Carlton Earl "Carl" Anderson (February 27, 1945 – February 23, 2004) was an American singer, film and theater actor best known for his portrayal of Judas Iscariot in the Broadway and film versions of the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. He and Gloria Loring performed the duet "Friends and Lovers", which reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1986.
Life and career
Early life
Born in Lynchburg, Virginia, Anderson was one of 12 children of James and Alberta Anderson. He and some friends also formed a group called "The Second Eagle", with Anderson as lead singer. Among the many jazz and rock tunes that the Second Eagle covered were some from the album Jesus Christ Superstar, which had not been released in the United States yet.
In 1971, Anderson and his band performed some songs from the album at a Palm Sunday service; this performance was covered by the Today show. A producer for the American production of Jesus Christ Superstar saw the performance and offered him an audition.
In the late 1970s, he reprised his role as Judas for two regional productions in California, both under the auspices of the California Youth Theatre organization. Other films in which Anderson appeared include: The Black Pearl (1978) and Steven Spielberg's The Color Purple (1985). Television appearances include The Eddie Capra Mysteries, Cop Rock, Days of Our Lives, Rockford Files, and Hill Street Blues.
As a recording artist, Anderson was equally prolific. He signed with Motown Records in 1972. Several of the most recognizable albums to be released in the 1970s would bear the mark of Anderson, including his work with Stevie Wonder on his Songs in the Key of Life double album. He made numerous appearances at several notable clubs in Los Angeles during the 1970s and, with Columbia Records' talent scout Larkin Arnold, signed a record deal for which Anderson would release four albums on the Epic label beginning in 1982. In total, Anderson released nine jazz and Soul albums as a solo artist, including moderate successes "How Deep Does It Go" and "My Love Will", The Leonard Cohen / Anjani song "Nightingale" (2004) was recorded in his memory.
Discography
Solo
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!|Year
!|Title
|-
|1982
|align="left"| Absence With Out Love
- Released: 1982
- Label: Epic
|-
|1984
|align="left"| On and On
- Released: 1984
- Label: Epic
|-
|1985
|align="left"| Protocol
- Released: 1985
- Label: Epic
|-
|1986
|align="left"| Carl Anderson
- Released: 1986
- Label: Epic
|-
|1988
|align="left"| Act of Love
- Released: 1988
- Label: Polydor
|-
|1990
|align="left"| Pieces of a Heart
- Released: 1990
- Label: GRP
|-
|1992
|align="left"| Fantasy Hotel
- Released: 1992
- Label: GRP
|-
|1994
|align="left"| Heavy Weather/Sunlight Again
- Released: 1994
- Label: GRP
|-
|1997
|align="left"| Why We Are Here! (live)
- Released: 1997
- Label: Abu Khalil
|}
Soundtracks and compilations
— indicates a solo contribution.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!|Year
!|Artist
!|Title
!|Contribution
|-
|1973
|Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
|align="left"| Jesus Christ Superstar
- Released: 1973 (25th anniversary reissue 1998)
- Label: MCA
|Judas
|-
|1989
|The Rippingtons
|align="left"| GRP: On the Cutting Edge (Various Artists)
- Released: 1989
- Label: GRP
|Vocals ("Tourist in Paradise")
|-
|1991
|Garfield
|align="left"| Am I Cool or What? (Various Artists)
- Released: 1991
- Label: GRP
|Vocals ("Fat is Where It's At")
|-
|1992
|—
|align="left"| GRP 10th Anniversary Collection (Various Artists)
- Released: 1992
- Label: GRP
|Vocals ("How Deep Does It Go")
|-
|1994
|The Rippingtons
|align="left"| Jazz Live (Various Artists)
- Released: 1994
- Label: GRP
|Vocals ("Tourist in Paradise")
|-
|1996
|Tim Rice
|align="left"| Collection: Stage & Screen Classics (Various Artists)
- Released: 1996
- Label: Rhino
|Vocals ("Heaven on Their Minds")
|-
|rowspan="2"|1997
|The Rippingtons
|align="left"| The Best of The Rippingtons
- Released: 1997
- Label: GRP
|Vocals
|-
|Original Broadway Cast
|align="left"| Play On!
- Released: 1997
- Label: Varèse
|The Duke
|-
|1999
|Various Artists
|align="left"| The Civil War: The Complete Work
- Released: 1999
- Label: Atlantic
|Vocals ("Sarah")
|}
Other artists
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!|Year
!|Artist
!|Title
!|Contribution
|-
|1976
|Stevie Wonder
|align="left"| Songs in the Key of Life
- Released: 1976
- Label: Tamla
|Background Vocals (uncredited)
|-
|1980
|Menage a Trois
|align="left"| Menage a Trois
- Released: 1980
- Label: Ariola
|Vocals
|-
|1981
|Kazu Matsui Project
|align="left"| Time No Longer
- Released: 1981
- Label: Kazu
|Vocals
|-
|1983
|L.A. Jazz Choir
|align="left"| Listen...
- Released: 1983
- Label: Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs
|Vocals ("I Only Have Eyes For You")
|-
|1983
|Weather Report
|align="left"| Domino Theory
- Released: 1983
- Label: Columbia
|Vocals ("Can It Be Done")
|-
|1984
|Weather Report
|align="left"| Sportin' Life
- Released: 1984
- Label: Columbia
|Vocals ("Corner Pocket," "Hot Cargo," "Ice-Pick Willy")
|-
|1985
|Kenny Loggins
|align="left"| Vox Humana
- Released: 1985
- Label: Columbia
|Background Vocals
|-
|1986
|Joe Zawinul
|align="left"| Di•a•lects
- Released: 1986
- Label: Columbia
|Ensemble Voice
|-
|rowspan="2"|1987
|Nancy Wilson
|align="left"| Forbidden Lover
- Released: 1987
- Label: Epic
|Vocals ("Forbidden Lover")
|-
|Keiko Matsui
|align="left"| A Drop of Water
- Released: 1987
- Label: Passport Jazz
|Background Vocals
|-
|rowspan="4"|1989
|The Zawinul Syndicate
|align="left"| Black Water
- Released: 1989
- Label: Columbia
|Vocals
|-
|Dan Siegel
|align="left"| Late One Night
- Released: 1989
- Label: CBS Associated
|Vocals
|-
|Oceans
|align="left"| Ridin' the Tide
- Released: 1989
- Label: Pro-Jazz
|Vocals
|-
|The Rippingtons
|align="left"| Tourist in Paradise
- Released: 1989
- Label: GRP
|Vocals
|-
|rowspan="2"|1990
|Nancy Wilson
|align="left"| Lady with a Song
- Released: 1990
- Label: Epic
|Background Vocals
|-
|The Rippingtons
|align="left"| Welcome to the St. James' Club
- Released: 1990
- Label: GRP
|Vocals
|-
|rowspan="3"|1991
|Don Grusin
|align="left"| Zephyr
- Released: 1991
- Label: GRP
|Background Vocals
|-
|Peabo Bryson
|align="left"| Can You Stop the Rain
- Released: 1991
- Label: Columbia
|Background Vocals
|-
|Richard Elliot
|align="left"| On the Town
- Released: 1991
- Label: Blue Note
|Vocals
|-
|rowspan="2"|1992
|George Howard
|align="left"| Do I Ever Cross Your Mind?
- Released: 1992
- Label: GRP
|Background Vocals ("Try Again," "Stay Here With Me")
|-
|The Rippingtons
|align="left"| Live in L.A.
- Released: 1992
- Label: GRP
|Vocals
|-
|1993
|Eric Marienthal
|align="left"| One Touch
- Released: 1993
- Label: GRP
|Vocals
|-
|1995
|Kevin Toney
|align="left"| Pastel Mood
- Released: 1995
- Label: Ichiban
|Vocals
|-
|1996
|Michael Paulo
|align="left"| My Heart and Soul
- Released: 1996
- Label: Noteworthy
|Vocals
|-
|1998
|Nils
|align="left"| Blue Planet
- Released: 1998
- Label: Ichiban
|Vocals
|-
|rowspan="3"|1999
|Michael Paulo
|align="left"| Midnight Passion
- Released: 1999
- Label: Noteworthy
|Vocals
|-
|Gerald McCauley
|align="left"| The McCauley Sessions
- Released: 1999
- Label: Lightyear
|Vocals
|-
|L.A. Jazz Syndicate
|align="left"| L.A. Jazz Syndicate, Vol. 2
- Released: 1999
- Label: MCG
|Vocals
|-
|2000
|Brenda Russell
|align="left"| Paris Rain
- Released: 2000
- Label: Hidden Beach
|Vocals
|-
|2002
|Linda Eder
|align="left"| Gold
- Released: 2002
- Label: Atlantic
|Vocals
|}
Theater and concert credits
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!|Year
!|Title
!|Role
|-
|1971
|Jesus Christ Superstar (pre-Broadway tour)
|Judas Iscariot
|-
|1972
|Jesus Christ Superstar (Broadway)
|Judas Iscariot (understudy, later alternated with Ben Vereen)
|-
|1976-1977
|Jesus Christ Superstar (California Youth Theatre organization)
|Judas Iscariot (with Ted Neeley as Jesus and Yvonne Elliman as Mary)
|-
|1990
|Jesus Christ Superstar (brief West Coast tour)
|Judas Iscariot (with Barry Dennen as Pilate and Sam Harris as Jesus)
|-
|1992-1997
|Jesus Christ Superstar (national tour)
|Judas Iscariot (with Ted Neeley as Jesus, Dennis DeYoung as Pilate, Irene Cara/Syreeta Wright as Mary)
|-
|1997
|Play On! (Broadway)
|The Duke
|-
|1998
|Jesus Christ Superstar (Rubicon Theatre Company)
|Judas Iscariot (with Ted Neeley as Jesus)
|-
|1999
|Linda Eder - Once in a Lifetime
|Featured Vocalist (with Linda Eder and Douglas Sills)
|-
|1999-2000
|Jesus Christ Superstar (Italian tour)
|Judas Iscariot (also artistic director)
|-
|2002
|Beggar's Holiday (Rubicon Theatre Company)
|Mac
|-
|2002-2003
|Jesus Christ Superstar (national tour)
|Judas Iscariot (with Sebastian Bach as Jesus)
|}
Filmography
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
|1973|| Jesus Christ Superstar || Judas Iscariot ||
|-
|1977|| The Black Pearl || Moro ||
|-
|1985 || The Color Purple || Reverend Samuel ||
|-
|2015|| Superstars: The Documentary || Himself/Judas Iscariot ||
|}
References
External links
- Carl Anderson Biography at SoulTracks