About Guitarist John Carey
John R. Carey Musician, Composer, Producer, Radio Station DJ. PROFILE JOHN RUSSELL CAREY Guitarist, Keyboardist, Bassist, Studio Engineer EXPERIENCE & CURRENTLY LIVING IN GEORGIA, USA ...
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About
John R. Carey:
John R. Carey is an award-winning guitarist, producer, and engineer with a career spanning over four decades. From his early days recording with Chicago blues legends like Koko Taylor and The Chi-Lites to his years in Southern California opening for icons like George Benson, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Natalie Cole, John’s versatile style seamlessly bridges the worlds of Blues, Soul, and Smooth Jazz.
A CLL survivor now in remission, John’s recent years have been his most prolific. Having produced six #1 hits in the UK, he is currently making waves on the charts with his smooth-groove single "Come A Little Closer" from his latest album, Strings & Things. Whether he is channeling his "Latino side" on the 2024 project El Fuego or producing for heavyweights like Larry Braggs (Tower of Power), John remains a vital force in contemporary music.
John is a proud endorsee of Grote Guitars.
On August 23, 2026
Location: St. James Live, Atlanta’s Premier Jazz Destination
Following his massive sold-out show in July 2024, legendary guitarist and producer John R. Carey returns to the St. James Live stage for one night only!
Fresh off the charts with his hit single "Come A Little Closer" (currently #45 and rising!), John will be performing a high-energy set featuring soulful tracks from his latest masterpiece, Strings & Things. With a career that spans recording with Chicago blues icons to opening for giants like George Benson and Earth, Wind & Fire, John’s signature blend of Smooth Jazz and Soul is a must-see experience.
Don't miss the man who defines "Fire" on the strings. This 90-minute set is guaranteed to have you on your feet!
Members
- John R Carey - Guitar, Keyboards, Production, & Vocals
Press
N1M Charts | week 43, 2023
Hi John Carey & Soul Avenue !
Congratulations, Your song is #1 for Smooth Jazz in United States, California!
Share a song to help it move up in the charts!
I'll be the one
Click below to view in the charts and Share Your Success
#1 for Smooth Jazz in United States, California
More Press
Press
A Tribute To Curtis Mayfield (SoulTracks)
(external link)
(February 9, 2025) The typical tribute album consists of an artist remaking select songs from the catalog of some beloved artist. These covers can range from being loving renditions, totally out of the reimaginations, or something in between. But what listeners normally get are a tracklist of the biggest hits or noteworthy tunes and maybe one of two of the covering artist’s personal favorites.
Guitarist John Carey did not go that route when he released his homage to fellow Chicagoan, the legendary Curtis Mayfield. Carey opted to write and produce each song on A Tribute to Curtis Mayfield. Additionally, Carey played all the instruments and perform the vocals.
Each track, including “Trapped,” the cut featured in this First Listen, seeks to capture the spirit of Mayfield from a vocal, lyrical, topical and musical arrangement standpoint.
There are multiple Curtis Mayfields: There is artist who became the voice of The Impressions in the mid 1960s when Jerry Butler left the group to go solo, and gave us anthems like “People Get Ready” and sweet, soulful ballads such as “I’m So Proud.” There’s the Mayfield who went solo and dropped musical powerful social commentary such as “Hell Below” and toward the end of his life “Here But I’m Gone.” There is also the cinematic storyteller Mayfield who wrote the soundtrack to “Superfly.”
Carey notes, “My inspiration for writing this album was to challenge myself and capture the presence of Curtis Mayfield. Curtis Mayfield is an unsung musical genius. Most times when people speak of genius they would never put his name in that sentence, but as a songwriter with over 500 songs to his credit and all the things he wrote about and to have a career that was great in the sixties and people are still playing his music here in 2025 he had to be a genius.”
“Trapped” has the sound and feel of a cut that Mayfield could have been saving for another movie soundtrack. Carey captures the imagery of a man who runs in a futile attempt to escape something. He might be running from his past; he could be running from the police or trying to elude street justice. Maybe he’s trying to escape his personal demons. He could be running from all the above.
Whatever the case, Carey uses his buttery tenor to transform “Trapped” into the cinema of the mind. Check it out here.
By Howard Dukes
Soul and Jazz and Funk.. U.K
(external link)
The spirit of dear CURTIS MAYFIELD has always loomed large over soul music. Though he was taken from us far to early in 1999, his influence is still strong and his magical music is regularly recycled, re-mixed and referenced while many current artists are quick to offer their homages to the Gentle Genius.
Just last month veteran muso, James Holvay released his EP, ‘Working Man’ – an unashamed homage to the music of the Impressions and the whole glorious 60s Chicago soul scene. Now acclaimed Chicago guitarist JOHN CAREY has delivered his tribute to the great man with a wonderful 10 tracker simply called ‘A Tribute To Curtis Mayfield’.
Now “tribute” albums usually consists of an artist covering songs from their “tribute target’s” back catalogue, but like Holvay, Carey has written new songs albeit in the style and manner of Curtis. Now, where Holvay (mainly) referenced Curtis’ work with the Impressions, Carey has used his solo work as his reference point; each track seeks to replicate the spirit of Mayfield from a vocal, lyrical, topical and musical arrangement standpoint. He says; “My inspiration for writing this album was to challenge myself and capture the presence of Curtis Mayfield. Curtis Mayfield is an unsung musical genius. Most times when people speak of genius they would never put his name in that sentence, but as a songwriter with over 500 songs to his credit and all the things he wrote about and to have a career that was great in the sixties and people are still playing his music here in 2025 he had to be a genius.”
A quick glance at the songs titles tell you exactly where John Carey is coming from on this album; I mean we’ve got things like ‘It’s Alright’, ‘Keep On Keeping On’ and ‘Little Boy Blue’. Like all the album cuts, they’re new songs but redolent with the spirit of Curtis Mayfield – swirling rhythms, wah-wah guitars, energized bongos and that very special, almost fractured falsetto delivering music with a message. The focus track seems to be ‘Trapped’ but ‘Back in the Day’ is another highlight (though,oddly, it references ‘Cowboys To Girls’) – both are built from all the above ingredients and typical of the sound of the album which is out now and comes recommended!
Collectors, by the way, will already know John Carey. His 2011 album was ‘New Beginnings’ was well received – if you can check out the tracks ‘Step Show’ and ‘Groove To This’. Both feature his wife, Gina, with whom he’s worked extensively but ‘A Tribute To Curtis Mayfield’ shows a whole new side to John Carey!
SoulTracks
(external link)
(February 9, 2025) The typical tribute album consists of an artist remaking select songs from the catalog of some beloved artist. These covers can range from being loving renditions, totally out of the reimaginations, or something in between. But what listeners normally get are a tracklist of the biggest hits or noteworthy tunes and maybe one of two of the covering artist’s personal favorites.
Guitarist John Carey did not go that route when he released his homage to fellow Chicagoan, the legendary Curtis Mayfield. Carey opted to write and produce each song on A Tribute to Curtis Mayfield. Additionally, Carey played all the instruments and perform the vocals.
Each track, including “Trapped,” the cut featured in this First Listen, seeks to capture the spirit of Mayfield from a vocal, lyrical, topical and musical arrangement standpoint.
There are multiple Curtis Mayfields: There is artist who became the voice of The Impressions in the mid 1960s when Jerry Butler left the group to go solo, and gave us anthems like “People Get Ready” and sweet, soulful ballads such as “I’m So Proud.” There’s the Mayfield who went solo and dropped musical powerful social commentary such as “Hell Below” and toward the end of his life “Here But I’m Gone.” There is also the cinematic storyteller Mayfield who wrote the soundtrack to “Superfly.”
Carey notes, “My inspiration for writing this album was to challenge myself and capture the presence of Curtis Mayfield. Curtis Mayfield is an unsung musical genius. Most times when people speak of genius they would never put his name in that sentence, but as a songwriter with over 500 songs to his credit and all the things he wrote about and to have a career that was great in the sixties and people are still playing his music here in 2025 he had to be a genius.”
“Trapped” has the sound and feel of a cut that Mayfield could have been saving for another movie soundtrack. Carey captures the imagery of a man who runs in a futile attempt to escape something. He might be running from his past; he could be running from the police or trying to elude street justice. Maybe he’s trying to escape his personal demons. He could be running from all the above.
Whatever the case, Carey uses his buttery tenor to transform “Trapped” into the cinema of the mind. Check it out here.
By Howard Dukes
John
I'll be the one is #1 again
N1M Charts | week 43, 2023
Hi John Carey & Soul Avenue !
Congratulations, Your song is #1 for Smooth Jazz in United States, California!
Share a song to help it move up in the charts!
I'll be the one
Click below to view in the charts and Share Your Success
#1 for Smooth Jazz in United States, California
Influences
George Benson, Santana, Robben Ford, Lee Ritenour , Norman Brown,