Porter Carroll, Jr.

Singer, songwriter, drummer, percussionist and founder of Newban (later changing its name to Atlantic Starr), the Rhythm and Blues hit machine from
the ‘70s and ‘80s.

Musician

As the original drummer and one of four singers with Atlantic Starr, Porter Carroll, Jr. helped create the hits that made the band and its amazing vocals, tight production and energetic stage performances one of the most successful, international R&B/Pop bands of a decade. Porter performed with his childhood friends and family until the mid eighties, contributing his musicianship to such popular tunes as Circles, When Love Calls, Send for Me, Am I Dreaming, Let’s Get Closer, Touch a Four Leaf Clover and others. Renowned hip-hop/soul artists including Mary J. Blige, Keith Sweat, Erykah Badu and others continue remaking Atlantic Starr classics. Little known fact is, though they are known for being balladeers, Porter (as a drummer) along the Atlantic Starr rhythm section and the famed Philadelphia International, MFSB orchestra powered the disco classic, This Time Baby for Jackie Moore.

Solo Artist

Upon leaving the group, Porter branched out on his own in the mid-1980s and produced a critically acclaimed album, Porter Carroll II, for Island Records. That set produced theme songs for two long running BET Network video shows, Video Vibrations and Midnight Love.

Vocal Projects

Other credits include background vocalist for chart-topping recording artists, Shania Twain, Spyro Gyra, Melba Moore, Donny Osmond, Michael Bolton, Howard Hewett and Marion Meadows among others. Porter’s vocals have also enriched Levar Burton’s Reading Rainbow television show and the hit children’s show, Puzzle People.

Songwriter

As a composer for Sony Music Publishing, top names covered Porter’s compositions. Some of those artist include Luther Vandross, The Temptations, Denise Williams, and Grover Washington. Porter also co-wrote and co-produced for blues great, Taj Mahal. He has written for jazz crooner, Will Downing, legendary jazz keyboardist, Bob James, penned exercise music for Jane Fonda and helped to launch a very young, Jennifer Love Hewitt. Atlantic Starr’s original lead vocalist, Sharon Bryant, smooth jazz greats, Marion Meadows and Bob Baldwin have all recorded songs from his catalog. He can be heard on one of his own compositions in the Jason Alexander, Kathleen Turner, Regina King and Courtney Vance film, Love and Action in Chicago. He has a credit in the hit movie, Barbershop and he’s written for the animated television movie, People, performed by Peabo Bryson. Porter’s songs were often heard on the historic soap operas, The Guiding Light and his mom’s favorite, As The World Turns.

Now

Carroll is working on three projects: He has joined the number one selling duo in music history, Hall of Famers, Daryl Hall and John Oates (www.hallandoates.com), performing worldwide in his new roll as percussionist/background vocalist. This venture is coupled with appearing as a regular on Daryl Hall’s, Webby Award winning television smash, Live From Daryl’s House. (www.livefromdarylshouse.com).

In between tours with the pop icons and the television show, he is the lead singer for an innovative nightclub act co-developed with Stanley Turrentine and Donny Hathaway guitar standout Wali Ali, titled, Evolution Of Cabaret. This show puts a new spin on popular classics not yet seen on the jazz club and cabaret circuit.

In development, Porter is working with Grammy Award winning composer and producer, Michael Colina and multi-Emmy Award winning documentarian, Peter Schnall on a cross cultural, classical styled music event and documentary based on his unique scholastic experience.