Jean Carn

Jean Carn (born March 15, 1947 as Sarah Jean Perkins in Columbus , Georgia ) is an American soul , R&B and jazz singer who made a total of eleven hits in the American R&B charts between 1977 and 1988. Closer Than Close was her only number one success in 1986.

biography

Sarah Jean Perkins, like many African American artists, sang in the church choir early on. She also learned to play several instruments. Her musical career began after she married the jazz musician Doug Carn and supported him vocally on several albums. She also gained experience as a background singer for Earth, Wind & Fire and Duke Ellington .

Carn worked very closely with jazz and R&B musician Norman Connors over the decades . Together with Michael Henderson , she was a guest singer on Connors' first Top 10 hit, Valentine Love (1975). Many other guest appearances on Connors' works followed.

From 1976, Carn was under contract with the legendary Philly soul label Philadelphia for a few years . Four varied albums were created here, all of which sold solidly, but did not give her the big breakthrough she had hoped for. A handful of singles hit the R&B charts, with Free Love being the most successful at number 26. In addition, two of the albums in question also hit Billboard's jazz and even disco hit lists.

In 1980 Carn had a top 30 hit with Al Johnson , I'm Back for More . In 1982 the singer moved to the no less legendary Motown label, but ironically she landed a small hit there with a recording that was originally released by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes in Philadelphia: If You Don't Know Me by Now . The accompanying album Trust Me was produced by Norman Connors.

The singer celebrated her biggest and only number one success in 1986 after adding an "e" to her last name: Closer Than Close , a Grover Washington Jr. Production, held the top of the R&B charts for two weeks. With Flame of Love (1986) and Ain't No Way (1988) Carne had two more top 30 hits, after which she had no more hits. Carn later called the collaboration with Washington one of the "most wonderful experiences of my life" in an interview.

In 2005, a DVD with live recordings was released under the title Jean Carn & Friends: The Sound of Philadelphia: Live in Europe . Carn was supported by Billy Paul , Bunny Sigler and Dexter Wansel . All of these artists were once signed to Philadelphia International Records.

In 2015 the singer appeared in the show program of the 46th International Jazz Week Burghausen in Germany.

Carn has also worked with many other jazz musicians such as George Duke , Stanley Turrentine , Roy Ayers and Lonnie Liston Smith in the course of her career . There are also collaborations with countless R&B and funk artists such as the Temptations , Rick James and Phyllis Hyman .

Discography

Albums

year	title	Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes)		Remarks
		US	R&B
as Jean Carn
1977	Jean Carn	US122 (10 weeks) US	R&B46 (12 weeks) R&B	Philadelphia
1978	Happy to be with you	-	R&B55 (2 weeks) R&B	Philadelphia
1979	When I Find You Love	-	R&B42 (19 weeks) R&B	Philadelphia
1981	Sweet and Wonderful	US176 (3 weeks) US	R&B38 (17 weeks) R&B	Philadelphia
1982	Trust Me	-	R&B37 (12 weeks) R&B	Motown
as Jean Carne
1986	Closer than close	US162 (6 weeks) US	R&B9 (20 weeks) R&B	Omni
1988	You're a Part of Me	-	R&B40 (13 weeks) R&B	Omni / Atlantic

More albums

• 1976: Higher Ground (with Doug Carn as Doug & Jean Carn ) (Ovation)
• 1995: Carne Sings McCoy (Vammi)
• 1995: Love Lessons (Moja / Expansion)
• 2007: Ladies Night Out (Steppin 'Muzak, again as Jean Carn , with Cherrelle and Shirley Jones )
• 2013: Flashback (Society Hill)
• 2015: Give It up (Society Hill)

Compilations

• 1998: The Best of Jean Carn & The Jones Girls
• 1999: Closer Than Close - The Best of Jean Carne (The Right Stuff / Capitol)
• 2002: Collaborations (Expansion)
• 2018: Jean Carne: Don't Let It Go To Your Head: The Anthology

Singles

year	Title album	Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes)			Remarks
		UK	US	R&B
as Jean Carn
1977	Free Love Jean Carn	-	-	R&B23 (13 weeks) R&B
1978	Don't Let It Go to Your Head Happy to Be with You	-	-	R&B54 (12 weeks) R&B
1979	My Love Don't Come Easy When I Find You Love	-	-	R&B43 (12 weeks) R&B
1981	Love Don't Love Nobody (Part 1) Sweet and Wonderful	-	-	R&B35 (12 weeks) R&B
1982	If You Don't Know Me by Now Trust Me	-	-	R&B49 (9 weeks) R&B
as Jean Carne
1986	Closer Than Close Closer Than Close	-	-	R&B1 (21 weeks) R&B
	Flame of Love Closer Than Close	-	-	R&B21 (12 weeks) R&B
1987	Everything Must Change Closer Than Close	-	-	R&B79 (4 weeks) R&B
1988	Ain't No Way You're a Part of Me	-	-	R&B23 (13 weeks) R&B
	Let Me Be the One You're a Part of Me	UK95 (1 week) UK	-	-

More singles

• 1971: Peace
• 1977: If You Wanna Go Back
• 1978: Happy to Be with You
• 1978: There's a Shortage of Good Men
• 1980: Start the Fire
• 1980: Was That All It Was
• 1981: Sweet and Wonderful
• 1988: Heartache
• 1996: Don't Stop Doin 'Whatcha Doin'
• 1998: Make Love

Guest Posts

year	Title album	Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes)			Remarks
		UK	US	R&B
as Jean Carn
1975	Valentine Love Saturday Night Special	-	US97 (3 weeks) US	R&B10 (14 weeks) R&B	with Norman Connors & Michael Henderson
1980	I'm Back for More Back for More	-	-	R&B26 (15 weeks) R&B	with Al Johnson
1982	Let's Stay Together Blow	-	-	R&B74 (6 weeks) R&B	with Bobby Militello

Further guest contributions

• 2002: Somebody Bigger (with Jeff Majors)

Video albums

• 2005: Jean Carn & Friends: The Sound of Philadelphia: Live in Europe
• 2007: Ladies Night Out — Live

Web links

• Jean Carn at Allmusic (English)
• Jean Carn at Discogs (English)

Individual evidence

1. ^ Joel Whitburn: Top R&B Singles 1942-1995, 1996 ISBN 0-89820-115-2
2. ^ Adam White and Fred Bronson: The Billboard Book of Number One Rhythm & Blues Hits, 1993 ISBN 0-8230-8285-7
3. ↑ ^{a b c} Chart sources: UK US