Carl Douglas

Carlton George Douglas, known professionally as Carl Douglas, was born on May 10, 1942, in Kingston, Jamaica. He is a singer recognized for his work in soul music. Douglas initially studied to become a marine engineer, graduating from London Polytechnic. Douglas began his musical career in the 1960s, releasing songs as a solo artist and with bands like The Big Stampede. In 1974, he recorded "Kung Fu Fighting", inspired by the popularity of Chinese martial arts. The song became an unexpected hit, reaching Number 1 in multiple countries including Germany, Austria, the USA, and the UK. This made Douglas the first Jamaican artist to achieve a Number 1 hit in the United States. The single sold over nine million copies worldwide and won an Ivor Novello Award. Following this success, Douglas released several albums, including Kung Fu Fighting And Other Great Love Songs (1974), Love Peace And Happiness (1977), and Keep Pleasing Me (1978). He continued to release music throughout his career, with notable tracks like "Dance The Kung Fu" (1974) and "Run Back" (1977). In 2008, Douglas released a collection of new songs titled Return Of The Fighter.