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Ringleader CARLA L. BENSON

Carla L. Benson

CARLA L. BENSON
First Lady of Philadelphia Soul

"THE MOST RECORDED FEMALE BACKGROUND VOCALIST
IN THE HISTORY OF
THE RECORDING INDUSTRY"

Resulting in the 2007 Living Legend Award
from her hometown the City of Camden N.J.

Copyright 2003 all rights reserved worldwide
Not available for download

CARLA L. BENSON

Carla singing with 2 members of the Patti LaBelle Band 1987 Alfonso Carey on Bass and Edward Batts on Guitar

Copyright 2003 all rights reserved worldwide
Not available for download
Carla Benson Featured Performer and Section Leader CARLA L. BENSON and cousin Johnny Ingram singing with The Funk Brothers
Copyright 2003 all rights reserved worldwide
Not available for download

 

Greetings,

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.

PLEASE READ MY PERSONAL MESSAGE TO ALL MY STUDENTS AND CHILDREN EVERYWHERE. 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".

Learn about the AWAKENINGS' After School Program ~ Information made available upon request.
Includes literacy, tutoring, nutrition, movement, money management, guest artists and seminars. Students host events for their families, the elderly, preschool children and other target groups in an effort to foster strengthened familial ties, familiarity and increased respect for the elderly, increased parenting skills and more. We will offer field trips and other incentives to participants.

READ MY PERSONAL MESSAGE TO MY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND ALL CHILDREN

LEARN HOW MUSIC MAKES YOU SMARTER AND HOW THE BRAIN WORKS

Achievements Awards Education
Work Experience Discography Reference

ACHIEVEMENTS

 

 

AWARDS

3/27/04 Candace Award presented by National Coalition of 100 Black Women

EDUCATION

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

WORK EXPERIENCE

 

2007 - 2008
Currently: Music Teacher CAMDEN CENTER FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, CCYD, formerly Youth Training Center in Camden

2007 THE MOST RECORDED FEMALE BACKGROUND VOCALIST IN THE HISTORY OF THE RECORDING INDUSTRY resulting in the 2007 Living Legend Award from her hometown the City of Camden N.J.

2007 Vocalist Carla Benson Sings Hatikvah Isreal's National Anthem
-- Music of War -- Resources, Patriotism, Propoganda and Protest

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.

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.

2005 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.

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.

Vocalist has worked with LaBelle, Vandross Thursday, 3/11/04 By BOB TULINI Courier-Post Staff Courior Post Online

Expert Artist appearing in the National Children's Folksong Repository Video

1/02/04 NBC.com The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

1/2/04 Funk Brothers on Jay Leno 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. Cloud Nine featuring Me'shell Ndegeocello and lead Background Vocalist CARLA BENSON

2001 Vocal Music Teacher at Brimm Medical Arts High School in Camden, New Jersey

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."

Choir Director, All City Creative Arts Program, Camden, NJ 1997-2000

Vocal Music Teacher, Philadelphia Dept. of Education Summer 2000

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 1997-1999

Director, Vacation Bible School, New Life Lutheran Church, Camden NJ 1995

DISCOGRAPHY


Ms. Benson has appeared on more hit records with more name artists than any other vocalist in the history of the record business.  See 1970 - 2006

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".

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.

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

Her beautiful lyric soprano can be heard on great classics as "Me and Mrs. Jones", "Ain't No Stopping Us Now', "New Attitude", "Shame" and . .

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...

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

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