Biography (courtesy of Tyscot Records)

It was always about music for Carman Domenic Licciardello, born into an Italian New Jersey home filled with music and laughter. His teenage talents on the drums and guitars landed him in clubs in Jersey, New York, and Vegas, but after a life-changing encounter with God at an Andrae Crouch concert, the talented, passionate musician committed his life and his gifting to reaching the world for Christ through the arts.

Following five years of ministerial preparation, Carman formed Carman Ministries and later Carman World Outreach, together destined to change the face of Christian music and contemporary evangelism. After his 1982 self-titled musical debut, he issued a series of albums that launched him to the top of CCM playlists, recognized by Charisma's readers' choice as Favorite Male Vocalist for three years running, and Billboard's CCM Artist of the Year in 1990. Along the way, Carman garnered awards and honors too numerous to count, including 15 Gold and Platinum albums and videos, with sales of over 10 million records.

More importantly, Carman has seen well over one million concert salvations, as well as holding the record for the largest solo Christian concerts in history with 50,000 in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1993, and more recently, 80,000 attending in Charlotte, North Carolina. On top of all that, he has written novels, screenplays, and had the longest running theatrical release for a Christian film with 2001's "The Champion," a film in which he also played lead. He collected over a million names on a petition to return prayer to schools, the record for one individual gathering signatures on a petition of any kind in our country's rich history. His albums continue to be very well received in the marketplace, including Heart of a Champion (2000), Ultimate Praise (2002), House of Praise (2003), and Live and Reloaded! (2005). He regularly puts his hand to various TV productions, often serving as a lively guest host on the TBN network. To put it succinctly, Carman has entertained, encouraged, and preached the Gospel message so dear to his heart for over 25 years, crossing cultural, denominational, and ethnic lines without constraint.

A man confident in his calling and his gifting, Carman has never been one to shy away from a challenge. It is in this spirit of energetic adventure that he takes on a new genre, one that fits him seamlessly and naturally. Releasing September 11th, Instrument of Praise is Carman's first foray into the field of gospel, but you'd never know it by listening to its 14 glorious, rousing tracks. Carman himself acknowledges the genre fits him like a glove, saying, "I grew up singing gospel, it's where my heart is. I've always gone to an integrated church, so for me this feels very natural." Carman attended Carlton Pearson's church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for 12 years before moving his ministry headquarters to the East Coast in 1997.

His rich gospel heritage explains the joyous fluency of this new album. From the jazz-tinged opener "The Overflow" to the quiet, salvation-themed closer, "Jesus Now," Instrument of Praise brims over with Carman's energetic passion for the gospel message so central to his life and his ministry. "The album title says it all," he shares. "This song has been bouncing around in my head for so long, it has become an anthem for me. It's what I do, it's who I am."

Who Carman is comes across strongly on this diverse, riveting album of soon-to-be-classic praise anthems. His intense focus on the gospel shines through the melodic, emotionally charged "Bless the Name," and the dramatic stylings of "This Blood, This Power", splashy with sound, bring to mind Carman's theatrical performance in "The Champion." An artist intently plugged into his audience, Carman knows how to communicate his always Biblical message in a format easy to enjoy and comprehend. "The best message is one of simplicity," he shares. Responsible for much of the writing of Instrument of Praise, Carman brings the funk home to the upbeat, horn-infused "I Love You Forever," and his richly unique vocals affirm the Lord's mighty powers in the percolating "Everlasting God." And if you can stay seated for the frenetic celebration that is "Celebration Day," you better check for a pulse. Producer Michael "Mookie" Taylor has seen to it that each of these 14 tracks has been enhanced with sweet sonic nuances galore, like the warm flutes and guitars adding color to the mesmerizing title track, and the winding percussive rhythms of the uplifting "S.A.V.E.D. 100%."

When it's time to take things down into a deeper groove, Carman is just as ready, with the heartfelt worship of "We Lift You Up," the quiet keys soothing in support. "People want music they can be involved with," Carman explains. "Ultimately, I want to make music that will draw my audience into a worship experience with God." It is this desire that has motivated the singer so generous in spirit for over 25 years of music ministry, and Instrument of Praise stands poised to continue the trend of excellence and inspiration into another generation. Tyscot Records features one of our generation's most iconic artists when Carman explores and conquers yet another field of artistry in the gospel glories of Instrument of Praise, in stores and online September 11th.