James Carr (musician) James Carr (June 13, 1942 - January 7, 2001), was an American rhythm and blues and soul singer. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] Born to a Baptist preacher's family in Coahoma, Mississippi, Carr began singing in church and was performing in gospel groups and making tables on an assembly line in Memphis, Tennessee, when he began recording in the mid-1960s for Goldwax Records, a small Memphis based independent record label. Carr first made the R&B charts in 1966 with "You've Got My Mind Messed Up", followed by his most famous song "The Dark End of the Street", written by Dan Penn and Chips Moman. Carr continued to record for Goldwax until the label closed in 1969 but failed to reach the same heights with his subsequent releases.
Carr suffered from bipolar disorder for most of his life which affected his career. This was evident during a tour of Japan in the 1970s when he froze in front of an audience following an overdose of antidepressants. However he completed the Japan tour with much success. James Carr. James Carr - At the dark end of the street. James Carr - These Ain't Raindrops. James Carr - A Man Needs A Woman. James Carr-You Got My Mind Messed Up.