Earlier this week it really hurt to hear that legendary Gospel music icon, Carman, died of complications from a heart surgery. Much has been said of his life and legacy, and I thought to put some words as my tribute to one whose music has been a blessing and inspiration to me.
Born in 1956, Carman Domenic Licciardelo was a musical prodigy who brought an unrivalled creative dynamic to contemporary Christian music for decades. Funny thing was that his previously rising music career ended after he accepted the Gospel at an Andrae Crouch show at Disneyland. After 5 years of doing odd jobs he started performing in churches. By 1981 he was an opening act for the Bill Gaither trio, and through highs and lows he soon became a major name in the Christian music scene.
I had heard some of Carman’s funny songs when I was younger, but it wasn’t until JSS1 when my friend Damisi Pikuda gave me one of his old audio tapes, Carman Yo Kidz! that I truly fell in love with his music.
Carman did so much for the 80s/90s Christian youth and the young at heart because, in his own way, he made Christian music cool. Of course, watching his videos now may make you Gen Z folks go, “This was what you millennials called cool?” But y’all have no idea how ground-breaking his dynamic styles were back in the day. There was a fun and excellence in his delivery.
From spoken word pieces, to music videos in ’50s or Wild West set pieces, to rock and roll to urban hip hop to country to jazz numbers, Carman had a dynamic range that, for me, has been without compare to this day. And all through that time, it was the message of the Gospel of Christ that Carman kept on singing about.
He was unashamed in singing of the devil’s defeat in songs like Satan, Bite the Dust and of the victory we have in Christ like in R.I.O.T.: Righteous Invasion of Truth. Many church youth groups learnt to choreograph to Who’s in the House. One of my favourites was Mission 3:16, a musical guide on the Gospel and how to share it with others.
In the intro to his song with DCTalk, Addicted 2 Jesus, Carman said about kids, “If you’re old enough to get AIDS and addicted to drugs, you’re old enough to get saved and addicted to Jesus.” And in his own way, he showed kids this higher and better alternative we have in Christ.
Every song and music video was different and sure to lift.
Like he once said, “The music is the best means I have of reaching the most people in the quickest way to win them to Christ. I think an artist owes it to his audience to thrill them and impress them. It lets people know there is joy in being Christian.”
Another thing that stood out for me was that even till his final months, and after recovering from a terminal cancer diagnosis, Carman was still very passionate about preaching the gospel, going on tours last year. He was pushing out ads to be invited to churches to sing and share the message of the Gospel. It speaks a lot to me.
While I will miss him, I’m grateful to have been blessed by the life, music and witness of Carman. I hope to be as creatively dynamic and to also be as passionate for the Gospel, spreading it in the language this and future generations can receive.
Carman reminds me that there is no one way the Gospel can only be communicated. He reminds me that God has given us skills and gifts that can be honed to show the colour and beauty and excellence of our Father, the Creator that defines Creativity. And when we give our hearts, our all, and our art to Him, He can do amazing things with it and bless many.
So while it hurts, I am also encouraged and challenged.
See you on the other side, Carman.
P.S.: In researching on this article I found out that he got married for the first time at 61. In his own words, “…it’s been a long time coming.” Yeah, we all waited for it. 🙂
Emmanuel Onimisi 