A legendary funk and R&B singer is dead at age 72.
Carl Carlton, the voice of 1970s and ‘80s hits like “Everlasting Love” and “She’s a Bad Mama Jama,” died Sunday, according to his son. A cause of death was not announced, but Carlton reportedly had health problems after suffering a stroke in 2019.
“RIP Dad,“ Carlton’s son Carlton Hudgens II wrote. ”Long hard fight in life and you will be missed… Always love you.”
Carlton was a Detroit native who first started performing in the ‘60s as “Little Carl Carlton.” He dropped the “Little” by the 1971, when he scored a hit on the Billboard Soul Singles chart with “I Can Feel It.”
In 1974, Carlton hit the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Everlasting Love,” a cover of Robert Knight’s R&B song. Carlton’s version became the definitive recording and remains popular today with more than 25 million streams on Spotify.
But Carlton may be best known for “She’s a Bad Mama Jama (She’s Built, She’s Stacked),” the funky lead single from his self-titled 1981 album. It was nominated a Grammy Award; was sampled by rappers like Foxy Brown, Flo Milli and Das FX; has more than 100 million streams on Spotify; and appeared frequently in soundtracks for movies and TV shows like “Friends,” “The New Guy,” “Supergirl,” “Fat Albert” and “Miss Congeniality 2.”
Carlton continued to regularly perform for decades, but only released two albums after 1985, including the 2010 gospel album “God is Good.”
“With heavy hearts, we mourn the passing of the legendary Carl Carlton,” funk group Confunkshun wrote 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.”
“Known for his powerful voice, heartfelt songwriting, and deep connection to groove-based music, Carlton built a career rooted in authenticity and emotional expression. His music spoke to love, resilience, and the human experience, leaving a lasting imprint on soul and funk,” Okayplayer added. “Carl’s voice, songs, and legacy will continue to resonate through the artists he inspired and the listeners who found meaning in his work.”
“Carlton Hudgens, known to the world as Carl Carlton, gave us music that will live forever,” Tyra Nesia said. “…His voice and sound were a staple of Black music, joy, and soul. Those songs were hits, moments, memories and soundtracks to life. His legacy lives on every time those records play, every time someone sings along, and every time a new generation discovers what real soul sounds like. Rest in peace, Carlton Hudgens. Thank you for the music.”
