Biography of Mel Carter

Vocalist/actor Mel Carter was a star as a child performer, and later enjoyed some pop success with dramatic, sometimes overdone ballads. He appeared on radio in his hometown of Cincinnati from the age of four, and was featured on stage with Lionel Hampton at nine. Carter was named Top Gospel Tenor at 14, and began recording with Mercury at 16. He had only one song make the R&B charts, "When A Boy Falls In Love," for Derby in 1963. But his anguished delivery on such singles as "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me," "You You You," and "Take Good Care Of Her" had some pop appeal. Carter began on Tri-State, then recorded for Arwin, Derby, and Mercury/Imperial. He appeared on several television shows, among them "Quincy," "Sanford and Son," "Marcus Welby, M.D.," and "Magnum, P.I." ~ Ron Wynn