Biography
James Carmichael delivered lead vocals for Instant Funk's million-selling 1979 single "I Got My Mind Made Up." He must be distinguished from arranger and producer James Anthony Carmichael, whose credits include major hits for the Commodores and their former frontman Lionel Richie. Carmichael also fronted the group's additional well-known tracks "No Stoppin' That Rockin'," "Everybody," "What Can I Do for You," and "It's Cool."
Instant Funk issued the single "Float Like a Butterfly" on Philadelphia International Records' TSOP imprint and the November 1976 album "Get Down on the Philly Jump," whose title cut and "It Aint Reggae (But It Sho Is Funky)" became disco-club favorites. Early in 1978 Sigler ended his association with Philadelphia International Records on amicable terms and took Instant Funk along.
Around mid-1977 the trio began auditioning vocalists for the band. After hearing numerous candidates, Sigler presented James Carmichael, precisely the voice they sought. Between road dates supporting Sigler, the Manhattans, and other artists, Earl and the Miller brothers laid down several tracks with Carmichael at Sigma Sound and Alpha International.
MFSB guitarist Norman Harris chose to exit Philadelphia International Records and establish his own Goldmind Records, securing distribution through New York-based Salsoul Records. Seeking broader success as a recording artist, Sigler signed with Harris' label; backed by Instant Funk he scored his first Top Ten R&B single, "Let Me Party With You (Party, Party, Party)." Co-written by the Miller Brothers, Earl, and Sigler, the track reached number eight R&B in January 1978. The album "Let Me Party With You," released that same month, peaked at number 18 R&B early in 1978. One selection prominently featuring Carmichael, "Your Love Is So Good," became a major disco hit.
Sigler also obtained a Goldmind deal for Instant Funk, now expanded to a ten-piece unit with horns. By then the TNJs had disbanded, so Sigler decided to enlarge the lineup further. Before any product could appear, Goldmind folded and its roster moved to Salsoul. Instant Funk's first Salsoul release was the 1978 single "I Got My Mind Made Up (You Can Get It Girl)." Remixed a year later by Garage club DJ Larry Levan, the record became the group's million-selling breakthrough, holding the number one R&B position for three weeks in March 1979. It sold an astounding 400,000 copies in the New York area alone, leading Manhattan Borough President Andrew Stein to declare May 22, 1979, "Instant Funk Day." The track was co-written by Earl, Kim, and Scott Miller with input from Sigler. Its primary inspiration was the music of Donald Byrd's protégés the Blackbyrds, particularly "Rock Creek Park," and other leading '70s funk bands.
The January 1979 album "Instant Funk" went gold, topping the R&B chart and reaching number 12 pop in spring 1979. Subsequent Salsoul albums comprised "Witch Doctor" (1979), first issued as a DJ-only double record set; "The Funk Is On" (1980); "Looks So Fine" (spring 1982); "Instant Funk V" (1983); and "Kinky" (September 1983).
Carmichael supplied background vocals on Sigler's Salsoul albums "I've Always Wanted to Sing...Not Just Write Songs" (March 1979) and "Let It Snow" (summer 1980), which contained "How Can I Tell Her (That It's Over)," "Girl You're Drivin' Me Crazy," and "Let It Snow," later rediscovered in the '90s as a steppers track. Carmichael exited the group in 1982. He released a single on an independent label, produced by former Instant Funk bandmate Larry Davis, in the mid-'80s.
"I Got My Mind Made Up" appears in the Disney/Miramax film 54 and on its soundtrack.
Instant Funk issued the single "Float Like a Butterfly" on Philadelphia International Records' TSOP imprint and the November 1976 album "Get Down on the Philly Jump," whose title cut and "It Aint Reggae (But It Sho Is Funky)" became disco-club favorites. Early in 1978 Sigler ended his association with Philadelphia International Records on amicable terms and took Instant Funk along.
Around mid-1977 the trio began auditioning vocalists for the band. After hearing numerous candidates, Sigler presented James Carmichael, precisely the voice they sought. Between road dates supporting Sigler, the Manhattans, and other artists, Earl and the Miller brothers laid down several tracks with Carmichael at Sigma Sound and Alpha International.
MFSB guitarist Norman Harris chose to exit Philadelphia International Records and establish his own Goldmind Records, securing distribution through New York-based Salsoul Records. Seeking broader success as a recording artist, Sigler signed with Harris' label; backed by Instant Funk he scored his first Top Ten R&B single, "Let Me Party With You (Party, Party, Party)." Co-written by the Miller Brothers, Earl, and Sigler, the track reached number eight R&B in January 1978. The album "Let Me Party With You," released that same month, peaked at number 18 R&B early in 1978. One selection prominently featuring Carmichael, "Your Love Is So Good," became a major disco hit.
Sigler also obtained a Goldmind deal for Instant Funk, now expanded to a ten-piece unit with horns. By then the TNJs had disbanded, so Sigler decided to enlarge the lineup further. Before any product could appear, Goldmind folded and its roster moved to Salsoul. Instant Funk's first Salsoul release was the 1978 single "I Got My Mind Made Up (You Can Get It Girl)." Remixed a year later by Garage club DJ Larry Levan, the record became the group's million-selling breakthrough, holding the number one R&B position for three weeks in March 1979. It sold an astounding 400,000 copies in the New York area alone, leading Manhattan Borough President Andrew Stein to declare May 22, 1979, "Instant Funk Day." The track was co-written by Earl, Kim, and Scott Miller with input from Sigler. Its primary inspiration was the music of Donald Byrd's protégés the Blackbyrds, particularly "Rock Creek Park," and other leading '70s funk bands.
The January 1979 album "Instant Funk" went gold, topping the R&B chart and reaching number 12 pop in spring 1979. Subsequent Salsoul albums comprised "Witch Doctor" (1979), first issued as a DJ-only double record set; "The Funk Is On" (1980); "Looks So Fine" (spring 1982); "Instant Funk V" (1983); and "Kinky" (September 1983).
Carmichael supplied background vocals on Sigler's Salsoul albums "I've Always Wanted to Sing...Not Just Write Songs" (March 1979) and "Let It Snow" (summer 1980), which contained "How Can I Tell Her (That It's Over)," "Girl You're Drivin' Me Crazy," and "Let It Snow," later rediscovered in the '90s as a steppers track. Carmichael exited the group in 1982. He released a single on an independent label, produced by former Instant Funk bandmate Larry Davis, in the mid-'80s.
"I Got My Mind Made Up" appears in the Disney/Miramax film 54 and on its soundtrack.
Albums
