Carlton, originally known as ‘Little Carl’ Carlton, was born in Detroit, Michigan, and kickstarted his musical journey in the mid-1960s. Taking inspiration from the legendary Stevie Wonder, who was once ‘Little Stevie Wonder,’ Carlton’s early recordings under Lando Records featured modest local hits like ‘So What’ and ‘Don’t You Need a Boy Like Me.’ In 1982, his Haywood-penned single ‘She’s a Bad Mama Jama (She’s Built, She’s Stacked)’ soared to success, earning him a Grammy Award nomination for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male. The track not only dominated the soul chart but also secured a spot in the UK Singles Chart, propelling Carlton’s self-titled album to gold status the same year.
Throughout the 1980s, Carlton continued to deliver musical creations, although his prominence dwindled with only a handful of minor R&B successes post his 1985 album ‘Private Property.’ A considerable hiatus followed until 1994, marked by the release of ‘Main Event,’ which failed to make a chart impact. Fast forward to late 2002, Carlton graced the stage alongside prominent R&B luminaries for the ‘Rhythm, Love, and Soul’ episode of the PBS series American Soundtrack. His rendition of ‘Everlasting Love’ captivated audiences and earned a spot on the live album released in 2004. Cementing his place in music history, Carlton’s tracks like ‘Baby I Need Your Loving’ and ‘Fooled Myself Again’ continue to captivate audiences and remain timeless classics.