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Carroll, Jon

Jon Carroll, also credited as Jonathan Carroll and John Carroll, is a singer-songwriter, composer, arranger, producer and musician born in Washington D.C., who began his musical career by playing in various clubs, including The Cellar Door in Georgetown, when he was a teenager.

When he was 18 years old he became a founding member of the Starland Vocal Band who had a major success when their “Afternoon Delight” topped the Billboard Hot 100 and the Canadian singles chart and reached No. 18 in the UK.   The song received four Grammy Award nominations and won the Grammy Award for Best Arrangement for Voices in 1977.  In 2010 the song was named the “20th sexiest song of all time” by Billboard.  The group also won a Grammy Award for Best New Artist.

After releasing 5 albums, but not being able to attain the same success they had with “Afternoon Delight”, the band finished in 1981 and the members went their own way.

This did not stop Jon for going from strength to strength and his songwriting soon came to the fore when Linda Ronstadt had a hit with his “Get Closer”.  Other artists that have since covered his songs include Kenny Rogers and Tom Jones among others.

Alongside appearing with his own band, he has also performed with acts such as the Dixie Chicks, Eric Lindell and Peter Wolf and has been a long time keyboardist and singer with Mary Chapin Carpenter.

He is also a much sought after session musician who has appeared on countless recordings and his compositions and songs have been heard on the television, in commercials and on film.

He has received recognition for his contribution to music by winning more than 20 “Wammies” from the Washington Area Music Association.

Linda Ronstadt recordings
Get Closer (Jonathan Carroll)
Asylum 7-69948-A

Here he is performing his “Get Closer”…

Sources:

  1. https://www.joncarroll.org/who
  2. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0139052/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm
  3. http://www.broadjam.com/artists/home.php?artistID=78938
  4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starland_Vocal_Band
  5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afternoon_Delight
  6. https://www.discogs.com/artist/1613814-Jon-Carroll
  7. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/jon-carroll-mn0000255278/credits