# Jean Carn

Jean Carn, also spelled Jean Carne (born Sarah Jean Perkins; March 15, 1947) is an American R&B/soul and jazz singer. In mid-career, she added a final e to her name. Carn is a vocalist credited with a five-octave vocal range.

## Biography

Carn was born Sarah Jean Perkins in Columbus, Georgia. At the age of four, she became a member of her church choir.
Carn planned on furthering her studies at Juilliard School of Music in New York City when she met and married jazz pianist Doug Carn and became a featured vocalist in his jazz fusion band. The couple based themselves in Los Angeles, California, where Carn appeared on three of his four early albums, Infant Eyes, Spirit of the New Land, and Revelation on Black Jazz/Ovation. The couple later divorced.
In 1976, Carn was signed to Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff's Philadelphia International Records. She released her debut album Jean Carn in 1976. The debut single "Free Love" went to number 23 R&B. In June 1978, her second album for the label, Happy to Be With You, was released. It included the hit single "Don't Let It Go to Your Head".
Carn's third Philadelphia International album When I Find You Love was issued in 1979. "My Love Don't Come Easy" peaked at number 43 on the R&B chart. The album included the Jerry Butler penned track "Was That All It Was?" which, despite not charting on the R&B charts, was a big disco hit in the UK clubs.
At this time, Carn moved from the Philadelphia International label to the subsidiary TSOP imprint for her 1981 album Sweet and Wonderful. Carn moved to Motown Records in 1982, making her label debut with her only album on the label, Trust Me. The single "If You Don't Know Me By Now," a cover of the Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes hit with backing vocals by The Temptations, went to number 49 on the R&B chart.
By 1986, Carn signed to Omni Records. Closer Than Close, produced by saxophonist Grover Washington Jr. went to number one on the R&B charts. Her 1988 album You're a Part of Me was her only release on Atlantic Records. In 2014, Carn was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award present by the National R&B Music Society in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 2020, Carn was one of the performers aboard on the Soul Train Cruise.
On October 16, 2022, Carn's life was featured on the documentary TV One series, Unsung.

## Discography
### Studio albums

| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Record label |
| Year | Title | US | US R&B | US Jazz | Record label |
| 1976 | Jean Carn | 122 | 46 | 26 | Philadelphia International |
| 1978 | Happy to Be with You | — | 55 | — | Philadelphia International |
| 1979 | When I Find You Love | — | 42 | 28 | Philadelphia International |
| 1981 | Sweet and Wonderful | 176 | 38 | — | TSOP |
| 1982 | Trust Me | 210 | 37 | — | Motown |
| 1986 | Closer Than Close | 162 | 9 | — | Omni |
| 1988 | You're a Part of Me | — | 40 | — | Atlantic |
| 1995 | Carn Sings McCoy | — | — | — | Vammi |
| 1996 | Love Lessons | — | — | — | Moja |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. ||||||

### Compilations

* The Best of Jean Carn & The Best of The Jones Girls (1998, Recall 2cd)
* Closer Than Close: The Best of Jean Carn (1999, Philadelphia International/The Right Stuff)
* Collaborations (2002, Expansion)
* Don't Let It Go to Your Head: The Anthology (2018, SoulMusic)

### Singles

| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Album |
| Year | Single | US | US R&B | US Dan | UK | Album |
| 1971 | "Peace" | — | — | — | — | Infant Eyes |
| 1975 | "Valentine Love" (with Norman Connors & Michael Henderson) | 97 | 10 | — | — | Saturday Night Special |
| 1977 | "Free Love" | — | 23 | 18 | — | Jean Carn |
| 1977 | "You Got a Problem" | — | — | 18 | — | Jean Carn |
| 1977 | "If You Wanna Go Back" | — | — | 18 | — | Jean Carn |
| 1978 | "Happy to Be with You" | — | — | — | — | Happy to Be with You |
| 1978 | "Don't Let It Go to Your Head" | — | 54 | — | — | Happy to Be with You |
| 1978 | "There's a Shortage of Good Men" | — | — | — | — | Happy to Be with You |
| 1979 | "My Love Don't Come Easy" | — | 43 | — | — | When I Find You Love |
| 1979 | "Start the Fire" | — | — | — | — | When I Find You Love |
| 1979 | "Was That All It Was" | — | — | 22 | — | When I Find You Love |
| 1979 | "What’s On Your Mind" | — | — | 22 | — | When I Find You Love |
| 1979 | "Give It Up" | — | — | 22 | — | When I Find You Love |
| 1980 | "I'm Back for More" (with Al Johnson) | — | 26 | — | — | Back for More |
| 1981 | "Sweet and Wonderful" | — | — | — | — | Sweet and Wonderful |
| 1981 | "Love Don't Love Nobody (Part 1)" | — | 35 | — | — | Sweet and Wonderful |
| 1982 | "If You Don't Know Me by Now" | — | 49 | — | — | Trust Me |
| 1982 | "Let's Stay Together" (with Bobby Militello) | — | 74 | — | — | Blow |
| 1986 | "Closer Than Close" | — | 1 | — | — | Closer Than Close |
| 1986 | "Flame of Love" | — | 21 | — | — | Closer Than Close |
| 1987 | "Everything Must Change" | — | 79 | — | — | Closer Than Close |
| 1988 | "Heartache" | — | — | — | — | You're a Part of Me |
| 1988 | "Ain't No Way" | — | 23 | — | — | You're a Part of Me |
| 1988 | "Let Me Be the One" | — | — | — | 95 | You're a Part of Me |
| 1996 | "Don't Stop Doin' Whatcha Doin'" | — | 109 | — | — | Love Lessons |
| 1998 | "Make Love" | — | — | — | — | Love Lessons |
| 2002 | "Somebody Bigger" (with Jeff Majors) | — | 111 | — | — | Gotta Have Gospel |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |||||||

### DVD

* Jean Carn & Friends: The Sound of Philadelphia: Live in Europe (Expansion, 2005)
* Ladies Night Out—Live (Steppin Muzak, 2007, also available as a CD)