James Anthony Carmichael | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | James Carmichael |
| Born | (1941-09-14)September 14, 1941 (age 84) |
| Genres | R&B,soul |
| Occupations | Arranger,record producer |
| Years active | Early 1960s–present |
| Labels | Mirwood,Motown |
James Anthony Carmichael (born September 14, 1941) is an AmericanGrammy-winning musician,arranger, andrecord producer. At first he started off inLos Angeles as an arranger and producer forMotown acts likeThe Temptations and theJackson 5. Carmichael went on to attain fame in arranging and producing artists such asthe Commodores,Atlantic Starr,Diana Ross andLionel Richie.[1][2]
Carmichael grew up inGadsden, Alabama, and learned piano as a child. He playedtuba in the Carver High School band, and graduated from there in 1959. He enrolled at theUniversity of California, Los Angeles, with the intention of becoming a doctor, but his plans changed and he studied music atLos Angeles City College while developing a reputation as asession musician.[3]
By 1966, he had started working with producerFred Sledge Smith atMirwood Records, with musicians includingThe Olympics (who had previously had hits with "Western Movies", "Hully Gully" and others),Bob & Earl, and the Soul Runners, who later became theWatts 103rd Street Rhythm Band. Carmichael also worked with other Mirwood musicians whose recordings later became popular as part of theNorthern soul scene in Britain. Reviewer Jason Ankeny atAllMusic stated that Smith and Carmichael together honed "a distinctive style all their own, creating soul music that was both relentlessly energetic and sweetly sophisticated, topped off by trademark vibes that evoked the otherworldly beauty of a Pacific Ocean sunset."[4] One of Smith and Carmichael's most successful records as an arrangement and production team was the 1967 albumSilver Throat: Bill Cosby Sings, which included Cosby's #4 US pop hit "Little Ole Man (Uptight, Everything's Alright)".[5]
In the late 1960s, Carmichael began working on afreelance basis withMotown artists in Los Angeles, includingthe Four Tops,the Miracles, andthe Supremes. He was soon signed up by the company to work exclusively for them as an arranger, and worked on that basis with the Miracles,the Jackson 5,Michael Jackson,Marvin Gaye,Gladys Knight,Eddie Kendricks, and others. His greatest successes came after he was approached in 1974 to work withthe Commodores, and agreed to do so after receiving assurances that he would be given production responsibilities on their recordings. He encouraged the group to record their own material, and produced their first hit, the instrumental "Machine Gun", as well asthe album of the same name.[3][1] He stayed working with the Commodores for the next seven years, co-producing with the band their successful albumsCaught in the Act,Movin' On (both 1975),Hot on the Tracks (1976),Commodores (1977),Natural High (1978),Midnight Magic (1979),Heroes (1980), andIn the Pocket (1981). Featuring their lead vocalistLionel Richie, the band had a long series of hit singles, again co-produced by Carmichael, over the period, including "Slippery When Wet", "Sweet Love", "Just to Be Close to You", "Easy", "Brick House", "Too Hot Ta Trot", and two US #1 pop hits, "Three Times a Lady" and "Still".[6][7] The Commodores acknowledged Carmichael's crucial role in their success.[1]
When Richie left the Commodores in 1982 for a solo career, Carmichael went with him. The pair co-produced all Richie's albums and singles over the next few years, including the albumsLionel Richie (1982),Can't Slow Down (1983), andDancing on the Ceiling (1986). The albums featured another string of hits co-produced by Carmichael, including four US number one records on the pop charts - "Truly", "All Night Long (All Night)", "Hello", and "Say You, Say Me".[1][6][7] When Richie won his firstAmerican Music Award in 1984, he made a point of thanking Carmichael for his involvement.[3] The song "All Night Long" was nominated for severalGrammy awards, and Carmichael and Richie jointly wonGrammies in 1984 for the albumCan't Slow Down and as producers (non-classical) of the year.[8] Richie credited Carmichael with giving him the inspiration to write the song "Hello", saying that Carmichael had come to his house:[9]
As he turned the corner to come into the room, I turned to him and said: 'Hello, is it me you're looking for?' He said: 'Finish that song.'.... I kept saying to him, 'You gotta be kidding me, right? I was just joking.' He said, 'No no, that's incredible. Give me a verse to that.' So I actually went in writing this song not liking the song, thinking that it was corny. I mean, this is REALLY corny. This is not going to do well. Then by the time I finished the verse, I fell in love with the song again.
Carmichael also producedAtlantic Starr's albumsRadiant (1981),Brilliance (1982), andYours Forever (1983). He contributed toKenny Rogers' albumWe've Got Tonight, and he and Richie co-producedDiana Ross' 1985 hit "Missing You", a tribute to Marvin Gaye.[1] Carmichael also worked with the remaining Commodores on the group's 1986 albumUnited.[3][1] He returned to working with Lionel Richie on the 1996 albumLouder Than Words, and on Richie's 1998 albumTime.[6]
James Anthony Carmichael continues to live in Los Angeles. He is unrelated to James Carmichael, the lead singer with disco groupInstant Funk.[1]
Carmichael has won twoGrammy Awards from five nominations.[2]
| Year | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Producer of The Year Non-Classical | - | Nominated |
| Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocal(s) | All Night Long (All Night) (Single) | Nominated | |
| Record of the Year | All Night Long (All Night) (Single) | Nominated | |
| 1984 | Producer of The Year (Non-Classical) | - | Won |
| Album of The Year | Can't Slow Down | Won |
