Carn | ||||||||
| "You Got a Problem" | — | — | — | |||||||||||
| "If You Wanna Go Back" | — | — | — | |||||||||||
| 1978 | "Happy to Be with You" | — | — | — | — | Happy to Be with You | ||||||||
| "Don't Let It Go to Your Head" | — | 54 | — | — | ||||||||||
| "There's a Shortage of Good Men" | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| 1979 | "My Love Don't Come Easy" | — | 43 | — | — | When I Find You Love | ||||||||
| "Start the Fire" | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| "Was That All It Was" | — | — | 22 | — | ||||||||||
| "What’s On Your Mind" | — | — | — | |||||||||||
| "Give It Up" | — | — | — | |||||||||||
| 1980 | "I'm Back for More" (with Al Johnson) | — | 26 | — | — | Back for More | ||||||||
| 1981 | "Sweet and Wonderful" | — | — | — | — | Sweet and Wonderful | ||||||||
| "Love Don't Love Nobody (Part 1)" | — | 35 | — | — | ||||||||||
| 1982 | "If You Don't Know Me by Now" | — | 49 | — | — | Trust Me | ||||||||
| "Let's Stay Together" (with Bobby Militello) | — | 74 | — | — | Blow | |||||||||
| 1986 | "Closer Than Close" | — | 1 | — | — | Closer Than Close | ||||||||
| "Flame of Love" | — | 21 | — | — | ||||||||||
| 1987 | "Everything Must Change" | — | 79 | — | — | |||||||||
| 1988 | "Heartache" | — | — | — | — | You're a Part of Me | ||||||||
| "Ain't No Way" | — | 23 | — | — | ||||||||||
| "Let Me Be the One" | — | — | — | 95 | ||||||||||
| 1996 | "Don't Stop Doin' Whatcha Doin'" | — | 109 | — | — | Love Lessons | ||||||||
| 1998 | "..." | — | — | — | — | |||||||||
| 2002 | "Somebody Bigger" (with Jeff Majors) | — | 111 | — | — | Gotta Have Gospel | ||||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||||||||||||
DVD
- Jean Carn & Friends: The Sound of Philadelphia: Live in Europe (Expansion, 2005)
- Ladies Night Out—Live (Steppin Muzak, 2007, also available as a CD)
See also
In Spanish: Jean Carn para niños
