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Jean Carn
Jean Carn
	Carn in 1997
Background information
Birth name	Sarah Jean Perkins
Also known as	Jean Carne
Born	March 15, 1947 (age 77); Columbus, Georgia, U.S.
Origin	Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Genres	R&B; soul; Philadelphia soul; jazz; disco;
Occupation	Singer
Instrument	Vocals
Years active	1969–present
Labels	Buddah; Philadelphia International; Motown; Omni/Atlantic; Place One; Expansion;

Jean Carn, also spelled Jean Carne (born Sarah Jean Perkins;^[2] March 15, 1947)^[1] is an American R&B/soul and jazz singer. In mid-career, she added a final e to her name. Carn is a vocalist credited with a five-octave vocal range.^[3]^[4]

Biography

Carn was born Sarah Jean Perkins in Columbus, Georgia. At the age of four, she became a member of her church choir.^[2]

Carn planned on furthering her studies at Juilliard School of Music in New York City when she met and married jazz pianist Doug Carn and became a featured vocalist in his jazz fusion band. The couple based themselves in Los Angeles, California, where Carn appeared on three of his four early albums, Infant Eyes, Spirit of the New Land, and Revelation on Black Jazz/Ovation. The couple later divorced.^[5]

In 1976, Carn was signed to Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff's Philadelphia International Records.^[2] She released her debut album Jean Carn in 1976.^[6] The debut single "Free Love" went to number 23 R&B.^[2] In June 1978, her second album for the label, Happy to Be With You, was released. It included the hit single "Don't Let It Go to Your Head".^[2]

Carn's third Philadelphia International album When I Find You Love was issued in 1979.^[2] "My Love Don't Come Easy" peaked at number 43 on the R&B chart.^[7] The album included the Jerry Butler penned track "Was That All It Was?" which, despite not charting on the R&B charts, was a big disco hit in the UK clubs.

At this time, Carn moved from the Philadelphia International label to the subsidiary TSOP imprint for her 1981 album Sweet and Wonderful.^[2] Carn moved to Motown Records in 1982, making her label debut with her only album on the label, Trust Me. The single "If You Don't Know Me By Now," a cover of the Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes hit with backing vocals by The Temptations, went to number 49 on the R&B chart.^[7]

By 1986, Carn signed to Omni Records. Closer Than Close, produced by saxophonist Grover Washington Jr. went to number one on the R&B charts.^[2] Her 1988 album You're a Part of Me was her only release on Atlantic Records.^[2] In 2014, Carn was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award present by the National R&B Music Society in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.^[8] In 2020, Carn was one of the performers aboard on the Soul Train Cruise.^[9]

On October 16, 2022, Carn's life was featured on the documentary TV One series, Unsung.^[10]^[11]

Discography

Studio albums

Year	Title	Peak chart positions			Record label
Year	Title	US ^[7]	US R&B ^[7]	US Jazz ^[7]	Record label
1976	Jean Carn	122	46	26	Philadelphia International
1978	Happy to Be with You	—	55	—
1979	When I Find You Love	—	42	28
1981	Sweet and Wonderful	176	38	—	TSOP
1982	Trust Me	210	37	—	Motown
1986	Closer Than Close	162	9	—	Omni
1988	You're a Part of Me	—	40	—	Atlantic
1995	Carn Sings McCoy	—	—	—	Vammi
1996	Love Lessons	—	—	—	Moja
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Compilations

The Best of Jean Carn & The Best of The Jones Girls (1998, Recall 2cd)
Closer Than Close: The Best of Jean Carn (1999, Philadelphia International/The Right Stuff)
Collaborations (2002, Expansion)
Don't Let It Go to Your Head: The Anthology (2018, SoulMusic)

Singles

Year	Single	Peak chart positions				Album
Year	Single	US ^[7]	US R&B ^[7]	US Dan ^[7]	UK ^[12]	Album
1971	"Peace"	—	—	—	—	Infant Eyes
1975	"Valentine Love" (with Norman Connors & Michael Henderson)	97	10	—	—	Saturday Night Special
1977	"Free Love"	—	23	18	—	Jean Carn
	"You Got a Problem"	—	—		—
	"If You Wanna Go Back"	—	—		—
1978	"Happy to Be with You"	—	—	—	—	Happy to Be with You
	"Don't Let It Go to Your Head"	—	54	—	—
	"There's a Shortage of Good Men"	—	—	—	—
1979	"My Love Don't Come Easy"	—	43	—	—	When I Find You Love
	"Start the Fire"	—	—	—	—
	"Was That All It Was"	—	—	22	—
	"What’s On Your Mind"	—	—		—
	"Give It Up"	—	—		—
1980	"I'm Back for More" (with Al Johnson)	—	26	—	—	Back for More
1981	"Sweet and Wonderful"	—	—	—	—	Sweet and Wonderful
1981	"Love Don't Love Nobody (Part 1)"	—	35	—	—	Sweet and Wonderful
1982	"If You Don't Know Me by Now"	—	49	—	—	Trust Me
1982	"Let's Stay Together" (with Bobby Militello)	—	74	—	—	Blow
1986	"Closer Than Close"	—	1	—	—	Closer Than Close
1986	"Flame of Love"	—	21	—	—
1987	"Everything Must Change"	—	79	—	—
1988	"Heartache"	—	—	—	—	You're a Part of Me
	"Ain't No Way"	—	23	—	—
	"Let Me Be the One"	—	—	—	95
1996	"Don't Stop Doin' Whatcha Doin'"	—	109	—	—	Love Lessons
1998	"Make Love"	—	—	—	—	Love Lessons
2002	"Somebody Bigger" (with Jeff Majors)	—	111	—	—	Gotta Have Gospel
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

DVD

Jean Carn & Friends: The Sound of Philadelphia: Live in Europe (Expansion, 2005)
Ladies Night Out—Live (Steppin Muzak, 2007, also available as a CD)

References

^ ^a ^b "Jean Carne Biography". The History Makers. May 7, 2003. Archived from the original on May 11, 2013.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Kellman, Andy. "Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
^ "Jean Carn: Collaborations". Soul Town Records. Archived from the original on February 11, 2007.
^ "Musicdiscoveries". Archived from the original on September 30, 2007.
^ "Doug Carn: Black Jazz - JazzWax". www.jazzwax.com. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
^ Conroy, Tom. "Jean Carn". SoulMusic.com. Archived from the original on December 30, 2006.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h "US Charts > Jean Carn". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 8, 2015. Retrieved February 14, 2015.
^ "Past Honorees". rnbmusicsociety1. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
^ "2020 Soul Train Cruise | The Hippest Trip At Sea | Soul at Sea". Soul at Sea. December 12, 2018. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
^ "TV One's "Unsung" to feature Jean Carn, Tony Terry, Norman Connors and more". SoulTracks - Soul Music Biographies, News and Reviews. September 21, 2022. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
^ "Unsung, TV". tvturtle.com. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
^ "UK Charts > Jean Carn". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 3, 2015.