Jean Carn Explained

Background:solo_singer
Birth Name:Sarah Jean Perkins
Alias:Jean Carne
Birth Date:15 March 1947[1]
Birth Place:Columbus, Georgia, U.S.
Origin:Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Instrument:Vocals
Occupation:Singer
Years Active:1969–present

Jean Carn, also spelled Jean Carne (born Sarah Jean Perkins;[2] March 15, 1947)[1] is an American R&B/soul and jazz singer. In mid career, she added a final e to her name. Carn is a vocalist credited with a five octave vocal range.[3] [4]

Biography

Carn was born Sarah Jean Perkins in Columbus, Georgia. At the age of four, she became a member of her church choir.[2]

Carn planned on furthering her studies at Juilliard School of Music in New York City when she met and married jazz pianist Doug Carn and became a featured vocalist in his jazz fusion band. The couple based themselves in Los Angeles, California, where Carn appeared on three of his four early albums, Infant Eyes, Spirit of the New Land, and Revelation on Black Jazz/Ovation. The couple later divorced.[5]

In 1976, Carn was signed to Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff's Philadelphia International Records.[2] She released her debut album Jean Carn in 1976.[6] The debut single "Free Love" went to number 23 R&B.<ref name="AllMusic"/> In June 1978, her second album for the label, Happy to Be With You, was released. It included the hit single "Don't Let It Go to Your Head".[2]

Carn's third Philadelphia International album When I Find You Love was issued in 1979.[2] "My Love Don't Come Easy" peaked at number 43 on the R&B chart. The album included the Jerry Butler penned track "Was That All It Was?" which, despite not charting on the R&B charts, was a big disco hit in the UK clubs.

At this time, Carn moved from the Philadelphia International label to the subsidiary TSOP imprint for her 1981 album Sweet and Wonderful.[2] Carn moved to Motown Records in 1982, making her label debut with her only album on the label, Trust Me. The single "If You Don't Know Me By Now," a cover of the Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes hit with backing vocals by The Temptations, went to number 49 on the R&B chart.

By 1986, Carn signed to Omni Records. Closer Than Close, produced by saxophonist Grover Washington Jr. went to number one on the R&B charts.[2] Her 1988 album You're a Part of Me was her only release on Atlantic Records.[2]

In 2014, Carn was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award present by the National R&B Music Society in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[7]

In 2020, Carn was one of the performers aboard on the Soul Train Cruise.[8]

On October 16, 2022, Carne's life was featured on the documentary TV One series, Unsung.[9] [10]

Discography

Studio albums

YearTitlePeak chart positionsRecord label
US
[11]
US
R&B
US Jazz
1976Jean Carn1224626Philadelphia International
1978Happy to Be with You55
1979When I Find You Love4228
1981Sweet and Wonderful17638TSOP
1982Trust Me21037Motown
1986Closer Than Close1629Omni
1988You're a Part of Me40Atlantic
1995Carn Sings McCoyVammi
1996Love LessonsMoja
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Compilations

Singles

YearSinglePeak chart positionsAlbum
US
US
R&B
US
Dan

UK
[12]
1971"Peace"Infant Eyes
1975"Valentine Love" (with Norman Connors & Michael Henderson)9710Saturday Night Special
1977"Free Love"2318Jean 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"43When 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)26Back 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"49Trust Me
"Let's Stay Together" (with Bobby Militello)74Blow
1986"Closer Than Close"1Closer 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'"109Love Lessons
1998"Make Love"
2002"Somebody Bigger" (with Jeff Majors)111Gotta Have Gospel
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

DVD

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jean Carne Biography. The History Makers. May 7, 2003. https://web.archive.org/web/20130511025746/http://www.thehistorymakers.com/biography/jean-carne-39. May 11, 2013.
  2. Web site: Kellman. Andy. Artist Biography. AllMusic. 13 November 2021.
  3. Web site: Jean Carn: Collaborations. Soul Town Records. https://web.archive.org/web/20070211001608/http://www.soultown.fi/jeancarne.htm. February 11, 2007.
  4. Web site: Musicdiscoveries. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20070930095324/http://www.musicdiscoveries.com/music/master/masterpages/PLACEONE101.html. September 30, 2007.
  5. Web site: Doug Carn: Black Jazz - JazzWax. www.jazzwax.com. 19 October 2020.
  6. Web site: Jean Carn. Tom. Conroy. SoulMusic.com. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20061230222941/http://www.soulmusic.com/EYS-JeanC.htm. December 30, 2006.
  7. Web site: Past Honorees. rnbmusicsociety1. 18 October 2020. en.
  8. Web site: 2020 Soul Train Cruise The Hippest Trip At Sea Soul at Sea. Soul at Sea. 18 October 2020. 12 December 2018.
  9. Web site: TV One's "Unsung" to feature Jean Carn, Tony Terry, Norman Connors and more . SoulTracks - Soul Music Biographies, News and Reviews . 3 November 2022 . en . 21 September 2022.
  10. Web site: Unsung, TV . tvturtle.com . 3 November 2022 . en.
  11. US Charts > Jean Carn. Billboard. February 14, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151108100527/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/jean-carn-mn0000221554/awards. November 8, 2015.
  12. Web site: UK Charts > Jean Carn. Official Charts Company. April 3, 2015.