CARMEN CRAVEN
Amazing Song Bird
Carmen Craven is an accomplished vocalist who has been singing, dancing, and acting since the tender age of two; a native of Tampa, FL who now residing in the DC Metropolitan Area. Carmen (also known by her childhood friends as “Tootsie”) realized she wanted to sing when her mother returned from a Walter Hawkins concert and gave her a Walter Hawkins Love Alive II album. When she heard Tramaine Hawkins singing “He’s that Kind of Friend,” Carmen knew immediately that she would sing for the people of God forever. Since that time, Carmen has expanded her performances to other musical genres and is a featured and highly sought out vocalist. Carmen's musical homage to the incomparable Ms. Stephanie Mills is by far the fan's favorite and she's been affectionately called the DMV's Lil' Stephanie Mills!
In 1995, Carmen entered a singing competition at Che’ LaBelle’s, a local nightspot in Philadelphia, PA, owned by none other than, Ms. Patti LaBelle. After wowing the audience with her signature rendition of Jennifer Holiday’s, “And I Am Telling You,” the audience rose to their feet with thunderous applause, but Carmen would soon come to know, she had won much more than the night’s singing competition. As a result of her awesome performance, Carmen was asked to audition for Patti LaBelle right on the spot, in the back of the parking lot! She nailed it and won the winning nod of Ms. LaBelle. From 1995-1997, Carmen toured throughout the US and abroad with Ms. LaBelle as soprano background vocalist, performing to sold out arenas, for several television shows, musical legends (including Michael Jackson) and Royalty in other countries.
In 2016, Carmen released her first CD Single as an Indie Artist entitled " Bless Your Name" written by Mike McCoy and arranged by Allyn Johnson. She followed up with a second CD Single entitled "We Still Have Our Love" featuring the velveted voice of Mr. Kenny Barnes, written and arranged by Allyn Johnson. Both songs quickly became a favorite locally and regionally. Carmen's songs, and her heart felt inspirational performances continues to receive rave reviews from fans across all musical genres, so much so that after meeting Carmen and hearing her song "Bless Your Name" for the very first time, longtime and legendary Radio DJ, Television and Movie personality "Donnie Simpson" of Radio One's MAJIC 102.3 FM and 92.7 FM radio stations in Washington D.C. closed his R&B radio show with her song less than an hour after they met.
In 2022 Carmen was signed to G.P. Promotions of Washington D.C., founded by Gerard Pinkney. Carmen is under the Management Team of Mr. Gerard Pinkney and Mrs. Deborah Black. G.P. Promotions specializes in live entertainment for the mature crowd. Bringing you the absolute best in Old School Entertainment.
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO BOOK CARMEN FOR YOUR NEXT EVENT:
Gerard Pinkney- gerardpinkney1@aol.com, 301-503-8400
Deborah Black-deborahblack9@aol.com, 240-350-8764
Carmen Craven-carmentcraven.cc@gmail.com, 540.645.1171
Click here to see when Carmen is performing live!