The HistoryMakers® Video Oral History Interview with Jean Carne




Overview of the Item

Repository: The HistoryMakers
1900 S. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60616
(312) 674-1900
info@thehistorymakers.com
http://www.thehistorymakers.com
Interviewer: Larry Crowe
Videographer: Scott Stearns
Title:Video Oral History Interview with Jean Carne
Dates:May 07, 2003
Abstract: (ABSTRACT)
Quantity: 4 Betacam SP videocassettes, 1 half-Hollinger box containing (NUMBER) folders of accompanying materials.
Identification: 2003.101
Language: The interviews and records are in English

Biographical Note

Born Sarah Jean Parker in Columbus, Georgia, on March 15, 1947, Jean Carne's remarkable voice was first heard in the 1970s. While attending Booker T. Washington High School in Atlanta, Carne learned to speak Russian fluently. After graduating in 1965, she attended Morris Brown College and was planning on attending Juilliard School of Music when she met and married Doug Carne.

Carne's first exposure to the public was as a teenager in Atlanta, singing "Misty" on a morning radio show. After meeting her husband, Carne joined his jazz fusion band as a vocalist, and they went on to record three albums. This work attracted the attention of the group Earth, Wind and Fire, which she joined as a back-up vocalist on its first two albums. After leaving Earth, Wind, and Fire, Carne toured with Duke Ellington, and then went on to join Buddah Records. In 1975, she hit the top-ten charts with Norman Connors on the single "Valentine Love." Throughout the rest of the 1970s, Carne continued to record and tour, releasing such popular singles as "Was That All It Was," "Free Love," and "Don't Let It Go To Your Head" through Philadelphia International Records, and in 1982, she signed with industry giant Motown Records. In 1986, Carne joined Omni Records, which produced her first number-one hit, "Closer Than Close." Carne continued to record throughout the 1990s, including the release of a greatest hits album.

Carne continues to tour six months a year, wowing audiences wherever she goes. She spends the other six months a year at home in Atlanta with her three children.

Biographical Note by The HistoryMakers®


Scope and Contents

This life oral history interview with Jean Carne was conducted by Larry Crowe on 2003-05-07 in Atlanta, Georgia and is recorded on 4 30-minute Betacam SP videocassettes. Access copies exist on Betacam SP, VHS, DVD and MPEG-1. The interview contains information on (COMPLETE ONE SENTENCE DESCRIPTION OF INTERVIEW). Accompanying materials in the collection include Jean Carne's correspondence with The HistoryMakers® related to the interview; a copy of the signed release form and the production report; the biographical information used by the interviewer to prepare for the interview (DETAILS); paper copies of the interview transcripts, 3 1/2" floppy disks with electronic copies of the transcripts; selected quotes for video clips; photocopies of photographs captured on video; XML files with metadata created in editing and cataloguing the interview for The HistoryMakers Digital Video Library; and paper copies of these XML files.


Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

Access to paper records is restricted. Other restrictions may be applied on a case-by-case basis.

Restrictions on Use

All use of materials must be pre-approved by The HistoryMakers® and appropriate credit must be given. All use credits must be pre-approved by The HistoryMakers®. Copyright is held by The HistoryMakers®.


Index Terms

This record series is indexed under the following controlled access terms.
Contributors:
Carne, Jean, 1947-
Crowe, Larry
Stearns, Scott
Persons:
(PERSONS)
Corporate Bodies:
(CORPORATE BODIES)
Family Names:
Carne
Places:
(PLACES)
Subjects:
(SUBJECTS)
Document Types:
Video oral history interview
Titles:
The HistoryMakers® Video Oral History Interview with Jean Carne


Related Material

Accompanying materials: Accompanying materials are filed in (NUMBER) folders in a half-Hollinger box and shelved at The HistoryMakers® Archives and Collection Library by accession number, separately from the videos.


Administrative Information

Location of Originals

Betacam, VHS, DVD and MPEG-1 access copies are held for in-house use at The HistoryMakers®; Betacam SP, VHS and DVD playback hardware is provided for in-house viewing of the access copies; MPEG-1 copies are searchable and viewable via a digital video database.

Preferred Citation

The HistoryMakers® Video Oral History Interview with Jean Carne, May 07, 2003. The HistoryMakers® African American Video Oral History Collection, 1900 S. Michigan Avenue Chicago, Illinois.


Detailed Description/Tape Listings

Video Oral History Interview with Jean Carne, Tape 1, May 07, 2003, TRT: 00:30:29.

Vocalist, arranger, and producer Jean Carne describes her family background and her parents' personalities. Carne describes her childhood in Atlanta, Georgia, recalling family musical activities, favorite recreations, and the schools she attended. Carne talks about her high level of musical participation in church, school, and at home throughout her childhood.



Video Oral History Interview with Jean Carne, Tape 2, May 07, 2003, TRT: 00:28:51.

Vocalist, arranger, and producer Jean Carne discusses her interest in the Russian language and explains how Cold War politics prevented her from journeying to Russia. Carne continues to chart her musical development throughout her youth, describing her musical training on many different instruments and her participation in bands and choir while in high school. Carne describes her experience at Morris Brown College, where she majored in music. Carne then talks about meeting her husband, Doug Carn, and explains her decision to become a recoding artist, forgoing a chance to study at The Juilliard School.



Video Oral History Interview with Jean Carne, Tape 3, May 07, 2003, TRT: 00:28:07.

Vocalist, arranger, and producer Jean Carne discusses her musical career, going through her musical partnership with then-husband Doug Carn and her collaborations with many other recording artists, including Horace Silver. Carne talks about her experiences with different record labels, giving high praise to Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff's Philly International Records. Carne also discusses her popularity and her hit single 'Closer Than Close', a collaboration with Grover Washington, Jr.



Video Oral History Interview with Jean Carne, Tape 4, May 07, 2003, TRT: 00:16:00.

Vocalist, arranger, and producer Jean Carne recalls some of her most memorable musical performances, including a performance with Duke Ellington, and discusses her collaboration with Earth, Wind and Fire. Carne discusses the future of music and names some her favorite artists, as well as talking about her future projects and intentions to pay tribute to musical influences such as Lena Horne and Etta James. She also considers her legacy and how she would like to be remembered.