CARMAN

His first album with Myrrh was Comin' on Strong, released in 1984, which included the song "Lazarus Come Forth" (landing at number 13) and became Carman's first top-ten album on the US Christian Albums chart, peaking at number six. This was followed by The Champion, released in 1985 and its title track became Carman's first number-one song on the CCM charts, and the album itself reached number three on the US Christian Albums chart and became his first album to be certified Gold by the RIAA.

In 1986, Carman parted ways with Myrrh and signed with Power Discs (a subsidiary of Benson Records), and released his fifth studio album (and first Christmas release), A Long Time Ago...In a Land Called Bethlehem, which reached the top-twenty in the US Christian Albums chart. Through Benson, Carman released his second live album, 'Live... Radically Saved', in 1987. The title track became his second number-one on the CCM charts, followed by "Lord of All" reaching number two; the album itself peaked at number two on the US Christian Albums chart and was certified Gold by the RIAA; its long-form video release also achieved Gold status. Carman's musical style has been described by Relevant magazine as "operatic, story-driven songs that often centered around cosmic battles between God and Satan, similar to Frank Peretti by way of Meatloaf."

In 1989, his sixth studio album, Revival in the Land was released and became his first number-one album on the US Christian Albums chart, spent 33 weeks at the summit and became his third Gold record; it included the songs "A Witch's Invitation", "Resurrection Rap" and the title track; its long-form video release was certified Platinum.

In 1991, Carman released his third live album, in collaboration with Commissioned and the Christ Church Choir, Shakin' the House...Live, which reached number four on the US Christian Albums chart and earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album. That same year, Carman released his seventh studio album Addicted to Jesus, becoming his second number-one album on the US Christian Albums chart and his fourth Gold record, including the songs "Satan, Bite the Dust", "1955", "Come Into This House" (with Commissioned), "Our Turn Now" (with Petra) and the title track (with DC Talk), all of which music videos were commissioned, eventually its long-form video release would achieve Gold status as well; the album also earned another Grammy nomination for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album.

During that time, between 1987 and 1989, Carman was named Readers' Choice for Favorite Male Vocalist by Charisma magazine. In 1990 and 1992, Billboard named him the Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year.

In October 1992, Carman signed with Sparrow Records and in March 1993 released his first compilation album, The Absolute Best, which included a new song, "Serve the Lord", which was nominated for a Dove Award for Inspirational Recorded Contemporary Christian Song of the Year. That same year, his eighth studio album, The Standard was released, becoming Carman's third number-one album on the US Christian Albums chart and his first one to be certified Platinum, eventually becoming Carman's best-selling album. The Standard included the hit songs "Who's In The House" (nominated for a Dove Award for Rap Recorded Contemporary Christian Song of the Year), "Sunday School Rock", "Great God", "Holdin' On" and "America Again", all of which were commissioned music videos for every song and included on its long-form video release, also achieving Platinum status. Prior to the release of the album, in August 1993, with more than 50,000 in attendance, Carman was the main act in Johannesburg, South Africa. The following year, he embarked on The Standard World Tour, where he performed a free concert at Texas Stadium October 22, 1994, with 71,132 attendees. Another concert had 80,000 in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

It is believed that Carman holds the world record for the largest single Christian concert in history. On that tour, Carman also promoted school-mandated prayer in the United States. He stated, "If you want to see a change in our schools, a change in our children and a change in this nation, we must change hearts, and that's what Christ can do. The only hope for America is Jesus."

In his song "America Again", Carman raps, "In the '40s and '50s student problems were chewing gum and talking. In the '90s, rape and murder are the trend. The only way this nation can even hope to last this decade is to put God in America again." Around this time, Carman met with legislators in Washington, D.C., and initiated a campaign known as "Putting God in America Again", which sought to collect the names of one million people who support school-sponsored prayer in American public schools.

In 1995, he translated some of his songs, and released his first Spanish-language album, Lo Mejor. From mid-to-late 1990s, Carman achieved several number-one albums on the US Christian Albums chart, including 1995's R.I.O.T. (Righteous Invasion of Truth) (which became his first album to chart on the Billboard 200, at number 45), 1997's I Surrender All: 30 Classic Hymns (#102 on the Billboard 200) and 2000's Heart of a Champion (#53 on the Billboard 200), a 30-song retrospective compilation. Grammy-nominated album Mission 3:16 (1998) and its follow-up Passion for Praise: Volume One (1999) also made the top-ten on the US Christian Albums chart and charted at numbers 94 and 179 on the Billboard 200, respectively.

Carman was nominated for four Grammys, and sold over 10 million records. On October 19, 1996, after his R.I.O.T. Tour stop at the Georgia Dome, Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell presented Carman with a plaque declaring October 19, "Carman Day".

Beyond his music career, Carman participated in various television productions and interview duties as a host, for both the Trinity Broadcasting Network and its flagship program Praise the Lord. In 2001, he starred in the film Carman: The Champion.

In late March 2013, he announced a Kickstarter campaign for a new album and music video. A short time later, he announced an upcoming 60-city tour, noting that the online fundraising campaign had raised more than $230,000 within several weeks.

In 2014, Carman released the album No Plan B, which peaked at number 66 on the Billboard 200, and at number three on the Top Christian Albums chart, being his highest-charting album on that chart since Heart of a Champion in 2000. Three years later, Carman released his final studio album Legacy (2017) and toured across the United States to promote the album starting in August 2018 and continued until his final concert, held in Splendora, Texas, on January 16, 2021.

Personal life and death

In November 2011, while on his way to perform, Carman was a passenger in a car hit by a truck in the oncoming traffic. The concert went on as scheduled, but Carman collapsed afterward. Taken to the hospital, he underwent surgery for internal injuries sustained in the wreck.

Carman was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2013, and was given a prognosis of three to four years to live. By early 2014, he said medical tests indicated his body was free of cancer and then continued preparing for his Live Across America album and tour. When the cancer went into remission, Carman attributed his healing to the faith of his fans and planned his "No Plan B Tour" to start after his health returned.

In December 2017, at the age of 61, Carman married Dana Morrow.

In January 2020, Carman announced his cancer had returned. He resumed live concert church tours in June 2020.

Carman died on February 16, 2021, aged 65, in a Las Vegas hospital as a result of complications following surgery to repair a hiatal hernia.

Discography and filmography

Source(s):

Selected list

Awards and nominations

Carman was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2018.

References

External links

• Official website
• Carman at IMDb