Now that “Good Lovin’ Will Make You Cry” has become a certified classic in the Southern Soul world Carl Marshall’s popularity has grown rapidly the last several years. But Carl’s actually given his all to the music world for over 30 years now. He grew up in the music streets of New Orleans, Louisiana with his guitar in a band called Sam & the Soul Machine. During the 7+ years he was with them members consisted of Aaron Neville (leave vocals) Sam Henry (keyboards) Gary Brown (sax) Richard Amos (bass) Cyril Neville (congas) Robert Bush (drums).
His first recording was released on Amherst Records in 1976. Under the name Soul Dog Carl released an album called “Movin’ On”, featuring the proto-rap song “Soul Dog”, which was delivered in a trucker’s MC style. A second LP, this time credited to Carl Marshall & The S.D.’s (Soul Dogs), called “I’ll Give My Heart To You” was released in 1980 on Chantilly. In the meantime singles appeared on labels like J.B’s Records, T-Jaye (“Let’s Go Humpin’”, “Your Woman Really Turns Me On”), Double Hit (“I Can’t Live Without You”) and most notably Edge Record Company, Inc. The latter being Al Bell’s first venture after Stax Records where he and Carl recorded a 12 inch single called “Let It Be Me” under the name Marshall & Babb. Further singles and 12 inchers continued to appear, such as “Mardi Gras Party” (as Carl Marshall & Sound Dimension) throughout the 80s.
In the early 90s Carl started his own imprint, Gifft, and began issuing his own LPs of Funk, R & B, Blues, Gospel and Jazz (“This Gift”, “Dead End”, “Let’s Get Fired Up”, “Last Minute”) before joing with Senator Jones’ Hep’ Me Records for one CD, “You Can’t Stop A Woman”, which spawned a regional hit with the title cut. This was followed up with a one album stint at Mardi Gras Records (“A Woman Want A Man, She Don’t Want No Punk”) in 2001.
Carl went back to cutting albums for his Gifft (and later Unleashed) label, scoring “Southern Soul” market hits with songs like “This Is For Grown Folks”, “Grown Folks Party With Me”, “Jingle My Bell”, “Ain’t No Party Like A Grown Folks Party” & “Wind It Up”. During this period Carl also served as a radio personality at the Meridian, Mississippi Clear Channel station Kiss 104.1 (also a Gospel station, WYLD, in New Orleans.)
In 2005 Carl released a song called “Good Lovin’ Will Make You Cry”. At first it was ignored, then gradually over the next couple years the song began to grow as the song began to connect with an audience. By mid-2006 it was one of the hottest songs in Southern Soul music. For over two years it was one of the most loved, played and known song in the genre. During this time Bigg Robb did a remix of the song, which took it to the top for a second run.
In 2008 Carl next signed with a new label, CDS Records, and released his best album yet in 2009, “Look Good For You”, featuring the title cut, “Leave That Man’s Wife Alone” and “Looking For A Real Woman (Looking For Love)” in addition to producing most of the acts for the label.
In 2010 Carl became Vice President of CDS records and released his masterpiece CD, “Love Who You Wanna Love”, and his first DVD, “Grown Folks Live”.
Carl has perfected his musical skills over the years on guitar bass keyboard and drums. In fact, in the early 80s he worked for K-Tel Records where he learned to recreate songs many times over for company. Carl Marshall is a true, dynamic executor. He is a producer- one who has the gift to bring the gift out of other people. He says "a real producer is one who believes in other people's talents and puts his heart and soul in bringing out their greatness.” That's what he does with those he produces. His producer credits include: Jean Knight, Guitar Slim Jr., The Love Doctor, David Brinston, Willie West, Jerry L, Rue Davis, Stan Mosley, Michelle Miller, Charles Wilson, Nellie Tiger Travis, Cicero Blake, TJ Hooker-Taylor, Captain Jack Watson, Chuck Roberson, Gregg A. Smith, Stephanie Pickett, Jim Bennett, Mister Zay, Bobbye Doll Johnson, Patrick Green and more to come.
Carl has the history and the qualifications of one of the best in the music world but he is just now getting the recognition he deserves. Earlier this year the Jus’ Blues Music Awards awarded his song, “Look Good For You”, as “Blues/Soul Song Of The Year”
Since becoming Vice President of CDS Records, the fastest growing label in the business, all light is shining on who he is. Carl has also recently birthed a Gospel division of CDS (CDS Gospel), which he plans to put his whole Soul into. The first Gospel act on CDS Gospel is from Shreveport, La., one singer Rue Davis originally discovered and brought to Carl to produce. These three ladies are called Sisters of Vision (formerly known as Nu' Vizion), who have an album due for release asap.
Carl Marshall is a man that loves the Most High and has high standards in being dedicated to loving people. In his life loving people is first. Music and the music business is next.
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