Carman (singer)
Carmelo Domenic Licciardello (January 19, 1956 – February 16, 2021), known by his stage name Carman, was an American contemporary Christian music singer, songwriter, television host and evangelist. He was nominated for four Grammys, and sold over 10 million records.
Carman | |
|---|---|
Carman in 2010 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Carmelo Domenic Licciardello |
| Born | January 19, 1956 Trenton, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Died | February 16, 2021 (aged 65) Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar, drums[2] |
| Years active | 1980–2021 |
| Labels | |
| Website | carman |
Carman's album Mission 3:16 (1998) peaked at number 94 on the Billboard 200 chart. His album No Plan B (2014) peaked at number 66 on the Billboard 200, and at number 3 on the Top Christian Albums charts.
In addition to music, Carman was a frequent host on the Trinity Broadcasting Network, most notably its flagship program Praise the Lord
Early life and conversion
An Italian American, Carman was born in Trenton, New Jersey.[3] As a child he performed in his mother's band. Carman played the drums at the age of 5, learned to play the guitar by the age of 15 and started singing at age 16.[4] As a teen, he found some success performing at casinos in Atlantic City, New Jersey.[5]
While attending an Andraé Crouch concert, Carman became a born again Christian, and embraced evangelical Christianity.[5][6]
Music and television career
In 1980, Carman made a custom album titled God's Not Finished with Me. In 1981, he was invited by Bill Gaither to tour with the Bill Gaither Trio.[7]
After relocating to Tulsa, Oklahoma, Carman released a moderately successful eponymous debut album. Carman was later issued as Some-o-Dat[3] in 1982.[8] The album mostly contained novelty songs. With the release of his next album, Sunday's on the Way in 1983, Carman experienced a string of contemporary Christian music chart successes beginning with the title song. As he continued his music career, he established the nonprofit organization Carman Ministries.[3] After the release of The Champion in 1985, Carman achieved his first number one song, by the same name. His first number one album on the Christian charts, Revival in the Land, followed in 1989.[5]
Between 1987 and 1989, Carman was named Readers' Choice for Favorite Male Vocalist by Charisma magazine.[8] In 1990 and 1992, Billboard named him the Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year.[5] In 1995, he translated some of his songs, and released his first Spanish-language album, Lo Mejor. Heart of a Champion, a thirty-song retrospective was released in 2000.[8]
Carman was nominated for four Grammys, and sold over 10 million records.[5] It is believed he holds the world record for the largest single Christian concert in history.[5] In August 1993, with more than 50,000 in attendance, Carman was the main act in Johannesburg, South Africa.[9] The following year he performed a free concert at Texas Stadium October 22, 1994, with 71,132 attendees.[3][8] Another concert had 80,000 in Chattanooga, Tennessee.[10]
Beyond his music career, Carman participated in various television productions and interview duties as a host, for both the Trinity Broadcasting Network and its flagship program Praise the Lord.[11] In 2001, he starred in the film Carman: The Champion.[3][12]
In late March 2013, Carman announced a Kickstarter campaign for a new album and music video. A short time later, he announced an upcoming sixty-city tour, noting that the online fundraising campaign had raised more than $230,000 within several weeks.[13]
Carman's musical style has been described by Relevant magazine as "operatic, story-driven songs that often centered around cosmic battles between God and Satan, similar to Frank Peretti by way of Meatloaf."[14]
Personal life and health
In November 2011, Carman was the passenger in a car that was struck by a truck from oncoming traffic. The accident took place just outside the church where his appearance was scheduled. He performed the concert, but collapsed afterward and required surgery to repair internal injuries.[15]
Carman began battling multiple myeloma cancer in 2013, and was given a prognosis of three to four years to live.[16][17] By early 2014, he said medical tests indicated his body was free of cancer. He then continued preparing for his Live Across America album and tour.[18] When the cancer went into remission, Carman attributed his healing to the faith of his fans.[5] He pledged to his Facebook and Kickstarter supporters to begin his "No Plan B Tour" as soon as he regained his health.[19] Later that year he toured the eastern United States.[19]
In December 2017, at the age of 61, Carman married Dana Morrow. His new family included six stepchildren and nine step-grandchildren.[20] Carman filed for divorce in 2018, which was settled in 2019.[21]
In January 2020, Carman announced his cancer had returned.[22] He resumed live concert church tours in June 2020.[23]
Death
Carman died on February 16, 2021 (28 days after his 65th birthday) in a Las Vegas hospital, after a series of complications resulting from surgery to repair a hiatal hernia.[5][24] He was survived by his ex-wife, six stepchildren and nine step-grandchildren.
Discography and filmography
Selected list
- God's Not Finished with Me (1980)
- Some-o-Dat aka Carman (1982)
- Sunday's on the Way (1983)
- Comin' On Strong (1984)
- The Champion (1985)
- A Long Time Ago...in a Land Called Bethlehem (1986)
- Carman Live: Radically Saved (1988)
- Revival in the Land (1989)
- Shakin' the House Live (1991)
- Addicted to Jesus (1991)
- Yo Kidz! Heroes, Stories, and Songs from the Bible (1992)
- Yo Kidz! Lawrence the Kat and the B. Attitudes (1993)
- The Standard (1993)
- Yo Kidz! Vol. 2: The Armor of God (1994)
- Lo Mejor (1995)
- Christmas with Carman (1995)
- R.I.O.T. (Righteous Invasion of Truth) (1995)
- Yo Kidz! Lawrence the Kat and the Bible (1996)
- I Surrender All: 30 Classic Hymns (1997)
- Mission 3:16 (1998)
- Passion for Praise Vol. 1 (1999)
- Heart of a Champion (2000)
- House of Praise (2002)
- Instrument of Praise (2007)
- No Plan B (2014)
- Legacy (2017)
Awards and nominations
| Grammy Awards | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
| 1987 | Best Gospel Performance – Duo, Group, Choir or Chorus | "Our Blessed Saviour Has Come" (with CeCe Winans) | Nominated | [27] |
| 1992 | Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album | Shakin' the House...Live (with Commissioned with the Christ Church Choir) | Nominated | [28] |
| 1993 | Addicted to Jesus | Nominated | [28] | |
| 1999 | Mission 3:16 | Nominated | [28] | |
| GMA Dove Awards | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
| 1989 | Long Form Music Video of the Year | Carman Live: Radically Saved | Won | [29] |
| 1991 | Long Form Video of the Year | Revival in the Land | Won | [29] |
| 1991 | Short Form Video of the Year | "Revival in the Land" | Won | [29] |
| 1993 | Long Form Video of the Year | Addicted To Jesus | Won | [29] |
| 1995 | Children's Music Album of the Year | Yo! Kidz! 2: The Armor Of God | Won | [29] |
| 1996 | Rap/Hip Hop Song of the Year | "R.I.O.T. (Righteous Invasion of Truth)" | Won | [29] |
| 1999 | Long Form Music Video of the Year | Mission 3:16: The Video | Nominated | [30] |
Carman was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2018.[31]
References
- ^ Law, Jeannie (April 14, 2017). "Carman Licciardello Cancer Update: Singer Fulfills Dream of Becoming Life Coach Before Upcoming Tumor Surgery". The Christian Post. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
- ^ "COVID-19 Thoughts Part 102: In memory of Carman Licciardello". Intellectual Conservative. February 24, 2021. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e Alfonso, Barry (2002). The Billboard guide to Contemporary Christian Music. New York: Billboard Books. p. 134. ISBN 978-0-8230-7718-2.
- ^ "How did Carman Licciardello die? Christian singer hailed as legend as fans mourn loss of childhood favorite". Meaww.com. February 16, 2021. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Silliman, Daniel. "Died: Carman, Christian Showman Who Believed in Celebrity and Spectacle for Jesus". Christianity Today. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
- ^ Daniels, Lisa (October 30, 1992). "Carman is Born (Again) to Boogie". Daily Press.
- ^ Powell, Mark Allan (2002). Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music. Hendrickson Publishers. pp. 141–43. ISBN 1-56563-679-1.
- ^ a b c d Ankeny, Jason. "Carman – Biography". Allmusic (Macrovision Corporation). Retrieved December 9, 2009.
- ^ van Jaarsveld, Ingrid. [Christians Raise the Roof for Peace: 50,000 at Wanderers] (in Afrikaans). Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
- ^ "Christian Music Pioneer Carman Dies Due to Complications from Surgery". February 17, 2021. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
- ^ Dunn, Patrick (February 25, 2005). "Christian Artist Carman Keeps Up With the Times". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved December 9, 2009.
- ^ Cling, Carol (March 2, 2001). "Opening This week". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved December 9, 2009.
- ^ "Carman Announces 60-City Tour After Raising More Than $200K on Kickstarter". Christian Post.
- ^ "CCM Icon Carman Has Passed Away at 65". RELEVANT. February 17, 2021. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
- ^ "Carman in Car Accident". All Access Music Group. Retrieved November 22, 2011.
- ^ "Carman Licciardello". Facebook.
- ^ "Carman Cancer Update: Singer Enters Second Round of Chemo Treatments, 'I've Never Been as Optimistic in My Life'". BREATHEcast. January 10, 2014.
- ^ "After Fears, Carman Tells Fans He's Cancer Free". cbn.com. September 8, 2014.
- ^ a b "Concerts, events, concert, festival & conference tickets". itickets.com.
- ^ Law, Jeannie (December 19, 2017). "'Proverbial Bachelor' and Christian Star Carman Licciardello Finally Gets Married at 61". The Christian Post. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
- ^ Cooke, Bruno (February 17, 2021). "Carman Licciardello wife: Meet sales executive Dana Licciardello". Retrieved August 21, 2021.
- ^ "'I Still Trust God': Christian Singer Carman's Birthday Wish After Cancer Returns". CBN News. January 17, 2020. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
- ^ "Carman Licciardello". www.facebook.com. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
- ^ "GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame Member, CARMAN, Iconic CCM Trailblazer, Dies at Las Vegas Hospital". Conduit Media Solutions. February 16, 2021.
- ^ "Carman Discography". jesusfreakhideout.com. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
- ^ "Carman". Allmusic.com. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
- ^ "Grammy Award Nominees 1987 - Grammy Award Winners 1987". www.awardsandshows.com. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Carman". The Recording Academy. November 23, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f "Past Winners". Gospel Music Association. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
- ^ . Archived from the original on November 4, 2009.
- ^ "Carman". Gospel Music Hall of Fame. March 12, 2018. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
External links
- Official website
- Carman at IMDb
- Carman Licciardello at Find a Grave