Musician, Record Producer. Born Joseph James Evans, he was a talented jazz saxophonist and the founder of Carnival Records. He began his career as a musician in the early 1940s, performing in the U.S. and Europe, with bands led by such celebrated talents as Louis Armstrong, Lionel Hampton, Jimmy Lunceford, Cab Calloway and Thomas "Fats" Waller. During the 1950's, he played with jazz greats Charlie "Bird" Parker, John Coltrane, plus backing such groups as the Nat King Cole Trio, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, the Impressions, Sarah Vaughn and Harry Belafonte. After a spell as a record promoter for Ray Charles' Tangerine label, he was a fixture with the Motown Revue, playing behind Stevie Wonder, the Supremes and also worked as a Motown studio musician. Having an interest for the independent record business, he formed Carnival Records in 1962. Based in New York City, Carnival first gained national prominence in 1964, with an R&B group The Manhattans which recorded the Top 20 hits "I Wanna Be Your Everything", "Searchin' for My Baby" and "Follow Your Heart". Evans' label went on to be affiliated with more than 30 solo artists and groups, to include The Pretenders, Little Royal, The Lovettes, Barbara Brown, Dolores Johnson, Rene Bailey and Harry Caldwell. Retiring as a musician and record producer in the 1990s, he earned a master's degree from Rutgers University New Jersey and authored his autobiography, "Follow Your Heart: Moving with the Giants of Jazz, Swing and Rhythm and Blues" (2008). He died of renal disease at age 97.
Musician, Record Producer. Born Joseph James Evans, he was a talented jazz saxophonist and the founder of Carnival Records. He began his career as a musician in the early 1940s, performing in the U.S. and Europe, with bands led by such celebrated talents as Louis Armstrong, Lionel Hampton, Jimmy Lunceford, Cab Calloway and Thomas "Fats" Waller. During the 1950's, he played with jazz greats Charlie "Bird" Parker, John Coltrane, plus backing such groups as the Nat King Cole Trio, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, the Impressions, Sarah Vaughn and Harry Belafonte. After a spell as a record promoter for Ray Charles' Tangerine label, he was a fixture with the Motown Revue, playing behind Stevie Wonder, the Supremes and also worked as a Motown studio musician. Having an interest for the independent record business, he formed Carnival Records in 1962. Based in New York City, Carnival first gained national prominence in 1964, with an R&B group The Manhattans which recorded the Top 20 hits "I Wanna Be Your Everything", "Searchin' for My Baby" and "Follow Your Heart". Evans' label went on to be affiliated with more than 30 solo artists and groups, to include The Pretenders, Little Royal, The Lovettes, Barbara Brown, Dolores Johnson, Rene Bailey and Harry Caldwell. Retiring as a musician and record producer in the 1990s, he earned a master's degree from Rutgers University New Jersey and authored his autobiography, "Follow Your Heart: Moving with the Giants of Jazz, Swing and Rhythm and Blues" (2008). He died of renal disease at age 97.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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