Carla Benson - VOICE OF AN ANGEL
"THE MOST RECORDED FEMALE BACKGROUND VOCALIST IN THE HISTORY OF THE RECORDING INDUSTRY"
LEAD VOCALIST
CARLABENSON.ORG
We Stand With Black Lives Matter
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
Perfoming / Recordimg / Teaching
ACHIEVEMENTS
Carla sang on so many tracks that resonate so deeply with so many of us including Billy Paul's “Me and Mrs. Jones”, McFadden & Whitehead's “Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now”, Patti LaBelle's “New Attitude”, If Only You Knew” & ”On My Own” and cuts by Teddy Pendergrass, the O'Jays, Lou Rawls, Salsoul Orchestra, MFSB, Jerry Butler, Archie Bell & the Drells, the Stylistics, the Spinners, Harold Melvin & the Bluenotes, Elton John, Dionne Warwick, France Joli, Charo, Englebert Humperdink, Grace Jones, Johnny Mathis, Deniece Williams, Dick Jenson, Evelyn “Champagne” King, -plus many, many more.
THE MOST RECORDED FEMALE BACKGROUND VOCALIST IN THE HISTORY OF THE RECORDING INDUSTRY
Living Legend Award from her hometown the City of Camden N.J. " Adding to the extensive list of
performers she has worked with,"Lead Background Vocalist for Phila Chapter Rhythm and Blues Awards
Ceremony" Frankie Beverly and Maze, James Ingram, Bonnie Raitt, Chubby Checker, Paul Schaffer, Asford
and
Simpson, The Delphonics and Smokey Robinson 2006 Lead Vocalist Carla Benson appearing on more hit records
with
more name artists than any other vocalist in the history of the record business performed with the House
Band
including Paul Schaffer and Gerald Levert, at the Rhythm and Blues Foundation Pioneer Awards event in
Philadelphia; hosted by Smokey Robinson and Patti Labelle, honoring Frankie Beverly and Maze, Thom Bell,
Bettye LaVette, Barbara Mason, Chubby Checker, The DelFonics, Berry Gordy (Lifetime Achievement Award) and
Otis Redding (Legacy Award) winners.
Voices of Camden featuring Carla Benson
What Child is This Carol of the Bells
M F S B ft Carla Benson - Tell Me
Why
1980 " Mysteries Of The World " Album Tell Me Why was: Arranged By -- John R. Faith Backing Vocals
-- Barbara Ingram, Evette Benton Backing Vocals, Lead Vocals -- Carla Benson Bass -- Derrick Graves Drums --
Billy Johnson Keyboards -- Steve Gold Producer, Keyboards, Synthesizer -- Dexter Wansel Written-By -- C.
Biggs*, D. Wansel
MFSB is the band and background singers that assisted the legendary songwriting team Gamble and Huff in creating the world-famous "Sound of Philadelphia." MFSB recorded many of the biggest songs in music history. Classic Soul Songs like: Love Train; For the Love of Money; and Ain't No Stopping Us Now. But they didn't stop there. MFSB members performed with more Platinum selling R&B artist, than any group in history: Al Green, Ashford and Simpson, Billy Paul, Billy Preston, Blue Magic, Bobby Caldwell, Bobby Womack, Bootsy Collins, Burt Bacharach, Chaka Khan, the Dells, Dionne Warwick, the Four Tops, Gerald Levert, Elton John, Grace Jones, Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes, the Jackson's (with Michael), James Ingram, Jerry Butler, Lou Rawls, Luther Vandross, McFadden & Whitehead, Michael McDonald, Musiq Soul Child, the O-Jays, Peabo Bryson, Patti LaBelle, Phyllis Hyman, Ronald Isley, Ruben Studdard, Smokey Robinson, the Spinners, Steve Winwood, Stevie Wonder, the Stylistics, Teddy Pendergrass, the Temptations, and many more music icons. CARLA BENSON—Lead Vocalist Carla Benson is an original member of MFSB. She sings the top note on most of the Philadelphia International Record's hits. She has a Bachelor's degree in music from Rowan University, and is a highly-trained classical vocalist (soprano). On more than a few occasions Carla would have to sing hit songs by day, and full operatic arias by night. Carla sang with Patti LaBelle for seven years,was featured in the movie, along with Johnny, "Standing in the Shadows of Motown," appeared on the soundtrack of Eddie Murphy's Beverly Hills Cop, toured with the Funk Brothers, and appeared on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. She left the Funk Brothers in 2004 to reclaim her roots— MFSB. Carla has the distinction of appearing on more hit records with more name artists than any other vocalist in the history of the record business.
For The Love Of You ♫ Carla Benson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CibXZKGkss
Welome In My World featuring Teddy Pendergrass, Gregory Abbott, Jeffrey Osborne and more
You Show Me recorded by Carla L. Benson 2013 Vocals Carla L. Benson, Bckg. John Ingram, Tim Ingram
Autum Leaves - "The
voice of an Angel" 2017
ALL vocals and vocal arrangements by Carla L. Benson, keyboard on "Saving my Love" by Robert
Butts.
make up by Miss "Potato" hair by Miss Shamonique. VIDEO BY JEROME SYE AND CARLA BENSON.
PHOTOS BY JEROME SYE AND CHARLES SIMPSON. Engineers John Saunders, Adam Benson and Butch
Ingram
TWO TIME WINNING STANDING IN THE SHADOWS OF MOTOWN CARLA BENSON LEAD BACKGROUND VOCALIST CARLA BENSON
The Funk Brothers and Joan Osborne - Love is Like A Heat Wave Carla Benson Lead Background Vocalist
"The Sweethearts of Sigma" & Vincent Montana, Jr. - Christmas Session (1990) The Sweethearts are legends,
THE SWEETHEARTS OF SIGMA aka THE SWEETIES ON
'THE PEOPLE' June 13, 1987
Interview with Carla Benson, Evette Benton and Barbara Ingram and rare behind the scenes footage and
clips.
CARLA L. BENSON
Lead Background Vocalist
"THE MOST RECORDED FEMALE BACKGROUND VOCALIST IN THE HISTORY OF THE RECORDING INDUSTRY"
2007 Living Legend Award from her hometown the City of Camden N.J.
https://twitter.com/Carlala38 CARLA L. BENSON
Featured Performer and Section Leader with cousin Johnny Ingram singing with The Funk Brothers
Welcome In My World
I am Carla Benson and feel inspired by my contact with our inner-city "at-risk" youth to say that I'm happy to be a Ringleader at the Educational CyberPlayGround. I want to help empower all students who create art.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Carla sang on so many tracks that resonate so deeply with so many of us including Billy Paul's “Me and Mrs. Jones”, McFadden & Whitehead's “Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now”, Patti LaBelle's “New Attitude”, If Only You Knew” & ”On My Own” and cuts by Teddy Pendergrass, the O'Jays, Lou Rawls, Salsoul Orchestra, MFSB, Jerry Butler, Archie Bell & the Drells, the Stylistics, the Spinners, Harold Melvin & the Bluenotes, Elton John, Dionne Warwick, France Joli, Charo, Englebert Humperdink, Grace Jones, Johnny Mathis, Deniece Williams, Dick Jenson, Evelyn “Champagne” King, -plus many, many more.
THE MOST RECORDED FEMALE BACKGROUND VOCALIST IN THE HISTORY OF THE RECORDING INDUSTRY
Living Legend Award from her hometown the City of Camden N.J. "
Adding to the extensive list of performers she has worked with,"Lead Background Vocalist for
Phila Chapter Rhythm and Blues Awards Ceremony" Frankie Beverly and Maze, James Ingram, Bonnie Raitt,
Chubby Checker, Paul Schaffer, Asford and Simpson, The Delphonics and Smokey Robinson
2006 Lead Vocalist Carla Benson appearing on more hit records with more name artists than any other vocalist in the history of the record business performed with the House Band including Paul Schaffer and Gerald Levert, at the Rhythm and Blues Foundation Pioneer Awards event in Philadelphia; hosted by Smokey Robinson and Patti Labelle, honoring Frankie Beverly and Maze, Thom Bell, Bettye LaVette, Barbara Mason, Chubby Checker, The DelFonics, Berry Gordy (Lifetime Achievement Award) and Otis Redding (Legacy Award) winners.
3/27/04 Candace Award presented by National Coalition of 100 Black Women
Bachelor of Arts in Music Rowan University Glassboro, NJ 1999
Certified Paralegal Technical Institute of Camden County NJ 1997
Camden High School College Preparatory Curriculum NJ
Present
STUDIO RECORDING / PREFORMING / TEACHING
Teaching Music in Camden N.J. currently with The IDEA Performing Arts Center Idea-Arts.org
1 Harbor Blvd., Camden, NJ 08103. [p] 856-986-3506.
Expert Artist Carla L. Benson appearing in the National Children's Folksong Repository Video
Voices of Camden featuring Carla Benson
What Child is This Carol of the Bells
Funk Brothers
The contributions of the legendary "Funk Brothers", was indeed profound. It was one of the highlights of my career.
This is an opportunity for children to integrate 21st century literacy skills, music and technology by completing a webquest about the Funk Brothers, whose story was told in "Standing in the Shadows of Motown".
Her beautiful lyric soprano can be heard on great classics as "Me and Mrs. Jones", "Ain't No Stopping Us Now', "New Attitude", "Shame"..
2007
Music Teacher CAMDEN CENTER FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT,
CCYD, formerly Youth Training Center in Camden
1987 Patti LaBelle Band Carla singing with Alfonso Carey on Bass and Edward Batts on Guitar |
MFSB Sound of Philadelphia
Lead Vocalist Carla Benson an original member of MFSB™ has over
fifty Gold and Platinum albums. She sings the top note on most of the Philadelphia International Record's
hits.
MFSB™ (mother father sister brother) is the famous Philadelphia band that ruled Dance
music
worldwide in the 1970's and the members have recorded and performed with more top-level acts than any
group
in history.
Lead Vocalist Carla Benson
Sigma Sound Sweetie sang and recorded on A Soulful Tale of Two Cities a project of Motown and Philly soul musicians and
producers being remade in Philly and produced by Hurtt and Eli graduates of Dobbins High School.
Sigma Sound Sweeties
About The Sweethearts
Barbara Ingram, Evette Benton and Carla Benson.
Carla Benson is an original member of MFSB. She sings the top note on most of the
Philadelphia International Record's hits.
Tell Me Why - MFSB featured Carla Benson
First Ladies of Philadelphia Soul
Best known for recording the hit theme to Soul Train, MFSB was the pre-eminent instrumental outfit of
Philadelphia soul, backing numerous Kenny Gamble/Leon Huff productions while
recording regularly on their own throughout the '70s. The group's name stood for Mother Father Sister
Brother, and prior to their formation in 1971 as the house band at Gamble and Huff's Sigma Sound studios,
some of the core personnel had been working together as early as 1968...
Beginning of Sigma Sound and the Sigma Sound Sweeties
Show Teaser (Featuring Joe Tarsia, Sigma Sound Studios Founder & Engineer) NO mention of the Sigma Sound Sweeties!!
You've Really
Got A Hold On Me
Carla Benson and Johnny Ingram 1:08
Cool Jerk
Carla Benson & London Tour
"The Sweethearts of Sigma" & Vincent Montana, Jr. - Christmas Session (1990)
2005 Vocal Music Teacher at Leap Academy University Charter School Camden, NJ 08102. Camden County.
2005 Vocalist with Philadelphia Sound opening for King Solomon Burke September 17, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
1/02/04 NBC.com The Tonight Show with Jay
Leno
2003 "Standing In The Shadows of Motown" Movie and World Tour Section Leader for the Background Vocalists featured on stage and screen with The Funk Brothers. The contributions of the legendary "Funk Brothers", was indeed profound. It was one of the highlights of my career.
2001 Vocal Music Teacher at Brimm Medical Arts High School in Camden, New Jersey
1997-2000 Choir Director, All City Creative Arts Program, Camden, NJ
2000 Vocal Music Teacher, Philadelphia Dept. of Education Summer
1999 Producer/Director, Finale Event, National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Regional Conference, Camden NJ
1999 Executive Legal Secretary, Camden County Superior Court, Hall of Justice, Camden NJ 1997-
1995 Director, Vacation Bible School, New Life Lutheran Church, Camden NJ
FUNK BROTHERS Concert Tour Reviews:
Movie Moves Motown Band out of the Shadows 11/13/02
Moore Theatre Review 12/8/03 Funk Brothers Show Really Sizzles From The Get-Go - "Carla Benson, a former backup singer for Philadelphia International, called for two Supremes from the audience to flesh out the choreography on "Stop in the Name of Love."
The Seattle Times Audience Pays Tribute to Knights of Fun 11/8/03 "Carla Benson was featured in many of the songs, and she could not only belt 'em but was also charming and fun."
Ms. Benson has appeared on more hit records with more name artists than any other vocalist in the history
of
the record business.
Ms. Benson is a trained classical vocalist.
In the early 70's during the Disco era Carla started out her career singing with her first cousin Barbara Ingram who passed away in 1994 and Evette L. Benton, now Director for Head Start in the South Jersey. At the time all three were known as "The Sweeties" and "The Sweethearts of Sigma Sound". Patti LaBelle referred to Carla L. Benson as "Sweetie Number One". http://www.sigmasound.com/
Background Recording Vocalist for - Patti Labelle, Elton John, Phyllis Hyman, Johnny Mathis, The Jacksons, Charo, Atlantic Starr, Dionne Warwick, Michael McDonald, The O'Jays, Luther Vandross, Teddy Pendergrass, Lou Rawls, and many many more.
She has Performed on and off Broadway in "Dreamgirls", "Ain't Misbehavin'", "The Amen Corner", "The Black Nativity - Kennedy Center, and . . .
- Television - PBS, HBO, CBS
- Film - "Get on the Bus", "Beverly Hills Cop", "Low Down Dirty Shame"
- Commercials/PSA's - Bally's Park Place, "Philadelphia Get To Know Us", "Pepsi-Cola", "AT&T'
- Video - "Stir It Up" Patti Labelle
Sesame Street: Take the Hand of One You Love
The Philly Sound Orchestra Sample 16 Songs
Say Brother Pays Tribute to Webster Lewis with a Night on the Town
REFERENCE
A House on Fire: The Rise and Fall of Philadelphia Soul. By John A. Jackson, New York : Oxford
University Press, 2004.
Index
Benson, Carla, 2, 137, 138, 159, 172, 183, 185, 189, 222, 224-26, 237, 238, 295n, 314n,
315n.
See also Sweethearts of Sigma Sound 2, 138, 147, 157-59, 183, 222, 224-26, 237, 308n, 313n, 314n.
See also Benson, Carla; Benton, Evette; Ingram, Barbara