Carl Carlton, the vocalist whose raspy delivery and infectious grooves helped define generations of funk, soul, and R&B, has died at age 73. The singer was best known for timeless records, including “She’s a Bad Mamma Jamma (She’s Built, She’s Stacked)” and his chart-topping cover of “Everlasting Love.”
His son, Carlton Hudgens II, confirmed the news on Sunday, December 14, and shared a tribute on social media along with photos of his father, per People. “RIP Dad, Legend Carl Carlton singer of ‘She’s a Bad Mama Jama,’” he wrote. “Long hard fight in life and you will be missed.”
In another post, he added, “You can finally rest now. Always love you.”
His son also confirmed that his father was 73 years old when he passed away, not 72 as initially reported.
No official cause of death has been released. Carlton experienced a stroke in 2019 and had faced health challenges in recent years.
Born Carlton Hudgens in Detroit in 1953, the future star began performing in his teens under the name “Little Carl” Carlton. After building a following, he relocated to Houston and signed with Back Beat Records, where his career started to gain national traction.
In 1971, his single “I Can Feel It” landed on Billboard’s Soul Singles chart, marking his first industry breakthrough.
Carlton reached a new level of fame in 1974 with his rendition of Robert Knight’s “Everlasting Love.” The song crossed over to pop radio, peaking at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remaining on the chart for 15 weeks, cementing his place in mainstream R&B history.
His most recognizable hit arrived years later. Released in 1981, “She’s a Bad Mamma Jamma (She’s Built, She’s Stacked)” became a cultural staple, climbing to No. 2 on the soul chart and earning a Grammy nomination.
The song anchored his self-titled album, which later achieved gold certification, and continues to find new audiences decades later.
Earlier this year, the track returned to the charts, landing in the top 10 of Billboard’s R&B Digital Song Sales rankings.
The record’s influence extended well beyond radio. It has been sampled by artists including Foxy Brown, Flo Milli, and BigXthaPlug, and featured in films such as Miss Congeniality 2 and Fat Albert, as well as television favorites like Friends.
Carlton continued to perform and appear on programs such as Soul Train and American Bandstand. His final release was the 2010 gospel album God Is Good.
Following his passing, Con Funk Shun honored him in a statement, writing, “His voice, talent, and contributions to soul and R&B music will forever be a part of our lives… Rest in power, Carl. Your legacy lives on.”