Happy birthday to the great Jean Carne

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Today we wish a very happy birthday to the great Jean Carne, born March 15, 1947. 

Jean Carne virtually defines the term “unsung.” Born Sarah Jean Perkins in Columbus, Georgia, Carne was a child prodigy, singing in church while also learning to play multiple instruments. Her talent led her all the way to acceptance at the famed Julliard School in New York, but it was her connection and ultimate marriage to pianist Doug Carn that brought her into the spotlight, as the two began performing cutting edge jazz music together with great success.

The Carns moved to Los Angeles to record on the Black Jazz label, and Jean’s star immediately rose — as her rich tones and interpretive abilities belied her young age. Her noted talent led her to perform on two early albums of Earth, Wind & Fire, helping that group to develop its unique blend of jazz, funk and soul.

Carn moved back East and, again single, found a perfect spot as an arranger, vocal coach and solo performer, first working with noted producer Norman Connors on the smash duet with Michael Henderson, “Valentine Love,” and then signing to Philadelphia International Records and teaming with the elegant soul songwriters and producers on the Gamble & Huff team.

Through the second half of the 1970s, Carne was a regular charter, hitting with such dance and adult soul gems as “Free Love,” “Don’t Let It Go To Your Head” and “My Love Don’t Come Easy.” She also became a vocal coach for other P.I.R. signees, such as Michael Jackson and Phyllis Hyman.

With P.I.R. fading in the mid-80s, Carn briefly recorded with Motown before making a mid-80s switch to Omni Records, where she reignited her career – and added an “e” to the end of her last name at the suggestion of a numerologist. Her debut single on the label became her signature song, the Grover Washington-produced chart-topping hit “Closer Than Close.” Carne also showed her interpretive skills on hit covers of “Let’s Stay Together,” “If You Don’t Know Me By Now,” and the top 30 “Ain’t No Way.”

Though the hits stopped coming in the 90s, Carne kept touring regularly, while also recording on occasion. She most recently issued a critically acclaimed disc of jazz recordings in 2022, as part of the Jazz Is Dead series of Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad.

We continue to marvel at the great Jean Carne and look forward to hearing her whenever she sings.

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