Carl Carlton, the funk and R&B singer best known for the classics “She’s a Bad Mama Jama (She’s Built, She’s Stacked)” and his 1974 cover of “Everlasting Love,” has died at 72, his family announced Sunday. 

Carlton’s son, Carlton Hudgens II, posted on Facebook that his father had fought a “long hard fight in life,” writing, “R.I.P. Dad, Legend Carl Carlton, singer of ‘She’s a Bad Mama Jama.’” Hudgens also shared a photo of Carlton on his Facebook stories, and wrote, “R.I.P Dad, You can finally rest now. Always love you.”

Born Carlton Hudgens in Detroit in 1953, he launched his career in the 1960s as Little Carl Carlton before breaking through with “I Can Feel It” and later landing a Top 10 Billboard hit with “Everlasting Love” in 1974. 

His biggest cultural impact came in 1981 with “She’s a Bad Mama Jama,” written and produced by Leon Haywood. That single earned him a Grammy nomination and has since racked up more than 100 million streams, while becoming a staple sample source in hip-hop and soundtracks.

Reportedly, Carlton had contended with health issues after suffering a stroke in 2019; no official cause of death has been released. Fans and fellow musicians paid tribute online. Funk group Confunkshun wrote, “With heavy hearts, we mourn the passing of the legendary Carl Carlton… Rest in power, Carl. Your legacy lives on.” 

Carlton’s voice bridged eras. From his Top 40 success of “Everlasting Love” to the timeless groove of “Bad Mama Jama,” the music world marks a loss of a figure whose records are woven into the DNA of modern R&B and funk.