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, TX.
Kurt Carr | |
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![]() The Kurt Carr Singers perform for President George W. Bush and guests on June 17, 2008 in the East Room of the White House | |
Background information | |
Born | Hartford, Connecticut | October 12, 1964
Genres | Gospel, praise & worship |
Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
Instruments | Vocals, piano |
Years active | 1987–present |
Labels | Light Records, GospoCentric Verity Gospel Music Group, Interscope |
Associated acts | James Cleveland, Anastacia, Nakitta Foxx |
Website | https://www.thekurtcarr.com/ |
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, Kurt 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
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 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. In 1987 while in Los Angeles, Carr formed a six-member gospel vocal ensemble called The Kurt Carr Singers in which Anastacia, Mary Mary, & Andrea McClurkin-Mellini (who is the sister of Donnie McClurkin) sung for additional background vocals on their fourth album No One Else.[1]
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.
Discography
Albums
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Sales | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [2] |
US R&B /HH [3] |
US Gospel [4] |
US Christian [5] | ||||
I'm Glad | — | — | — | — | |||
Together |
|
— | — | — | — | ||
Serious About It! |
|
— | — | — | — | ||
No One Else | — | — | — | — | |||
Awesome Wonder | — | — | 5 | 14 |
|
| |
One Church Project | 109 | 27 | 1 | — | |||
Just The Beginning | 62 | — | 2 | — | |||
Bless This House | 43 [22] | — | 1 [23] | — | |||
Bless Somebody Else |
|
— | — | 2 | — |
Compilation albums
Title[4] | Album details[4] | Peak chart positions |
---|---|---|
US Gospel [4] | ||
Playlist: The Very Best of Kurt Carr & the Kurt Carr Singers | 33 | |
Setlist: The Very Best Of Kurt Carr & The Kurt Carr Singers Live |
|
50 |
Singles
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
---|---|---|---|
US Gospel [28] | |||
"God Blocked It" | 2004 | 3 | One Church |
"God Great God" | 26 | ||
"Peace And Favor Rest On Us" | 2008 | 2 | Just The Beginning |
"Bless Somebody Else (Dorothy's Song)" | 2019 | 18 | Bless Somebody Else |
References
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 9, 2013. Retrieved September 9, 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Kurt Carr Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
- "Kurt Carr Chart History: Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
- "Kurt Carr Chart History: Top Gospel Albums". Billboard. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
- "Kurt Carr Chart History: Top Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
- "The Kurt Carr Singers – Im Glad (1988, Vinyl)". Discogs. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
- "The Kurt Carr Singers – Together (1991, CD)". Discogs. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
- "Serious About It! - Kurt Carr". Allmusic. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
- "The Kurt Carr Singers – Serious About It! (1994, CD)". Discogs. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
- "No One Else - Kurt Carr, Kurt Carr Singers". Allmusic. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
- "The Kurt Carr Singers – No One Else (1997, CD)". Discogs. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
- "Awesome Wonder - Kurt Carr, Kurt Carr Singers". Allmusic. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
- "The Kurt Carr Singers – Awesome Wonder (2000, CD)". Discogs. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
- "Gold & Platinum - RIAA". RIAA. May 27, 2003. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
- Gospel. Billboard. 114. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. March 9, 2002. p. 22. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved March 31, 2020 – via Google Books.
- GospelFlava 4, 2021 http://www.gospelflava.com/reviews/kurtcarronechurch.htmlaccess-date=February 4, 2021 Check
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(help) - "The Kurt Carr Project – One Church (2005, CD)". Discogs. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
- "Just The Beginning - Kurt Carr". Allmusic. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
- "Kurt Carr & The Kurt Carr Singers – One Church (2005, CD)". Discogs. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
- "Bless This House - Kurt Carr". Allmusic. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
- "Kurt Carr, The Kurt Carr Singers – Bless This House (2013, CD)". Discogs. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
- "Billboard 200: The week of February 9, 2013". Billboard.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
- "Top Gospel Albums: The week of February 9, 2013". Billboard.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
- "Bless Somebody Else - Kurt Carr". Allmusic. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
- "Kurt Carr – Bless Somebody Else (2019, CD)". Discogs. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
- "Playlist: The Very Best of Kurt Carr & the Kurt Carr Singers - Kurt Carr". Allmusic. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
- "Setlist: The Very Best of Kurt Carr & The Kurt Carr Singers Live - Kurt Carr". Allmusic. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
- "Kurt Carr Chart History: Hot Gospel Songs". Billboard.com. Retrieved March 29, 2020.