Music / Business & brands
Aaron-Carl
1973–2010 · singer, producer, DJ, label owner
Detroit singer-producer who moved between soulful house, techno and electro-funk, founded Wallshaker Music and scored a Billboard dance hit with “My House”.
- Born
Detroit, Michigan- Died
Detroit, Michigan
aged 37- Birth name
- Aaron-Carl Ragland
- Also known as
- Aaron-Carl Ragland
- Detroit years
- 1973–2010
- Field
- Music, Business & brands
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Aaron-Carl Ragland was born in Detroit and began his career on the city's techno labels. His demo caught the attention of Mike Banks, who signed him to Underground Resistance's soul-leaning sub-label Soul City; his first records, “Wash It” and “Crucified”, won him local and international followings, and he also released on Metroplex and Subject Detroit. A singer as well as a producer, he moved easily between lush house, hard techno and electro-funk, often with frank, sensual lyrics, and he remixed Underground Resistance, Aux 88, DJ Bone and Kelli Hand as well as CeCe Peniston and GusGus. In 1999 he founded Wallshaker Music in Detroit, later adding the Amsterdam-based Cherry Juice Recordings, and he created W.A.R.M.T.H. (We Are Revolutionizing the Movement of Techno and House) to promote Detroit artists abroad. “My House”, licensed to Josh Wink's Ovum label, became a Billboard dance hit. He died of lymphoma in Detroit in 2010, just before a European tour.
Highlights
- Debuted on Underground Resistance's Soul City sub-label.
- Founded Wallshaker Music in Detroit in 1999.
- “My House” on Ovum Recordings was a Billboard Top 40 dance/club hit.
- Albums Detrevolution (2005) and Bittersoulfulsweet (2008).