Best known for such hit songs as “She’s a Bad Mama Jama (She’s Built, She’s Stacked)” and “Everlasting Love,” funk, soul, and R&B singer Carl Carlton, the has passed away at the age of 72.
In a Sunday (12.14) social media statement, which included a photo of his father, the iconic singer’s son, Carlton Hudgens II said confirmed the death, writing “RIP Dad, Legend Carl Carlton singer of She’s a Bad Mama Jama. Long hard fight in life and you will be missed.”
Born Carlton Hudgens in Detroit in 1953, the musician first performed under the moniker “Little Carl” Carlton, later changing his stage name to Carl Carlton, and after making some local waves, he later moved to Houston after signing to the Houston-based Back Beat Records label.
In 1971, his song “I Can Feel It” debuted on the Billboard Soul Singles chart, but his major success came with his cover of Robert Knight’s “Everlasting Love” that peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1974 and spent 15 weeks on the chart.
Ten years after his debut chart entry, Carl scored his most enduring hit in 1981 with “She’s a Bad Mamma Jamma (She’s Built, She’s Stacked),” that peaked at #2 on the soul chart, #22 on the Hot 100 and spent 21 weeks on American list. And the Grammy-nominated song resonates some 40 years later, hitting #7 on Billboard’s R&B Digital Song sales chart earlier this year.
Over the years “Bad Mamma Jamma …’ has been sampled by a variety of artists, including on Foxy Brown’s “Big Bad Mamma” featuring Dru Hill, Flo Milli’s “BGC,” and BigXthaPlug, Ro$ama, and Young Hood’s Meet the 6ixers, and it enjoyed additional attention in subsequent decades after being featured on soundtracks for films including Miss Congeniality 2 and Fat Albert, as well as on television shows such as Friends.
Throughout the years, the Detroit native made a number of television appearances – including American Bandstand and Soul Train, and in 2003, he was included in the Barry Glazer-directed television special, American Soundtrack: Rhythm, Love, and Soul, featuring Aretha Franklin, Lou Rawls, Mary Wilson, and other music legends.
In a tribute to their musical peer, Con Funk Shun wrote “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.”
Though a cause of death has yet to be disclosed, according to Soultracks Carl Carlton suffered a stroke in 2019 and his most recent release was the 2010 gospel album, God Is Good.
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Author: Saul Goode
Photo: Unknown Author – Public Domain