James Carr

1960s soul singer James Carr was never as well-known or successful as contemporaries Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett , and Solomon Burke, but Carr had a voice equal to if not better than all of them. Best known for singing the original and definitive version of the classic "The Dark End of the Street," Carr recorded for the small Memphis label Goldwax. His career was effectively over by the start of the '70s, and it was years before he attempted a comeback. Sadly, drug use and severe mental problems prevented him from capitalizing on a renewed interest in his music from soul collectors and aficionados. Carr died in 2001, and though he left behind only a handful songs they are among the most moving ever recorded.