After a long battle with multiple myeloma, a cancer that attacks the white blood cells, Carman has passed away. He had undergone surgery to repair a hiatal hernia. Complications after the surgery resulted in in an infection, which caused a heart attack.

The mononymously known singer was a legend who redefined the Christian music industry with a massively successful career in the 90’s. It wasn’t just for his music, which blended stylings of pop, rock, hip-hop, and synths. He had a style about him that made him a trendsetter in the eyes of his fans.

As Jason Crabb of The Crabb Family puts it:
“I think every youth group went to see him… He made it cool to be a Christian.”

His career began from childhood, as a drummer for his mother’s band. After moving to California in his 20’s, he became a born-again Christian at an Andrae Crouch concert.

Carman’s career steadily began to rise, which led to a record-shattering career that spanned hits like “Who Is In The House,” and “R.I.O.T (Righteous Invasion Of Truth).” A number of these hits were with memorable collaborative efforts. Like the rap song, “Addicted To Jesus (A2J).”

Beyond music, Carman’s career included acting in movies like The Champion, and as a TV host for Trinity Broadcasting Network. In TBN’s program Praise The Lord, his interview guests included Actors Tommy “Tiny” Lister (Friday; One Night With The King), and Danny Trejo (Heat; Machete).

The Gold and Platinum selling artist had announced his illness when it began, in 2013, and was given three to four years to live. The next year, he had announced after medical tests, that he was cancer-free. This freed him up to continue a Kickstarter campaign he had previously started. This was to go towards a new album, and music video.

He married Dana in 2017, at the age of 61. It was the first marriage for him. The closest he’d come before, was a back in his youth, to a girl who passed away just before he was about to propose.

Though he announced the return of his cancer illness earlier in 2020, he continued a schedule of live concert church tours in June. A 60-city tour in promotion of his new album had been planned at the time of his passing.