Jeff Carson
Country music singer Jeff Carson, kneeling in front of a rusty door
Carson in a promotional picture
Background information
Birth nameJeffrey Lee Herndon[1]
Born(1963-12-16)December 16, 1963[2]
Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
OriginGravette, Arkansas, U.S.
DiedMarch 26, 2022(2022-03-26) (aged 58)
Franklin, Tennessee, U.S.
GenresCountry
Occupation(s)Singer
Instrument(s)Vocals, harmonica, bass guitar
Years active1980–2012, 2019–2022
LabelsCurb

Jeffrey Lee Herndon (December 16, 1963 – March 26, 2022), known professionally as Jeff Carson, was an American country music artist. Originally a session musician in Branson, Missouri, and later a demo singer, he was signed to Curb Records in 1995, releasing his self-titled debut album that year, followed by Butterfly Kisses in 1998 and Real Life in 2002. He charted 14 singles on the Billboard country charts, including the Number One hit "Not on Your Love", the Top Ten hits "The Car" and "Holdin' Onto Something", and the Top 20 "Real Life (I Never Was the Same Again)". He retired from music in 2009 and became a police officer.

Biography

Jeffrey Lee Herndon was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and raised in Gravette, Arkansas.[2] In his childhood, he played harmonica and guitar and sang in church.[3] In high school, he and some friends formed a band.[4] They won second place at a local talent show for performing the song "Seven Bridges Road".[2] After graduating, he attended another talent competition held at a park in Rogers, Arkansas.[4] The winner of that competition then asked Carson to play in his band.[4] The band split up after four years.[2]

Carson later moved on to Branson, Missouri, where he found work playing bass guitar in local bands, in addition to writing songs.[5] While in Branson, he met his then-future wife, who persuaded him to move to Nashville, Tennessee, which he did in 1989.[2][6] They married in 1989.[7] In Nashville, he found work with a band that played at the Opryland Hotel, before convincing the hotel to book him as a solo act.[7][2] He eventually recorded demos for other artists, before he was discovered by record producer Chuck Howard in 1994 and signed to Curb Records.[2][5][7]

Music career

1995–1996: Jeff Carson

Carson's debut single, "Yeah Buddy", was released in early 1995, peaking at number 69 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. It was followed by "Not on Your Love", which became his only number one later that year.[2] Both singles were included on his debut album, titled Jeff Carson, which produced two more Top Ten hits in "The Car" (number 3) and "Holdin' Onto Something" (number 6), the latter of which was previously recorded by John Michael Montgomery. Between those two singles was a Christmas release called "Santa Got Lost in Texas" (number 70), The album's last single was "That Last Mile" at number 62.[1] In 1996, Carson won the Academy of Country Music’s Video of the Year for "The Car". He also co-wrote the song "Whoop-De-Do" on Keith Gattis' 1996 self-titled debut.[8] Jeff Carson received a mixed review from Country Standard Time, whose Larry Stephens said that "Carson's songs are all good, but nothing sticks or grabs the heart strings."[9]

1997–1999: Butterfly Kisses

Carson released his second album in 1997. Entitled Butterfly Kisses, this album produced four singles, none of which reached top 40: "Do It Again" at number 55; the album's title track (number 62), which was also a number 1 Adult Contemporary hit and minor country hit for Bob Carlisle as well as a Top 40 pop and country hit for the Raybon Brothers; "Here's the Deal" (number 64); and "Cheatin' on Her Heart" (number 52).[1] This album also included an alternative mix of "Butterfly Kisses" which combined elements of labelmate Kippi Brannon's then-current single "Daddy's Little Girl", as well as a duet with Merle Haggard on a rendition of his hit "Today I Started Loving You Again".[5]

1998–2002: Real Life

His eleventh single, "Shine On", was released in 1998. After it, too, failed to reach Top 40, Carson's third album was repeatedly delayed. "Scars and All" did not reach the country charts, but was a number 1 on the PowerSource Christian charts. Following it in 2001 was his first Top 40 country single in five years, "Real Life (I Never Was the Same Again)". It reached number 14 at the end of the year,[1] and was followed by the release of his third studio album, also called Real Life. In 2002, Carson suffered a broken vertebra in a sledding accident at home. Although he briefly spent some time in a body cast, he was not seriously injured.[10] Another single from Real Life, entitled "Until We Fall Back in Love Again", peaked at number 47.[11]

2003–2022: Return to music and police work

Carson charted again in 2003 with his cover of the Christian pop hit "I Can Only Imagine", a cut from a multi-artist compilation called God Bless the USA 2003.[12] He also co-wrote the track "Where Has My Hometown Gone" on Craig Morgan's album I Love It, as well as Elbert West's single "Kimberly Cooper's Eyes". A duet with Lisa Brokop entitled "God Save the World", released in 2005, also failed to chart. His most recent single, "When You Said You Loved Me", was sent to radio in early 2007, as the lead-off single to an upcoming Greatest Hits package. The single failed to chart, however, and his Greatest Hits album was cancelled. In February 2009, he retired from the music business and joined the Franklin, Tennessee, police force as a full-time police officer.[13]

Death

Carson died from a heart attack at a hospital in Franklin, Tennessee, on March 26, 2022, at the age of 58.[14]

Discography

Albums

Studio albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions[15]
US Country US
[16]		 US Heat CAN Country
Jeff Carson 22 152 7 4
Butterfly Kisses
  • Release date: June 24, 1997
  • Label: Curb Records
 39 — 28 —
Real Life
  • Release date: September 4, 2001
  • Label: Curb Records
 38 — 29 x
"—" denotes the album failed to chart or not released
"x" denotes that no relevant chart existed at the time

Compilation albums

Title Album details
Best of Jeff Carson – I Can Only Imagine[17]
  • Release date: May 28, 2013
  • Label: Curb Records (Digital Only)

Singles

1990s

Year Single Peak chart positions[1] Album
US Country US CAN Country
1995 "Yeah Buddy" 69 — — Jeff Carson
"Not on Your Love"[18] 1 97 2
"The Car" 3 —[lower-alpha 1] 3
1996 "Holdin' Onto Something" 6 — 20
"That Last Mile" 62 — —
1997 "Do It Again" 55 — 95 Butterfly Kisses
"Butterfly Kisses" 66 —[lower-alpha 2] —
"Here's the Deal" 64 —[lower-alpha 3] —
1998 "Cheatin' on Her Heart" 52 — 97
"Shine On" 49 — — Real Life
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

2000s and 2010s

Year Single Peak chart
positions[1]		 Album
US Country US
2000 "Scars and All" — — Real Life
2001 "Real Life (I Never Was the Same Again)" 14 —[lower-alpha 4]
2002 "Until We Fall Back in Love Again" 46 —
2003 "I Can Only Imagine" 50 — God Bless the USA 2003[12]
2005 "God Save the World" (with Lisa Brokop)[19] — — Best of America, Vol. 2
2006 "When You Said You Loved Me"[20] — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Other charted songs

Year Single Peak positions
[1]		 Album
US Country
1995 "Santa Got Lost in Texas" 70 —


Notes
  1. ↑ "The Car" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 13 on Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles.[1]
  2. ↑ "Butterfly Kisses" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 3 on Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles.[1]
  3. ↑ "Butterfly Kisses" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 1 on Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles.[1]
  4. ↑ "Real Life" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 3 on Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles.[1]


Music videos

Year Video Director
1995 "Yeah Buddy" Sara Nichols
"Not on Your Love" Jim Shea
"The Car"[21] Michael Salomon
1996 "That Last Mile"[22] Greg Crutcher
1998 "Shine On"[23] David Abbott
2001 "Real Life (I Never Was the Same Again)"
2020 "God Save The World"

Awards and nominations

Year Organization Award Nominee/Work Result
1996 Academy of Country Music Awards Video of the Year "The Car" Won

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 81. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Jeff Carson biography". AllMusic. Retrieved July 19, 2007.
  3. ↑ Liebig, Lorie (March 27, 2022). "JUST IN: Jeff Carson, 90s Country Chart-Topper, Dies at 58". Taste of Country. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 Lambert, Arden (December 18, 2020). "Jeff Carson Showcased The Power of a Father's Love In The Song "The Car"". Country Thang Daily. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 "Jeff Carson Biography". Oldies.com. Retrieved December 28, 2007.
  6. ↑ "Country singer-songwriter Jeff Carson, who later became a Tennessee police officer, dies at 58". Law Officer. March 27, 2022. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  7. 1 2 3 "Jeff Carson". memim.com. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  8. ↑ Keith Gattis (CD insert). Keith Gattis. RCA Records. 1996. 66834.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ↑ Stephens, Larry. "Jeff Carson review". Country Standard Time. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
  10. ↑ "Carson Goes Home". Country Music Television. Retrieved July 19, 2007.
  11. ↑ Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. April 6, 2002. p. 46. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  12. 1 2 "God Bless The USA 2003 – Best of America Vol 3". Curb. March 29, 2022. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Singer Jeff Carson Becomes Police Officer". CMT. February 27, 2009. Retrieved March 6, 2009.
  14. ↑ "Country Singer Jeff Carson Dies At 58". Forbes. March 26, 2022. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  15. ↑ Maier, Felix (March 27, 2022). "Jeff Carson ist tot". CountryMusicNews.de (in German). Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Jeff Carson". Billboard. June 8, 2021. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Jeff Carson – Best Of Jeff Carson – I Can Only Imagine". hitparade.ch. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  18. ↑ "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. June 10, 1995. p. 61.
  19. ↑ "Country singer Jeff Carson has passed away". WSIP FM 98.9. March 27, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  20. ↑ "Review: Jeff Carson, "When You Said You Loved Me"". Country Universe. January 15, 2007. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  21. ↑ Willis, Jackie (March 27, 2022). "Jeff Carson, Country Music Singer, Dead at 58". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  22. ↑ "CMT : Videos : Jeff Carson : That Last Mile". Country Music Television. Retrieved October 14, 2011.
  23. ↑ Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. July 25, 1998. p. 83. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
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