Carman

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Carman
Background information
Birth name	Carman Domenic Licciardello
Born	January 19, 1956 (age 53) Trenton, New Jersey, USA
Origin	Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Genres	CCM/Gospel
Occupations	Actor, author, writer, Singer, Rapper
Years active	1982-Present

Carman (born Carman Domenic Licciardello on January 19, 1956 in Trenton, New Jersey), is a Grammy-nominated, contemporary Christian music artist, who grew up in an Italian home.

Early life

Carman (aka Major C) was born in New Jersey where he grew up in an Italian home full of music and laughter. As a boy, Carman played the drums and the guitar, and he began singing at 16. and attended Military School for two years. As his career developed, Carman played the tough New Jersey and Philly clubs before went on to Las Vegas. It was after seeing an Andrae Crouch concert that Carman gave his life to the Lord and embraced his newfound Christian faith. After five years of ministerial preparation and working several construction type jobs, he moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma where he began to develop his ministry headquarters for a national outreach.

During the next three decades Carman changed the face of Christian music and evolved contemporary music evangelism into what it is today. Carman established "Carman Ministries" and "Carman World Outreach," non-profit organizations that touched the lives of literally millions of people worldwide. He has seen well over one million concert salvations and holds the record for the largest soul-winning musical event in TV History with Halloween 3:16 on TBN with over 70,000 souls coming to Christ in one night. Billboard Magazine recognized Carman's influence in Christian music by naming him the first "Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year." He has received 15 gold and platinum albums and videos and has sold over 10 million records. He holds the world's record for the largest solo Christian Concerts in history with: 80,000 outdoors in Charlotte, North Carolina, 71,132 indoors at Texas Stadium and the largest solo ticketed CCM solo concert with 50,000 in Johannesburg, South Africa. He still remains the only Christian "stadium act" ever. He has written novels, screenplays, recorded all the voices in audio books and even has the longest running modern-day theatrical release for a Christian film of six weeks with the movie he acted in the lead role as well: "The Champion." He alone has collected over 1,000,000 names for a petition to put prayer in schools. Which still holds the record for the largest petition of any kind collected by one individual on any subject in United States history. He had the Longest number 1 Record on Billboard CCM sales chart at 33 Weeks in a row. Speaker, actor, writer, minister, author, researcher, communicator, athlete, and musical song and dance man he has done much and is still ready to do more. He is currently focused on writing film screenplays, acting, live performance and speaking engagements, various TV productions and hosting on the evening programs on the TBN network.

Over the past 3 decades, Carman has entertained, encouraged and preached the Gospel to millions, crossing denominational, cultural and ethnic lines.

Career

Carman released the LP, Some-O-Dat in 1982, and began a string of CCM chart successes with his song "Sunday's On The Way" from the live album of the same name in 1983.

Later, Carman established the non-profit organizations Carman Ministries and Carman World Outreach. Between 1987 and 1989, he was named Charisma magazine's readers' choice for favorite male vocalist.

In 1990, Billboard Magazine recognized Carman's influence in Christian music by naming him the first "Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year." He has received 15 gold and platinum albums and videos and has sold over 10 million records. He holds the world record for the largest solo Christian Concerts in history with: 80,000 outdoors in Charlotte, North Carolina, 71,132 indoors at Texas Stadium and the largest solo ticketed CCM solo concert with 50,000 in Johannesburg, South Africa. He still remains the only Christian "stadium act" ever.

Carman remains well known for his unique story-songs such as "Sunday's On The Way", "Lazarus Come Forth", "The Champion", and numerous others. His music styles have varied over the years with Pop, Rock, Rap, Ballads, Kid's Music, Hymns, Country and Praise & Worship.

Beyond music, he has written novels, screenplays, and has recorded audio books. He had the Longest #1 Record on Billboard CCM sales chart at 33 Weeks. He is currently focused on writing film screenplays, acting, live concerts, various TV productions and interview duties as an evening host on the TBN network.

In 2001, Carman starred in the full-length film Carman: The Champion.

James Lloyd of Christian Media Network fame is noted for taking credit for producing Carman's first album. James Lloyd is also noted for selling the dietary supplement MSM.

Carman's song Who's in the House? (Kickin' it for Christ) appears in the documentary Jesus Camp.

Discography

• Some-o-Dat (1982)
• Carman (1982)
• Sunday's On the Way (1983)
• Comin' On Strong (1984)
• A Long Time Ago...in a Land Called Bethlehem (1986)
• The Champion (1986)
• Live: Radically Saved (1988)
• Revival in the Land (1990)
• Christmas With Carman (1990/(r)1995)
• High Praises, Vol. 1 (1991)
• Shakin' the House (1991)
• Carman Ministries: High Praises, Vol. 2 (1991)
• Yo Kidz! (1992)
• Lord of All: Songs of Carman (1992)
• Addicted to Jesus (1992)
• The Absolute Best (1993)
• The Standard (1993)
• Yo Kidz!, Vol. 2: Armor of God (1994)
• To Kidz! 2 Everland (1994)
• R.I.O.T. (Righteous Invasion of Truth) (1995)
• Lawrence the Kat and the Bible (1996)
• Carman's Yo! Kidz: The Hitz (1996)
• Lo Mejor - The Best (1996)
• I Surrender All: 30 Classic Hymns (1997)
• Mission 3:16 (EP) (1997)
• Mission 3:16 (1998)
• Passion for Praise, Vol. 1 (1999)
• Heart of a Champion (2000)
• Ultimate Praise (2001)
• The Early Ministry Years (2002)
• House of Praise (2003)
• Live and Reloaded (2005)
• The Ultimate Collection (2007)
• Instrument of Praise (2007)

Charts

RIAA Certifications

Albums

Videos

^[1]

Movies & Television Shows

• Book of Ruth (2009) - Appeared as Boaz
• Carman: The Champion (2001) - Writer, Producer, and Leading Actor
• Carman: Time 2 - TV Show on TBN (1995-1997) - Writer and Leading Actor
• R.I.O.T.: The Movie (1996) - Writer, Producer, and Leading Actor

References

1. ^ Carman World Outreach - Biography

External links

• Carman World Outreach, official site.
• Carman's myspace page
• Carman (singer) at the Internet Movie Database
• Time 2 page