Kurt Carr

Kurt Carr (born October 12, 1964) is an American gospel music composer and performer. While living in the city of Hartford, Connecticut, he served as Minister of Music at The First Baptist Church of Hartford located at the time on Greenfield Street. He is currently the Praise and Worship leader at The Fountain Of Praise in Houston, Texas.

Carr's music is a blend of traditional gospel composition and vocals, with elements of R&B, jazz, soul, blues, and the distinct modern harmonies and singing styles found in urban contemporary gospel. The Kurt Carr Singers under his direction and musical influence have created seven albums. Kurt Carr has won four Stellar Awards.

Biography

Early years

Kurt Carr was born in the mid-1960s in Hartford, Connecticut, where he grew up in a family who believed in Jesus, but was not deeply involved in church. At the age of 13, Carr found himself being increasingly drawn to the church. In his early teen years, he performed as an actor and dancer at the Hartford Stage Company in a Broadway musical called '' On the Town'', which was directed by Clay Stevenson. He became an active member in his church's music department. At the age of 17, Carr realized that he was being called to do something even higher with his life. After high school, he entered into the music program at the University of Connecticut, where he studied classical music and earned a Fine Arts degree. Carr is a member of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity.

Music career

Early career

Carr was piano accompanist for Andrae Crouch's music ministry for one year. Carr was subsequently hired to be musical director and pianist for Rev. James Cleveland’s ministry in 1986 and was employed there for seven years, until Cleveland's death. Eventually, Carr became director of the West Angeles Church of God in Christ Choir, where he had the opportunity to work with both gospel and secular musical artists, including Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, Yolanda Adams and Kirk Franklin during that time Carr also formed a gospel vocal ensemble named The Kurt Carr Singers. They released their first EP, I'm Glad in 1988 released on an Independent label. After signing with Light Records, Kurt Carr and the singers' debut major label and album Together was released in 1991. Transitions in the label lead to GospoCentric Records which was owned and co-founded by to Vicki Mack Lataillade.

1994–2000: ''Serious About It!'' and ''No One Else''

Now signed onto GospoCentric, the group released their debut on the label titled ''Serious About It!'' The album featured renditions of many recorded songs, such as of Salt-N-Pepa's " Whatta Man", among others. The album succeeded onto the charts. In July 1996, the singers recorded their following album on the label, ''No One Else'', at the West Angeles which was released in March 1997. The album also features Anastacia, Mary Mary, & Andrea McClurkin-Mellini (sister of Donnie McClurkin) serving as a few of the additional background singers. The album most notably featured "For Every Mountain", which became one of the Carr's most known features overtime.

2000–2012: Growing success and acclaim

In 2000, '' Awesome Wonder'' was released, which featured more popular songs with "In the Sanctuary" being the most notable. "In the Sanctuary" became his most popular song, leading to internet memes among other ways to highlight the success of the song. The album stayed in the charts longer than the previous albums and it increased the group's success higher, eventually earning gold. With ''In the Sanctuary'' becoming more known, Carr took it upon to produce and write tracks for Byron Cage, among others such as Tramaine Hawkins, and Bishop Paul S. Morton. In July 2004, Kurt Carr recorded ''The Kurt Carr Project: One Church'' which was successfully released in March 2005. Centered upon being a multicultural church, it features "God Blocked It" and "God Great God", among others became staples.In 2008, Kurt Carr released his first two disc album ''Just the Beginning'', which was released on his self titled label Kurt Carr Gospel and Zomba.

2012–present: ''Bless This House'' and ''Bless Somebody Else''

In 2013, Kurt Carr released ''Bless This House'' on Verity Gospel Music Group which included the single "I've Seen Him Do It", "We've Gotta Put Jesus Back", and "Great God Great Praise". After a six-year hiatus, Kurt Carr released ''Bless Somebody Else'' on RCA Records' Gospel Label RCA Inspiration in 2019 in which Kurt Carr Gospel Label from ''Just the Beginning'' returned. The single was released the same year as long with the single "Blessing After Blessing", which is a ballad a year later.

Discography

Albums

Compilation albums

Singles

Other charted songs

References

Notes

External links

Kurt Carr – Interview (March 2005) on BlackGospel.comKurt Carr – Interview (November 2008) on BlackGospel.comKurt Carr - Interview (April 2022) by the Oral History of American Music (Yale University)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Carr, Kurt
1964 births
20th-century African-American male singers
20th-century American male singers
20th-century American singers
American gospel singers
American Pentecostals
Living people
21st-century African-American male singers
21st-century American male singers
Members of the Church of God in Christ
Urban contemporary gospel musicians