R&B Singer Carl Carlton Dies at 72

Carl Carlton, the Detroit-born R&B and funk singer renowned for his 1970s and 1980s hits "Everlasting Love" and "She's a Bad Mama Jama (She's Built, She's Stacked)," has died at the age of 72.

His son, Carlton Hudgens II, announced the death on Facebook on December 14, posting a photo of his father with the message: "RIP Dad, Legend Carl Carlton singer of She's a Bad Mama Jama. Long hard fight in life and you will be missed." In another post, Hudgens wrote, "R.I.P. Dad. You can finally rest now. Always love you." The announcement did not specify a cause of death, though Carlton had suffered a stroke six years earlier, in 2019, which led to ongoing health complications.

Born Carlton Hudgens on May 21, 1953, in Detroit, Carlton immersed himself in the city's vibrant soul scene from a young age. Performing initially as Little Carl Carlton, he released his first singles in 1964 on Lando Records, including "I Think of How I Love Her" and "I Love True Love." Local hits followed in 1965 with "So What" and "Don't You Need a Boy Like Me." By 1968, he signed with Back Beat Records in Houston, where he recorded "Competition Ain't Nothin'," which reached No. 36 on the Billboard R&B chart...