Max Carl

Max Carl Gronenthal (born January 29, 1950) is an American rock singer, keyboardist, guitarist and songwriter. He is the current co-lead singer of the classic rock band Grand Funk Railroad.[1] In addition, he spent several years as the keyboardist and lead singer for the southern rock band 38 Special, for whom he co-wrote and sang lead on the hit song "Second Chance".[2]

Max Carl
Carl performing with Grand Funk Railroad in 2010
Background information
Birth nameMax Carl Gronenthal
Also known asMax Carl
Born (1950-01-29) January 29, 1950
Humphrey, Nebraska, United States
GenresRock, pop
Occupation(s)Singer, musician (keyboardist)
InstrumentsVocals, Keyboards, guitar, saxophone
Years active1968–present
LabelsVarious
Associated actsNew Breed Blues Band, The Chancellors, Rod Stewart, Molly Hatchet, Elton John, Tommy Bolin Band, Dan Fogelberg, Bonnie Raitt, Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Timothy B. Schmit, Bette Midler, Kenny Loggins, Jack Mack and the Heart Attack, Marcy Levy, .38 Special, Joe Cocker, Bad Company, Richard Marx, Charlie Daniels, Max Carl and the Big Dance, James Brown, Otha Turner, Jennifer Warnes, Grand Funk Railroad, Tony Carey
Websitewww.grandfunkrailroad.com/bios/Max_bio.html

Early life

Carl was born in 1950 in Platte Center, Nebraska, and raised near the town of Humphrey, graduating from high school in Norfolk, Nebraska in 1968. Throughout 1968–69, he played a significant role as a member of the Norfolk-based New Breed Blues Band, during which time he enhanced his interest in rhythm and blues music. Beginning as a saxophonist in this band, he later became the lead vocalist/keyboardist in the group. However, in 1969, he left to join the Lincoln-based Chancellors.

Developing musical skills

During the 1970s, Carl served stints with numerous bands across the Midwest, including The Fabulous Flippers out of Lawrence, Kansas, pausing briefly in 1976 to study piano and refine and improve his songwriting abilities in Oklahoma City. He frequently performed with fellow Midwesterner Tommy Bolin in various jazz/rock fusion groups. By the late-1970s, Carl had graduated to performing on albums by "bigger names," such as Rod Stewart and Dusty Springfield.

Around this time, Carl decided to begin recording as a solo artist. His debut album, Whistling in the Dark was released in 1979 under his given name, Max Gronenthal. A second solo album, Max followed in 1980.

Professional career

Throughout the 1980s, Carl immersed himself in session work, singing and/or playing on albums by artists such as Elton John, Dan Fogelberg, Bonnie Raitt, Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Timothy B. Schmit, Bette Midler, and Kenny Loggins. In 1982, he also formed what started as a '60s' R&B cover band, eventually named Jack Mack and the Heart Attack. Featuring a four-piece horn section, the band played classic R&B, Soul and also incorporated some Max Carl-penned original R&B-styled songs into their repertoire, including the classic "Cardiac Party." Their Thursday night residency at the Club Lingerie in Hollywood was legendary. After Max Carl left the band, Jack Mack was no longer a “cover band,” became the Late Show band, and appeared in many tv shows and movies, including the cult classic, “Tuff Turf.” (This year, Jack Mack and the Heart Attack celebrated its 37th Anniversary entertaining the world and writing much music, and released its most recent album “Back to the Shack” in 2017. Like the band’s previous albums, Back to the Shack features music written by original members Bill Bergman and Andrew Kastner, along with Mark Campbell, the singer who took Carl’s place in 1984.)

In addition to performing, Carl also found time during the mid-1980s to compose tunes for various movie soundtracks, performing on many of them as well. Films such as Spring Break (1983), Police Academy (1984), Grandview, U.S.A. (1984), Tuff Turf (1985), and Doin' Time (1985) include his compositions. In 1986, he would co-write "Come and Follow Me" as a duet with Marcy Levy (Marcella Detroit), which played during the closing credits of the movie Short Circuit. He also performed the theme song to the 1987 animated series Spiral Zone.[3]

Meanwhile, in 1984, Carl left Jack Mack and the Heart Attack to record his third solo album. Unlike the first two solo albums, The Circle would be released under his stage name Max Carl. The album's title track would be included on the soundtrack for the John Hughes film Weird Science. Later that same year, Carl was invited to join .38 Special, a request that he eventually accepted.

Carl rehearsed with the band frequently, and by 1988, he joined forces with the southern rock stylings of .38 Special. That year, the band would release the Rock & Roll Strategy album, which included the Cal Curtis/Jeff Carlisi tune that Carl reworked (earning him an additional writing credit) into "Second Chance," featuring Carl on lead vocals. "Second Chance" introduced .38 Special into a whole new market, when it reached the top of the Adult Contemporary chart in early 1989. Carl remained in .38 Special into the 1990s, but left shortly after the release of the band's Bone Against Steel album in 1991.

At this point, Carl moved to Nashville, where he continued to write/perform on tunes for the likes of Joe Cocker, Bad Company, Richard Marx, and Charlie Daniels. Later in the '90s, he became fascinated with a "family" of musicians in Mississippi who performed a very original historical and heartland-infused brand of music. Relocating to Mississippi, Carl began performing with this group of musicians, forming what would become Max Carl and the Big Dance. This experience ultimately culminated in the release of the album One Planet – One Groove (under the "Max Carl and the Big Dance" moniker) in 1998. Featured on this album are several of Carl's original compositions fused with this new "southern funk"/"Mississippi sound," as well as covers of various 60s hits done in this style.

Carl remains with Grand Funk, but reunites on rare occasions with Jack Mack and the Heart Attack Band, whom are still performing together to this day. A new album (from Jack Mack) , Live from Centennial Park - Atlanta 1996 is due to be released on December 6, 2019 and the band is planning a celebration of their 40th anniversary in 2020.[4]

Miscellaneous

In addition to the artists already mentioned, he has performed with artists as diverse as James Brown, Otha Turner, and Jennifer Warnes, (Somewhere - Somebody) among others.

Carl was the original lead singer for the band Jack Mack and the Heart Attack. It was Jack Mack and the Heart Attack band that was performing in Atlanta, Georgia, during the 1996 Summer Olympics when a pipe bomb detonated nearby, killing one woman, causing the fatal heart attack of a journalist and injuring 111 people. At the Olympic Bombing concert in Atlanta, Max Carl had already left the Jack Mack band (then singing for .38 Special). The new lead singer for Jack Mack and the Heart Attack during the Olympic concert was TC Moses.

Carl's current work is on the Speed Channel's grassroots drag racing competition Pinks franchise. He is the composer and performer of the theme music as well as transitional music throughout the show. Through this endeavor, he has released a CD soundtrack for the show entitled Max Carl: Fuel, produced by Max & Steve Music, LLC.[5]

Solo discography

As "Max Gronenthal"

As "Max Carl"
  • Circle (1985)

Max Carl and the Big Dance
  • One Planet – One Groove (1998)

References
  1. "Grand Funk Railroad - Shinin' On - 7/26/2008". YouTube. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
  2. "38 Special - Second Chance". YouTube. June 26, 2007. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
  3. "Surrender or pay the consequences!". Brandedinthe80s.com. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  4. "Latest News! | Jack Mack and the Heart Attack". Jackmack.com. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
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