Carn was born
Sarah Jean Perkins in
Columbus, Georgia. At the age of four, she became a member of her church choir. Carn planned on furthering her studies at
Juilliard School of Music in New York City when she met and married jazz pianist
Doug Carn and became a featured vocalist in his jazz fusion band. The couple based themselves in Los Angeles, California, where Carn appeared on three of his four early albums,
Infant Eyes,
Spirit of the New Land, and
Revelation on Black Jazz/
Ovation. The couple later divorced. In 1976, Carn was signed to
Kenneth Gamble and
Leon Huff's
Philadelphia International Records. The debut single "Free Love" went to number 23 R&B. In 2020, Carn was one of the performers aboard on the Soul Train Cruise. On October 16, 2022, Carn's life was featured on the documentary TV One series,
Unsung. On April 28, 2025 Carn was inducted into the National R&B Music Society's Atlantic City Walk of Fame at Brighton Park in Atlantic City, NJ.
Stuart Bascombe of
Black Ivory and producer
Dave Wooley were the inductors.
The Stylistics,
Ray, Goodman & Brown,
Blue Magic and the late
Phyllis Hyman were also Inducted. Carn is the 11th inductee honored with a plaque into The Atlantic City Walk of Fame. ==Discography==