Jean Carne – Soul Sweetness with a Jazzy Taste!
December 10, 2008 by admin
Filed under Featured Artists
Jean Carne is an American R&B, Jazz and Pop singer and is well known for her contributions to the music fraternity. Her excellent vocals and impressive interpretation led her to the road for success.Jean Carne was born on 15th March 1947 in Columbus, Georgia. She was a born singer and she joined the church as a singing member at the age of four years old. Later she mastered the bassoon, the clarinet and also learnt the piano.
She did her schooling from Washington High School in Atlanta and was an excellent student. She received scholarship in 1965 after she graduated from the school. She then attended Morris Brown College and performed on the musical theatre and grand opera. After she completed studies at Julliard school of Music in New York, she married Doug Carne, the famous Jazz pianist and became a featured vocalist of the Jazz band. She is divorced now.
With her husband, in Los Angeles, California, she did three albums which were “Revelations”, “Spirit Of The New Land” and “Infant Eyes”. Her voice rocked the jazz music lovers and soon she was noticed by the group Earth Wind and Fire. She did two albums with the group which gave her and the group tremendous success which were “Earth Wind And Fire” and “The Need Of Love”. This was the time when she did some professional work without having used Jazz.
Carne signed with Philadelphia International Records in 1976 for her debut album “Jean Carne” in 1977. This was one of her best albums and made her popular and acclaimed in soul and jazz music. “Free Love” which was the debut single reached No 23 on R&B charts. Though her other single from the album did not do so well, the tracks were acclaimed on radio airtime. She released her second album “Happy to Be With You” in June 1978 which included her hit single “Don’t Let It Go To Your Head”.
Jean came out with her third album “When I Find You Love” in 1979 was a comeback album and the album was acclaimed throughout and was said to be Carne’s best effort. The single from the album “My Love Don’t Come Easy” rocked the R&B chart. Carne released her final album with Philadelphia International label in 1981 when she came out with “Sweet and Wonderful” and had a class remake of “Love Don’t Love Nobody” which rocked the R&B chart at No 35.
The album did not do well and she left Philadelphia International label for Motown Records where she recorded “Trust Me” in 1982. Her hit single “Don’t Know Me By Now” touched R&B chart No 49.
She gave another album with Omni Records in 1988 which was “You’re a Part of Me” and which included the hit “Ain’t No Way”.
She started touring UK in 2002 with her group and also acted as producer and arranger on her own projects.
Her albums include “Jean Carne” in 1976, “Happy To Be With You” in 1978, “Sweet And Wonderful” in 1979, “When I Find You Love” in 1981, “Trust Me” in 1982, “Closer Than Close” in 1986, “You’re A Part Of Me” in 1988, “Carne Sings McCoy” in 1995 and “Love Lessons” in 1995.
Her hit singles include “”Valentine Love” in 1975 which touched R&B No 10, “Closer Than Close” in 1986 which was R&B No1, “If You Wanna Go Back” in 1978, which touched Disco No 18, “Don’t Let It Go to Your Head” in 1978 which touched R&B No 54.
She has given numerous albums and hit singles. She will always remain in the heart of her fans by the contributions she has given to music.
TJ Grooves
Rare Soul Grooves & Soul Music TV
Here’s a prime example of a smart talented woman who didn’t depend on the industry moguls for direction but instead, she carved her own path for herself and succeeded. We need more women like this.
Jean Carne played the piano, clarinet and bassoon. I think it’s fabulous that she was highly educated and she worked hard in honing her skills and talents. Kids nowadays, they don’t understand hard work. They give up before they’d even had any progress in that department.
She did a cover on “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” originally sung by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes. She also released her own interpretation of the queen Aretha Franklin’s “Ain’t No Way.” Both singles were acclaimed and generated substantial sales.
I have to comment that Jean Carne mostly had the critics’ nods but that didn’t always translate to commercial successes. She stood her ground and look where it’s gotten her. She still tours and we still listen to her records.
In 2002, an album was released titled Collaborations. It’s been long in coming, I tell you. She has had a rich career that spans many many years of collaborating with the most interesting soul artists. I absolutely recommend it.
The transition from gospel to jazz to R&B was done impeccably. It’s but natural that an artist delves into various themes. There was even a time when she was into funk, which is a personal fave.
Jean’s career began and boomed with her husband at her side. I could only dream of having a partnership that works both ways. Anyhow, we know now that it ended with a divorce.
She produces most if not all of her albums and she often does the musical arrangement too. Others have benefited from her expertise as she has helped out with other artists’ albums too. She’s a phenomenon.
‘Love Don’t Love Nobody’ ….She showcased her angelic voice. In the “old days”, I used to love going to clubs and having these singers sing right in front of you. The energy, the vibes….mind-blowing times!
May you reign supreme, Jean! She’s a very classy performer. Peerless and fearless with her high notes and low register. One of a kind!!!!
I agree with Milton. The old times were great. All of us loved going to clubs and listening to live songs. The experience of good singers singing in front of us was different. The quality of modern songs cannot match the effortless singing by artists like Jean. ‘Love Don’t Love Nobody’ is my favorite.
“Closer Than Close”, “Valentine Love” , and “If You Wanna Go Back” are some the best tracks by Jean. Her contributions to the jazz or pop music industry are immense. We cannot deny that. How can we ever forget those greatest hits? It is really great that she keeps us entertained with her tours.
Carne attended Booker T. Washington High School in Atlanta, and learned to speak Russian fluently.
After her stint with Ellington, Jean was approached by hot young drummer Norman Connors, a protégé of Pharoah Saunders.
Jean Carne has worked with some of the best soul artists, including The Temptations, Glenn Jones, the late Phyllis Hyman, Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, and producers and songwriters that have known her over the years have all praised her to the hilt. Clearly she was a woman who wasn’t afraid of hard work.
I love Jean Carne’s voice - her personality shines through. Did you know when she worked with her husband on the Black Jazz label, she was one of the last vocalists to work with jazz legend Duke Ellington before his death. She has has so many different incarnations too - with Doug, solo, with Earth Wind and Fire….I admire her immensely!
I do too, LucyLu! And she slid effortlessly from jazz to soul and her early gospel beginnings were evident at times. She still tours today, often with Norman Connors (jazz drummer) from her base at her home in Atlanta.
She found herself as featured vocalist with jazz giant Duke Ellington, touring and exposing herself to more mainstream audiences.
Anyone who worked with Earth Wind and Fire is alright by me. My Love Don’t Easy was a smoochy sweet number and her vocals on Star Flower are gorgeous.
She is a classy lady who has kept her free spirit, love of music and funky tunes. If You Believe came out in 2003 I think, and she still sounds great on it. She even brought out a live DVD last year (2007) called Ladies Night Out.
Jean hit the charts in 1975 with a duet with Michael Henderson, a bassist from Detroit who cut his musical chops with the likes of Stevie Wonder.
The queen of Philly soul hit the big time with songs like Closer than Close - a romantic ballad that will have you smooching with your honey in no time. A wedding sure-fire hit. Or My Love Don’t Come Easy - didn’t Paula Abdul cover that rather successfully??
Did you catch the Love Train Philly special on PBS - a two part special with the classic Philly soul of Gamble and Huff including Jean Carne? I think they said its being released as an album too but I don’t have the details yet.
If you want to get hold of that album and live recording Firebird , you can at PhillySoulClassics.com - http://phillysoulclassics.com/Love-Train-The-Sound-of-Philadelphia/
It’s fab - its got The O’Jays, Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes, Russell Thompkins and the New Stylistics, Jerry Butler, The Soul Survivors, The Delphonics, The Three Degrees, Bunny Sigler, G.C. Cameron, and Jean Carne. Enjoy!
Jean Carne is not a name I am familiar with, so I checked her out on Last.fm and she’s stunning! Some of the videos are more recent and she’s clearly an older mature lady now, but at the height of her fame she was clearly a bold and charismatic lady.