The Blues Preacher

The Blues Preacher – Gypsy Carns is an American singer and songwriter. He has witnessed around the world with his Music Ministry and hosts a Bible Study podcast Monday – Friday on several Social Media sites. Carns performs rock-influenced blues music combining powerful words of Jesus Christ and contemporary melodies and instrumentals. He shares real-life lyrics for a blend of Americana music synergized with healing prayer. Gypsy defines his style as “Messianic Blues/Rock.” The Blues Preacher started performing in 1963 and began his recording career in 1966. He is a two-time Grammy Nominee and winner of the Christian Blues Artist of the Year Award. Through his live performances he has anointed the U.S., Japan, France, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, China, Israel and Brazil. Called a “one-man wrecking crew,” Carns plays a stompbox tambourine, kick-drum combination, harmonica, 12-string Dobro and Electric Slide Guitar.

EARLY LIFE AND CAREER
Gyspy was born in 1949 in El Dorado, Arkansas. In 1954 he saw Elvis Presley on TV and it changed his life and launched his trajectory in becoming a musician. In 57’, at 8 years old, he started guitar lessons and at 13 years was in his first band “The Classics.” He later joined The Fab Gents in 1965; The Tasmanians in 1966; the Transcontinental Mercy Flight with Robin Thompson in 1968; joined We The People, an RCA original band in 1968. From there he worked as a carpet layer by day and band member at night. It was in 1969 that he decided to move to Nashville, Tennessee and lived there for 20 years. He first went to work at an airplane factory and was also a night cook at Shoney’s. In the same year Gypsy welcomed his first son Mykal on December 27, 1969. In 1971 he joined a 4 piece cover band called Stonehenge. In 1972 the trio he was in “New Hope” charted Billboard and in 1973 he welcomed his daughter, Jacinda.
Throughout the mid to late 1970s Gypsy Carns signed several record deals and continues to make music as a solo artist. In 1974 he signed a solo record deal with Square Records until the label went bankrupt. In 1975 he joined Gibson Guitars and didn’t play music for three years during that time. In the early 1980s he joined a beach band called Kittyhawk and recorded later with a band called The Smashers. From the mid to late 1980s, Carns toured with the Electronic band Chain of Command; toured with country act Sue Powell and also The KEYS band which released one single. In 1987 Gypsy returned to work at Gibson and started playing slide guitar. In 1989 he moved to New York City where he was the A&R Manager of the Gibson Guitar office. He later moved to Hollywood, California as Office Manager for Gibson Guitar. Gypsy has worked with Rock Music’s elite including Les Paul, Slash, Stevie Ray Vaughn, George Harrison, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood, B.B. King, The Allman Brothers, Pearl Jam, Kiss, AC/DC to name a few.

In 1992, after the Northridge earthquake in California, he moved back to Nashville, ran Global A&R for Gibson Guitar and moved in with his now wife and soul mate Caroline. He later was moved to run the Repair Shop at Gibson Guitar and in 1995 accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and began his solo career for the Lord. He recorded originals with his first producer, Tabby Crabb – R.I.P. His granddaughter Kirra Seale Busch was born in 1998 and is a world renown surfer and member of the WSL. In 1999 he was part of the Blues duo Rollin & Tumblin who participated in the International Blues Contest representing Nashville,TN. His one-man-band career began in 1999 and he went on to record Beale Street Swing, Revelation Blues, G Force and toured France as The General and The French Army. In 2003 his second grandchild was born – Ezra Seale. He later gigged across Amsterdam with his band The Blues Preachers, a 5 piece rock band. He performed solo in clubs and street preached with his stompbox and Dobro. In 2006 he experienced his second sweat lodge and felt the Prophet calling. The Lord sent him around the globe preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ. March in Amsterdam and The Netherlands, July 4th Shanghai, China and August 17th Jerusalem, Israel. In November his most popular Gospel Blues CD was released “Gospel Train Coming.” In 2007 he met his new producer and friend Brad Vosburg recording in Brad’s studio “Fox Mountain” and they continue to work together today. The Watchman was their first project. Gypsy continued touring with the Apostles of Sound and in 2008 moved to Meridian Mississippi. From 2008 through 2020 he recorded several Hard Rock/Metal, Instrumental and Christian CD’s and single releases with Brad. In 2016 his life was changed when he met MACEY MAC, an eleven year old musician whom He would bring to Christ, tour and record 1 EP with. Macey Mac has since moved to Nashville where she is carving out a solo career.
In April of 2020 he woke up with severe Rheumatoid Arthritis and could not play the guitar for 15 months. He would still develop an idea, write the lyrics and then soak his hands in ice water until they were numb and then record the demo chords on guitar/ vocals. On July 8, 2021 at 2:38pm The Lord healed Gypsy Carns miraculously from the Rheumatoid Arthritis and he could play guitar again.
From 2021 to the present time Gypsy Carns continues to write and record music. Several Christian Rock and Gospel Blues albums dominate his present catalog all found on his social media sites. Or you can download his entire catalog for free from his website. In 2023, Gypsy welcomed two great grandchildren, this time twin boys-Jaxxon and Lennox. In 2024 his latest single release is “Jesus Hallelujah.” Also, Bongo Boy Records released their New Age Music CD: “Escape The Minds,” with one Gypsy song “Moon and Stars.”

GUITARS AND INSTRUMENTS
Gypsy owns 28 Guitars and Basses. A variety of 8 Dobros: Cigar Box, Wooden and Metal. 2 Fender basses – a 1968 Tele and 1992 Jazz, His preference in electric guitars is Mahogany body and neck. His main electrics: Gibson Flying V, Explorer, SG, Es-335 - 6 & 12 string, L-4, ES-350-T and EDS-1275. He owns a Fender Stratocaster and Tele as well. Acoustics: Taylor, Gibson J-200, Custom made 12 string and 2 Harmony acoustics from the 1940’s. He prefers Marshall and Fender amps and owns both.

RECORD LABELS
– MGM, Conda, RCA, Musark, TTM, Night Fly, Appaloosa, Kat Family, Power and Bongo Boy.
Member of (various bands) – The Classics, The Fab Gents, The Tasmanians, TMF – Transcontinental Mercy Flight, We The People, Stonehenge, NEW HOPE, Solo, Ft. Knox, Gypsy Tramps & Thieves, Kittyhawk, The Keys, Smashers, Chain Of Command, Sue Powell, GYPSY, The Smashers, Solo, Krochain, Rollin & Tumblin, The General, General Gypsy Carns, The General & The French Army, Gypsy Carns The Blues Preacher, Apostles Of Sound, Prophet AZAL and MACEY MAC. Since 1999 Gypsy has been a Solo Artist performing as a one-man-band.

Website – https://www.gypsycarns.com

PERSONAL LIFE
Married to his wife Caroline Argyle Carns – 27 years. Daughter Jacinda Seale, Son – Mykal, Granddaughter Kirra Seale Busch, Grandson, Ezra Seale, Great grandsons – Jaxxon and Lennox Busch, Son-in-law Billy Busch Jr. God daughter - Macey Mac.

DISCOGRAPHY
Label / Artist / CD or single
Conda - The Tasmanians - Love Love Love, Baby - single
Power - The Tasmanians - I Can't Explain This Feeling - single
MGM - New Hope - It's All Over Now - single
Square - Gypsy Carns - Ride Away - album
Kat Family - Smashers - Smashers - album
Loud - The Keys - I Want You Back Again - single
Appaloosa - The Smashers - Loud, Confident, and Wrong - album
Night Fly - Rollin & Tumblin - Prayin' Blues - album
TTM - The General - Beale Street Swing - album
TTM - The General - Revelation Blues - album
Musark - General Gypsy Carns - G Force - album
Musark - The General & The French Army - Paris Feel Good - live album
TTM - Gypsy Carns The Blues Preacher - Raw Word - album
Musark - G2C - Wailin' Wall / Jerusalem In Ruins - single
TTM - Gospel Train Coming - Gypsy Carns - album
TTM - The Watchman - Gypsy Carns - album
TTM - AZA - Gypsy Carns - album
TTM - Elijah Returns - Prophet AZAL - album
TTM - Tango Blues - Gypsy Carns - album
TTM - Apocalyptic - Gypsy Carns - album
TTM - Red Hot - MACEY MAC - EP
Bongo Boy Records - Various Artists - album
Backroom Blues:
Volume 8 - Gypsy Carns - Mean Mistreatin' Man
Volume 11 - Gypsy Carns - Stock Market Blues
Volume 12 - Gypsy Carns - Now I'm Alive
Kryp II Knight - Gypsy Carns - Color Of Skin, Save Us Lord
Consecration Revival Volume II - Gypsy Carns - Praise Our Heavenly Father, Save Us Lord
Escape The Mind - Gypsy Carns - Moon and Stars
TTM - Jesus Hallelujah - Gypsy Carns - single

REFERENCES
Blues Revue – “The General is Gypsy Carns, a one-man wrecking crew who plays a “stompbox tambourine/kickdrum combination, harp, and 12 string resonator guitar. This is hammering, powerful stuff, driven by Carns’ energy and rough-hewn vocals.”

Cross Rhythms – “General Gypsy Carns is a one-man blues band performing Gospel Blues in authentic delta blues style. If you’re looking for something radical or you’re simply a blues fan, you absolutely have to check out General Gypsy Carns and his modern-day Blind Willie Johnson meets Howlin’ Wolf approach to authentic blues music.”

Shanghai Press – “Gypsy Carns, aka The Blues Preacher, astounded Shanghai in early July. Sponsored by Gibson Guitars his tour of the cities live venues left audiences open-mouthed and craving for more. Indeed, his style of delta blues, with Jesus’ lyrics, backed by relentless energy made for an altogether cataclysmic experience. If this is Christian Rock then hallelujah brother!”

IL Blues, Italy – "Gypsy Carns is a one man band with dobro, harmonica, and stomp box and he expresses with fervor and impetus the conjugation of sacred music with blues. His concert was a fusion of spirituality and truth."

The Phantom Tollbooth - "Raw-Word is an all acoustic-foot-stompin'-high energy all out Shout to (and for) the Lord. Ten seconds into "Rainbow" and you know you are in for something special."
Radio Alpamayo / Huaraz Ancash, Peru – “We are very thankful to God because He has given us good friends like you, we will be praying for God to use your ministry to reach all those who do not know about Jesus yet!!!”

Progressive Rock & Progressive Metal - BRASIL - RIO DE JANEIRO
“Mr. Gypsy Carns has a space in the gospel world. How can you imagine a tatooed old man with his acoustic guitar travelling around the world playing blues? Just to bring the holy bible to the blues people. And he is on the road since 1966. Can you believe it? He has a mission and seems to not stop it until the end of time (I truly believe he has immortality).”

Christian Rockers Online – C.W.Ross
“You need to get this latest release from Gypsy whether you're a spiritual person or not. The music found on The Watchman will both entertain you and open your mind up to thinking about the messages that are found in the song's lyrics. To me that's a win, win situation.”

The Christian Grass Roots Multi-Media - Robbie Machon - Gyspy Carns A Holy Man
“In contrast, there is also something about Gypsy that causes people to gravitate towards him, to listen to what he has to say, to be captured by those piercing eyes that you know hold worlds of wisdom. The type of wisdom that is acquired thru a hard-lived life transformed by the power of Jesus Christ. Wisdom that cannot be taught in a theological seminary but can only be instilled by God into a human vessel to accomplish His purposes. Yes, there is something about Gypsy Carns that transcends his style of music, his two Grammy nominations for blues songwriting, his multiple nominations as Blues Musician of the Year by The Music City Blues Society, and the recognition from other artists and the industry as an accomplished, expert musician. That 'something' is called the Anointing, and man, has God given him a double dose of it!”

Strike Magazine - Sao Paul, Brazil, Bob Riot - Gypsy Carns - The Preacher of Blues
“The trademark of his music is in the Delta-blues format combined with Christian lyrics, what gives to his sound a unique trademark in the American musical scenery.”

SOURCES
www.gypsycarns.com
Podcast - https://www.facebook.com/gypsy.carns
Gibson Guitars

EXTERNAL LINKS
www.gypsycarns.com
https://www.instagram.com/gypsycarns/channel/
https://www.youtube.com/@GypsyCarns
https://www.reverbnation.com/gypsycarns
https://www.facebook.com/gypsy.carns