Jean Carn

In the news this week... Happy Birthday to Jean Carn (Sarah Perkins) who celebrated her birthday on Saturday, Mr. Merry's Three-Inna-Row features her music today at 11am. Biography at foot of todays page.

Also this week we lost the Rt Hon Tony Benn, who's long political career included being the only surviving politician to have fought in WWII, sadly he was also the guy that implemented the new pirate radio laws that came into being in 1967, they held UK radio back 50 years in my mind! But still love him or hate him he was a very popular Labour politician and will be missed by many.

The wait is officially over! For those who thought that it would never come to surface, Universal Studios has finally delivered the trailer to the well anticipated James Brown biopic! Titled, Get On Up, the film is filled with an all-star cast that we’re sure will do the story much justice.

The Excitments are a soul and funk band that was formed in Barcelona back in 2010. Since then they've built themselves a reputation as one of the most energized and excting live acts on the European soul circuit. Their music is a self-penned cocktail of old school soul and gritty funk that takes its inspiration from icons like Etta James, Tina Turner and James Brown and labels like Chess and Stax. Fronted by the charismatic Koko-Jean Davis, the band's live performance have drawn comparison with Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings but through late March you can make up your own minds about that when the band embark on a mini UK tour.

This Weeks Play List Sunday 16th March, 2014



HHHour One
Hout One
Lytie - Still Here (soul mix)
Tony Toni Tone - Anniversary
Gerald Alright - Anniversary (hello mix)
Terry Garmon - Any Way
Sanchez - Amazing Grace
Williams Bros - Still Here
BeBe + CeCe Wynans - You
Sounds Of Blackness - I Believe
Ann Nesby - In The Spirit
Brandy - Missing You

Hour Two
Jean Carn x3: 1 Closer Than Close
2 Heartache 3 Flame Of Love

Plush - We've Got The Love
Sinclair - I Want You Back
T.S. Monk - Can't Keep My Hands..
Eddie Henderson - Prance
Valentine Bros - Let Me Be Close 2 You
The Staples - Love Me, Love Me..
Luther Vandross - Better Love

Jean Carn Biography:

Born Sarah Jean Perkins, Columbus, Georgia, USA, but was raised in Atlanta, where her parents encouraged her at the age of four to sing in the church choir and to take piano lessons. Indeed, to this day, Carn is an accomplished performer on piano, clarinet and bassoon. She first revealed her formidable musical talents as a teenager on a morning radio talk show, Today In Georgia, when she sang "Misty" to the accompaniment of Errol Garner's piano. After winning a music scholarship to Morris Brown College, she learned to play almost every instrument in the orchestra. Her recording career began in 1971 with her then husband Doug Carn, and together they made three albums for Black Jazz Records that brought widespread recognition, built upon by touring engagements across the USA. At this stage Carn was often praised for being one of the first Afro-American women to define her own voice and image, rather than being moulded by the industry. Afterwards, she performed with Duke Ellington, the last vocalist to do so before his death. She then teamed up with Norman Connors for four acclaimed albums, contributed "Reach For It" to George Duke's Gold album and sang on the first two albums by Earth, Wind And Fire.

The three albums Carn recorded for Gamble And Huff's Philadelphia International Records label between 1977 and 1979 are probably her best, and introduced the singer to pop and R&B audiences for the first time. Her hits during this period included "Free Love", "Don't Let It Go To Your Head" and "My Love Don't Come Easy'. She moved to Motown Records for 1983"s Trust Me, which provided her first major singles success with "If You Don't Know Me By Now" and a duet with Bobby Militello on "Let's Stay Together". Carn later found time to contribute to records by Kenny Gamble ("Love Is Beautiful When It's Right") and Stanley Turrentine ("Night Breeze"). Adding an "e' to her last name, she signed a new recording contract with the Atlantic Records imprint Omni and enjoyed immediate success with 1986"s chart-topping R&B hit, "Closer Than Close". Further hits followed in the late 80s, including "Flame Of Love", "Everything Must Change" and "Ain't No Way". Carne carried on recording into the 90s, completing a touching tribute album to the late songwriter Van McCoy. She continues to tour for six months every year, spending the rest of her time at home in Atlanta with her three children.

Thought for the day!