Carl Carlton, Funk and Soul Singer Behind ‘She’s a Bad Mama Jama,’ Dead at 72
Carl Carlton, the Detroit-born singer whose smooth yet commanding voice powered some of the most enduring funk and soul records of the late 20th century, has died at the age of 72. Carlton was best known for the 1981 hit “She’s a Bad Mama Jama (She’s Built, She’s Stacked)” and his chart-topping cover of “Everlasting Love,” songs that helped bridge classic soul traditions with the emerging funk and R&B sounds of their respective eras.
Carlton’s death was confirmed Sunday by his son, Carlton Hudgens II, in a social media post honoring his father’s life and career. A cause of death was not disclosed. According to music publication Soultracks, Carlton suffered a stroke in 2019, which limited his public appearances in recent years.
Born Carlton Hudgens in Detroit in 1953, Carlton emerged from a city that shaped generations of soul, funk, and R&B artists. He began performing as a teenager under the name “Little Carl” Carlton, gaining early recognition for his vocal maturity and polished stage presence. His first recordings came in the early Seventies after he signed with Back Beat Records, a Houston-based label that provided him an opportunity to break beyond the Midwest circuit.
Carlton’s earliest chart success arrived in 1971 with “I Can Feel It,” which reached Billboard’s Soul Singles chart and signaled his potential as a crossover artist. But it was his 1974 rendition of “Everlasting Love,” originally recorded by Robert Knight, that firmly established his place in popular music. Carlton’s version climbed to Number Six on the Billboard Hot 100 and remained on the chart for 15 weeks, becoming one of the defining love songs of the decade. The track’s success introduced him to a broader pop audience while preserving his credibility within soul and R&B circles.
Though “Everlasting Love” cemented his early reputation, Carlton’s most recognizable and culturally persistent work came years later. In 1981, he released “She’s a Bad Mama Jama (She’s Built, She’s Stacked),” a swaggering funk anthem that captured the confident exuberance of the era. The song reached Number Two on Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart and spent more than 20 weeks on U.S. charts overall, later earning a Grammy nomination. Its infectious groove and celebratory lyrics helped push Carlton’s self-titled 1981 album to gold certification.
Over time, “She’s a Bad Mama Jama” took on a life well beyond its original release. The track became a staple of funk retrospectives and dance floors, sampled by artists across generations and genres, including Foxy Brown, Flo Milli, and BigXthaPlug. It also found renewed visibility through film and television placements, appearing in projects like Miss Congeniality 2, Fat Albert, and episodes of Friends, ensuring Carlton’s voice continued reaching new audiences decades later.
Throughout his career, Carlton maintained a steady presence as a performer, appearing on influential television programs such as American Bandstand and Soul Train. In 2003, he was featured in American Soundtrack: Rhythm, Love, and Soul, a documentary-style television special that celebrated the legacy of classic R&B alongside artists like Aretha Franklin, Lou Rawls, and Mary Wilson. In later years, Carlton turned toward gospel music, releasing God Is Good in 2010, reflecting a more personal and spiritual chapter of his artistry.
Tributes from fellow musicians followed news of his death. Funk group Con Funk Shun praised Carlton’s lasting impact, calling him a “legend” whose voice and contributions shaped generations of soul and R&B listeners.
Carl Carlton’s career spanned decades marked by shifting musical trends, yet his recordings retained a timeless quality rooted in melody, groove, and emotional clarity.
