Carl Carwell

Carl Carwell was born in San Antonio Texas, the son of a Jazz drummer and a Jazz singer. He moved to Denver, Colorado at the age of 11. By age 13, Carl was singing in popular nightclub bands "Magnificent Four" and "Friends and Love", whose members where the best young talent in the city, including Winston Ford, Larry Thompson, Ralph Beechum, and also Phillip Bailey, Larry Dunn and Andrew Woolfolk, who would later became the nucleus of Earth, Wind & Fire. Promoter Perry Jones was the catalyst for this group of Denver's elite talent, getting their big break.  

​​

Carl moved to Los Angeles at 18. There, he and his wife Jeanette, (high school sweethearts), would have 4 children, Nikea, Tanisha (RIP), RoShawn & Jalon. Jeanette was very involved in securing Carl's foundation in the music industry, until her passing in 2004.  In LA, Carl was developing his much sought after sound & style, which boasts a 4 octave range. He credits being greatly influenced by the breathy, rhythmic vocals of E,W&F, in the late 70's and early 80's. Carl quickly became one of the top session vocalists in the business.​ He sang in several E,W&F organized projects like the popular, Freelife.

​

In the early 80's, he joined the Stanley Clarke Band, and sang with George Duke, where he was honored to learn from Mr. Dukes genius, and excellence in music. Carl has performed live with such greats as 101 North, George Duke, Stanley Clarke, Sheila E. Denise Williams, Bonnie Raitt, E,W&F, Anita Baker, Everett Harp, Cece Peniston, Dianne Reeves, Amy Grant, Natalie Cole, Gerald Albright, Ronnie Isley, David Sandborn, El Debarge, to name a few. I​​ncedibly  the 90's, found Carl recording and working with music industry giants, David Foster and Diane Warren. He, as well as his sister Sueann Carwell, (one of the most respected voices in the session industry), were the vocal muses for some of the most popular songs ever written. Carl and Sueann are credited with arranging and singing the backgrounds on Celine Dion's biggest hit "Because you loved me"​.​

​

Carl's voice can be heard on hits by Lionel Ritchie, The Jacksons, Peabo Bryson, Celine Dion, Luther Vandross, El Debarge, Chicho Debarge, George Howard, Boz Scaggs, Seawind, Heatwave, Bobby Brown, Rick James, Melissa Manchester, Elton John, Kenny Loggins, Kinsman Dazz, Watanabe Sadao, The Temptations, Patti Labelle, Rod Stewart, Al Jarreau, Urban Knights, Garth Brooks, The Emotions, Patrice Rushen, Stevie Wonder, Julio Iglesias, Donnie Hathaway and many. He had great pleasure working with the great studio artists such as; Alex Brown, Phil Ingram, Winston Ford, Phil Perry, Lynn Davis, Josie James, Jim Gilstrap, Sheryl Renee, Coco Brown, and many other equally respected studio vocalists. As a lifelong session vocalist it would be impossible to quantify the numbers of songs, that were brought to life with his smooth voice, but he is thankful for all projects, big and small. Click here to view some of Carl's body of work.

​

Colorado called him back when Carl married his wife Yolanda, one of Colorado's top hairstylists. He would collaborate with The Black Swan Singers, Otis Taylor, Musketeer Gripweed, and The Hazel Miller Band. Carl even stepped into an uncanny impersonation of the legendary bandleader, Cab Calloway, in Sheryl Renee's production of "Jazz Legends Live". Carl has proudly performed in concert with his sister, Sueann Carwell, also backed by their sister, Susan Brown.​

​​

In 2017, Carl enjoyed several episodes of his own radio talk show "Real Talk about Relationships with Carl Carwell on www.KUHSDenver.com. He currently works with at-risk youth and believes this is his calling.
 

Carl is eternally grateful to have received the gift of song, which has anchored him in music throughout his life's joys and tribulations.  His love of The Lord Jesus Christ, and his welcoming spirit have blessed many who regularly call on him for a good word and a strong shoulder. Carl is the first to say " God has blessed me greatly!"