American singer Carl Carlton has died at age 72. He was best known for his disco-era hits, including his 1974 cover of “Everlasting Love,” which climbed to No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became a lasting classic.
Born Carlton Hudgens in Detroit, he began performing as a child under the name “Little Carl Carlton.” Though his early singles found limited U.S. success, they became popular in the U.K.’s Northern Soul scene. With vocals often compared to Stevie Wonder, Carlton later broke into the American mainstream with “Everlasting Love.”
His career peaked again in 1981 with “She’s a Bad Mama Jama (She’s Built, She’s Stacked),” which reached No. 2 on the soul charts, followed by a successful cover of “Baby I Need Your Loving.”
Carlton continued performing live for decades and collaborated with artists including Smokey Robinson, Rick James, Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, and The Commodores. He suffered a stroke in 2019 and passed away on December 14, 2025. His son confirmed the news, paying tribute to him as a music legend.