Carl Carlton, Beloved Singer of ‘She’s a Bad Mamma Jama’ and ‘Everlasting Love,’ Passes Away at 72

Carl Carlton during Tom Joyner Sky Show on June 22, 2007.
Credit :

Monica Morgan/WireImage

NEED TO KNOW

• Funk and R&B singer Carl Carlton died on December 14.
• His son, Carlton Hudgens II, expressed his sorrow on Facebook, stating, “R.I.P Dad, You can finally rest now. Always love you.”
• Carlton was renowned for hits such as “She’s a Bad Mama Jama” and “Everlasting Love.”

Carl Carlton, the acclaimed funk and R&B singer, passed away at the age of 72 on December 14. The news was announced by his son, Carlton Hudgens II, via Facebook, where he shared a heartfelt tribute accompanied by a photo of his father. “RIP Dad, Legend Carl Carlton, singer of ‘She’s a Bad Mama Jama,’” he wrote, mourning the loss of a talented artist who had a long and challenging life.

Hudgens also conveyed his sentiments in a separate post, adding, “R.I.P Dad, You can finally rest now. Always love you.” Carlton’s death comes six years after he suffered a stroke, as reported by Soultracks.com.

Born Carlton Hudgens in Detroit in 1953, Carlton began his music career in the 1960s. Initially performing under the name “Little Carl Carlton,” he transitioned to Carl Carlton in 1971 when his song “I Can Feel It” reached the Billboard Soul Singles chart.

A young photo of Carl Carlton.

Gilles Petard/Redferns

In 1974, he achieved further acclaim when his cover of “Everlasting Love” entered the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. The song has more than 25 million streams on Spotify, attesting to its enduring popularity.

Carl Carlton performing at Disco Fever 2018.

Bobby Bank/Getty

However, it is the 1981 hit “She’s a Bad Mama Jama” for which Carlton is perhaps best recognized. The track received a Grammy Award nomination and has garnered over 100 million streams on Spotify. Its popularity has led to numerous samples in modern music and appearances in various films and television shows, including *Miss Congeniality 2*, *Fat Albert,* and *Friends.*

Tributes have poured in for Carlton, including a heartfelt message from the funk group Confunkshun on Facebook. They stated, “With heavy hearts, we mourn the passing of the legendary Carl Carlton. His voice, talent, and contributions to soul and R&B music will forever be a part of our lives and the soundtrack of so many memories. Our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and fans around the world. Rest in power, Carl. Your legacy lives on.”