Carl Carlton, Singer of ‘She’s a Bad Mama 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
- On Sunday, Dec. 14, the family of funk and R&B singer Carl Carlton announced that he had died.
- His son, Carlton Hudgens II, wrote on Facebook, “R.I.P Dad, You can finally rest now. Always love you.”
- Carlton was responsible for hits like “She’s a Bad Mama Jama” and “Everlasting Love.”
Funk and R&B singer Carl Carlton has passed away at the age of 72.
On Sunday, Dec. 14, his son, Carlton Hudgens II, announced on Facebook that his father, born Carlton Hudgens, had died.
“RIP Dad, Legend Carl Carlton, singer of ‘She’s a Bad Mama Jama,’” he wrote, sharing a photo of the late musician. “Long hard fight in life and you will be missed.”
Hudgens also expressed his sentiments on Facebook stories, stating, “R.I.P Dad, You can finally rest now. Always love you.”
Carlton’s passing follows a stroke he suffered six years ago, as reported by Soultracks.com.
Born in Detroit in 1953, Carlton began his music career in the 1960s. He initially recorded under the name “Little Carl Carlton” before reinventing himself as Carl Carlton in 1971 after his song “I Can Feel It” reached the Billboard Soul Singles chart, according to Syracuse.com.
A young photo of Carl Carlton.
Gilles Petard/Redferns
He reached the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1974 with his cover of “Everlasting Love,” a song that has since garnered over 25 million streams on Spotify.
Carl Carlton performing at Disco Fever 2018.
Bobby Bank/Getty
However, he is perhaps best known for his 1981 hit “She’s a Bad Mama Jama,” which was nominated for a Grammy Award and boasts over 100 million streams on Spotify. This track has been sampled by numerous artists and featured in various soundtracks, including films like *Miss Congeniality 2* and *Fat Albert*, as well as the television show *Friends*.
“With heavy hearts, we mourn the passing of the legendary Carl Carlton,” wrote the funk group Confunkshun in their tribute on Facebook. “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.”
