I use biographies as a plural on purpose, as metamorphosis via writing is one of the key themes of Jim Carroll’s work. With biographies, as opposed to autobiographies, the metamorphosis is in the hands of others. These are just a few of the biographical essays I’ve managed to add to the site so far. Check out the Bibliographies page for more.
CatholicBoy.com Biography by Cassie Carter (updated 2009)
In August 1998, Jim Carroll asked me to write the biographical sketch that Mercury would use to promote Pools of Mercury. This link takes you to the original, uncut version of the bio I prepared. As I was coding it I thought, hey, wouldn’t it be neat to provide hyperlinks to guide readers through the tangled web I’ve woven here on the Jim Carroll Website? So I added as many hyperlinks as I could think of in one sitting. Most of the links are to material on this site. The links include topic pages, images, audio clips, etc. Since this bio was written to promote an album, it leans more toward Carroll’s music career. I hope to continue developing it so that it will be more comprehensive. But it’s more than you will find anywhere else on the web, and if it’s any indication, Jim teased me for making it so long. Someone at Mercury pared it down considerably . . . You can also download this as a PDF.
Jimmy at Trinity (2009)
This account, written by a Trinity School classmate of Jim Carroll’s, was posted in the Comments section of Carroll’s obituary by Daniel Kreps in Rolling Stone (PDF). I felt it deserved to be an article in its own right.
Biography from All Music Guide (2000)
All Music Guide’s bio of Carroll is brief but very thorough, emphasizing his music but with excellent attention to the big picture. I have edited this article to correct some minor errors. You can also download this as a PDF.
Career Overview (2001)
This is a capsule overview of Carroll’s career, geared towards promoting his spoken-word performances. You can also download this as a PDF.
Contemporary Authors Online (2000)
Contemporary Authors provides a detailed biographical overview (“sidelights”) plus personal details and bibliography. Not always reliable for accurate facts.
The Complete Marquis Who’s Who (1999)
A very brief list of biographical and career facts, some of which are incorrect.
Mercury Records Biography (1998)
Mercury’s bio for promotion of Pools of Mercury.
Almanac of Famous People,6th ed. (1998)
This is a list of basic biographical information and research sources.
Biography from SonicNet (1995)
This biography focuses on Carroll’s music career and gives lots of useful info.
John Milward, “Catholic Boy.” Penthouse (1981)
Although this piece is an extended feature article rather than an ordinary biographical statement, it is the most detailed and authoritative biographical sources on Carroll available anywhere. It is based in large part upon an extended interview. Too bad it was published in a periodical hard to access even in university libraries.
Short Biographical Sketch
This sketch is sort of a “handy quick reference” to Carroll’s life and work, arranged by subject and chronologically. It needs updating . . . see Career Overview (2001).
Jim Carroll Chronology
Listing major events year-by-year, the chronology is an even more condensed overview of Carroll’s life and work. It also needs updating.