James Carr (June 13, 1942 - January 7, 2001), was an American Rhythm & Blues and soul musical artist.

Born to a Baptist preacher's family in Coahoma, Mississippi, Carr began singing in church and was performing in gospel groups and making tables on an assembly line in Memphis, Tennessee, when he began recording in the mid-'60s for Goldwax Records, a small Memphis based label.

Carr first made the R&B charts in 1966 with "You've Got My Mind Messed Up", followed by his most famous song "The Dark End of the Street", written by Dan Penn and Chips Moman. Carr continued to record for Goldwax until the label closed in 1969 but failed to reach the same heights with his subsequent releases.

Carr suffered from bipolar disorder for most of his life which affected his career. This was evident during a tour of Japan in the 1970s when he froze in front of an audience following an overdose of antidepressants. However he completed the Japan tour with much success. A resurgence in interest in his music, spurred by his portrayal in the 1986 book Sweet Soul Music, helped return Carr to the recording studio but failed to deliver any further chart success.

While Carr was never as popular among general audiences as contemporaries like Otis Redding and Solomon Burke, his vocal performances on select tracks are still considered unmatched by many soul music and rhythm & blues fans.

James Carr died from lung cancer in a Memphis nursing home in 2001, aged 58.

great soul singer

great voice

Greatest voice in rock history?

no

A Man Needs a Woman O.B. McClinton The Essential James Carr Forgetting You O.B. McClinton The Essential James Carr Freedom Train Steve Bogard ... The Essential James Carr Composed by: Steve Bogard, Larry Rogers, Karl Wells Gonna Marry My Mother-In-Law Sidney Bailey Ace of Diamonds Gonna Send You Back to Georgia J. Jr. Hammonds ... The Essential James Carr Composed by: J. Jr. Hammonds, Johnnie Mae Matthews I Gotta Go L.W. Jr Jones ... The Essential James Carr Composed by: L.W. Jr Jones, H.L. Thomas I'm a Fool for You Earl Cage ... The Essential James Carr Composed by: Earl Cage, Quinton Claunch, Dolly Greer, G. Jackson, Rudolph V. "Doc" Russell I'm Going for Myself Now E Campbell ... The Essential James Carr Composed by: E Campbell, E Johnson Let It Happen Spooner Oldham ... The Essential James Carr Composed by: Spooner Oldham, Dan Penn Lovable Girl O.B. McClinton The Essential James Carr Love Attack Quinton C ... The Essential James Carr Composed by: Quinton Claunch Pouring Water on a Drowning Man Drew Baker ... The Essential James Carr Composed by: Drew Baker, Dani McCormick Stronger Than Love Clarence ... The Essential James Carr Composed by: Clarence Shields The Dark End of the Street Chips Moman ... The Essential James Carr Composed by: Chips Moman, Dan Penn These Ain't Raindrops Quinton C ... The Essential James Carr Composed by: Quinton Claunch To Love Somebody Barry Gibb ... The Essential James Carr Composed by: Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb What Can I Call My Own? Larry Rogers The Essential James Carr You Didn't Know It But You Had Me Dolly Greer ... The Essential James Carr Composed by: Dolly Greer, G. Jackson You've Got My Mind Messed Up O.B. McClinton The Essential James Carr

Underrated. He ain't got a prayer with the voting group who runs the Hall, but man what a soul singer. His stuff is on par with "Wicked" Wilson Pickett (Stomp It, Kick It), and Otis. he is right behind them, at the Dark End of the Street. Carr & O.V. Wright. They won't let these guys in though, must make room fro jazz legends like Miles Davis for some reason.