Carmelo Domenic Licciardello (born January 19, 1956) known by his stage name, Carman, is a contemporary Christian music

Contemporary Christian music

Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...

 artist and evangelist.

Biography

Carman was born in Trenton, New Jersey

Trenton, New Jersey

Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...

. As a child he played drums in his mother's band. Then as a teen he would form his own group. Around the age of 20, he moved to California

California

California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...

While attending an Andraé Crouch

Andrae Crouch

Andraé Crouch is a seven-time Grammy Award-winning American gospel singer, songwriter, arranger, recording artist, record producer, and pastor.-Early years:Born Andraé Edward Crouch in San Francisco, California....

 concert, Carman became a born again Christian, and embraced evangelicalism

Evangelicalism

Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...

. In 1980, he made a custom album titled God's Not Finished with Me. The following year, he was invited by Bill Gaither to tour with The Bill Gaither Trio. After relocating to Tulsa, Oklahoma

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...

, he released a moderately successful eponymous debut album (later issued as Some-o-Dat) in 1982—which contained mostly novelty songs. Then with the release of the live album Sunday's On The Way in 1983, began a string of CCM chart successes beginning with the title song. As he continued his musical career, Carman established the non-profit organization

Non-profit organization

Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...

 Carman Ministries. With the 1985 release of The Champion came his first number one song, of the same name. Another live album—Radically Saved—came in 1988. Then 1989 brought Carman his first number one album—Revival in the Land.

Between 1987 and 1989, he was named Charisma magazine's readers' choice for favorite male vocalist. In 1990 and 1992, Billboard Magazine recognized Carman's influence in Christian music by naming him the Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year and in 1995 he recorded his first album in Spanish-Lo Mejor-which includes some of the already recorded songs like Who's in the House and The River. In 2000 the album Heart of a Champion came out with 30 of his best songs including new songs. In 2007 he updated his catalog with Instrument Of Praise, which saw him exploring the new musical styles of the time.

He has received 15 gold and platinum albums and videos and has sold over 10 million records. He holds the world record

World record

A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...

 for the largest solo Christian Concerts in history with 80,000 attendees for a Charlotte, North Carolina

Charlotte, North Carolina

Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...

 show, and 71,132 indoors at Texas Stadium

Texas Stadium

Texas Stadium was a football stadium in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. The stadium opened on September 17, 1971.Built to replace the aging Cotton Bowl, it was the home field of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, and had a seating capacity of 65,675...

, as well as the largest ticketed CCM solo concert with 50,000 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Beyond music, he participates in various television productions and interview duties as a host for both the Trinity Broadcasting Network

Trinity Broadcasting Network

The Trinity Broadcasting Network is a major American Christian television network. TBN is based in Costa Mesa, California, with auxiliary studio facilities in Irving, Texas; Hendersonville, Tennessee; Gadsden, Alabama; Decatur, Georgia; Miami, Florida; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Orlando, Florida; and New...

 in general and flagship program Praise the Lord. In 2001, Carman starred in the film Carman: The Champion.

In November 2011, Carman was involved in an auto accident. He was in the passenger seat when the driver made a left into the church parking lot in front of a crowd of fans waiting to get into the concert. A truck from oncoming traffic struck Carman's side at 50 mph. Carman was able to walk into the church attempting to continue with the scheduled concert, but collapsed soon after. He was taken to a hospital just outside of Houston, Texas

Houston, Texas

Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...

, where he was examined and x-rayed. No broken bones or spinal injuries were found. However there were internal injuries that required surgery.

Discography

• 1982: Some-o-Dat aka Carman
• 1983: Sunday's On the Way
• 1984: Comin' On Strong
• 1985: The Champion
• 1986: A Long Time Ago...in a Land Called Bethlehem
• 1988: Live: Radically Saved
• 1989: Revival in the Land
• 1991: Addicted to Jesus
• 1991: High Praises, Vol. 1 & 2
• 1991: Shakin' the House...Live with Commissioned
  Commissioned (gospel group)
  Commissioned is an American Gospel group. The group recorded twelve albums over a period of seventeen years.-Group composition:Originally from Detroit, Michigan, the six original members were Fred Hammond, Mitchell Jones, Keith Staten, Karl Reid, Michael Brooks, and Michael Williams formed a...
  
   and the Christ Church Choir
• 1992: Yo Kidz!: Heroes, Stories, and Songs from the Bible
• 1993: Lawrence the Kat and the B. Attitudes
• 1993: The Standard
• 1994: Yo Kidz!, Vol. 2: Armor of God
• 1995: Lo Mejor
• 1995: R.I.O.T. (Righteous Invasion of Truth)
• 1996: Lawrence the Kat and the Bible
• 1997: I Surrender All: 30 Classic Hymns
• 1997: Mission 3:16 (EP)
  Mission 3:16 (EP)
  Mission 3:16 is an EP released by Carman.-Track listing:# Mission – 3:16 # The Message# Mission – 3:16 # Leave A Message# R.I.O.T. #* Features GRITS# What's The Message?...
  
  
• 1998: Mission 3:16
  Mission 3:16
  Mission 3:16 is an album by Carman. Released in 1998 on Sparrow Records, the album peaked at number 94 on the Billboard 200 chart.The album was nominated for a 1999 Grammy Award in the Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album category.- Track listing :...
  
  
• 1999: Passion for Praise, Vol. 1
• 2000: Heart of a Champion
• 2003: House of Praise
• 2005: Live and Reloaded
• 2007: Instrument of Praise

GMA Dove Awards

• GMA Dove Award Winner: Long Form Music Video of the Year for Live: Radically Saved
• GMA Dove Award Winner: Rap/Hip Hop Song of the Year "R.I.O.T."
• GMA Dove Award Winner: Children's Music Album of the Year "Yo! Kidz! 2 - The Armor Of God"
• GMA Dove Award Winner: Long Form Video of the Year "Addicted To Jesus"
• GMA Dove Award Winner: Long Form Video of the Year: "Revival In The Land"
• GMA Dove Award Winner: Short Form Video of the Year: "Revival In The Land"
• GMA Dove Award Winner: Children's Music Album of the Year "Yo Kidz!"

Grammy Nominations

• Album of the Year: "Long Time Ago In a Land Called Bethlehem"
• Record of the Year: "Addicted To Jesus"
• Pop/Contemporary Christian Album: Mission 3:16"

RIAA Certification Awards

• Gold Video: "Carman Live ... Radically Saved"
• Gold Recording: "Carman Live ... Radically Saved"
• Platinum Video: "Revival In The Land"
• Gold Video: "Revival In The Land"
• Gold Recording: "The Champion"
• Gold Recording: "Revival In The Land"
• Gold Video: "Addicted To Jesus"
• Gold Recording: "Addicted To Jesus"
• Gold Recording: "The Absolute Best"
• Gold Video: "Raising The Standard LIVE"
• Gold Recording: "The Standard"
• Gold Video: "The Standard"
• Gold Recording: "R.I.O.T. (Righteous Invasion Of Truth)"
• Gold Video: "R.I.O.T. The Movie"
• Platinum Recording: "The Standard"
• Gold Video: "Yo Kids: The Vidz"
• Platinum Video: "The Standard"
• Gold Recording: "I Surrender All:30 Classic Hymns"
• Platinum Recording: "The Absolute Best"

Movies and television

• 1995–1997 Time 2 – variety series on Trinity Broadcasting Network
  Trinity Broadcasting Network
  The Trinity Broadcasting Network is a major American Christian television network. TBN is based in Costa Mesa, California, with auxiliary studio facilities in Irving, Texas; Hendersonville, Tennessee; Gadsden, Alabama; Decatur, Georgia; Miami, Florida; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Orlando, Florida; and New...
  
  
• 1995: R.I.O.T.: The Movie
• 2001: Carman The Champion
• 2009: The Book of Ruth: Journey of Faith
• 2010: Changing Hands

Long form

• 1984: Comin' On Strong Live
• 1988: Carman Live...Radically Saved
• 1990: Revival In the Land
• 1991: Addicted To Jesus
• 1993: The Standard
• 1994: Carman Yo Kidz!: The Vidz
• 1995: Raising the Standard: LIVE
• 1998: The Absolute Best Videos
• 1998: Mission 3:16: The Video
• 2001: Carman In Concert: One Night Only
• 2003: Carman: House of Praise – Live

Short form

• "A Little Bit More Conviction"
• "I Got the Joy" featuring Carlton Pearson
  Carlton Pearson
  Carlton D'Metrius Pearson, DD is an American minister. At one time, he was the pastor of the Higher Dimensions Evangelistic Center, later named it Higher Dimensions Family Church which was one of the largest churches in Tulsa, Oklahoma. During the 1990s, it grew to an average attendance of over...
  
  
• "A Witch's Invitation"
• "The Resurrection Rap"
• "Revival In the Land"
• "Our Turn Now" featuring Petra
• "Satan, Bite the Dust"
• "1955"
• "Addicted to Jesus" featuring dc Talk
  Dc Talk
  DC Talk , is a Grammy-winning Christian rock music trio. The group was formed in Lynchburg, Virginia in 1987 by Toby McKeehan, Michael Tait, and Kevin Max Smith. They have released five major studio albums together: DC Talk , Nu Thang , Free at Last , Jesus Freak , and Supernatural...
  
  
• "Who's In the House"
• "Great God"
• "Sunday School Rock"
• "Holdin' On" featuring Margaret Becker
  Margaret Becker
  Margaret Becker is an American Christian rock singer, guitarist, and songwriter. She has had twenty-one No. 1 Christian radio hits, won four Dove Awards, and been nominated for four Grammy Awards.-Biography:...
  
  
• "America Again"
• "Serve the Lord" featuring David Foster
  David Foster
  David Walter Foster, OC, OBC , is a Canadian musician, record producer, composer, singer, songwriter, and arranger, noted for discovering singers such as Michael Bublé, Josh Groban, and Charice Pempengco; and for producing some of the most successful artists in the world, such as Céline Dion, Toni...
  
   on Piano
• "Meant for This Moment" featuring Helen Baylor
  Helen Baylor
  Helen Baylor is an American gospel singer.Baylor was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma and raised in Los Angeles, where she first performed as a secular nightclub act. She opened for Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, and B.B. King while still in her teens, and performed in the musical Hair...
  
  
• "God Is Exalted"
• "R.I.O.T. (Righteous Invasion of Truth)"
• "My Story"
• "No Monsters"
• "7 Ways 2 Praise"
• "Step of Faith" featuring Ricky Skaggs
  Ricky Skaggs
  Rickie Lee "Ricky" Skaggs is a country and bluegrass singer, musician, producer, and composer. He primarily plays mandolin; however, he also plays fiddle, guitar, and banjo.-Early career:...
  
  
• "There Is a God"
• "Amen"
• "Mission 3:16"
• "Jesus Is the Lamb"
• "The Courtroom"
• "We Are Not Ashamed"
• "The Prayer Anthem"
• "Slam"
• "Faith Enough"

External links

• Carman World Outreach, official site.