Carlton Earl "Carl" Anderson (February 27, 1945 – February 23, 2004) was an American singer, film and theater actor best known for his portrayal of Judas Iscariot in the Broadway and film versions of the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. He and Gloria Loring performed the duet "Friends and Lovers", which reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1986.
Life and career Early life Born in Lynchburg, Virginia, Anderson was one of 12 children of James and Alberta Anderson. During his junior year of high school, Anderson enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, where he served as a communications technician for two years. He returned to Lynchburg to complete high school and graduated in 1965. With his honorable discharge, following high school, Anderson sang at military bases across the United States as part of the World Wide Air Force Talent Contest.
Anderson moved to Washington, D.C., in 1969, where he studied psychology at Howard University. He and some friends also formed a group called "The Second Eagle", with Anderson as lead singer. Among the many jazz and rock tunes that the Second Eagle covered were some from the album Jesus Christ Superstar, which had not been released in the United States yet.
In 1971, Anderson and his band performed some songs from the album at a Palm Sunday service; this performance was covered by the Today show. A producer for the American production of Jesus Christ Superstar saw the performance and offered him an audition.
Early career Anderson played the role of Judas in the pre-Broadway touring company's production of Jesus Christ Superstar but was passed over for the initial 1971 Broadway production when producers opted for the more well-known Ben Vereen for the part, and was cast as an understudy. He took over the role performed it on Broadway and in Los Angeles when Vereen fell ill. After Vereen recovered, both actors took turns playing the role.
While performing in Los Angeles, Anderson was flown to London for a screen test for the film adaptation of the rock opera. Two weeks later, he left that production to begin filming in Israel alongside Ted Neeley and Yvonne Elliman, who were cast for the main roles as Jesus and Mary Magdalene, respectively. The film, released in 1973 by director Norman Jewison, earned Anderson two Golden Globe nominations as "Most Promising Newcomer" and "Best Musical Actor", as well as an NAACP Image Award.
In the late 1970s, he reprised his role as Judas for two regional productions in California, both under the auspices of the California Youth Theatre organization. Other films in which Anderson appeared include: The Black Pearl (1978) and Steven Spielberg's The Color Purple (1985). Television appearances include The Eddie Capra Mysteries, Cop Rock, Days of Our Lives, Rockford Files, and Hill Street Blues.
As a recording artist, Anderson was equally prolific. He signed with Motown Records in 1972. Several of the most recognizable albums to be released in the 1970s would bear the mark of Anderson, including his work with Stevie Wonder on his Songs in the Key of Life double album. He made numerous appearances at several notable clubs in Los Angeles during the 1970s and, with Columbia Records' talent scout Larkin Arnold, signed a record deal for which Anderson would release four albums on the Epic label beginning in 1982. In total, Anderson released nine jazz and Soul albums as a solo artist, including moderate successes "How Deep Does It Go" and "My Love Will", as well as the hit from his self-titled 1986 album, "Friends and Lovers", a duet with Gloria Loring. The song reached the number-two spot on the charts that year and endeared Anderson to soap opera fans, after he and Loring performed the song on Days of Our Lives. In 1989, Anderson recorded the song "Between You and Me", which was used as the title theme for the film Her Alibi. He also recorded on albums with other leading artists.
Later career In 1992, Anderson reprised his role as Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar for a "20th Anniversary of the Movie" tour, alongside Neeley who also reprised his role as Jesus. Both men had agreed to do the tour only if they got to work together. Initially planned for three months, the production lasted five years and grossed over $100 million, visiting over 50 North American cities, including the Paramount Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles, the Fox Theaters in Detroit, St. Louis and Atlanta, the Morris Mechanic Theatre in Baltimore, The Orpheum in San Francisco, Providence Performing Arts Center in Providence, Rhode Island, the Wang Center and Shubert Theater during multiple returns to Boston as well as dates in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Miami, Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal. All these showings allowed Anderson to reprise his role over 1,700 times.
In 1994, Anderson released an album titled Heavy Weather Sunlight Again which is full of soulful songs such as "Love'll Hold My Baby Tonight".
In 1997, Anderson performed on Broadway in an adaptation of William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night called Play On! Beginning in 1998, and in later years of his life, he reprised his role as Judas in Superstar to sold-out auditoriums around the world.
One of his later albums, Why We Are Here!, was recorded at the Agape International Spiritual Center, then located in Santa Monica, California. He continued to perform, with Linda Eder, in a show called Once in a Lifetime produced by Eder's then-husband, Frank Wildhorn.
In 2002, Anderson reprised his role as Judas in another national tour of Jesus Christ Superstar with ex-Skid Row singer Sebastian Bach playing Jesus. Bach received good reviews and Anderson was again praised. In April 2003, following a disagreement with the director, Bach walked out on the tour and was replaced with Broadway actor Eric Kunze. Bach considered Anderson a father-figure and good friend. Anderson stayed on the tour for three more months, but eventually left the show after being diagnosed with leukemia. The tour closed a year after his death.
Personal life and death In 1992, Anderson married Veronica Porché, former wife of boxing legend Muhammad Ali.
In 2003, while performing with the national tour of Superstar that had started the previous year, Anderson was diagnosed with leukemia. According to a page on his memorial website, Anderson was involved in a minor car accident on his way to perform and, while being treated for his injuries, doctors discovered that he had leukemia. Anderson died from the illness on February 23, 2004, four days before his 59th birthday, in Los Angeles. The Leonard Cohen / Anjani song "Nightingale" (2004) was recorded in his memory.
Discography
Solo YearTitle1982 Absence With Out Love Released: 1982 Label: Epic1984 On and On Released: 1984 Label: Epic1985 Protocol Released: 1985 Label: Epic1986 Carl Anderson Released: 1986 Label: Epic1988 Act of Love Released: 1988 Label: Polydor1990 Pieces of a Heart Released: 1990 Label: GRP1992 Fantasy Hotel Released: 1992 Label: GRP1994 Heavy Weather/Sunlight Again Released: 1994 Label: GRP1997 Why We Are Here! (live) Released: 1997 Label: Abu Khalil
Soundtracks and compilations — indicates a solo contribution.
YearArtistTitleContribution1973Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Jesus Christ Superstar Released: 1973 (25th anniversary reissue 1998) Label: MCAJudas1989The Rippingtons GRP: On the Cutting Edge (Various Artists) Released: 1989 Label: GRPVocals ("Tourist in Paradise")1991Garfield Am I Cool or What? (Various Artists) Released: 1991 Label: GRPVocals ("Fat is Where It's At")1992— GRP 10th Anniversary Collection (Various Artists) Released: 1992 Label: GRPVocals ("How Deep Does It Go")1994The Rippingtons Jazz Live (Various Artists) Released: 1994 Label: GRPVocals ("Tourist in Paradise")1996Tim Rice Collection: Stage & Screen Classics (Various Artists) Released: 1996 Label: RhinoVocals ("Heaven on Their Minds")1997The Rippingtons The Best of The Rippingtons Released: 1997 Label: GRPVocalsOriginal Broadway Cast Play On! Released: 1997 Label: VarèseThe Duke1999Various Artists The Civil War: The Complete Work Released: 1999 Label: AtlanticVocals ("Sarah")
Other artists YearArtistTitleContribution1976Stevie Wonder Songs in the Key of Life Released: 1976 Label: TamlaBackground Vocals (uncredited)1980Menage a Trois Menage a Trois Released: 1980 Label: AriolaVocals1981Kazu Matsui Project Time No Longer Released: 1981 Label: KazuVocals1983L.A. Jazz Choir Listen... Released: 1983 Label: Mobile Fidelity Sound LabsVocals ("I Only Have Eyes For You")MFSL 10961983Weather Report Domino Theory Released: 1983 Label: ColumbiaVocals ("Can It Be Done")1984Weather Report Sportin' Life Released: 1984 Label: ColumbiaVocals ("Corner Pocket," "Hot Cargo," "Ice-Pick Willy")1985Kenny Loggins Vox Humana Released: 1985 Label: ColumbiaBackground Vocals ("At Last")1986Joe Zawinul Di•a•lects Released: 1986 Label: ColumbiaEnsemble Voice1987Nancy Wilson Forbidden Lover Released: 1987 Label: EpicVocals ("Forbidden Lover")Keiko Matsui A Drop of Water Released: 1987 Label: Passport JazzBackground Vocals1989The Zawinul Syndicate Black Water Released: 1989 Label: ColumbiaVocalsDan Siegel Late One Night Released: 1989 Label: CBS AssociatedVocalsOceans Ridin' the Tide Released: 1989 Label: Pro-JazzVocalsThe Rippingtons Tourist in Paradise Released: 1989 Label: GRPVocals1990Nancy Wilson Lady with a Song Released: 1990 Label: EpicBackground VocalsThe Rippingtons Welcome to the St. James' Club Released: 1990 Label: GRPVocals1991Don Grusin Zephyr Released: 1991 Label: GRPBackground VocalsPeabo Bryson Can You Stop the Rain Released: 1991 Label: ColumbiaBackground VocalsRichard Elliot On the Town Released: 1991 Label: Blue NoteVocals1992George Howard Do I Ever Cross Your Mind? Released: 1992 Label: GRPBackground Vocals ("Try Again," "Stay Here With Me")The Rippingtons Live in L.A. Released: 1992 Label: GRPVocals1993Eric Marienthal One Touch Released: 1993 Label: GRPVocals1995Kevin Toney Pastel Mood Released: 1995 Label: IchibanVocals1996Michael Paulo My Heart and Soul Released: 1996 Label: NoteworthyVocals1998Nils Blue Planet Released: 1998 Label: IchibanVocals1999Michael Paulo Midnight Passion Released: 1999 Label: NoteworthyVocalsGerald McCauley The McCauley Sessions Released: 1999 Label: LightyearVocalsL.A. Jazz Syndicate L.A. Jazz Syndicate, Vol. 2 Released: 1999 Label: MCGVocals2000Brenda Russell Paris Rain Released: 2000 Label: Hidden BeachVocals2002Linda Eder Gold Released: 2002 Label: AtlanticVocals
Theater and concert credits YearTitleRole1971Jesus Christ Superstar (pre-Broadway tour)Judas Iscariot1972Jesus Christ Superstar (Broadway) Judas Iscariot (understudy, later alternated with Ben Vereen)1976-1977Jesus Christ Superstar (California Youth Theatre organization)Judas Iscariot (with Ted Neeley as Jesus and Yvonne Elliman as Mary)1990Jesus Christ Superstar (brief West Coast tour)Judas Iscariot (with Barry Dennen as Pilate and Sam Harris as Jesus)1992-1997Jesus Christ Superstar (national tour)Judas Iscariot (with Ted Neeley as Jesus, Dennis DeYoung as Pilate, Irene Cara/Syreeta Wright as Mary)1997Play On! (Broadway)The Duke1998Jesus Christ Superstar (Rubicon Theatre Company)Judas Iscariot (with Ted Neeley as Jesus)1999Linda Eder - Once in a LifetimeFeatured Vocalist (with Linda Eder and Douglas Sills)1999-2000Jesus Christ Superstar (Italian tour)Judas Iscariot (also artistic director)2002Beggar's Holiday (Rubicon Theatre Company)Mac2002-2003Jesus Christ Superstar (national tour)Judas Iscariot (with Sebastian Bach as Jesus)
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1973 Jesus Christ Superstar Judas Iscariot 1977 The Black Pearl Moro 1985 The Color Purple Reverend Samuel 2015 Superstars: The Documentary Himself/Judas Iscariot
References
External links
Carl Anderson Biography at SoulTracks