"Guitar-slinger" songwriter Carlton, born in Frisia, North Germany, raised on afarm, on the road since his early youth, managed to make his name as anextraordinarily talented and internationally renowned musician.At the age of 17, infected with Soul and Rhythm & Blues, he left home for goodand moved to the Netherlands, where, he signed up with rock bands like HermanBrood, Long Tall Ernie & the Shakers and most successful with Vitesse who scoreda pile of Top Ten hits in the early 80s. A little later he moved over to NewYork invited to play with Mink DeVille, who recruited him during a tour inHolland. From there he then stopped over in London working for Manfred Mann'sEarthband and returned to play in Germany in the late 80s, working with Germanstars like Udo Lindenberg, Trio's Stephan Remmler, Nina Hagen, Peter Maffay,George Kranz and Wolfgang Niedecken.With a circle of fellow Dutch musicians he formed a band named "New Legend" in1989. They recorded 2 critically acclaimed albums for RCA, but a clash of egosmade this formation a shortlived one.Since the early 90s Carl Carlton has lived in Dublin, Ireland together with hiswife Natasha, incidentally the artist responsible for the wonderful paintings onthe Songdogs album covers, and their kids, Keanu, Jessica and Max. (Natasha andCarl seperated in 2005. Nevertheless she will continue to produce her popularartwork for the Songdogs).Carl finally had his coming-out with his very first solo album in 2001,"Revolution Avenue" and the successful follow-up "Love & Respect" released in2003. Perhaps "The Songdogs" would have never seen the light of day, were it notfor Robert Palmer, who adjured Carlton to eventually start his very own careerand finally record his material. Carl had worked with Robert since 1994. (WithPalmer's death in October 2003, Carl has lost a true and faithful friend andcollaborationist, but above all a teacher, brother and mentor.)Truly a rocking and rolling globe-traveller, Carlton has an impressive list ofinternational stars on this agenda. He produced, wrote and played with the likesof Robert Palmer, Joe Cocker, Jimmy Barnes, Keb Mo, Alannah Myles, Eric Burdon,Amanda Marshall, Yothu Yindi to name but a few.The first Songdogs recording session took place in Louisiana's Dockside Studios,down in the heart of the swamps, during September 2000. If the southerlyatmosphere of the album stirs you up to listen, wait till you've read thecredits!A choice of great musicians who made American rock history: there'sslide-guitarist Sonny Landreth, known for his work with John Hiatt and theGoners, keyboarder Ian McLagan (Small Faces, Rolling Stones), Carl's trueheroes, Levon Helm (drums) and Garth Hudson (keyboards) of The Band, Jon Smith(sax) and Steve Howard (trumpet) known as Edgar Winter's Legendary White TrashHorns and of course, inevitable Robert Palmer on background vox and percussion.Then, with a bang, there is the core of the Songdogs, Wyzard (bass) and Moses Mo(guitar), both members of Atlanta's funk rock sensation Mothers Finest, BertramEngel (drums) and Pascal Kravetz (organ, piano, clavinet, Wurlitzer). RonnieWood of the Rolling Stones, who happens to be a pal of Carl's, living in theDublin vicinity, helped out with 2 songs, "Breath on me" and "I can feel thefya". He also suggested and introduced Mac and Bobby Keys to Carl. Both haveplayed with the Songdogs ever since. (Bobby joined the Songdogs on their firsttour in 2001)The atmosphere reflected in Carlton's "Revolution Avenue", is reminiscent of thespirit that made The Band a personification of American rock, their ability toexpress a whole generation's hopes, dreams and fears, their feeling ofhomelessness and loss, of being disoriented and at the same time ready to go,The 13 tracks offer a bright collection of what makes the heart of American rockmusic, a truly traditional and wide-ranging masterpiece of Americana. An albumthat through to the smallest details breathes the odyssey of its author, who hasmanaged to focus his musical passions.No surprise that the album features a Robert Johnson song "From Four To Late",and a never before released "God's Gift To Man" by Tom Petty. But, mostimportantly, Carlton himself proves to be a versatile and interestingsongwriter. If you like saddle-proof shuffles, funky "Little Featish" grooves ordown-to-earth Rolling-Stones-style rock, this is your record. But there's alsoroom for that Mississippi-Delta Blues and the "second-line" New Orleans-sound."Revolution Avenue" leads straight to your heart and soul - no detours, noprisoners.No wonder, considering the all-star line-up, but it does seem like a miraclethat a European musician should be able to spiritualize this cultural heritageso immaculately. It's been a long way for Carl to walk his "Revolution Avenue",but every step of it has been worthwhile when he sings "Coming Home", you canfeel his sensitivity, determination and at the same time his vulnerable soulcreep through the speakers into your heart.In 2001/2, after launching their first album, the band toured intensively inEurope building up a steady growing following, revelling in their first chartsuccess and rave reviews. The economic factor was of course supplanted by theirfierce enthusiasm as if they still were reeling in their teens, far from beingsensible family men. (manager's statement)Carl knew this would be a hardroad and endurance was the word of the hour intimes of push-button-drums, artificial sounds and a music business in rapiddecline and turmoil. In 2003 Carl teamed up again with Robert Palmer, whom hepersuaded to contribute a song to a Robert Johnson tribute album (Grammynominated), featuring Taj Mahal, Hubert Sumlin, B.B. King amongst others, afterbeing asked by producer John Snyder who outed himself as a big Songdogs andPalmer fan. Robert and Carl delivered a breathtaking "Milk Cow Calf's Blues",stripped to just a groove, Robert's vocal and Carl's slide guitar Robert cravedfor more .. a year later "Drive" was released, a musical masterpiece enteringthe Billboard Blues Top Ten, attended by overwhelming reviews worldwide.(Besides his own albums, Carl rates this album "Drive" his personal guitarmasterpiece.)Carl Carlton and the Songdogs regrouped in November 2002 back at DocksideStudios in Lafayette Louisiana, pockets full of songs, ready to record theirsecond blast. Again the Songdogs deliver relentlessly that musical MississippiDelta Music-GumboRock'n Roll, a sprinkling of Rhythm & Blues with a touch ofCountry and Reggae. Trademark Songdogs at its finest! The same line-up as thefirst session except Bobby Keys, just coming off the Stones Licks Tour, joinedthem for the first time in the studio after already sharing the stage on theirfirst tour.Carl, besides his love for Reggae and everything that grooves, also being an"alternative" country music and pedal steel fanatic, found a fundamentalcontribution in Richard Comeaux (pedal steel). Levon and Sonny teamed up again,so did Jon Smith and Steve Howard. The wonderful voice of Charlene Howard whichdecorated Revolution Avenue so marvellously, got a partner in rising star, EMIsinger Shannon McNally from New Orleans.Robert Palmer again arranged and delivered stunning ethnic choruseson the titletrack "Love, Understanding and Respect". And famous German soul/rap vocalistXavier Naidoo guested on vocals released in May 2003 the album stood the test ofexpectations fuelled by its predecessor. Carl and the Songdogs hit the the roadagain in Summer 2003. In order to reproduce the sounds of Love and Respect herecruited pedal-steel, mandoline and steel-player Martin Huch, who fit like aglove in the new Songdogs line-up. When Carl's old buddy Bertram Engel lent hisdrumming skills to a Udo Lindenberg production and tour, Wayne P. Sheehy anotherof Carl's Irish mates and known as drummer for Ron Wood & Hothouse Flowersjumped in and took over as timekeeper and fun-raiser.A warm welcome to Martin and Wayne, true Songdogs!!Unfortunately due to his extreme and exhausting work-schedule Carl suffered abreakdown at the end of this tour in front of an audience and running TVcameras. A few weeks later Robert passed away. Carl now was stopped in histracks, more than ready for a break, but not before he fulfilled his obligationas musical director to the successful Musical Event "Tabaluga" inNovember/December.The Songdogs completed the "Cahoots & Roots Tour" with ripping performances inFebruary, closing this episode with the legendary "Rockpalace" TV Show inGermany and in September 2005 a rambunctious "Beat Club" performance.A complex double album consisting of one disc live and a second filled withspecial performances, featuring Robert Palmer with his very lastlive-appearance, the Songdogs backing him on a couple of smoking tunes. All 3albums so far are a "must-have", made by an extremely likeable Artist who hasboth his feet firmly on the ground and whose love of music is so inspiring thatboth musicians and audience are "committed" to him. In 2005 he completed a muchacclaimed album with Eric Burdon (Soul of a man, SPV)produced by Tony Braunagelin Johnny Lee Schell's studio in LA. (Eric Burdon-vox, Hutch Hutchinson-bass,Ivan Neville-clavinet/organ, Mike Finnigan-organ/piano, Johnny Lee Schell andCarl Carlton-guitars)Currently Carl is working on his project "The Route", a film-, or better, acomprehensive multi media project following the roots of contemporary music allthe way from Africa to America, by travelling the old slave route on a two mastschoner with his band The Songdogs.