Jeff Carson

Jeffrey Lee Herndon (December 16, 1963 – March 26, 2022), known professionally as Jeff Carson, was an American country music artist. Originally a session musician in Branson, Missouri, and later a demo singer, he was signed to Curb Records in 1995, releasing his self-titled debut album that year, followed by Butterfly Kisses in 1998 and Real Life in 2002. He charted 14 singles on the Billboard country charts, including the Number One hit "Not on Your Love", the Top Ten hits "The Car" and "Holdin' Onto Something", and the Top 20 "Real Life (I Never Was the Same Again)". He retired from music in 2009 and became a police officer.

Biography Jeffrey Lee Herndon was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and raised in Gravette, Arkansas. In high school, he and some friends formed a band. They won second place at a local talent show for performing the song "Seven Bridges Road". While in Branson, he met his then-future wife, who persuaded him to move to Nashville, Tennessee, which he did in 1989. They married in 1989. In Nashville, he found work with a band that played at the Opryland Hotel, before convincing the hotel to book him as a solo act. Jeff Carson received a mixed review from Country Standard Time, whose Larry Stephens said that "Carson's songs are all good, but nothing sticks or grabs the heart strings."

1997–1999: Butterfly Kisses Carson released his second album in 1997. Entitled Butterfly Kisses, this album produced four singles, none of which reached top 40: "Do It Again" at number 55; the album's title track (number 62), which was also a number 1 Adult Contemporary hit and minor country hit for Bob Carlisle as well as a Top 40 pop and country hit for the Raybon Brothers; "Here's the Deal" (number 64); and "Cheatin' on Her Heart" (number 52). Another single from Real Life, entitled "Until We Fall Back in Love Again", peaked at number 47.

2003–2022: Return to music and police work Carson charted again in 2003 with his cover of the Christian pop hit "I Can Only Imagine", a cut from a multi-artist compilation called God Bless the USA 2003. He also co-wrote the track "Where Has My Hometown Gone" on Craig Morgan's album I Love It, as well as Elbert West's single "Kimberly Cooper's Eyes". A duet with Lisa Brokop entitled "God Save the World", released in 2005, also failed to chart. His most recent single, "When You Said You Loved Me", was sent to radio in early 2007, as the lead-off single to an upcoming Greatest Hits package. The single failed to chart, however, and his Greatest Hits album was cancelled. In February 2009, he retired from the music business and joined the Franklin, Tennessee, police force as a full-time police officer.

Death Carson died from a heart attack at a hospital in Franklin, Tennessee, on March 26, 2022, at the age of 58.

Discography

Albums

Studio albums Title Album details Peak chart positions US Country US US Heat CAN CountryJeff Carson Release date: May 2, 1995 Label: MCG/Curb Records 22 152 7 4Butterfly Kisses Release date: June 24, 1997 Label: Curb Records 39 — 28 —Real Life Release date: September 4, 2001 Label: Curb Records 38 — 29 x "—" denotes the album failed to chart or not released"x" denotes that no relevant chart existed at the time

Compilation albums Title Album details Best of Jeff Carson – I Can Only Imagine Release date: May 28, 2013 Label: Curb Records (Digital Only)

Singles

Year Single Peak chart positions — — — Best of America, Vol. 2 2006 "When You Said You Loved Me" — — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart

Other charted songs Year Single Peak positions Michael Salomon 1996 "That Last Mile" Greg Crutcher 1998 "Shine On" David Abbott 2001 "Real Life (I Never Was the Same Again)" 2020 "God Save The World"

Awards and nominations